Door hinge bolts,paint or not?

[Hank70SS]

Pretty sure the hinges, bolts and jambs were painted after the doors were hung. Of course I'm usually wrong so they probably need to be black.

Seriously, the hinges were body color, I doubt they painted the hinges then mounted them, too much time and effort for a cheap car. I have not seen a Chevelle with phosphate bolts on the hinges. Of course it's not something I focus on when looking at a car. I'm sure someone will be able to answer for sure.

[grandsport]

Originally Posted by Hank70SS

Pretty sure the hinges, bolts and jambs were painted after the doors were hung. Of course I'm usually wrong so they probably need to be black.

Seriously, the hinges were body color, I doubt they painted the hinges then mounted them, too much time and effort for a cheap car. I have not seen a Chevelle with phosphate bolts on the hinges. Of course it's not something I focus on when looking at a car. I'm sure someone will be able to answer for sure.

I'm pretty sure they too. My next question is how does one get nice painted bolts on without damaging the paint?

[Hank70SS]

Now that's way out of my league. Fisher Body assembled the bodies. The whole thing was sprayed with lacquer paint, baked and wet sanded.

Best I can suggest is paint the bolts body color. Once they've dried, thoroughly, place a plastic bad over the bolt. The kind you get at the grocery store. You can fold it and use a couple layers. I have done that with other painted bolts and it seems to work pretty good. Doesn't crack the paint like a bare metal socket will.

[grandsport]

Originally Posted by Hank70SS

Now that's way out of my league. Fisher Body assembled the bodies. The whole thing was sprayed with lacquer paint, baked and wet sanded.

Best I can suggest is paint the bolts body color. Once they've dried, thoroughly, place a plastic bad over the bolt. The kind you get at the grocery store. You can fold it and use a couple layers. I have done that with other painted bolts and it seems to work pretty good. Doesn't crack the paint like a bare metal socket will.

Sounds like a good idea.I don't want to paint the bolts and hinges together.

[Hank70SS]

Originally Posted by grandsport

Sounds like a good idea.I don't want to paint the bolts and hinges together.

I thought you were trying to make it look factory original. In that case you paint them together and maybe get a few runs in the paint too.

[smoke' em II]

Originally Posted by Hank70SS

place a plastic bad over the bolt. The kind you get at the grocery store. You can fold it and use a couple layers. I have done that with other painted bolts and it seems to work pretty good. Doesn't crack the paint like a bare metal socket will.

x2 , but I cut 1 1/2" squares out of the thicker clear freezer bags. This also worked well with the painted body color trunk hinge bolts.

BTW, make sure your sockets are clean before doing this.