Pretty original car, from the original owner, been sitting 27 years. Lifetime Arizona car. Battery tray is toast, so I'll replace that but otherwise it's pretty solid. Plan right now is just to repaint the air cleaner and the valve cover and probably paint everything else with black Rustoleum and a foam brush. Found this orange P up on the firewall, I'll try and preserve that somehow. New to Camaros so any advice you guys have about how to make it look like factory would be appreciated. No luck so far in scrubbing off the white paint to get back to that factory blue.
ETA: They sure were sloppy with that seam sealer back in the day, eh?
I know it's missing the PCV breather thingy. Looks like there was a sticker on that radiator shroud. Anyone know what it was?
Adam, there is an engine shot you shared, the clip was there. Did it drop? The sticker on the shroud was the emissions specs. But it was specific to the engine, V8 stickers are available through the Camaro catalogs, but they do not carry a L6 that I can see.
The "P" inspection mark is Paint, there should be a T and a B for Trim & Body close by.
Be careful using brush-on paint, it really stands out (in a bad way). Factory finishes were dipped or sprayed. There are books and many posts online on original engine finishes, (not easy!)
Classic Industries has the emissions decal (DC666) that goes on the radiator shroud for your 1969 Camaro:
https://www.classicindustries.com/product/1969/chevrolet/camaro/parts/dc666.html
Quote from: KevinW on March 16, 2026, 06:55:27 AMAdam, there is an engine shot you shared, the clip was there. Did it drop? The sticker on the shroud was the emissions specs. But it was specific to the engine, V8 stickers are available through the Camaro catalogs, but they do not carry a L6 that I can see.
The "P" inspection mark is Paint, there should be a T and a B for Trim & Body close by.
Be careful using brush-on paint, it really stands out (in a bad way). Factory finishes were dipped or sprayed. There are books and many posts online on original engine finishes, (not easy!)
You mean the breather clip on the air cleaner? If so you must be thinking of a different car. So, painting the firewall itself with Rustoleum may be a bad idea. I hear ya. Maybe I can just kind of clean it up. Lots of other things to do on the car, so I can't spend forever under here. Maybe I'm better off not doing very much to the firewall. Any thoughts on painting the air cleaner and valve cover with engine enamel? There is a "Chevy orange" engine enamel that I assume is at least pretty close to that valve cover color.
Well, I'll be ...
Thoughts on spraying some clear rust reformer over this? Should basically just darken it up and protect it.
Painting that firewall IMHO would be a huge mistake..
I would clean gentlly with soft brush, mild soap and protect the firewall. Theres a guy in here that has an unyouched Cortez Silver L78. I mean untouched survivior.. he baths that thing in WD-40 to preserve the metal. Ive seen the car in person.
Anyone know where I can get correct screws and plastic clips for the front license plate holder?
If you want to look factory, don't paint underhood. Clean instead. If you really feel the need to paint the air cleaner, buy a used one and paint it.
Quote from: OldFordGuy on March 15, 2026, 08:31:44 PMPretty original car, from the original owner, been sitting 27 years. Lifetime Arizona car. Battery tray is toast, so I'll replace that but otherwise it's pretty solid. Plan right now is just to repaint the air cleaner and the valve cover and probably paint everything else with black Rustoleum and a foam brush. Found this orange P up on the firewall, I'll try and preserve that somehow. New to Camaros so any advice you guys have about how to make it look like factory would be appreciated. No luck so far in scrubbing off the white paint to get back to that factory blue.
ETA: They sure were sloppy with that seam sealer back in the day, eh?
Painting the engine bay with Rustoleum and a foam brush is hackwork. Clean it and leave it as is.
Yeah, painting the firewall is definitely not going to happen. I'll probably only use the Rustoleum on the frame. In fact I've now decided I am not going to paint the air cleaner or the valve cover, either. I have too many cars and the idea behind this one is whatever I can do to make it more valuable when I sell it is what I will do, and nothing else.
Found the air cleaner breather thingy. It was inside the air filter and the metal clip on the outside had fallen off. Original?