black on tailpan on ss cars

[onebad34]

What is the correct color for the black tailpan on a big block SS 67 camaro.  gloss or 60%

[Charley]

LOL...You will get 10 different answers.......Gloss from me.

[KurtS]

Read http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=2308.0;all

[Jerry@CHP]

Looked at an all original 6000 mile BB SS396 Camaro this past week in Ohio on one of my road trips.  The rear tail panel is pretty glossy.  I used to believe that these panels were pretty dull or satin but from I'm seeing lately on original cars is alot more glossy than I remember as a kid.

Jerry

[vtfb68]

Glossy, mine is the same as the RS black on the bottom of the doors
                                                                                         

[rs/ss camaro collector]

my father has 3 original 1968 SS/ ............ RS/SS ........and a............. Z/28 they have never been repainted because he baught them new. they are all 60% like a satin. NOT GLOSSY   at all. I just think people are getting more laxed on originality. Because if you see my fathers original cars he baught new they are totally stock and untouched. The stripes too. Partial sticker and partial 60% satin GM paint

[RickH]

my father has 3 original 1968 SS/ ............ RS/SS ........and a............. Z/28 they have never been repainted because he baught them new. they are all 60% like a satin. NOT GLOSSY   at all. I just think people are getting more laxed on originality. Because if you see my fathers original cars he baught new they are totally stock and untouched. The stripes too. Partial sticker and partial 60% satin GM paint

So if I read your post correctly the Z/28's tailpanel is 60% glossy as well? That would be interseting to see.

Rick H.

[Gramps69Z]

I'm going to leave my Z's tailpan orange. 

[tom]

As stated recently in another thread, even if originally painted semi gloss, 40 or so years of polishing, and buffing could change the appearance. Makes sense to me, what was once semi gloss, may now appear glossy, even original paint.

Tom

[Pex68]

As stated recently in another thread, even if originally painted semi gloss, 40 or so years of polishing, and buffing could change the appearance. Makes sense to me, what was once semi gloss, may now appear glossy, even original paint.

Exactly!  Wax something semi-gloss once and tell me if it looks the same.  Even spray detailers will give it more gloss.

[Ejam]

Looked at an all original 6000 mile BB SS396 Camaro this past week in Ohio on one of my road trips.  The rear tail panel is pretty glossy.  I used to believe that these panels were pretty dull or satin but from I'm seeing lately on original cars is alot more glossy than I remember as a kid.

Jerry

Jerry was the car an automatic or stick? I am trying to find some certain things out about that car. Do you have the guys email address?

[dig383]

I am getting ready to paint my wife's 67RSSS 396 camaro.
The tail panel was black but what color black?
Simi gloss or some form of matte black?

[william]

All the survivor cars I have seen had full gloss black paint on the rockers and/or rear body panel. I doubt it received the same buff/polish process as the rest of the car and quickly appeared somewhat dull.

[Pex68]

I am getting ready to paint my wife's 67RSSS 396 camaro.
The tail panel was black but what color black?
Simi gloss or some form of matte black?

See the other thread quoted above.  I'm in the semi-gloss (or not full gloss) pack.  It doesn’t make sense to me that if they were full gloss just like the black cars Chevrolet would make a note to NOT black out the tail pan on black car!  Why would they do that if the black-out paint was the same full gloss paint?  As to what percentage of gloss it should be, that's a different story, and if the paint was being flattened at the factory, potentially every batch could have been a little different.  Also have to take into account when the car was prepped at the dealer, some may have buffed the tailpan, some not.  That alone would change how it looked right out the door hence the many different opinions.

[Charley]

Gloss.....

[wtexz10]

I'm 55 and I really don't remember these panels being gloss black when I was a kid.  I seem to remember being careful not to wax these panels because wax really messed up the semi gloss. 

My 2 cent recollection of ancient history.

Kris

[Ed Bertrand]

This debate has been raging for many, MANY years and it won't get settled until original Fisher documentation is found (if ever).

While I have a lot of respect for Jerry, William and Charley, I also believe (my opinion only) that the black was semi gloss based on pictures from the 1968 CAMARO DEALER SALES ALBUM. This is clearly a semi gloss finish. However, I don't have the 1967 or 1969 Dealer Sales Album, so I can't say what those pictures show, if anything.

