I am disassembling my 71 Skylark and the firewall appears to be a dark olive green/gray color as is the area under the body and the area immediately above the firewall leading back to the windshield. I have read a couple of threads that say this is supposed to be black. I am certain that this has not been repainted and am curious if anyone else has run into this?
Hi Look at my photos and this is what is suppose to look like. My GS was 100% original with 62k miles and I have owned it since 1985. I attach a photo before and after. George
Probably a chebby fan owned it, firewall and belly pan were not body color on your car. Should be a satin/ semi gloss black. Where in Dallas ? Whats your name ? George, wow those firewall marking are WAY more prettier than Buick ever did them , my original below, excuse the dust.. notice they screwed the voltage regulator over my trim code markings . DL
Your right aren't my marking nice, but the photo was taken just after they were done. Here is a photo of the original marking taken in 2007 so it is 26 years old plus I believe the guy who installed they had a good day with his hand writting! George
It was made in Flint. I bought the car in 1985 for a total of $2,500!!. It is 100% original with only 59k miles, very low options including the GS package, 350 engine, 4 speed on the floor, bench seat, no power brakes, no air, painted black steel top and 8 track! Here is a photo of the car in 2002 with 62k miles on it. George
I thought the GM engine compartment and firewall finishing for these years were about a 70/30 mix of gloss/flat black paint for the semi-gloss finish.
I have noticed on original cars that the firewall is often more flat than say the inner wheel wells. Frames are always to rusted to tell. Dl thanks for posting your paint code. I guess the crayon was white. Cars I have seen always have code too faded to tell color of crayon. Strange the "D" for discs is always yellow. GM must have given one guy the white crayon and one the yellow. Maybe if GM used that money saving philosophy now they may be able to survive.:dollar: ..George those crayon marks are way neater than mine were as well. I am going the factory sloppy route. Will be hidden anyway.
As far as I know the crayon color was not specified. Red, yellow, white, whatever....and if you lost or broke yours you'd steal one from the guy next to you! :laugh:
Dave I know that my marking are neater but again I am building the car so I just want my marking to last longer. George
George, It looks good. Probaly neater than I could ever write. The guy who did my car looked like he came from the same school of failed penmanship I did.o No: Also the only two colors I have ever seen of crayon on Buick was white and yellow. Any others?
the markings on my 72 gs on the firewall were in yellow & stupid me did not take a picture of them & their location before restoration.
Here is a resource from a prior thread (using the "search" function, there are other threads as well): http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=55559&highlight=finishes And a search for many threads which have additional color & finish info ... you will have to sort through the info, but it should be there ... particularly the threads id'd with "sticky" as these are important resources for restoration and repeatedly used by & added to by others. http://www.v8buick.com/search.php?searchid=2832812
thaiman, I have a 1971 skylark built in Fremont plant. I had posted before on this board that my firewall was also Greenish-Gray ,my body color is sandiper beige & has nothing to do with the fire wall color. What plant was yours built in? ick
Here is the simple answer to the question about firewall color. The firewall and bottom of the car are painted semi-gloss/ chassis black on top of the exterior color. So, if you are wanting to repaint the firewall then prep the firewall correctly and then spray it with chassis black.
N360LL I think everyone is missing the point here,and that is that two members have 1971 skylarks with firewalls & cowl areas painted a very dark Greenish - Gray. I am sure that is 100% factory on my Skylark mfg in Fremont. I can also see where the paint is applied over the Red primer sealer at the bottom of the trans tunnel & body mount areas. One thing to note is that the paint has a misted look to it. I am at the stage on my car that painting the firewall area is next & I wish I could of saved the Original paint but I had to caulk the seams . I can tell you all one thing .. when it's comes to Factory Original, never say never. ick
You could direct the question, with the issue about the 2 Fremont-built greeninsh-gray firewall cars, to Duane Heckman (his screen name is: Duane) ... one of the foremost authorities in the country ... errr the world ... on your A-bodies. The point about the Fremont (CA) built vehicles involves the fact that these Buicks were built at a BOP plant alongside many other GM models from sister divisions - so if there was recognized different build standerds & observations, chances are that they were probably at a nonexclusive Buick plant like Fremont (& Framingham??). I know he has been busy of late. You may be able to call him directly at his business ... Classic Interiors ... get the answer and then post the reply here to speed up the answer for yourself and all of the others. Check his signature line for contact info or search the web for a business with that name in PA, I believe. He will end the debate very quickly.
Theres a thread over at the PY forum, and many have responded to the color issue...some chebby guy probably didnt paint the fire wall, it seems to be factory, depending on the plant...soooo,before i would do anything id do a little more research....too much of a coincedence (sp) that other GM cars have olive/green or a strnge blue firewalls and those guys are describing the color exactly like you are. Funny thing is, the guys are afraid if they put it back like factory the judges will deduct points, because the blindness of whats right, or at least what is thought to be correct....
