'82 Z-28 - Factory Color Scheme? - History / Restoration - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

kboehringer · 11-01-2005, 08:33 PM

TGO Friends,
My son and I are getting ready for some new paint (hopefully a X-Mas present) for my son Derek.

We been searching and looking for good examples of the ORIGINAL '82 Paint Scheme for his car. The Flat Black seems to vary on every car we see or find. We know the HeadLamp area is supposed to be black (B) and the area inside the small holes on the bottom skirt (C). However the Indy's and some other samples have had the primary intakes for the radiator (D) painted black. Was this an INDY ONLY painted black area? We've seen it painted this way on samples that were not INDY's.

Also there is a WIDE variety of paint schemes for the scoop area. This is a FUNCTIONAL Scoop as this car WAS a Crossfire. Unfortunately, the Cross-Fire is long gone (maybe someday we can return it to original) but we want it to look like it did when it came off the showroom floor 25 years ago. The INDY's (and some others we've seen) have a colored scoop and multiple stripes at the base, others (left upper sample) have flat black and no entry stripes. What should OUR car look like?

We have no color sticker on the Glove Box Door and don't even know what color this was called by GM. The Ground Effects were painted a darker gold when we purchased it and it APPEARED that this was an original color scheme. Was that correct?

Absolutely ANY help would be appreciated. Photos of an original '82 style STOCK color NOSE would be GREAT!

One more PITA item.... We found 5-Spoke GOLD Z-28 rims in a J.Yard. We can get them for $100. But I think they might look like POO (i.e. too much gold?). Would this car have come with GOLD 5-Spokes?

Thanks in advance for ANY help.
Kurt & Derek

kboehringer · 11-01-2005, 08:53 PM

TGO Friends,
This is what the car looked like before we started restoring it. The Scoop area (a) was painted darker gold, this did not look original. There was rounded corner striping around the scoop area and it look cheap and stupid. Original might have been similar color without the striping?. There was a large damage area in the middle of the scoop as a result of an engine fire or the constant back-firing without an air cleaner assy. The damage has been thoroughly repaired.

The headlamp areas (b) were definately painted over with Gold, we found the original black under about three layers of Maaco gold. The nose was in poor condition and was replaced with a J.Yard (red) nose in better condition.. We also found Black under the gold in the front spoiler area (d).

Thanks,
Kurt & Derek

phess11 · 11-02-2005, 03:37 PM

A, B and C were black. From the factory C was 2 black decals. You can get them from Yearone.com or Classicindustries.com

phess11 · 11-02-2005, 03:44 PM

another from the brochure...

phess11 · 11-02-2005, 03:47 PM

another

camaro430sut · 11-02-2005, 03:49 PM

my buddy has a bone stock 60k mile 84 z. everything u outlined is painted black-a,b,c,and d. i donno if i was just a 84 deal or a 82-84 deal. i just kno its got all the original paint and those parts are black. ill c if i can get some pics later.
matt

scottmoyer · 11-02-2005, 07:08 PM

The hood area should have a satin black decal set. The headlight buckets and the GFX slots are painted black to match the finish of the hood decals. I have seen some cars with the area around the front plate black also, but most are body colored. I don't know which year or color combo this might be specific to. I think this is what your car is supposed to look like. There should be the triple decal stripe above the gfx in tri gold also.

kboehringer · 11-02-2005, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phess11
A, B and C were black. From the factory C was 2 black decals. You can get them from Yearone.com or Classicindustries.com

phess11,
Thanks for taking the time to post the original ads for the early Z-28. I've saved all the Photos to my son's Z-28 folder for future reference.

I think most of these cars (25 year olds) have had a few owners and all the samples I have seen have changed a thing or two over the years.

Thanks for identifying a source for the decals. That will be a lot easier than trying to paint that area properly as I may be taking on the painting project myself (with help from a friend or two).

