69 Nova leaf spring finish

[m22mike]

What do you guys think is the "Standard" for the restoration finish on the rear leaf springs for a 69 Nova SS ?
And the straps ? Any original photos would help too.
I want to make them look something like they were originally.

Thanks Mike A

[JRSully]

Popular opinion is they were competely black (sprayed) I believe this is how Wayne Bushey does them at NNN and he has seen MANY originals

[Woj]

Mike,

The mono-leafs seemed to have been a medium to light gray color, don't know if that has any signifigance regarding the multi-leaf. I'll be getting the 69 Camaro out of storage this week and will confirm what it has.

Phil

[JRSully]

The 2 cars were built on completly different lines/assembly plants, don't know if Camaro rules would apply. Most every "correctly" restored Nova I've seen or documented had black springs as the gas tank was half blacked as well to cut glare to vehicles behind it w/ headlights on

[CamarosRus]

Arone/Pascoe/SCW L-89 Camaro below






Larry Christiansen resto below

[Schonyenko2]

I'm not sure the springs were painted with anything other than a watered down sticky black rust preventative. I know most restorers paint them some degree of black, but I'm not sure the original coating was actually paint.
I've seen more original gas tanks with very little black or none at all that with it being noticeable.

[bkhpah]

I applied the gas tank black out on a SS 396 69 Nova we restored just as the assembly manuel shows. At the Nova Nationals in PA Bushy took a crap on the tank blackout. I have since parted out a few old Nova hulks and I have seen what appears to be tank black out applied even though it has been weathered. I cannot be sure, but I am getting ready to do a few more Nova tanks shortly. Any other observatons out there?..BKH

[JRSully]

My 69 L78 Nova has the original tank in it and is painted (flaking) black

[m22mike]

I am currently finishing up on a 69 Nova SS. Most all the undercarraige was "Chassis Blacked" sometime in it's life including the tank. That is why I originally asked about the spring finish. The springs were all gubered up too. I personally also believe there was not much in the way of paint on them back then. Out of 5 sets of leaf springs I have taken apart in the last 10 yrs. All appered to be bare when assembled originally.
I do find it ammusing sometimes that the Nova and Camaro historians have preached certain finishes for so long that it has become the law of the restoration land with little or no room for something new ?

I was able to find alot of the body overspray under the tank. Very much like 3 original Camaro's I have restored. It was interesting to note that the primer was all dark gray on this Nova as compared to 3 other Norwood Camaro's I have done, they were light gray aft of the axle.
Anyway guy's I say keep "over restoring them" they look alot better that way.
Anymore original Nova guys out there ?? I would like to know more about the springs and tank blackout too ?

Thanks Mike A

[CamarosRus]

To The Top..............for more spring suggestions

Only one member has used CERAKOTE (Sniper Gray C-239) on
his multi leaf springs......