The Camaro wasn't the only car in the model line to use black accents. The Chevelle, Nova and Corvette also used black accents and these are known to be semi gloss. Why would Chevrolet make every car EXCEPT the Camaro semi gloss? Not only that, but just about every US automaker had cars with black accents, and these are all known to be semi gloss. Take a look at any Mustang or Chrysler muscle car from the late 60's, early 70's and you'll see what I mean.

Our own WEB site also states the black was SEMI GLOSS, but if and when actual paint instructions are found, this won't go away, so paint it whatever amount of gloss you feel comfortable with. Just be aware that if you have your car judged, you'll be wrong no matter what amount of gloss you use!!

Ed

[gro51]

My 2 cents:  In the summer of 1969 a guy on my street bought a brand new 1969 SS 396 right off the lot.  Body color was white.  Rear tail panel was semi gloss black.

[jdv69z]

I saw many of these cars in my youth as well, and if you would ask me, I would swear they were semi gloss or a somewhat flat black also. But now that I'm reading this thread, I have to admit that I'm not really so sure any more. It's been a long time and the memory can play tricks.

Jimmy V.

[Charley]

Orig paint 69 Yenko I had...gloss black

[Charley]

Orig paint low mile 68 L78.

[JohnZ]

I'll go against the grain with this one too - I saw hundreds of them coming down the line at Norwood iin February and March of 1969, and I never saw one that was gloss black.

[Charley]

Then someone show me a survivor , orig paint car with semi gloss paint.

[Mark]

Rear panel blackout, stripes and rocker trim black out on style trim cars was done in the in line repair booth after the car had been painted and firewall had been blacked out in the blackout booth at the end of the paint shop.  How many colors of black did they have in the repair booth, a gloss for the stripes and rocker panel blackout (never heard anyone question the gloss level here) and a semigloss for the tail panel?

[dig383]

Thanks for the replies.
I called DuPont auto refinish and got the following reply.
Use croma one single stage acrylic urethane in code 99G black.
mix 25% 4531 flattner to ready to spray 99G
You should get satin black as original.
I'm 62 years old and remember when the cars were new but I don't remember them being gloss.
But that was along time ago.

[Charley]

The Dupont guy probably  read in a magazine that they were satin...

[vtfb68]

Drop the bumper or remove the tail lights. If it still has the  factory finish there will be untouched paint. My O5C LA car was glossy since i purchased it in 1980, This year i stripped the car and had it repainted and am now sure it was semi-gloss.
  Victor

[RamAirDave]

There's only one I've seen recently that was OP in the jambs (the jambs and behind the bumper are the areas to really judge IMO because you never really know how much the "exposed" areas have been rubbed/buffed in the 40 or so years), the rest of the car had been repainted.  I would have to go back and look at it again closer, especially on the trunk-side weatherstrip lip, but the pics I have are definitely not gloss.

We restored an OP BB car about 10 years ago, way before dig pics (only have a couple film pics of it anymore) and my memory is no help.  The one pic I do have shows no reflection.

I've also seen satin OP rocker paint, behind the fender where there was never any sun exposure.

So.... I really don't know.  Maybe it was an inconsistent deal?

[sixt9x33rs]

What would be the correct sheen for the rockers on RS cars? Gloss or semi-gloss?

[Ed Bertrand]

Semi Gloss on both the rockers (Z22 Rally Sport cars), and the tail pan (SS Big Block cars).

Ed

[Ed Bertrand]

To add to what I just wrote above, I decided it was time to put this debate to rest, so I contacted Jim Mattison to get the straight poop on this subject. Here's what he had to say (submitted with his permission):

In 1968 through 1971, I was a member of the Fleet & Special Order Department
(the collectors call it COPO) at Chevrolet Central Office, in Detroit.  A part of
my daily duties was to approve or disapprove special paint requests, in addition
to handling the other COPO requests.  I would innerface with the folks at Dupont
and at the assembly plants.
 
Your question is an interesting one that I've not been asked in many years.
Every year I would recieve a listing of paint specs for both passenger car and
trucks, to aid in the special paint process.  As you know, all big block Camaros
had the upper rear tail panel painted black.  A little known fact is that some
of the COPO 427 Camaros had this rear panel painted black also, although in
the restoration process, years later they were repainted body color.
 
Unfortunately, I no longer have my paint spec books and I sincerely doubt that
there are any other copies around.  However, I remember vividly that this rear
panel on the big block Camaros was painted a "Satin Black", not a gloss, nor a
flat black.  I hope that this information is helpful.