Sincerely,
Kurt

kboehringer · 11-02-2005, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scottmoyer
The hood area should have a satin black decal set. The headlight buckets and the GFX slots are painted black to match the finish of the hood decals. I have seen some cars with the area around the front plate black also, but most are body colored. I don't know which year or color combo this might be specific to. I think this is what your car is supposed to look like.

scottmoyer,
Thanks for the photo of the Gold Z-28. It's actually opposite of what our car APPEARS to have been from GM. However, it certainly shows that the Gold Spokes look really pretty decent and much better than the garbage the previous owner installed on my Son's Z-28. I think you convinced me to go and get those rims this weekend. The hard part is going to be finding those ultra-hard-to-find plastic center caps. The J.Yard set doesn't have them.

Does anybody know the color codes for that Gold Color Scheme?Or, know of a web-site or other method I can use to determine them on my own. As I stated in the previous post the glove box sticker no longer exists.

I GUESS that the plate area was only painted black at the factory for the Indy Pace Cars. The one or two cars I have seen up close and personal had been repainted. I personally prefer body color, but we do want to keep the "GM Original" look regardless of what that turns out to be.

ANOTHER RELATED QUESTION: The indentation on the rear bumper has either been painted black or a sticker has been inserted in the indentation on several early Z-28's I've seen. I assume that YearOne will have that sticker if has the Scoop Area Stickers. I ASSUME that was also a stock GM original on all the '82's?

Sincerely,
Kurt

scottmoyer · 11-02-2005, 07:59 PM

The center caps show up regularly on eBay. Make sure you get the GM ones and not reproduction. The reproduction sets don't lock onto the wheel very well and are prone to flying off.

The color codes should be on the upper radiator support. There will be a plate riveted to it with 2 numbers and the letters L and U. it will be seen as XXL XXU. Let us know what the XXs are and we can tell you the color. If the plate isn't there, feel under the passenger seat in the seat springs and see if the build sheet is still there. If it is, you will need to remove the seat to get it out in 1 piece.

The rear bumper indentation was also a black decal. This can be purchased as part of a kit from Classic Industries, Year One or Phoenix Graphics. Classic Industries will also have most emblems needed for a full restoration.

By the way, I don't know what you mean the color is opposite? The picture above shows the only shade of gold on the gfx during 82-84. The rims will be the same color gold as the gfx. The only thing that could be possible is that the top color is cream. There was a cream color with gold gfx. Based on your pic, I think this is the closest to original you'll find.

scottmoyer · 11-02-2005, 08:23 PM

Here's another pic I found that shows that lower stripe set. The colors could be off due to photo lighting.

or

kboehringer · 11-02-2005, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scottmoyer
.........The color codes should be on the upper radiator support. There will be a plate riveted to it with 2 numbers and the letters L and U. it will be seen as XXL XXU. Let us know what the XXs are and we can tell you the color. If the plate isn't there, feel under the passenger seat in the seat springs and see if the build sheet is still there. If it is, you will need to remove the seat to get it out in 1 piece.
.........By the way, I don't know what you mean the color is opposite? The picture above shows the only shade of gold on the gfx during 82-84. The rims will be the same color gold as the gfx. The only thing that could be possible is that the top color is cream. There was a cream color with gold gfx. Based on your pic, I think this is the closest to original you'll find.

ScottMoyer,
Here's ALL the data from the plate you mentioned. Some of it is a little hard to read as it's not in A#1 condition.

G(?) 04D(?) 1FF87 L 152366
18 D 55L 55U N
AQ9 CC1
D B S 224135

Do you happen to know what any of those other numbers/letters mean?

As far as the "Opposite" is concerned we actually went out and took a GOOD look at it and you're correct that photo probably is pretty darn close. We had to go out and look to remind ourselves that it actually is dark over light not the other way around. The "Original" color in your photo looks a little darker because of the lighting. Also, my son's Z-28 has been repainted a couple times (minimum) although none of the Jams have been repainted and they look pretty close the the exterior. I don't believe this color would be considered "Cream".

Thanks again,
Kurt & Derek

scottmoyer · 11-02-2005, 08:46 PM

Code 55 is Gold. I guess my pics are of brown with gold trim. Let me see if I can find a gold on gold car. I've seen them, I just don't think I have a pic. I know someone on this board has one that color. I've seen it.

phess11 · 11-02-2005, 09:15 PM

http://www.paintscratch.com/cgi-bin/makepaint2.cgi

medium gold metalic

55L 55U L = lower body, U= Upper body

they are different for 2 tone cars.

