This is a question for all you Third Gen historians out there. I have searched this subject in this forum and in the web in general but have not found the answer anywhere.

I have an 84 Camaro and I have been cleaning up the engine bay this winter. I just removed all the gunk from the K-member and discovered not a single indication that this was ever painted by the factory. It looks like shiny bare metal, but there is no rust. Is the K-member galvanized?

I actually like the way it looks and don't want to paint it unless it is going to rust.

 

I don't seem to recall seeing one that was painted/treated over the years that came that way from the factory. Most of the ones I've seen all have surface rust. Is your car undercoated at all? Maybe a previous owner had the car oil sprayed or undercoated?

 

No, it's a west coast car, no undercoating anywhere.

 

From the factory IIRC it was unpainted but was coated with a black waxy sort of substance.

 

if u like the bare metal look spray a clear spray bomb over it to avoid the rusting

I know its not 100% OEM but my underside is all simi gloss black