BG85IROCZ

My 85 Iroc Z28 is at the paint/body shop getting a respray of the factory silver metallic paint. I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it! However, I do have a problem. I need to make a decision on the louvers and headlight bucket finish (glossy, semi, or flat). I purchased a replacement grill that has a rather glossy finish, so my initial thought was to spray louvers and buckets gloss black to match. I keep second guessing this decision and I need to decide soon so the paint can be ordered. I've read a few threads on the site debating this very topic. If anyone has pictures they can post of painted louvers I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

camaronewbie

My painter painted my buckets for me - they are pretty glossy but they shine nice like the rest of the new paint so I think it looks good. I just rattle canned my louvers myself with a semi-gloss, and I did my own grill as well with same, and it all matches pretty good to me:

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/jw_baum/92RS/

BG85IROCZ

Thanks for your post. Nice car!

Dante93GTZ

iTrader: (5)

Paint 'em "satin black". Its not gloss, its not semi, its not flat; its PERFECT.

iroc stangs

i vote semi gloss, flat in my opinion looks bad and cheap, glossy is to much (it can look good though), semi is PERFECTO!

HankL69

iTrader: (1)

I agree. The paint I used is Mautz satin black Industrial Enamel. Bad news is Mautz was bought out by Sherwin Williams and the product is no longer available. I used to buy 6 cans at a time for anything chassis or under hood. Still looking for something as good.

scottmoyer

I would agree on the satin black.

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

Here is a picture of a low mile, original 85 IROC that shows the gloss level:

What you should notice in this picture is that you can clearly see the reflection of the headlight, but it's a blurry reflection. Most repainted headlight buckets are either too glossy, or have orange peel which ruins the reflection completely. I think that the right way to refinish them is to use a satin or semi-gloss paint, and then wetsand & polish them to the smoothness and luster that you're after. By polishing with a different abrasive polish (medium cut rubbing compound, fine cut compound, hand glaze, etc) you can achieve different gloss levels.

In person, the headlight buckets had more shine than they seem to in this pic. If they were as dull as they seem, you wouldn't have as good of a reflection. If you're not up to the task of wetsanding and polishing, you might get good results from certain spray cans as-is. I suspect that the Eastwood "Underhood Black" or "Chassis Black" paint would be a very close match. I've used the Chassis Black on my headlight mounting cups and was very impressed with the finish. I chose not to paint the headlight buckets with it just because I wanted a slight contrast between the two items.

I've attached a picture of my headlight bucket, but due to the extreme angle that I took the picture, they look glossier than they really are. In reality, mine are only slightly glossier than the OEM pic above, and after I go over them with a somewhat more agressive compound, I expect to be able to knock the gloss down to where it belongs.

BG85IROCZ

Thanks Jim. This is extremely helpful. I appreciate your response.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

All the trim should be semi-gloss on these cars, there was always a slight shine to it. Flat black has a dull grey look and that would not be stock.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

i painted mine semi gloss... wouldn't do it any other way

TheScaryOne

iTrader: (3)

I was always told 'tis better to necro a thread, than to start a new one asking the same question. Anyone have any opinions on which manufacturer to get Satin Black from, or should I black base coat and put on satin clear?

Camaro Z Man

I would go with the gloss black to match that new grill, since that is how they came from the factory. And WOW another silver 85 IROC-Z ! There sure has been a few turn up over the last few weeks and now another. Allways nice to see another.