1968 gtx trunk finish panel

[gford]

hi looking for input on argent paint is it dark med or light
thanks bill

 

[moparnation74]

@MarPar

Mario help this fine gent out.....To the OP Mario has recently restored one beautifully.....He will chime in after eating some Chicago pizza probably...

 

[GetX'd]

It’s a lighter argent. I thought this stuff was near impossible to get thus very difficult to get those panels restored to original. If Mario has an Italian connection I’d also like to know who it is - actually I could care less what ethnicity they are - I’d just like to get mine restored too. My connection passed away a few years ago.

 

[moparnation74]

It’s a lighter argent. I thought this stuff was near impossible to get thus very difficult to get those panels restored to original. If Mario has an Italian connection I’d also like to know who it is - actually I could care less what ethnicity they are - I’d just like to get mine restored too. My connection passed away a few years ago.

I hooked Mario up with a guy that supplies the correct paint......

Shoot me a Pm.......and I will get you his info

 

[eldubb440]

make sure the tail light bezels match the rear panel ….. they are a set

 

[moparedtn]

Mine was restored by someone who knew what they were doing some years ago, using factory code paint he had stashed.
(RIP Bob - God love ya, man). I can't profess to any expertise, only what incredible extents the man went to when restoring
mine.
I humbly submit my original thread on that process:
https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/a-story-about-my-68-gtx-trunk-finish-panel.128814/

 

[Cornpatch MO]

In case anyone is interested. I have a Sport Satellite trunk panel , and the tail light bezels without the lenses. Those bezels ARE different than Roadrunner. IIRC they are in pretty good condition, driver quality.......................MO

 

[moparedtn]

In case anyone is interested. I have a Sport Satellite trunk panel , and the tail light bezels without the lenses. Those bezels ARE different than Roadrunner. IIRC they are in pretty good condition, driver quality.......................MO

Yep. GTX and Sport Satellite are the same in '68, RoadRunner is different.

 

[Officer Higgins]

Totally auto doesn't have it?

 

[gford]

thanks for info I had mine re-chromed now going to try painting it

 

[moparedtn]

Original Panel:

Mine now:

I think Bob got it right.

 

[GetX'd]

Yep. GTX and Sport Satellite are the same in '68, RoadRunner is different.

Except one important distinction - the GTX panel has a GTX badge on the right side. W/o that it’s not the same.

 

[MarPar]

Thanks Justin @moparnation74. I restored mine myself. It was PITA with all the taping and whatnot. It's dark argent and a dark red decal for the stripes. I purchased the panel from a member here and it was already re-chromed. Ill post pics later as I do not have them on my laptop.

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Except one important distinction - the GTX panel has a GTX badge on the right side. W/o that it’s not the same.

Aren't the badges removable and interchangeable?...........................MO

 

[MarPar]

 

[GetX'd]

Aren't the badges removable and interchangeable?...........................MO

I don’t believe so Mo - mine looks like it’s part of the panel. However I haven't had the panel off so I don’t honestly know. It would make sense that they were interchangeable accept the argent paint wouldn’t line up correctly from a Satellite to a GTX badge.

 

[MarPar]

The emblem looks to be welded on from the back. There are two prongs that go thru the holes and then it looks like there is a dab of weld on the ends of the prongs.

 

[gford]

yes I think it is welded or peened

 

[moparedtn]

Except one important distinction - the GTX panel has a GTX badge on the right side. W/o that it’s not the same.

Well yeah, Cap'n Obvious.

 

[moparedtn]

I don’t believe so Mo - mine looks like it’s part of the panel. However I haven't had the panel off so I don’t honestly know. It would make sense that they were interchangeable accept the argent paint wouldn’t line up correctly from a Satellite to a GTX badge.

The GTX emblem is indeed a separate piece. They do reproduce them.

Regarding the "shade" of the argent paint, I know several have used the darker argent when restoring their panels.
However, after a LOT of research (including pictures of original, untouched panels like the one I posted above), I came to the same conclusion as some professional shops who have restored these - namely, the lighter argent is correct.
When Bob came up with some leftover, original Chrysler paint in an old can in the back of his shop, he asked me if I wanted him to try and make it usable for my panel - at the risk of delaying things if it turned out badly.
My answer, of course, was "absolutely!"
He nailed it, first try.
My "edges" that were originally chrome were not rechromed, however.
He did what he could with those in lieu of that and it turned out just fine.