May 1970 with 21,000 mi   fairly glossy

and thick in spots

Rember a little over spray blue on the black oil pan. 

Here is my replacement tank, just recently removed. It has quite a high gloss compared to the suspension components.  Replaced in 1985 at 134,600 miles and now has 147,600 miles, so only about 13,000 miles. $195 list price and I paid $156.  Wondering now why I didn't stock pile more parts.

22 minutes ago, CanTechZ said:

Wondering now why I didn't stock pile more parts.

Ya gotta rub it in?

While not suspension, I have these reference pics of the manual transmission cross member mount.  Can't imagine that the paint used for this would be different than the suspension, but I do not know for sure.  Maybe useful to someone here (click for bigger image):

    

    

 

Edited February 12, 20205 yr by inline6

Good pictures!

I have come to conclude the paint was probably glossy from the factory and became satin looking over time

Based on what more sheltered parts (eg steering column) looked like, I looked at what the powder-coat shop had on offer and went with a semi-gloss black that they call "machine black."  

A few more reference pics, this time of a motor mount and driveshaft: 

   

The pedal box and steering column are quite glossy.  However, the heater box, and fan, are not - they are semi gloss.  And then there is the brushed on paint on various parts of the interior like around the kick panels, the rails that the seats bolt to, around the quarter windows, etc. which is very dull.  The suspension is quite possibly a unique level of gloss vs. the others.  I will be looking for some reference shots online before I paint the suspension of the car I am restoring.  

The following pics are of actually the same paint.  The pedal box is before adding any flattening agent. 

    

The steering shaft and pedals are after adding 10% flattening agent and letting the paint sit for bit.  I found that adding agent didn't work instantly.  It took a certain amount of time (like 30 min) before effect was very noticeable.

  

    

 

And then I made the mix 20% flattening agent and again had to wait.  But there was quite the transformation:

  

Same percentage - used on these panels inside front fenders also:

  

It is a nice satin.  Good for some areas, no doubt, but not for the mustache bar; I do not think.  Hopefully, my experimentation here is all of that I needed to do.  I plan on doing the suspension with the 10% after I let it sit for 30 min.  I might do 5% wait, spray, then 10%, wait and test to confirm, and spray.  Luckily, this stuff doesn't require a catalyst, so it can sit and sit.  

I also have a bunch of reference pictures from the $300,000+ 240Z that was on Bring a Trailer; I suppose putting a few here wouldn't be a bad thing, right?

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 17, 20204 yr by inline6

@CanTechZ 

Congrats.  You have the first Z car gas tank I've ever  been able to see a clear reflection in!

7 hours ago, inline6 said:

I plan on doing the suspension with the 10% after I let it sit for 30 min.  I might do 5% wait, spray, then 10%, wait and test to confirm, and spray.  Luckily, this stuff doesn't require a catalyst, so it can sit and sit.  

I missed the part  you said what you are using, powder coat, paint?

Given that many of the component parts on these cars were made by different companies and/or affiliates of Nissan and Nissan Shatai, I would not necessarily expect them all to have been painted with exactly the same material, or to the same standard/thickness/sheen.