Hi, need a little help on painting the firewall in my 69. What color should it be flat black or semi gloss black or the color of the car im lost on this one thanks alot guys.

Per Jerry MacNeish's book....30% semi gloss black.

30% semi gloss black...is correct...though many people paint it the same color as the car...and that looks good too!

Dan

It is a semi-gloss black and I'm sure somone will chime in with the % gloss.

Nearly everyone makes the same error when painting the firewall-they tape off the top of the cowl. That is not how the factory did it and for us old-timers it is in the same bonehead category as a CAUTION-FAN sticker.

According to John Z the firewall blackout was done after body color was applied. Most of the time a fabricated masking unit was placed over the cowl and the paint applied. This leaves a "fogged" blend area just below the top of the cowl; often the top of the body tag will still have body color on it. Sometimes they did not use the mask-some '69s have almost no paint at the top of the firewall, now usually rusted.

Take the time, do it right.

On Van Nuys built 69's there seems to be a definative line of black and paint on the cowl. My car was original non z/28 and I observed this on other ORIGINAL cars. I duplicated this without the very slight overspray. I'm sure overspray amount depended on how tight they kept the template to the cowl.
My 67 z/28 has way more overspray and yes it is ORIGINAL. See the pics of my cowl tag and you will see how the original cowl looks.

Never a taped line on an original car.

Never a taped line on an original car.

That is correct, but there was a definate transition of color and black. Yes, the black had slight overspray, some cars probably more than others.
The factory did not intend for this to happen, but it did.

Heres one Ive just torn down. Obviously not taped off, but more definitive than many Ive seen:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/RamAirDave/Customer/100_1881.jpg

Ive also had a NOR Black stripe Z with the entire cowl painted black, up to the windshield. Was original paint.

dave

Early Norwood Z/28s were like that. There is a b & w photo in JMs '69 book of a known rallye green/white stripe car with white paint past the heater box. The top of the cowl is all white.

This one isnt an early car. 07A:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/RamAirDave/Random/100_0005.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/RamAirDave/Random/100_0003.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/RamAirDave/Random/100_0007.jpg

This was discussed here a while back. I think they were supposed to get the black treatment under the cowl, although most did not.

dave

Mine was dark green (close to Fathom Green). I think it was an anomaly...I think they ran out 30% gloss black that day....

http://www.littooy.com/hans/archives/Green%20Firewall%20WS.jpg

Now the question is - what color do I restore it to? Dark Green or 30% gloss black?

Hans

Mine was dark green (close to Fathom Green). I think it was an anomaly...I think they ran out 30% gloss black that day....


Now the question is - what color do I restore it to? Dark Green or 30% gloss black?

Hans

Hans,
My vote is to keep it original....

Thats pretty interesting, Hans.

Did the green on the firewall have any metallic, like the fathom color? Are you pretty confident that it was done like that from the factory?

As far as an anomaly, it certainly would be. If you go back with the green, there will of course be plenty of nay-sayers. But if you are able to back it up, you could go back with the green.

Only thing, though. I think it would hard to believe they ran out of black at the plant. Could be more of a mix up issue? I dont really know.

dave

One of the first Camaro books on the market was "The Great Camaro" published in 1978. There is a b & w photo of a '67 on the assembly line having the front sheet metal positioned. All components are in place on the firewall which is obviously body color.

Must have happened every now & then.

Here's a pic of a chalk mark on the firewall - you can see the dark green hue here as well. And yes, it's metallic. I'd be pretty surprised if it's not original and it can't be body color because the car is Cortez Silver.

Anyway, an interesting manufacturing variation. I've noted one other Z that had the same firewall color that was within a few 100 VIN's of mine, built at the LA plant.

http://www.littooy.com/hans/archives/Chalk%20Mark%20Web.jpg

Hans

Most semi-gloss blacks (satin?) seem to work well. I started out using Eastwood's Chassis Black. I ran out one day and used Rust O Leum Semi Gloss Black. I could not tell the difference. Just my $.02.
Mike