Black painted trim areas..., what paint to use? is it just standard matte/flat black? Options

[naro914]

Hi all
so...I am officially the PCA 914 Registry Advocate - supposedly meaning that I'm an expert in 914's...but really meaning that I was the one crazy enough to volunteer and take the job! That said, I am now the person that gets all the 914 questions that go to the PCA National office, or from people who find me on the PCA website...

As most of you know, I am FAR from an expert in 914's...especially when it comes to stock or originality. Though it has been said that our 914's are very close to stock (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) , I am not much of authenticity/historian type of person...

So, I am asking the 914World brain trust (and directing most people that ask me questions to ask here too)....is there a specific color code or paint that should be used for restoring the black painted bumpers, engine deck lid grating and rocker panels? I had a gentleman ask me that, and I have no idea.... He's doing a full restoration and would like to get it right.

Thoughts? Opinions? actual knowledge??

Thank you!!

[Ed_Turbo]

Ok so I am doing my research and resurrecting this thread to find out the most accurate and best satin black to re-paint battery hold down, gas tank hold down, fuse panel,etc. and basically all that stuff that has that semi gloss finish.

Wurth?
Eastwood? 25-35% gloss
SEM? This is more of a flat black though.

What do you think is the most accurate satin black @tom_t ?


-Ed

[Tom_T]

Ok so I am doing my research and resurrecting this thread to find out the most accurate and best satin black to re-paint battery hold down, gas tank hold down, fuse panel,etc. and basically all that stuff that has that semi gloss finish.

Wurth?
Eastwood? 25-25% gloss
SEM? This is more of a flat black though.

What do you think is the most accurate satin black @tom_t ?


-Ed

Ed -

I'm not sure that anything is a perfect match nowadays, what with air & carcinogen etc. regulations & all changing the paints - as well as the years changing the original stuff with aging.

If you're CW about it, then the Body volume of the 8 binder 914 factory repair manuals lists the various paint types, including the satin black, which may be able to be matched by PPG, Dupont, Glasurit, etc. at a good pro auto paint supply shop for the most exact match. Get enough to do everything in satin black that you'll need (air boxes, engine tins, etc. are all in it too), since it's a custom match.

It seems to me that there was another paint maker than the 3 you mentioned as another option, but I'm blanking on their name.

I'd go with either the Wurth because they have in the past worked with Porsche Classics to match the "exhaust gray" & other colors (also with VW) -

or go with the SEM because Dave W./toolguy really knows his resto stuff, & his -6 was a regular winner (it's sold now).

Those are both passable for CW concours use too.

Also, VW Resto suppliers like Wolfsburg West sell some color matched VW paints which might be a good color match, but their stock is a moving target, so I don't know what they have on hand. IIRC the Karmann plant was also building the VW Beetle Cabrios &/or Ghias in `69-76 as well, so they'd have used the same paints for them & 914s. So it would be good for CW also.

Lastly, although I'm not a general fan for Rustoleum in general for the exposed areas (due to some paint failures on my other 2 cars), it is good for rust prone uses, such as battery hold-downs, fuel tank straps, etc. - but may not be an exact match to the parts still in original satin black. It will give you good rust protection from battery acid, etc. - vs. standard paint.

In any case, get some of your best candidates & test spray some to compare to the original satin (which will have faded & aged some from original days), because their paint formulations will have changed often - even since when this thread was started - especially here in SoCal where CARB regulations force the changes.

It all depends on how anal CW you want to be.

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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