To add to this, we also discussed the lower rocker color on the Rally Sport cars and again, these are a "Satin Black" like the tail panel.

Ed

[wtexz10]

Yes!  We old dudes rule!  I knew it wasn't gloss black.  I can not rest easy.

Now I just need to buy a big block SS and correct it's tail panel.   


Kris

[Pex68]

Way to go Ed!!!!

[m22mike]

Very interesting...

  Mike

[gro51]

Next case Your Honor.

[Buddy]

I concur, I saw many of these when they were new...SATIN BLACK......for sure! Also, if they had painted them Gloss I would have repainted them Satin myself..gloss is just too nerdy looking.   

BM

[RamAirDave]

Here are pics I have of an OP 69 RS Z's rockers.  Car was taken off the road in '79, shoved off in a barn until '05 which is when these pics were taken.  I can't say they were all satin, but this one surely was.

[tom]

Per the recently bought book: "The Great Camaro" May 1979 printing regarding 68's: "Dull-finish black trunk end panels graced all 1968 Super Sport 396's except those with black paint jobs."  Caption with photo on page 45.

[william]

Survivors exist in gloss and satin.

[Mark]

I guess it all depends on the teminology people use.

Flat = 0 % gloss
Semi gloss = 50% gloss
Gloss = 100 % gloss

Where does the tail panel fall now?

I still lean towards the panels being full gloss, or something real close.  The blackout was painted the same time the stripes and rocker blaclout were painted.  From a manufacturing perspective no one would have painted the stripes full gloss, and then switched to a something more than semi gloss (say 80% gloss paint) for the tail panel and rockers when 99.9 percent of the peple buying the car would not have known the difference.

[Buddy]

Satin= 30% gloss
Semi= 60% gloss

One wax job would create a more gloss look, imagine several.

Buddy

[Hatman]

[

I still lean towards the panels being full gloss, or something real close.  The blackout was painted the same time the stripes and rocker blaclout were painted.  From a manufacturing perspective no one would have painted the stripes full gloss, and then switched to a something more than semi gloss (say 80% gloss paint) for the tail panel and rockers when 99.9 percent of the peple buying the car would not have known the difference.

] What about the firewall?

[JohnZ]

I think you'll find that the same black paint was used for the firewall, rocker blackout, and 396 tail panel.

[Mark]

When you talk about levels of flatness, you're really talking about the levels of gloss or reflectivity, which can range from a mirror to a cardboard box. If you had a reflectometer in your toolbox, you could measure your paint's reflectivity and rate it on a scale from zero to 100. Paint industry guys love doing this and have specific terms for the various levels:

Less than 10 Flat
10-30  Matte
30-50 Satin
50-75 Semigloss
75-90 Reduced Sheen
More than 90 Full Gloss

Maybe the paint is the same as the firewall blackout, but the firewall was painted in the blackout booth and thestripes, rocker blackout and tail panel blackout was done in the inline repair booth, requireing both gloss black and whatever this tail panel blackout is to be running in the paint shops manifold system.  Just not something that was necessary from a styling point of view and not something you nwould expect to see in a manufacturing process.  Its not like the flat black that was used on the tops of hoods of the early 70 mopars like the T/A challengers and AAR cudas which had a purpose, A to keep the reflections down on the hood, B the hoods were fiberglass so it cut down on paint prep time, and C there was a specific style they were looking for.

[bcmiller]

I just repainted the tail panel on my car satin black (along with the hood - did the hood to have a look different than everybody else).  I am glad I used satin.  I did it that way because all of the SS cars that I remember were satin.

One question though.  Are there any diagrams as to where the black stopped?  I stopped about the center of the bumper (had the bumper off) on the bottom, but was not sure in the trunk area.  I went at about a 45 degree angle toward the trunk opening at the corners and stopped in the weather strip channel. 

[Buddy]

Here is an original paint from 1975







Buddy

[bcmiller]

Buddy,

Thanks for the pictures.  Looks like I did it almost right.  I stopped at the center of the weather strip channel.  I had the weather strip out.  Looks like I should have painted it more. I will have to fix that.

What ever happened to that car?  Hopefully it is still around.   

[Buddy]

Yes but I dont have too much hope for it. 67 RS/SS 396/325 4sp....too bad

[X66 714]

I had a NOS black door stripe decal which matched the paint that was under the trunk weaterstrip. It wasn't gloss & it wasn't flat. More like a semi gloss. It also matched the rockers....Joe

[Hatman]

I think you'll find that the same black paint was used for the firewall, rocker blackout, and 396 tail panel.

