What years had clearcoats from the factory? How about my 1985 Z28? I think it was built in Van Nuys.

 

1986 was the first year for the Clear Coat... Both Van Nuys and Norwood changed at the same time. With the change, 1986 was the ONLY year to have no paint codes transfer from the previous year. All other years from 1983 - 1985 and 1987 - 1992 all had colors carry over from the previous year.

John

 

damn..... well, I guess I need to find a pro to buff my paint then. I don't want to screw it up.

Thanks for the quick response!

 

so 82-85 3rd gen came from the factory with a single stage paint?

You learn something new everyday

 

My 84 is single stage Enamel................When did GM stop using laquer?

 

My firebird has a build date of July 1985 and has the base coat clear coat paint from the factory, (GM black) so it appears some of the late build 85's came with BCCC.

 

What does your SPID sheet say?

19U = Black
41U = BCCC Black

It could have been a mid-year change, all I am going on is the books and lit that I have laying around.

John

 

i could've sworn it looked like clear coat peeling on the b-pillar of my 84 T/A but I know it was original paint. Either way, it's getting resprayed with BCCC now! Can something happen to a single-stage paint to make it look similar to peeling clearcoat?

 

The service parts identification label for my car says:

BC / CC WA - L 8555 U -8555


Breaking the codes this translates to GM black with urethane clear coat.
The build date on the car is July 1985. My opinion is that GM began to "pilot" certain changes with whatever was coming down the pike ahead of the model year that full production was suppose to take place. This was done of course to weed out any potential problems. This is why there are always a few cars out there that have strange parts that their really not suppose to have according to the reference guides.

 

I am not sure if the Firebird started earlier than the Camaro... I honestly was looking at the Camaro White book... I just thought it would have been very unusual for The Firebird to start a major change like that before the Camaro... It only made sense to have them both change at the same time.

John

 

I'll tell you, I was very surprised to find out that this car had clear coat paint. Shortly after I bought it in 1988, I wanted to buy a small bottle of duplicolor brush on touch up paint to repair some stone chips and in breaking the codes on the service parts identification label in the center console box, I discovered it was a clear coat car. I had assumed when I bought it that it was single stage paint. Perhaps the plant in Norwood Ohio where the car was built was selected to try out the clear coat paint before full production began in 1986. I would say there are most likely some late 85 build Camaros out there with the factory clear coat paint too.

 

i just picked up a 1985 Z-28 Sport Coupe W/
iroc hood & wheels, and I decoded the vin today, found out it was built in Norwood, Ohio and has single stage enamel red paint job. (now it's up here in Thunder Bay, On. ,Canada!...go figure,..if cars could talk,..eh!)

 

My 85 TA was base/clear. Bought the car from the original owner, it was never repainted. I had to repair some damage myself, in sanding the car I know it was clearcoated. Unfortunately I gave all the paperwork away with that car so I cant post up the build sheet or anything else. I cant even remember exactly when it was built anymore.

 

Hey Madmax, I know what you mean. I've had over 20 cars throughout the years, and am pissed at myself for not at least taking photocopies of certain paper work. (maybe they didn't have them machines back then!..or I was too busy working on them to stop and take pictures...sure wish I had though). Ismo.