91Zman · 11-02-2005, 09:53 PM

This your Z's possible colors???

kboehringer · 11-03-2005, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 91Zman
This your Z's possible colors???

91Zman,
That's it!!! Even the interior looks like it's the same color (light gray seats , although our seats also need some serious repairs). Do you own the vehicle pictured or is this just a photo you were able to find for us?

Kurt

91Zman · 11-03-2005, 07:45 AM

It was just a picture that I have saved on my PC.

Lo-tec · 11-03-2005, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kboehringer
The hard part is going to be finding those ultra-hard-to-find plastic center caps. The J.Yard set doesn't have them.

GM still has them available for the 15" wheels. Part # 10154284, list price $36.42. The decal for the center of the cap (Z28 logo) in 3-tone silver is 14035332, list price $16.72. The hard part is shelling out over $50 buck a cap. FWIW, my one owner '84 originally had A, B, and C painted black but not D.

phess11 · 11-03-2005, 11:38 AM

Hawks has 4 center caps for $90.

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/wheel_centers

scottmoyer · 11-03-2005, 04:59 PM

Contact the dealer and inform them that the center caps have not been used since 1992. Tell them that they have been in inventory taking up shelf space and ask what they will take for them. I did this with a set of rear window louvers and the sales manager dropped the price from $240 (or something like that) to $90 shipped.

kboehringer · 11-03-2005, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scottmoyer
Contact the dealer and inform them that the center caps have not been used since 1992. Tell them that they have been in inventory taking up shelf space and ask what they will take for them. I did this with a set of rear window louvers and the sales manager dropped the price from $240 (or something like that) to $90 shipped.

scottmoyer,
That's a great idea!, Thanks for the idea!!

91Zman,
Your photo has convinced us that the stock looks of the original spokes are going to be perfect. That is really the look we are after.

We're going to take a REALLY good look at the Rims at the Salvage Yard to make sure they don't have any serious "Curb-Rash" or other problems. We kinda noticed them in a corner of the building and didn't spend enough time looking them over, (although they did look pretty nice from a couple feet away). We can get the center caps as time (and $$) permits.

phess11,
Thanks for the paint link we'll place an order for the single stage #55 in a week or two.

We also started ordering replacement seals so we can start stripping the old stuff off and start preparing the under-seal areas for paint.

We're going to leave the intake area "D" body color. It's possible this area MIGHT have been black originally but most of the samples we have seen are body color. Maybe some of those we have seen were owner color changes? The only car we know absolutely positively had back in area "D" for every single unit WE HAVE EVER SEEN is the '82 Indy Pace Car Version.

Sincerely,
Kurt & Derek

scottmoyer · 11-03-2005, 07:53 PM

Why go single stage? Wouldn't Base/Clear be a better option these days?

kboehringer · 11-03-2005, 08:24 PM

scottmoyer,

According to the paint web-site. That is what would have been applied to this car originally. We're not going that NUTS about stock looks, heck NOTHING under the hood is stock.....

The problem is that [b]"I'm probably going to be the guy doing the painting"[b]. I have VERY limited experience & have NEVER had any experience with clear-coat. I've painted a car or two (actually a Jeep & a VW Beetle) and they turned out better than some paint jobs I've seen guys pay a whole Bunch of $$ for.

I can take it to a "CHEAPO FRANCHISE" and get overspray on everything, tape lines and missed areas for over $700 (because of the Black, Gold, Gold).

Or.... I can pay a few Thousand to a good body shop and have more $$ in paint than we have invested in the entire project.

Or... I can do the best job I know how for a few hundred and a bunch of sweat-equity. With help from some good friends it will look pretty decent. I'm a little afraid of the Clear-coat.

My primary helper (a 60 year old mechanic from my plant that use to own a body shop) has great prep skills but also has never used clear-coat.

Sincerely,
Kurt

91Zman · 11-03-2005, 10:48 PM

Glad to have helped......enjoy your project

BumpaD82 · 11-04-2005, 03:37 PM

WOW I just had to say

for all the '82 LOVE in this thread it makes my whole day !!!