    Thats what I thought ,I thought this part of the assy. process was done at the same time. I also thought this topic was put to rest two pages ago.

[Buddy]

Yeah...that horse has been beaten to a pulp. Some people just can't accept that they are mistaken. I once thought I was wrong but i was mistaken as well. LOL

jk 

Buddy

[bcmiller]

So "satin black" it is.  Right?

[Sauron327]

Affimative. If you want to look at it without %'s. It's flat, eggshell, satin, semi, and gloss.

[Charley]

The green L78 I posted pics of is one of the most orig untouched Camaro's I have ever seen. It has a gloss tail panel. There is no way it is the same paint used to paint the firewall. I didn't pay any attention to the rockers to see if they were the same paint. Once again I would like to see a orig paint low mile survivor with Semi or satin or flat on the tailpanel.

[Sauron327]

What green L-78? I don't see it in the last 4 pages. Only the yellow Yenko.

[Oregonjam]

What green L-78?

Post # 20 directly after the yellow Yenko.

[Mark]

I had a NOS black door stripe decal which matched the paint that was under the trunk weaterstrip. It wasn't gloss & it wasn't flat. More like a semi gloss. It also matched the rockers....Joe

So now we're painting D90, D91 and Rally stripes satin black instead of gloss?

[Buddy]

The green L78 I posted pics of is one of the most orig untouched Camaro's I have ever seen. It has a gloss tail panel. There is no way it is the same paint used to paint the firewall. I didn't pay any attention to the rockers to see if they were the same paint. Once again

The Yenko you can tell it has been painted gloss.......The green you can see by the reflectiveness, the black is not gloss but 30 years of wax which would make it appear gloss.

 

I would like to see a orig paint low mile survivor with Semi or satin or flat on the tailpanel.

Good luck finding one that has never been waxed.
Do you own this car? If you are not the orig owner I would not assume anything.  Listen to the experts on this because you nor I are one of them.

Peace
Buddy

 

[Sauron327]

The green L78 I posted pics of is one of the most orig untouched Camaro's I have ever seen. It has a gloss tail panel. There is no way it is the same paint used to paint the firewall. I didn't pay any attention to the rockers to see if they were the same paint. Once again I would like to see a orig paint low mile survivor with Semi or satin or flat on the tailpanel.

That does not look like full gloss to me. Looks like maintained  lacquer with flattening agent. Go buy a pint of straight lacquer and shoot a test panel. And shoot a urethane test panel too. Unbuffed, unflattened black lacquer will be glossier than that L-78 tailpanel. Maintenance will bring the gloss up on semi or satin.

Even if it was an unbuffed/non reflowed black lacquer panel it would be as glossy as the adjacent green from upkeep; which it is not. That yellow Yenko is no doubt glossy. Looks like unbuffed lacquer but I could add f. agent to urethane till I achieved that look also.  I've buffed flattened lacquer as a test and it came out glossy. And if these panels were indeed semi-gloss and not satin there is no doubt that 40 years of upkeep will raise the glossiness yet. I've sprayed all this stuff so I know. But I don't claim to know exactly what the factory did. If you want to experiment buy some black and f. agent. Or buy some PPG 9248 ,9317, 9266, and straight black and have a go at it. I'm going with semi-gloss or satin. Without a f.agent pecentage weight there is no accuracy on the call.

And you can't use decals as a paint comparison. ( In regard to the other post)

[Charley]

"Listen to the experts on this because you nor I are one of them."   And the experts are ?  And you know I am not a expert because ? I have been collecting and working on Camaro's for probably 35 years and have owned probably a couple hundred. I feel pretty confident that the examples I posted were not shiny because of being waxed over the years. I make no claims to be the expert but I know what I have seen over the years and I try to pay attention to orig cars.  The Yenko was a 8000 mile car and the green L78 is a maybe 12000 mile car ?

[Sauron327]

My post states I don't claim to know what the factory did. Only what I see. As far as I can tell from those who have greater knowledge than I is they were painted full gloss and they were painted semi-gloss. I have not owned hundreds but a longtime friend  has and sent as many through a crusher has his opinion too. But it really does not matter because after all this I still do not know what's correct.

[Buddy]

In the end it is your car, paint it any color you like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb5ZjmpmMbg

[RamAirDave]

Not a great example.  Not a survivor, but OP in the jambs.  Clearly not glossy, but the RG next to it isn't either.  I would like to go back and check the trunk side of the w/s since that is an area that has neither seen the weather/elements nor has been rubbed/waxed.

