Should this be painted?

[TinCuda]

I was taking to an older mopar guy who told me that every 1971 'Cuda had the body painted black just below the horizontal trim piece.  I really trust this guys opinion but I have never heard or read about this before.  Can someone confirm this for me?

Honestly I did not realize how dirty it was under the trim before I took this picture.  lol  I suppose that is why it might be painted black.


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[burdar]

Yes, that area gets painted black.  It was just masked off in the middle of the molding.  Lots of times very sloppy.  Some cars have been seen with the mask line partially below the molding.  The paint would have also covered the rocker pinchweld.

[TinCuda]

Yes, that area gets painted black.  It was just masked off in the middle of the molding.  Lots of times very sloppy.  Some cars have been seen with the mask line partially below the molding.  The paint would have also covered the rocker pinchweld.

Is it a flat black, satin black?

When I started this restoration, I wanted to make it as original as reasonable.  No dated coded hoses and the like.  I do wish I had known about this when I was painting it.  At some point, I plan on putting an elastomeric front bumper on.  I have A21 on my fender tag and a chrome front bumper right now.  I guess I will paint this trim black when I have the bumper painted in-violet sometime in the future.


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[burdar]

I know someone on Moparts posted the factory drawing at one time.  If you do a google search on moparts I'm sure you could find it.  I'm pretty sure it's a semi-gloss black.

[dodj]

Yes, that area gets painted black.  It was just masked off in the middle of the molding.  Lots of times very sloppy.  Some cars have been seen with the mask line partially below the molding.  The paint would have also covered the rocker pinchweld.

Darren, was that true on Challengers as well? 

[burdar]

Challengers would have had the pinchweld blacked out but not that area of the rocker.  The pinchweld blackout was either sprayed or brushed on.  I sprayed mine with SEM Trim Black...the same paint I used for the rad blackout.

Here's a pic of the pinchweld blackout that was sprayed on Dave Walden's car.
 http://www.moparaction.com/Article/PoP/KK.jpg

[dodj]

 
Thanks, learn something here every visit.
 

[larry4406]

Rocker Paint Drawing as requested.

[TinCuda]

Rocker Paint Drawing as requested.

Sweet!  Thank you very much!


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[TinCuda]

Well, I couldn't take it any longer.  I had to paint the black trim.  I figure nobody will ever even notice, but I would know.

The light it terrible in these pictures, but you can get the idea.


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[Chryco Psycho]

 

[TinCuda]

Here is another picture.  I don't know if it is any better.  My camera is junk.


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[red74cuda]

Is this be true for the 74 cudas as well? Mine is black, but it is extremely sloppy (overspray on the trim) so I fugured someone must have done this later in the cars life.

[burdar]

71's were the ones that got the entire rocker blacked out below the trim.  Other years would have just had the pinch weld area blacked out.  It could have been sprayed black OR brushed with black paint.  The factory just wanted to hide the ugly pinch weld...they didn't care how neat it looked.

[red74cuda]

I was hoping that would be the answer. I want it to be red.