Front and Rear Drum Backing Plate Color?

Discussion in 'Chassis restoration' started by Smartin, Dec 23, 2019.

  1. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Since everyone who restores these cars seems to have disc brakes, there really isn't a reference on here for (at least front) drum brake backing plate colors. I am seeing black painted plates on the back drums. My assumption is that the fronts are the same?
     
  2. priariecanary

    priariecanary Stacey

    Probably depends on what year you are talking about . I think fronts on a '67 are grey phosphate plated. Rears are painted black.
     
  3. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Sorry, it's a 70
     
  4. Duane

    Duane Member

    Adam,
    My 69 has black on both front and rear.

    Also, the front spindles on the front drum cars have different colored paint "dabs" on them. They are bright Yellow instead of Green.
    That was how the Production Plants identified them.
    Duane
     
    ToddsGS likes this.
  5. priariecanary

    priariecanary Stacey

    so i went looking at the photos of my '70 that is getting restored to see what the backing plates look like and duh...i forgot that the car came with discs originally. sooo, I'm out.
     
  6. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Thanks guys:D

    Many many more questions to come, I'm sure.
     
  7. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    I know the rears were semi gloss black. My original 70 GSX had the rear end taken out when car was pretty new and it just sat. It looked like even brakes were original and the backing plate was black.
     
  8. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Thanks Dave! We have these debates on the BCA forums about the 50's cars and what the finishes were on them from the factory...lots of much more polarized opinions over there.
     
  9. flh73

    flh73 Gold Level Contributor

    Since we're on drum brake colors, why is it i see many old drum brake drum's fronts and rear appear to have red paint remnants on them. Where the face of the drums paint red? I've search, probably been talk about.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2020
  10. Duane

    Duane Member

    Back in the day we all painted the brake drums, especially if you had Cregars or Keystones. In my area everyone painted them white, but I have seen them painted red, green, yellow, etc.

    If you are talking about 69-72 cars from the factory, there were 2 different "colors" available;
    the cars with full steel wheels came with unpainted drums, as you could not see them with the wheels on.
    the cars with the Optional wheels had the outer facing side of the drums painted a semi-gloss black. The idea was the paint was only supposed to last as long as it needed to to keep them "pretty" while they were on the lot. After that GM didn't care how fast the paint was "cooked" off.

    As a matter of fact, when the 69 Motion Equipped GS was found the drums were painted white, and were still that way when I got the car. I did not know if it was a locally done thing or if "Motion" did it so I left them Black, as that was the way it was delivered from the factory because the car came with 14" chrome wheels. I have since found a vintage pic of a "Motion" 67 Chevelle SS 427 car in front of the Baldwin Chevrolet dealership in 1968, and the drums on that car were painted white. It looks like it has American Racing wheels and red line tires.

    Maybe later I will paint them white. It might sound ugly, but the Hurst Wheels look fantastic with white drums behind them. We will see.
    Duane


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    Last edited: Mar 21, 2020
  11. flh73

    flh73 Gold Level Contributor

    Thanks Duane, good write up and of course I've read your Motion build. What a beautiful car! Maybe this red i keep seeing and i should qualify as i've seen it on many old drums from a 67 GS person with many old drums lying around, only seen it on one 70. Maybe red was a mid-east thing as well, we're white was West Coast thing. I'm just making this up as go so no facts should be derived from my rattling.

    Thanks
    Gary
     

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