My guess is that it was probably inconsistent, but I don't know.  The only OP BB car we've done was about 10 years ago.  Only have a couple poor pics, but it shows no reflection compared to the yellow next to it (kept indoors since the early-mid 70s) and would've made a mental note had it been glossy since back then the debate didn't really exist and the satin was what was thought to be correct.

[Buddy]

Here is a suggestion, since no one can definitely prove the exact color, why don't we all agree to just paint them satin (30%) for creating a current standard since gloss looks absolutely awful.

 

[bcmiller]

I guess it is possible there could have been some variance, but ALL of the original ones I remember in the late 60s and early 70s (not the ones 40 years old that have been waxed) were not shiny.  Satin is what I would call them.

Talked to a friend who was a body and paint man for over 40 years and he said they were satin.  He said there were several different blends that were used, but there were not what you would call a regular gloss paint.  They did have to add flattening agents to the paint.  That information was provided to the paint reps from the factory.  Now I guess that could explain why there is some variance.

In my opinion, Jim Mattison would be considered an expert and his opinion was stated earlier in this thread.

Buddy and RamAirDave, thanks for the images of the paint in the trunk area. 

[paceme]

"Listen to the experts on this because you nor I are one of them."   And the experts are ?  And you know I am not a expert because ? I have been collecting and working on Camaro's for probably 35 years and have owned probably a couple hundred. I feel pretty confident that the examples I posted were not shiny because of being waxed over the years. I make no claims to be the expert but I know what I have seen over the years and I try to pay attention to orig cars.  The Yenko was a 8000 mile car and the green L78 is a maybe 12000 mile car ?

In my opinion the tail panels and rockers were painted semi gloss. My focus has always been on the survivor cars and have had access to dozens of survivor cars and none have had a full gloss tail panels. I own survivor cars and the black tail panels and rockers were not painted with the same paint used when they painted the complete exterior black. I would estimate it is 70-80 percent gloss. Sorry Charley, but I can't let you get away without a counter point.

[Buddy]

And you know I am not a expert because ?

because you think they were painted gloss is the first clue.

Experts would include Jim Mattison and JohnZ among others.


 

[Charley]

Jim Mattison is also the guy that insists my 67 Pace car was built with a 427 even though I have the GM work orders calling for a 396. JohnZ also insisted his steel brake lines around the master cylinder came painted black. Lots of people have expertise, just not in all areas. Jerry MacNeish wrote books on Camaro's and in the books called out Satin I believe but even Jerry recently stated he looked at a very orig 68 and it was very shiny and might have to make a change to his book. Brian Hendersen of Supercar Workshop does what are considered the best Camaro restorations there are also says they are gloss. He was a top judge at Camaro's at Carlisle for years.

[Sauron327]

   For the record I do not possess 45 years of Camaro history nor have the  most knowledgeable restoration data on exactness.  And I respect all those who do. I'm just trying to sort all this out.

   So one claim is the stripes and tailpanel were painted with unflattened lacquer (black stripes here). Which would mean they have identical sheens. Why has no one ever doubted that the stripes were or were not glossy? The stripes and rear panel would maintain the same integrity or degradation throughout the years on any given car. So how is it that the stripes reamain glossy and the tailpanel supposedly does not? Where is a person that pulled the trigger on these cars? I know what comes out of my nozzle.

[Buddy]

My Final post on this subject....

I WAS THERE when these cars rolled into the dealerships and my friends bought them(I couldn't afford one). I saw them and they were not gloss.

<edited per request; and it was out-of-line>

[Charley]

What a great guy you are turning out to be Buddy....

[paceme]

My Final post on this subject....

I WAS THERE when these cars rolled into the dealerships and my friends bought them(I couldn't afford one). I saw them and they were not gloss.

Buddy, we can disagree but do it respectfully. There is no room for your last comment. Lets take a step back and calm down. This forum is means to share ideas, information and theories. If each of us weren't allowed to voice his opinion (without being ridiculed) then we would never learn about these cars through others experiences. There is a wealth of information knowledge on this site let's keep it flowing by respecting each other.

<edited quote>

[Buddy]

Sorry...I was out of line...it just gets a little frustrating sometimes.......

All if fun........

