What color were the front and rear backing plates for drum brakes from the factory? This is for my 68 but I assume it may be the same for other years.
How factory original do you want to be? The way it was actually painted or the way it should of been painted if Buick has all the time in the world to assemble these cars? Lol From my research, rear axle assemblies were installed unpainted, then a worker would come by and give the rear a quick spray as he was walking by. So a piss coat, probably on the rear facing side that you can see looking fron the back of the car. Make sure the paint drips and looks like crap so it closely resembles the factory method. Make sure you get the black on the rear facing portion of the shocks too. Oh, and have a cigarette in your mouth with the smoke getting in you eyes and a few beers just to keep it authentic assembly line quality...lol But seriously.....technically, i believe they should be painted black. As should the tubes up to the center section. Center section is unpainted.
What about the front, I have drums up front. Was the raw factory zinc (silver)? As for how original, at least close for a driver car that goes to shows occasionally. Right now the entire bottom has pretty much been spray bombed black so I am going to make a few corrections to the steering components, drive shaft, etc. Backing plates are currently 100% black right now both front and rear. I have no problem making paint drips (not on purpose) The last AACA show I attended the judges did peek under the car. I was lucky the grass I was parked on what high I am not trying to get to this level (see photo) on a driver but I want to get a little closer to correct.
I have the same question on both front & rear backing plates. I sort of assumed they were painted black before being installed but could be wrong about that.
I had the same question when I did the Tealmist conv. Consensus was to hose them with black paint. But the green 69 I’m doing has them clear zinc plated. I don’t think you’ll have issues with docked points as long as they aren’t covered in grease lol
I think anything from no paint to dripping is "correct". I often say, if you restored a car to exactly how it looked off the showroom floor, you wouldn't get any trophies at a car show.
