I have a 69 Z28 that is truly a time warp. This was not a barn find. But a car that has been treated really well over last 38 years by the previous 2 owners.
Over 90% of the car is all original. 30% of the paint on the outside is still original. The body paint was freshened up some time in the late 70's. The interior is untouched but looks almost new in appearance. All the sheet metal is original. The entire drive train has never been monkeyed with or removed from the car. Still has the "O" stamped on all of the rocker arms. Still has the original fuel pump and starter. So I think you catch my drift that this is a pretty nice original old car that has been very well taken care of over the years.

But here is my dilemma.
I want to clean up the underneath of the car and the engine compartment. For example, clean the frame the best I can and paint it or touch it up. Clean the differential and paint it. I have already started taking a few engine compartment pieces off and have repainted of course back to the original colors. I have left the original stickers alone.

My big question is....Is it a bad thing to freshen up some of the original parts on such a survivor type car? (some parts just need to have paint on them so that they don't rust...in my opinion)
To me, I am doing things that anyone would do with the upkeep of their vehicle. For example if the paint has warn off the differential then you simply paint it.(Which it has..)
I have never owned a car like this, so I want to make sure I am doing the right thing. Of course its my car and I can do as I please. But on the flip side, I do not want to hurt the value or anything like that.


Thanks for the help! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Anthony

Anthony,
I wouldn't change the "survivor" condition it's in personally.I doubt repainting a few things here and there is any big deal but it can get to a point to where you start wondering "where do I stop". It's only original once as the saying goes and I would be careful. An original Camaro with a little dust/wear/faded plastic/etc. is appealing to me. Not too many around.

Doug

I have a Fathom Green '69 Z very much like yours that is essentially untouched except it has a "CE" block and a replacement exhaust system, otherwise all-original and extremely well-cared for inside and out during its 34,000 miles. All I've done is to clean it up underhood (intake, valve covers, booster, exhaust manifolds, carb, etc.), and I drive it and enjoy it.

I've done numerous Corvette full body-off restorations over the years, and it was difficult to resist the temptation to go any deeper on the '69 Z, but they're only original once, and there are VERY few REAL cars like this one still in existence in this condition; it's going to stay just the way it is. :yes: :thumbsup:

It's good enough that Chevrolet borrowed it and took it to Las Vegas to be on the stage with the '09 Camaro back in September for the National Dealer Business Conference when they introduced the '09 to the dealers - that's good enough for me. :)

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/13522/CamaroVegas300K.jpg


:beers:

Just clean everything you can.
But don't refinish anything - leave it alone.
Sometimes it looks worse that way, but the true car guy really appreciates it like that.

Just clean and detail - no paint.
If you start repainting stuff - you will go past survivor to restored.

John, was that a poster - got any extras? :D

Very interesting perspective John. I had no idea that was your car. :thumbsup:

Thanks for the tips!
It will be hard to leave things alone. But it sounds like I need to enjoy what I have not try and make it into something its not.

A lot of this stuff was supposed to be that way... the rear axle for example, was not ever painted. Bare cast iron, and yes it will take on a certain "patina"
Clean, of course, is always good.

The model T guys have the same dilema and it seems the majority say do not paint. one idea was to wipe it with a rag that has been dampened with kerosene to prevent rust.

TTFN
Mat

one idea was to wipe it with a rag that has been dampened with kerosene to prevent rust. TTFN MatI agree, FWIW.

Nice car & poster, JohnZ

[QUOTE=JimM;715670]A lot of this stuff was supposed to be that way... the rear axle for example, was not ever painted. Bare cast iron, and yes it will take on a certain "patina"
QUOTE]

Absolutely incorrect.

There are a number of vintage magazine photos showing 1st gen rear axles were painted a glossy black, brake drums included. The HP Cars photos of the #3 ZL1 were taken when it was virtually new and clearly show a black axle. Hot Rod modified a new Z/28 in 1969 and the axle can be seen in several of the photos; the brake drums are clearly painted.

if you say so William. None of the ones I've owned have ever been painted.
Perhaps Hot Rod liked theirs better black?

