??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

**Terry M.** · February 18, 2010, 03:32 PM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Welcome Wayne. I suggest you get a copy of the 1990 TIM&JG (Technical Information Manual & Judging Guide) for starters. It will give you the resources to further evaluate the originality of your Corvette.

I can only advise you about the windshield. Check the specifications in the TIM&JG. I am aware of a handfull (less than 10, I was told) 1990 ZR1s that had the standard windshield installed at Bowling Green. I watched one being assembled, so I can vouch for that one. When I mentioned this to the Team Leader he just smiled -- so we will see when one of these show up on the judging field. I don't know that yours is one, but you can check that with the TIM&JG.

**Wayne B.** · February 18, 2010, 04:08 PM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Thanks, the owner just had it replaced because he could not find a new one. Someone in his hanger pushed a wing tip into

. So I get the book and read up,

**Terry M.** · February 18, 2010, 04:46 PM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Well, so much for that idea -- but maybe someone else can address your paint questions.

**Chuck S.** · February 18, 2010, 06:01 PM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Originally posted by Wayne Bradbury (51416)

...So what brand paint best matches the orignal color I like PPG base coat clear coat?...

Just for grins, what color is the car? You say you like PPG BC/CC...is that because you do your own paint?

Since your car started life with a BC/CC finish, my opinion is you are unlikely to have the problems experienced in matching old acrylic lacquer colors on older Corvettes.

When I had an estimate done for some painting on my 87 (same time frame as yours), I asked the body shop manager the original paint brand. He told me DuPont...primer, two coats color, one coat clear. I wouldn't bet my life on that info, but GM seems to have favored DuPont over the years.

I also prefer PPG because of their customer support and user friendly literature. I painted some side moldings for our 2008 Malibu with PPG BC/CC. The exact match required picking the best color match by holding maybe a dozen aperture chips of the same color name directly against the car's finish...I personally made the call.

After I sprayed the color and clear, I couldn't tell the difference from the rest of the car. The bad news was one door molding had severe trash in it and had to be refinished...yep, you're right; the front molding is just slightly different from the rear molding. If you're looking for it, you can see it. Note to self: Always repaint both moldings on the same side because many factors affect the resulting color.

As for seeing a perceptable difference after painting an entire car...I doubt you will see it if you do a good color match in the paint store.

**Wayne B.** · February 18, 2010, 06:19 PM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

The car is black and I paint enough to get in trouble

I like shooting the PPG so looks like we both do for the same reason, I post some before and after pics pics do not show dirt in the paint

**Ridge K.** · February 18, 2010, 06:39 PM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Welcome aboard, Wayne.
You've come to the right place, for the "best of the best" in technical advice........

**Tom H.** · February 18, 2010, 07:23 PM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Originally posted by Terry McManmon (3966)

I can only advise you about the windshield. Check the specifications in the TIM&JG. I am aware of a handfull (less than 10, I was told) 1990 ZR1s that had the standard windshield installed at Bowling Green. I watched one being assembled, so I can vouch for that one. When I mentioned this to the Team Leader he just smiled -- so we will see when one of these show up on the judging field. I don't know that yours is one, but you can check that with the TIM&JG.

That is an interesting fact that I was not aware of. By chance, do you remember the approximate date you were in the plant when you saw that ?? That will be an interesting day when that one is judged !

I wonder what the reason this happened was. Shortage of parts, or just a mistake ??

**Terry M.** · February 18, 2010, 09:16 PM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Originally posted by Tom Hendricks (23758)

That is an interesting fact that I was not aware of. By chance, do you remember the approximate date you were in the plant when you saw that ?? That will be an interesting day when that one is judged !

I wonder what the reason this happened was. Shortage of parts, or just a mistake ??

I don't remember the date -- heck we drove all night from Chicago (I had to work until 11 PM) and just missed the marriage because the plant started at 0630 (or something like that) and we made it by 0700. We were booking down I-65. We got the call to come on down at the last minute.

The car was one of the first Yellow Z06s, I know that. The car is in the hands of the widow of the guy I went with, It has around 4K miles and I have been after her to get it judged, but no success so far. I want to be there when they judge it, just for s)(*s & grins.

She drove it to St Louis when the National was there, but mechanical issues (fuel injectors, no surprise right?) kept her from the Corvette parking. So I couldn’t do a show and tell. :sad:

The wrong windshield was just a screw up, I believe -- but I have to admit I really don't know for sure. We didn't realize what had happened until we were driving home, both of us on over 24 hours with no sleep and the excitement of watching the car being built. Talk about adrenilan – we were pumped. When I mentioned the wrong windshield he asked what to do. I told him it would never have the right date code even if he was successful in getting it changed -- so leave it alone. And that is what he did. We did the Pdi on the car in his garage. They sprayed some shipping protectent on it that was just the devil to remove, and he didn’t want to risk some wet-behind-the-ears kid wheeling the clear coat to get that stuff off.

Later I got a chance to ask Paul Schnaes (sp?), the then-plant manager, about the wrong windshield and his response was: "It never happened." Yea, right. That is what someone told him. Gordon Kilabrew(sp?) told me there were someplace between 5 and 10 that got the wrong windshield, but I never asked him why.

We knew that some day NCRS would be judging that car, and we had so much fun. He knew when we were in the plant that he wouldn’t make it to see the car get judged, but he hadn’t told me. That car was his “swan song.” You know it really is the people, and not the cars.

I really miss him.

Real old-timers will know him.

You just gave me an idea though. I just have to find the VIN and I can get the build sheet and date. That’s doable.

**Chuck S.** · February 18, 2010, 09:55 PM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Originally posted by Wayne Bradbury (51416)

The car is black and I paint enough to get in trouble...

I've been in trouble while painting myself.

Well...Black shouldn't be as hard to match as that "Sandstone Metallic" on the Malibu. I think they painted everything from Cadillacs to Chevy pickups in that color since the seventies or eighties.

**Tom H.** · February 19, 2010, 05:45 AM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Yep ! I remember that stuff. Still have an unopened bottle of the transit coat remover from a ZR1. One of these bottles was shipped with each car back then.

**Terry M.** · February 19, 2010, 07:42 AM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

That's it. Smelled like it was alcohol based -- or maybe that was what we were drinking.

**Tom H.** · February 19, 2010, 08:27 AM

Re: ??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

Originally posted by Terry McManmon (3966)

That's it. Smelled like it was alcohol based -- or maybe that was what we were drinking.

I'd say the latter would be most likely correct !!!!

??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

??? on painting a 1990 ZR-1

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