Well today I have started restoration on my 89 Firebird. These are the things I am planning to do.
The clearcoat is coming off so I am now in the process of working on the body . I have a small rust spot on the driver side door just under the trim strip . I have removed the strip and grinding out the rust. I plan on having the car repainted over the winter.

After that I plan on removing the engine and installing a new performance cam , lifters, and timing set , new valve seals and drilling out the the exhaust manifold bolts that are broke off.

The reason I am removing the engine is , I have a garage and engine lift ,and it is so much easier to do the work when it is right in your lap, plus I want to redo all of the vacuum lines in and ouside the car.

Next the back seat will be redone and the headliner everything else inside is in great shape.

My question is , where can I find the color code for the paint. The car is bright red and I would like to keep the original color.

Another Question what cam and lifter combination would be best on my 2.8.

I have also thought of doing the paint prep myself and having Maaco paint the car because I dont have a paint booth.

Has anyone ever had any experiences with Maaco?

TIA , ICD55

 

http://www.paintscratch.com/colALL.htm

that place will show you an area that you can find you paint color.. if it is in fact the original color of the car.

if you need jsut pain color codes:

http://www.paintscratch.com/cgi-bin/...cgi?AFFIL=1016



choose year and make, then choose the next option, then it will give you a list, and the color code next to the actual color.


hope this helps... good luck with the restore..

 

Your red is called "Flame Red" same color as the corvettes, any auto paint supply shop can hook you up with the supplies along with the clear coat supplies.

if you not painting it yourself GET IT DONE PROFESSIONALLY. Have someone that paints hot rodes for people, paint your car.

DON"T go to Maaco, they will make it worse.

 

DO NOT GO TO MACCO STAY AWAY Your car will have to be painted with in 2 yrs after wards

 

I disagree... our local Maaco here in Toms River does all kinds of hot-rods and stuff... It's not the fact that you're going to a Maaco, it's the fact that the painters who work there think they can do a ****ty job just because of who they work for... The guy here does a very good job, I've seen it... it's not perfect, and needs wetsanding afterwards, but it's definatly not what you all think a Maaco job is.

My suggestion to you is go to your local Maaco's, and look at the cars that have just been painted, go in an talk to the painters and gind out what they paid for the paintjobs. If it looks good and you get a good vib from the place, I say go for it, otherwise, you may be better off getting a "real" painter to do it.

I still suggest you do all the prep yourself and that you mask off as much as you can prior to painting... Go so far as to take the front clip off, the rear lights and the GFX... that way you get as much for your money as possible.

I saw a guy with a worke Monte SS with a yellow paintjob. Needed to be wetsanded, that it... very nice, everything was masked very nicely and painted very well... no "Yellow chrome" like you tend to see with the really cheap paintjob places (crappy Maaco's)... well this car was done in Toms River, the guy said to the painter flat out, "Here's my car, I want it yellow, take a look at the engine bay (beautiful carbed 350, chome stuff with a sound to back up the looks) for a indication of what I want the paint to look like, take care of me and I'll take care of you" and left. $1200 and the guy was very happy, ended up tipping the guy $300.

Those are just my Maaco paintjob stories. I highly sugest you don't knock Maaco until you actually go and see what kinda work they do at your local one. Remember, they hire professional painters to do professional work, but if they arn't getting paid a professional rate (Economy paintjob for 200 bucks) they arn't going to give a crap how much of your chrome gets "a little overspray on it"...

 

If you truely love your F-body you won't let Maaco f*** it up for you. Have somebody who LIKES cars, paint it. I've seen what body shops do to my Camaro when people back into me and I have to get it fixed. They leave stuff unpainted and they break all the ground effects when they pull them off. AND the shop that did it was in buiness for 50 years so I guess it's going down the tubes.

 

A lot of REAL bodyshops won't touch your car with a ten foot pole if its been previously painted by MAACO. Just a slight hint of the bad quality they do.

Do a search on the cam and lifters. Plenty of info, been asked all the time. Get the Crane Cams 2030 and 1.6 Roller Rockers

 

Thanks for the info on Maaco , that is kind of what I thought. Just so happens one of the guys I used to race against in power boat racing owns a body shop. His son is going to do the body work and paint it for $200 , I supply the paint and materials . I have seen his work and it is very good . He pointed out where my car had been repaired before and why the clear coat is coming off.

Thanks for the info on the cam . I am going to check on that one . I may have to wait on it ,but it will be done this winter.
I will keep you guys posted.

 

I have seen all kinds of different maccos do diffferent jobs. I have seen a couple even go for 4+ years and still look good.


It helps to know the painter, and do ALOT of the prep work before hand. I helped a freind sand/mask his car before taking it to macco and the painter took his time, and did a really good job. Yes it needed wet sanding afterwards, but it was still a great job. I knew the painter, and he saw me helping the guy prep the car in the parking lot and he said he would take care of it.

Moral, If the painter sees that you took your time and did alot of the prep work for him, he will do a good job.

 

Little info on Maaco for ya...Each one is privately owned...So it depends on how good the owner is at what he does and who he hires...I have seen jobs done by my local Maaco here in Pawtucket, RI and also Cranston, RI...and the jobs look pretty good to me...so it just depends on who owns it...the guy over here gave me a deal that was good...since I go to school and can't afford a 1500 paint/body job...a 600 one sounds fine to me...as long as you take care of that paint job it will last...

 

Be smart.
Your car looks great.
GO FIND A RUNNING LOW MILAGE 3.4 MILL AND INSTALL IT.
Why waste time on a cam & stuff for a small engine. Get it all in one package, MORE power MORE cubic inches BETTER gas milage.
Your engine is outta the car do it right.
Spend the extra saved money on a new tranny, too.
Have a great long lifetime driving ride and paint it next year.
Paint it green with envy of all the people who droll how quick the ride is for only a V-6!
I bandaided the exterior of my 1985 Firebird while I installed a better drive train.
Tested my drivetrain tonight, too.
Painted long twin black strips on a cement driveway. I only hope the extreme amount of torque didn't break my tranny mount!

This coming weekend I finally get the good looking nose piece I seek before I rattle spray can paint to match. I obtain nose piece for about $30 or so.
My car is Body Shop Beige to spray paint cans.

Do your car right.
INSTALL A 3.4!!!!

 

ANybody know bout the one in Niagra Falls?

 

NIAGARA FALLS
slowly I turn
step by step
bit by bit
inch by inch

Start hitting up body shop, car rental places wrecking yards, wrecking yard hot lines.
MAKE SURE you ONLY SEEK
1993-1995 F BODY RWD 3.4 mills.
ONLY THOSE WORK.
ONLY THOSE WORK.
Ask in Canada, too
I pay the most, others have paid way less (like $200 or more, mostly $500. I paid $800 & $900 for my 2)

 

KED85 did you ever wire up that device I sent you??

 

Not yet.
I'm gonna get my truck running next.
I gotta get it ready for smog testing soon.
I was given more time in my life again, so I open that package soon.

 

I did the body work and had Maaco paint the car.

The only real blemishes are where I messed up on the work, and its my fault.

The paint looks very good and shines very awesomely.

However, I will say the people at my local Maaco are slightly lazy. Beware of poor taping jobs and overspray where you may not want it.