Well they were as verified by John Z. And pictures are worth 1000 words.

They were painted at the gear & axle plant prior to the installation of brake lines and e-brake cables. The flange was masked with a paper sleeve. From the photos it appears no attempt was made to mask the studs; the exposed end of the axle usually had some paint.

Having been active in the hobby, primarily 69s, for 32 years I have had a number of axles that still had factory paint on them. However I can understand why many believe they were not painted. The paint went on with no primer or prep on an oily axle; simply did not hold up in most Northern climates.

I have a very similar RS Z28 that I struggle over all the time to restore or leave it alone. In my case I have some surface rust on the frame and some on the underbody. The paint on the lower body panels don't look great up close nor does the trim around the wheel openings.

JohnZ not sure if your car has trim around the wheel openings, but if so I would be curious to know what type of condition they are in. How does the paint look up close? Same question for other survivor car owners.

Thanks

:thumbsup:

[quote=JimM;715670]A lot of this stuff was supposed to be that way... the rear axle for example, was not ever painted. Bare cast iron, and yes it will take on a certain "patina"
QUOTE]

Absolutely incorrect.

There are a number of vintage magazine photos showing 1st gen rear axles were painted a glossy black, brake drums included. The HP Cars photos of the #3 ZL1 were taken when it was virtually new and clearly show a black axle. Hot Rod modified a new Z/28 in 1969 and the axle can be seen in several of the photos; the brake drums are clearly painted.
I don't need no stinkin book to tell. (NO OFFENSE William;) ) They came painted. Period.

Lawrence,

Here's my .02. I have a similar Z/28 that I have owned for a long time, when I got it was just a 10 year old car with low mileage. I did several things to it then to make it look better that I could kick myself now. An example was a buzz bomb job on the firewall to cover up those nasty orange PTB stamps. Only good thing is that I have pictures before.

I started cleaning up some parts two years ago and when I put them back on they made the rest of the car look bad so I went a little deeper. At that time there was not much interest in the survivor cars, and I am not sure how well it would have fit into that class anyway. I have decided to restore the car to how it was, I don't want to do the over restoration route. If I have pictures of inspection marks they go back on, if I don't none will be there.

Cars are only original once but if you have trouble owning and looking at a car that has some "personality" you may need to make some changes.

Bottom line, it will be your choice what you will end up doing with your car.

Mike

JohnZ not sure if your car has trim around the wheel openings, but if so I would be curious to know what type of condition they are in. How does the paint look up close? Same question for other survivor car owners.

Thanks

:thumbsup:

Yes, it's an X33 car with wheel opening moldings, and they're in good shape - no dings on the outside. Paint shows some light checking down low and at the roof-to-quarter solder joints, otherwise it's quite well-preserved and shows very well. Chevy's Show Car Prep center did a great wax job (by hand, no buffers) on it before it was shipped to Las Vegas, saved me the trouble of doing it this season. :)

It was my understanding the axel tubes were always painted. It was the actual gear housing that was sometimes found to be painted and sometimes left bare.

Yes, it's an X33 car with wheel opening moldings, and they're in good shape - no dings on the outside. Paint shows some light checking down low and at the roof-to-quarter solder joints, otherwise it's quite well-preserved and shows very well. Chevy's Show Car Prep center did a great wax job (by hand, no buffers) on it before it was shipped to Las Vegas, saved me the trouble of doing it this season. :)

Thanks---sounds nice.

I wouldnt refinish any of the paint/finishes on the car. Just a good cleanup.

Several have used www.safestrustremover.com with very good results. :thumbsup:

just wondering how much u pick up this sweet ride 4?

Use the stuff RamAirDave listed above and then preserve bare parts with Boeshield. Don't paint anything.

Use the stuff RamAirDave listed above and then preserve bare parts with Boeshield. Don't paint anything.

Oh, yeah... forgot to mention www.boeshield.com (http://www.boeshield.com) :thumbsup: