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I've been wondering if I should re-do this radiator tag. I cleaned it up and painted it but having second thoughts about the bottom row of numbers...hard to see.
When you say "redo," redo what? What, exactly, did you do? Sand and repaint? Something else?
Those bottom numbers are not well punched into the metal and are never going to stand out as well as the top numbers. It seems that you have as much chance of making things worse as you do of making them better.
When you say "redo," redo what? What, exactly, did you do? Sand and repaint? Something else?
Those bottom numbers are not well punched into the metal and are never going to stand out as well as the top numbers. It seems that you have as much chance of making things worse as you do of making them better.
Yes, sand and repaint but only the bottom (or maybe just a light scuff to smooth it out?) Here's how it looked before.. the numbers were clearly easier to see. As an afterthought, were they painted from the factory or bare metal?
The numbers, especially the bottom ones, were much easier to read before you did what you did. That's what I meant about making things worse. I'd have left it alone. Patina and all. If you can get the paint off, I'd do that and then be done with it.
While I don't know for sure, I don't know why the factory would have bothered to paint it.
You sometimes hear the term "over-restored," and some people don't know what that means. What you have done is a small but perfect example of it. You tried to make it better than it was when it left the factory. Sometimes that works, but sometimes it doesn't.
We always have to remember that, when these cars were going down the assembly line back in the day, no one gave a crap what owners of the cars might think 50 or 60 years later. The goal was to get them out the door as quickly and as inexpensively as possible.
There was no reason for the factory to paint this tag.
You definitely do not want to sand or bead blast to attempt a correction. You'll need to chemically etch removal of the current paint - which, IMO, has far too much paint & likely incorrect paint. Cheap paints have large particle/pigment sizes. Purchase a paint product w/ the smallest known/advertised pigments. Something similar to paints used via an air-brush.
You definitely do not want to sand or bead blast to attempt a correction. You'll need to chemically etch removal of the current paint - which, IMO, has far too much paint & likely incorrect paint. Cheap paints have large particle/pigment sizes. Purchase a paint product w/ the smallest known/advertised pigments. Something similar to paints used via an air-brush.
Follow Norm's advice.
I use oven cleaner to remove paint. Let it set for a while and don't let it dry. Wash off. It won't corrode the metal.
And then use black radiator paint. It is made to cover with a very thin layer so it doesn't affect the cooling ability of the radiator.
Put on one, thin coat and leave it. It will look great.
Your "before" pic shows a very nice tag. Did you paint it in a sandstorm?
Strip it completely and use a different can or brand of paint. No way those part number numbers should have ended up that hidden. I've done a lot of those tags on restorations and what you started with is a "dream" tag compared to a lot of them.
The thinner the better on the paint you use....find a lacquer spray paint instead of any kind of enamel.
Looking at the "before" pic again....that is a SUPERB condition tag compared to most.
Or send it down here and I'll paint it for free....you pay shipping both ways.
I seem to recall those rad tags being painted (no, not show room level), but my memory from the 70-80's might be incorrect.
Originally Posted by VC455
I agree.
I think they were painted with the radiator, not installed afterward.
I believe you're both correct as I've seen those tags painted, some 1/2 painted, some barely painted, etc....as if they were not specifically destined to be painted but rather they were affixed to the radiator and as the radiator was painted the tag was painted (more or less simply because it was "there"). LOL Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever seen a rad tag painted on the backside.
The numbers, especially the bottom ones, were much easier to read before you did what you did. That's what I meant about making things worse. I'd have left it alone. Patina and all. If you can get the paint off, I'd do that and then be done with it.
While I don't know for sure, I don't know why the factory would have bothered to paint it.
I agree you are overthinking this and making things worse than you found them.
