Team Camaro Tech banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Subframe painting/POR question

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 22 Posts

HwyStarJoe

· Moderator
Joined
·
15,378 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi all,

There's no 'subframe' or 'paint' catagory...

For those that have removed, blasted and either painted or POR-15'd their subframes, did you leave the areas around where the control arm bushings touch the subframe crossmembers bare metal or did you piant that area also? I can see where POR-15 would be a problem due to it's thickness, and paint will just get worn off.

The underside/inside areas of the crossmembers (engine frame mounts attach to) and the crossmember in front of that one weren't painted from the factory. Did you just leave those areas bare? I thought I'd POR-15 the whole thing but just leave the area around where the bushings will touch bare. Make sense?
 
#2 ·
Good question, Joe. When I get to your stage, I would put a single coat of POR15 on. After all, many people get their subframes powdercoated and that covers everything. If you had to, you could sand it down but I wouldn't think tolerances would be that tight.

------------------
Rick Dorion
69 RS Conv,355,M20,4.10's and I don't worry about stone chips ( yet ).
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#5 ·
Joe,

I POR 15'd the crap out of everything including every part of the A Arms. I am pulling the 307 in a few weeks and then I will POR the crossmember and anything else that I wasnt able to get to. The upper A Arm bushing were a bit tight but they went in. The lowers went in without any problems except I got the lower A arms switched...so I did the drivers side twice...its a learning experience!!

Bob
 
#8 ·
I painted it all as well, and so far no squeeks. The POR will add some material to the metal, making the fit of the lower A arm bushings a little tighter though I think. I had to knock them in there with a piece of wood and a 4 pound sledge.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#13 ·
One thing I did in addition to everything listed here, were the control arms. After sanding and removing all the paint and grime, I filled them in with Bondo and spotting putty. Sanded them smooth and than applied the POR15.Turned out to look fairly nice.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
67camss/rs,

That's what I'm doing to the entire frame and all suspension pieces....
I've already started to grind smooth all the welds, chipped off every single weld splatter, generally smoothing it all so I can blast it, THEN sand it all smooth again. I'm so anal that I'll probably hand-sand the control arms and all the steering parts before PORing. I want to run a weld along the frame halfs where the factory skipped. It's amazing to me that these old subframes actually stay together when you look at how they were put together. Amazing.

Oh, and one more subframe question. I didn't want to start a whole new thread.... How thick are the factory subframe mounting plates? Mine were replaced with what looks like 5/16th" plate and it's freakin' ugly. I want to grind them off and weld good ones on.
Thanks...

[This message has been edited by HwyStarJoe (edited 08-27-2002).]
 
#15 ·
HSJ, hope to do the frame this winter. Won't be a frame off resto just something that will preserve and also make the frame and underside look nice. I think we operate in similar ways.I'm not sure I would call it anal,but if I do somrthing and don't like the way it turns out or looks,it will be redone till I like what I see. Post some pics if you can.
 
#17 ·
I used large washers about 3.5mm thick, welded them right on top and one on the bottom at each point, I'm using the CE alum bushings which are slightly shorter then OEM,

Also a tip, I sandblasted, then used a circular sanding disc attached to a drill, it worked great, and really smoothed the surface, after blasting..
 
#18 ·
I have been following this post and I had few questions... I too, am wanting to preserve the underside and subframe of my 67. Existing is fairly decent (light surface rust that could be sanded off) I really do not have any access to blasting... will I be OK by hand sanding off the surface rust and following up with Metal Ready and POR-15?

Do I need to use the Marine Clean?
Will I need to paint over the POR-15?
Where is the best place to buy these items?

Thanks for helpinh with my novice questions... Jeff
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
If you're doing the underside of the car and subframe with POR-15, you don't need to paint. Unless you want it to look a certain way. POR black isn't a shiny glossy paint. And I would definitely clean the surfaces after you sand them with some type of cleaner and use Metal Ready before either painting or doing the POR-15 thing.
I've bought my POR stuff right from Restomotive themselves.
http://www.por15.com/
 
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
About this Discussion
21 Replies
11 Participants
Last post:
CamFrk68
Team Camaro Tech
posts
2.4M
members
90K
Since
1998
A forum community dedicated to 1st generation Chevy Camaros owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, builds, restoration, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, reviews, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Bench Racing Engine Body Shop Performance Brakes, Suspension & Steering