B

[Mark]

JohnZ also insisted his steel brake lines around the master cylinder came painted black

I don't know if JohnZ actually said that but I know mine were painted black in 1983 when I bought my PC, along with my booster.  The brake lines still are and its not from someones rattlecan restoration of the engine compartment of my car.  All of the armored lines on the front subframe are painted black from the master cylinder thu the proportioning valve to the bracket out on the outer edge of the subframe, while none of the brackets or clamps on the lines (the little rubber ones that hold the lines together have paint on them.

[ChevyThunder]

Then you have NIKKISDAD on Team Camaro who insists his all orignal and heavily documented L89 never had any black paint on the tail panel  

[jdv69z]

My Final post on this subject....

I WAS THERE when these cars rolled into the dealerships and my friends bought them(I couldn't afford one). I saw them and they were not gloss.

I saw these cars in my youth as well. I have to agree, I never saw one with the tan pan painted gloss like the Yenko shown in this post. Of course I probably never saw an actual Yenko then either.

Jimmy V

[Charley]

  LOL...I was also there when these cars rolled into the dealerships but remember nothing.

[JohnZ]

JohnZ also insisted his steel brake lines around the master cylinder came painted black.

Nope, I never said they were built that way - perhaps you have me confused with someone else. They were black on my original/unrestored '69 Z/28, but that was because the (Canadian-delivered new) car was dealer-undercoated, including the brake pipes from the distribution block to the subframe.

[bcmiller]

I don't think we can put the COPO and Yenko cars in the same category when considering tailpan paint.  I have seen original 69 COPO cars, I remember a silver one in particular, that had regular body color paint on the tailpan.

Does anyone have an SS car that they know the history of the car from Day 1 that it left the dealership?  I would put a lot of weight behind what they think.

I am not sure if anyone would want to do this, and I am not asking anyone to do it, but if you tailpan is glossy, it would be interesting to see what it looks like without any wax on it.

[ChevyThunder]

Mr. Miyagi was there too

[paceme]

I don't think we can put the COPO and Yenko cars in the same category when considering tailpan paint.  I have seen original 69 COPO cars, I remember a silver one in particular, that had regular body color paint on the tailpan.

Does anyone have an SS car that they know the history of the car from Day 1 that it left the dealership?  I would put a lot of weight behind what they think.

I am not sure if anyone would want to do this, and I am not asking anyone to do it, but if you tailpan is glossy, it would be interesting to see what it looks like without any wax on it.

The very early yenko's were X66 coded and painted just like any other big block. Nothing special about the paint process on them vs any other camaro.

[77thor]

Here is a suggestion, since no one can definitely prove the exact color, why don't we all agree to just paint them satin (30%) for creating a current standard since gloss looks absolutely awful.

 

I agree 100%. I will do that.

[firstgenaddict]

For what it's worth my 68 43k mile RS/SS did not have a gloss tail pan nor were the bottoms of the doors or rockers gloss. I have been around enough gloss black lacquer... mine was not gloss. I will bet that the wrong "black" gun was picked up more than a few times during the process. I am willing to bet that more than one person was involved with the process on each vehicle which leaves open the possibility of some having gloss tails and semi rockers or visa versa...

[Buddy]

I wonder if you are right then there must be some gloss firewalls as well....hmmmmm

[william]

There is an LA built Cortez Silver Z/28 with Fathom Green firewall "blackout"

[Charley]

Here are pics of 26000 mile 69 that is still with the orig owner. Orig owner says the tail panel has always been gloss.

[Pex68]

Any chance the original owner has some pictures of that tail panel from when he/she bought the car?  I bet not.

[Charley]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/433135/an/0/page/0#Post433135

[Charley]

Are you saying "I bet not" because you think the owner repainted it ?  Because you are stuck on it being semi gloss ?

[Pex68]

Are you saying "I bet not" because you think the owner repainted it ?  Because you are stuck on it being semi gloss ?

No, not repainted, just stuck on the fact that Lacquer becomes shinier the more you rub on it.  Could be that way now from years of polishing or even some inexperienced or over zealous prep guy at the dealer hit it with a wheel before he even saw the car to buy it.  I’ll even buy firstgenaddict’s theory of grabbing the wrong gun or my spin on it, problem with the semi-gloss gun and using full gloss until the semi was fixed but firmly believe they were all supposed to be semi from the factory. 

[Charley]

LOL...Or maybe it was gloss when new as the owner stated.

[Pex68]

LOL, or maybe not...memory fades with time & age but to each his own.  To bad those pic's on the dealer lot weren't better.

