Factory color for underside of tub

[Tugross302]

My ‘77 looks like red oxide to me.

 

[JGbronc]

My ‘77 looks like red oxide to me.

Agreed, I’m fairly confident that the red oxide was used underneath for all years. But I don’t think it was dipped, and I now agree that Ford must have sprayed leftover paint underneath from time to time.

I know for fact if you bought a new tub from Ford in 66-77 it was red oxide in color. I have seen pics of a brand new tub in 1973 and an NOS barn find ‘77 tub and both were primed red. I also have a friend with an NOS tub.

 

[jckkys]

I don't know if theories and hear say from Ford employees carry much weight. All 3 of my EBs were painted the body color underneath and in the engine bay. My '74 and '77 were new from the dealer. My '68 was a rust free Tucson truck. Colors as follows; the '73 lime green, '77 metallic bronze, and '68 sky blue. Ford may have had different names. All were spray painted not dipped. No red primer anywhere, not even inside the doors, that were also rust free. The current restoration is what Ford called candy apple red in '77. No one else would call it that. The '77 sales brochure has some good color shots of the red I used.

 

[bigmuddy]

my 75 which has not been restored has red oxide primer underneath.

I am wondering if it depended on the build location as to what they used?

 

[toddz69]

I am wondering if it depended on the build location as to what they used?

They were all built at Michigan Truck so I'm not sure there would be much variation based on that factor.

Todd Z.

 

[toddz69]

My unrestored Norway Green '69 has School Bus Yellow paint on the bottom side. Definitely not red primer.

That's interesting as my '69 (Sept. 68) Harbor Blue truck has yellow underneath as well. I don't know how far it is spread across the underside but I've definitely seen it at spots.

Todd Z.

 

[bcmbcmbcm]

Red oxide here

I have known this vehicle since new so it is for sure the factory finish.

 

[fordfan]

When I posted on here about the dipping in red oxide, I was repeating what a retired Ford employee said. I just wanted to clarify that I'm not an authority, nor did I witness it. I have seen red oxide on every model year Bronco tub. I can testify of that. It seems that with the '66 and '67 tubs, that they were very possibly dipped. Red oxide is present inside floor channels and areas that is impossible to spray. It is also evident that these early tubs held up better to rust than the '77 Bronco tub. This fact has been discussed here before! Did Budd use a better steel than Ford or did the red oxide bath do it's magic?

Just in my own experience, by '72 floor channels were usually absent of red oxide inside the channels and they may have resorted to spraying them. I have seen many runs in original paint that really wasn't a run in the paint, but a run in the oxide. I have also seen a few trans tunnels that were sprayed some other color from the original paint code on the vin tag. I think it was like it was already discussed. The paint in the supply hose was sprayed on something during a color change. My Porky Bronco has places on the floor pans and rear bed where body color small parts were sprayed and when the Bronco was assembled, the outline of the component is evident by the absence of paint and just oxide on the surface. ( the little covers on the inside of the taillight section is one pair of images I remember.)

I think it is very evident that all tubs were red oxide mainly. It's possible that maybe some area was missed and some 'leftover paint was sprayed in it's place. I could only imagine the mess of the primer draining out of a tub after it's baptism in red oxide. It's not doubtful that the method was modified, but the explanation of Ford's paint process was described by an employee of Ford and he is a member here on the forum but not a regular. Maybe he could be coaxed into reminiscing about the Ford Truck Paint Plant.

 

[jckkys]

The paint on the underside was less than thorough on all mine, and where there was no paint the surface rust looked like red primer. It's apparent that they weren't painted on a rotisserie like mine was in the current restoration. The '77 has galvanized rocker panels that helped stop rust, but the '68 had less rust over all. Even then it was just surface rust. But as said the surface rust is about the same color as red primer. Bare steel doesn't stay shiny for long anywhere.

 

[tabyers]

That's interesting as my '69 (Sept. 68) Harbor Blue truck has yellow underneath as well. I don't know how far it is spread across the underside but I've definitely seen it at spots.

Todd Z.

I have a Candy Apple Red, Sport, Sept. 68, 1969 model with red oxide. Apparently, it wasn’t even a when it was built thing, down to the month!?!?

 

[72_EB]

I don't think they were dipping them either, or if they did it was only a very small handful. It would slow production and they would have to be pushing them way faster than that.
E-coating was advancing at this time (and on some parts - fenders, dash, smaller parts), but the red oxide you'll find was mostly on exterior panels. I believe this was Ford's sealer and "go to" primer. You'll find it (if you're lucky) under your factory color, but I've even found factory paint right over e-coated panels and no primer whatsoever. Doors, quarters, hood, windshield frame, floors, usually have a good deal of red oxide under the factory color though, any where they were doing a little bit of body work (or really, aligning doors and panels).
I found this on stamp on some floor braces of a '70 a while ago. Some of our sheetmetal may have had some galvanized or zinc coating, but still without another layer or sealer, primer, and topcoat. It explains why our beauties rusted so badly with Mother Nature and the Salt King.
I've done trucks with factory color blown over red oxide color paint to duplicate Ford Friday night quick paint at factory (color on firewall, inner fenders, most of lower floor and bed), but prefer to do the underside in a complete color matched topcoat for a show truck, but they are many ways to skin a cat, and it all depends on the truck you are building and what you want. A color matched urethane liner (Line-X, Raptor) can get in nooks and crannies better sometimes. Not a factory or correct concourse way of doing it, but what I like a lot of the time, if not a bone stocker. Again, different strokes for different folks.

 

[72_EB]

https://www.curbsideclassic.com/aut...he-worst-rusters-in-the-late-60s-and-the-70s/

Interesting article. That poor Free Wheelin' Bronco.

 

[amax]

My 71 had the remains of red oxide on the underside. The majority of it had survived pretty well but there was no body color paint found underneath unless it was something that may be visible from around the truck and most of that had its original Wimbeldon White sprayed on it

 

[Rustytruck]

on my 1974 the rockers were galvanized and the rocker back plate was galvanized. that as far as I have dug into the body except the under hood cowl ends and the floor boards were just plain ol steel.

 

[ep67bro]

My 67 is red oxide on the underside. it was originally Rangoon Red on the outside. I will check my 70 tonight and see what it has.

I kind of remember a 77 I had was a yellow color underneath and it was Dark Green on the outside. Sounds like that was a green bronco thing?

 

[Prizefighter]

Careful of thinking Ford did anything the same over 11 years.

Some could have very well been dipped, others sprayed red, some sprayed yellow, some nothing at all, and anything else. At this point we have seen it all right?

 

[bigmuddy]

They were all built at Michigan Truck so I'm not sure there would be much variation based on that factor.

Todd Z.

Thanks Todd, as long as I have been around I should have know that..%)%)

 

[Broncoman]

What I have seen with my own eyes since starting this thread.
70: tan
71: tan
72: red oxide
74: red oxide
74: red oxide

The broncos with tan do not have red oxide under the tan or anywhere. I am betting red oxide was the standard while others got paint. Could have been a red oxide supply issue or just a way to use up supplies that were on hand. To say Ford did anything the same from 66-77 is impossible. They had/have one job and that is to turn a profit.

 

[green61bug]

On my 69 original paint Pebble Beige bronco I haven't found red oxide underneath or on any patina areas on the tub. There is red oxide however showing through the patina on the driver front fender.

 

[56f100bbw]

Red oxide

My 76 ranger is red oxide underside