1965 sedan

[buggeezer]

On this 1965 sedan I am restoring. I would guess that the door latch screws, and door check rod were not painted from factory. Am I right? If you can name any other bolts /screws on the exterior, fender bolts, hood latch bolts, ect. that were unpainted it would be a big help. Also I cannot decide what to do as far as paint on the replaced , galvanized front hood latch. I could not do without this forum and the Web. Back when I was doing so many bugs that you see in my profile photo, 1986-1992, I had no way to access information. Information is an essential tool!

[grandpa pete]

spray with clear to keep finish
I've been on Samba a long time and haven't seen an "unpainted " list
I restored a 30 model A Ford once and there were kits with stainless screws and bolts to replace unpainted ones
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63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery

[KTPhil]

Large Phillips door screws were painted from the factory in my '65 & '67 bugs, and in my '71 fastback.

Check rods were not painted.

Regular paint remover should work in the front latch.

[buggeezer]

Thanks! I am glad the latch screws were painted because I have already painted them. The aftermarket front hood latch is galvanized metal and you may have misunderstood. Should I paint it on this 1965 for show or just leave it galvanized?

[grandpa pete]

Go to thread " low mileage barnfind 63" ; about 10 photos down you can see the hoodlatch is NOT painted.....clear spray paint to save it would be the way to go
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63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery

[buggeezer]

Thanks Grandpa! Just what I needed!

[61SNRF]

From what I've learned and seen on original paint cars, the bare bodys were dipped in primer, sealed and then painted with all the lids and doors on and adjusted, so that means the four front hood screws and the two hinge bolts, the eight deck lid hinge screws, and the three door hinge to body screws were all painted body color the same time as the car.

The fenders were on too when it was dipped and then finish painted, but they were loosely assembled and spaced out with temporary jig bolts. Once painted, the jig bolts were removed and the fenders were finish assembled using bolts and large OD spring washers that appear to be natural steel or of a very light black oxide finish.
Note that fender bolts for a '65 will have a 13 mm hex head that is a bit taller or thicker than ordinary, say ~11mm tall rather than typical ~9mm. Not much but an obvious visual difference.
(I can only guess that they must have made assembly faster or easier.)

Oh yeah, glove box is installed and adjusted, so its screws are painted at the same time too (but not the latch/button).
In that vein, interior parts like dash grilles, ashtray cover and radio blanking plates must have been kept close by as well, but not sure if those were done in bulk or some sort of fixture attaching them to each individual body.

Everything else that bolts onto the body (unless you have a Karmann Cabriolet, which is a whole 'nother quirky story ) ) is left natural, including all hood, door and decklid latches and their screws, check rods and their clips/screws, all screws inside the doors under the panels including window lifts, all handles and their screws etc.

The hood latch should be a smooth and consistent bright silver Cadmium finish rather than a mottled grey "galvanized" finish. Perhaps you are describing yours incorrectly? Post a picture of it if you're not sure if it's correct.

Check my Gallery for some pics of an original paint '66 for a few photo references, they should be very similar to a '65. Let me know if there are any other particular details you'd like more pics of
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-Bruce

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[buggeezer]

Excellent information for sure! I did a screenshot of that to save. I'll have to repaint the fender bolts to a close natural color, washers too. I too, had heard these cars were dipped and as you say, for primer only. Some people don't realize that the final paint coat has to be sprayed, not dipped. Thanks!