[Charley]

That is why it is nice when we find low mile cars with orig owners that we can ask. The low mile takes alot of the fading memory out of the equation.

[Pex68]

Charley, I agree with you 100% on being totally enthusiastic about finding survivor cars to inspect and document but just because one car is one way doesn't mean they were all that way…(hell my car has a body colored firewall (no black out) and it came from the factory that way)  But that's why places like CRG is awesome because they compile data on many, many cars before making any call on what the DATA proves.  Unfortunately this is a paint finish dilemma where many factors come into play such as fading, polishing, refinishing, ect...and without a lot of hard evidence it's impossible to say what's absolutely correct here and probably why there’s no definitive right or wrong.  And as for memory fading, how many times do you say to yourself "I could swear it was this way" or "wow, I don't remember it being that way" when going back and referencing pictures or the AIM when working on your car...I know I do it all the time & that's why I took over 700 pictures when pulling my 59000 mile car apart and probably why it got a score of 91.6% correct my first year in legends concours.  Just saying the original owner may remember it one way, and the car may only have 26000 miles on it but it’s still 40 years old and even if the owner only washed & waxed it once a month, that’s still 480 times that panel and paint have been buffed and rubbed on.  Even at a ¼ of that number semi gloss will be getting pretty shiny.
Again, just my opinion and opinions are like a**holes, everyone’s got one!

[Charley]

This car is just another example of survivors that I have seen that have the gloss tail panel. I have yet to see a orig paint survivor with Satin tail panel. The odds seem pretty slim to me that these panels are shiny because of waxing.

[Buddy]

Pex68...Give it up...Charlie believes what he believes and even though 90% of the experts and others believe otherwise you will NOT change his mind. It's like convincing the far left that Obama is destroying our country. Ain't gonna happen 

Sorry Charlie..no disrespect here.

Move on...there's nothing to see here......

[Charley]

LOL...Where are the 90% of the experts ? Who are they ?

[Jerry@CHP]

The experts are on that other site.  I'm still learning.  LOL.

I'll throw my hat into the ring.  Originally, many thought these panels were satin black.  Research has indicated that they had more gloss, but not like a slick painted, wet sanded and buffed out black.  More like an egg shell black which is really black lacquer w/o buffing and wet sanding.  That's how my new Chevelle was and other survivor Camaros that I've inspected over the years. 

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Ho, Ho Ho!

Jerry

[Charley]

Thankyou...That description fits with what I am seeing on the green survivor I posted pics of. You can see that it is not blocked smooth, but it is glossy.

[Jerry@CHP]

Same way on J. DeMesy's silver SS car that was at the Camaro Nationals this past June.  The past owner's family had hired me to inspect the car and try and find it a good home.  This SS396 car was one of the nicest original paint cars that I've seen.

But again, I'm no expert.

Jerry   

[Sauron327]

This is what I have been trying to explain to others.  Perhaps they have never picked up a gun nor understand the principles of lacquer or the appearance it has when shot. People think full gloss and immediately compare it to buffed lacquer or urethane, both of which scream glossiness. But unbuffed lacquer has a semi-gloss appearance. And in time with maintenance may get a tad shinier. I've buffed satin paint to a gloss before and it takes more than a little elbow grease with wax to achieve it. We shot a fender with lacquer on a black 69 last month. The entire car was shot with lacquer years ago and until that fender was buffed the difference was night and day.  I'm not an origionality expert and can't say if all tails were painted identically. This information is offered for the purposes of paint and it's characteristics and the variations therein.

Thankyou...That description fits with what I am seeing on the green survivor I posted pics of. You can see that it is not blocked smooth, but it is glossy.

The experts are on that other site.  I'm still learning.  LOL.

I'll throw my hat into the ring.  Originally, many thought these panels were satin black.  Research has indicated that they had more gloss, but not like a slick painted, wet sanded and buffed out black.  More like an egg shell black which is really black lacquer w/o buffing and wet sanding.  That's how my new Chevelle was and other survivor Camaros that I've inspected over the years.  

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Ho, Ho Ho!

Jerry

[Buddy]

Thankyou...That description fits with what I am seeing on the green survivor I posted pics of. You can see that it is not blocked smooth, but it is glossy.

He just said' NOT GLOSS'.....  Egg Shell is a Semi.
I am confused with this statement....... it is not blocked smooth, but it is glossy.?



Just keeping going for the fun of it.

