Airbox Restoration, Dupli-Color Comparison: DE1620 vs. DE1652

[ksbeta]

Was reading this older thread about restoring the 240z Airbox: http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/thread37440.html

Went to the store to grab the Dupli-Color DE1620 Chevrolet Orange and next to it on the shelf was Dupli-Color DE1652: Chrysler Hemi Orange. On the shelf, DE1652 appeared to be a better match to the original Airbox color. This coming from someone who (a) didn't have his airbox in front of him, and ( has never seen a Clean, Original box. Mine has 40 years of grime on it.

I had a spare in the garage that I accidentally ran over last year. Never threw it away, because situations like this come around which totally validate being a pack rat.

Airbox:

Supplies - Tal-Mar's Airplane Stripper is the best stuff ever. It never ceases to amaze me. It was pulling paint off before I'd even finished spraying the whole thing. Basic research indicates that 3M bought Tal-Mar and ceased production for now. The product available at Advanced Auto Parts now is called Airplane Paint Remover by Klean-Strip. I attempted to use it on this project and was very disappointed with the results. Long story short: Find a supply of Tal-Mar and hoard.

Half stripped, leaving some original paint to compare:

DE1652 on the left, DE1620 on the right, original paint at bottom:

Comparison with my as-then untouched airbox for the '70. (I found out later in the process of stripping the other airbox that it had a layer of very red paint on the outside; it had clearly been resprayed at some point with an incorrect color. The backing (at left) shows the original color:

Attempting to get the comparison in better light. DE1652 is bottom right, DE1620 is top left, and the original is in the back.

Conclusion? Hard to say. They're really close, and fluorescent lighting doesn't lend itself well to taking pictures of orange paint. I'm thinking DE1652 looks closer to the original, if not just a little 'duller.' DE1620 appears to be redder, but certainly 'pops' more. I'll take another look in broad daylight tomorrow and make a decision before painting my other box.

One could avoid all this by buying the color-matched original online, but again, this just happened because I was at the store, faced with two options, and had a bent airbox to test on.

[that's the most I've ever typed the word "box" in a single post].

Edited November 16, 2012 by ksbeta
Spelling

[JLPurcell]

Classic Datsun Motorsports offers the paint in the correct color. les@classicdatsun.com

[ksbeta]

They sure do, you're right. I was eager to get started, and I'm fairly certain I still saved money even with 2 cans of duplicolor.

[ksbeta]

And the finished product. Thanks to Guy for his help with the paint, and Banzai Motorworks for the decals. Not sure why it looks red in this photo; ended up using the same Chevy Engine Orange from above.

Edited November 27, 2012 by ksbeta

[Oiluj]

Looks Great! I'm sure there are a number of members lining-up to send you their air boxes!