[Charley]

LOL...If you look at the picture of the green tail panel on the survivor you can see the texture in the reflection. just like if you spray straight lacquer and don't sand an rub it. It is glossy though.

[Sauron327]

Thankyou...That description fits with what I am seeing on the green survivor I posted pics of. You can see that it is not blocked smooth, but it is glossy.

He just said' NOT GLOSS'.....  Egg Shell is a Semi.
I am confused with this statement....... it is not blocked smooth, but it is glossy.?



Just keeping going for the fun of it.

I'll try this yet again. Spray two panels with black LACQUER. Buff one, leave the other one alone. You will see a difference besides the fact one has more peel than the other. The only way lacquer's shine is enhanced and maximized is by polishing, or reflowed like they did then. So a tailpanel will appear glossy but not to the extent of which it is capable. It's glossiness is relative to a buffed panel.  Anyone who has shot a car with lacquer knows it looks horrible until buffed.

[4P-O1]

I'm no expert ,but I learn something new all the time. I always try to replicate what I see regardless of what everyone says. Here is a photo of an original paint 67 big block rear panel. I removed the taillamp for inspection and found that the area behind the taillamp ,that was not faded,to be what I would call semi-gloss. Notice it is about the same as the NOS inner fender panel to the left of the car. 60% gloss is what the paint books show for blackout,and that is what I will use to replicate what I have found on this car. The lower rocker panels are the same color. I will take more detailed photos before starting the restoration next fall. Many more details to iron out and parts to gather! Andy V

[Buddy]

As Bill Clinton would say, It depends on what your definition of Glossy is....hehe

My definition is it is either Glossy or it is not. Lacquer is SEMI (to some degree) until worked out or reflowed.

Why is there no poll on this thread?? Are polls allowed on this Forum??

 

By the way...Merry Christmas everybody......

[NickeyChicago]

I have been around Camaros for a while and can say that I learn something new about them all the time.

I have inspected more than a few original paint Camaros and what I can say it that I personally have never seen an original paint first generation tail panel which was painted Flat Black or Satin Black, while I have seen original paint first gens, painted with Gloss Black lacquer.  Not saying that it won't happen but thus far never has. The fact regarding the degree of gloss is subjective and can be visually affected by several factors, including the base color of the actual car.

Some of the original cars had very little Black paint on them, maybe two coats and you could even see the base color poking through in some areas. This provided for a less shiny black  in some cases but it was still Gloss Black lacquer.

Once again these have been unfattened Gloss Black Lacquer. Wether or not is was buffed to a mirror finish afterwards, (which I do not believe it was) doesn't change that they were Gloss Black Lacquer paint.

While wet sanded, buffed and polished Gloss Black will look different than non detailed Gloss Black lacquer, it is still gloss black lacquer and not the same as "satin" or "flat"

Chevelles, Mopars ect may or may not follow this patern and should not be used as a reference as to what may or may not have been done with Camaros.

[Buddy]

Back to the point that no lacquer is gloss when applied. Even if it is called gloss lacquer. You have to finish it to get the glossy look. Believe me, GM did not do this.

Post some pics of these cars you inspected. THX

 

[Jerry@CHP]

The best thing to do is this:  go to your local paint supplier and get a spray out card done in black lacquer.  Then get a custom match mixed up in the new B/C C/C paint.  Many are doing it this way and it's the best way to go as you have someone educated in this paint and what you are looking for.

Jerry

[Buddy]

I think that is a good idea for people with no paint experience. I myself have been painting for 25 years and used lacquer exclusively in the early 80's. I hope people will follow your advice and see for themselves that lacquer is not glossy. (Shiny is not Glossy).

Buddy

[Charley]

 "Shiny is not Glossy"   huh ?

[ChrisM]

Drop the bumper or remove the tail lights. If it still has the  factory finish there will be untouched paint. My O5C LA car was glossy since i purchased it in 1980, This year i stripped the car and had it repainted and am now sure it was semi-gloss.
  Victor

Re: black on tailpan on ss cars
« Reply #26 on: June 16, 2009, 07:53:36 PM »  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't want to start this up again, but i thought this might be another good referance point.  Here is a pic to a tail pan with factory paint with the tail light removed.  I had waxed the left side to get rid of the fading.  The paint around the light matches.  The right side of the pic is untouched, dirt and all.  It's semi and looks very close to the tail pan on Post #20. Definately not full gloss.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2816camaro/