I have tried a couple different things with my firewall,first I sanded the fire wall down to the metal by hand.And primed it and used gloss black,and it was just way too shiny,the I sanded it down again and used semi gloss black thi time and it looks o.k. but it still dont look like I want it too I have seen alot of engine compartments that look as good or better than the paint on the car.How can I get my engine compartment to look that good?Thanks for the help.

What I have followed in the past is this:

- Blower motor cover done in semi-gloss black.
- firewall done in flat or near flat black.

There are specific "degrees" of gloss black specifically for these areas. I've never been overly concerned about them being "exact shade" as long as it looks good and appears close. I'll let the gurus jump in here with their recommendations for specific degrees of gloss black to use. Good luck.

Don Your engine compartment is a perfect example of what I want mine to look like,how did you get the fire wall so cleam looking,and mine still I have sanded and cleaned and i still cant get it to look as good as that.Thanks for you advice.

I can't take credit for the firewall appearance on mine as it was done before I bought it. However, it basically looks like others I have done.

Can't say I've done anything different than what you are doing. Sand the firewall, prime, then cover with that flat or near flat paint. I wouldn't use "semi-gloss" on the firewall myself which could be why yours doesn't appear just right.

Maybe just scuff it again and then use some flat black. Good luck.

Thanks for the help don,the color is ok but it just looks kinde rough underneath the paint,not sand scratches,When I took it to the metal and primed it and sprayed over it it kida looks like I painted over a spot of old paint in a couple of places I have done it twice now and it looks that way in the same exact spot,I'm thinking about taking it down to the metal again and starting over,what do you think?

Hey Nathan, whats up

There is member here (jerryr) who has done a great job on exactly what you are doing. His is a 69 convertible.
Check out his link below. I think he used Eastwood Chassis black and it turned out great. I think that is what I going to use on Amyes Z28.

Later,
Dwayne

http://www.erols.com/ruther/69conv/enginedetail

Hey Dewayne,
thanks for the help,I ordered some eastood underhood pant a today so I'll see how that goes.I just cant get the paint to look as good as I want it to,I stripped it down again since troy was here and sprayed primer on it till I found the right paint and I can tell it is still not going to look right.I might hollor at him wednesday and see what I'm doing wrong.

I strongy reccomend the use of the Krylon brand paint. You can't get a better job out of a rattle can. I just finished a total resto of my engine compartment & it looks great. I did everything in gloss black exept frame & suspention components, They are semi-flat. The semi-flat is a good match for the stock appearance.

This is actually the second time that I have painted my compartment, the first time it looked pretty good but I decided to re do it while my block was at the machine shop.

The key that I found is to not cut any corners,strip all paint off to the bare metal...
I used a drill with a whire wheel to strip most of my stuff. It worked pretty well & didnt take alot of time.

When you paint with a rattle can it is important to do it in several coats, wet sanding in between all of them. After the final coat has dried for a few days, I used a mild pollishing compound, followed bu a good coat of wax.

I'm telling you, even my friend who is a body man was impresed with the quality of my buzz can paint work...... graemlins/beers.gif

Thansk for the advise,I'd say wher i messed up is I couldnt get to a couple spots to get it to the metal so I sanded down the best I could,and that is where it dont look to good,did you use primer underneath,did you wetsand it also?And ive never used a polishing compound how do you apply it?Thanks for the help.

Scott I used a wire brush then went over it with 320 grit sand paper and it finally turned out lik I want it,I just got the black primer on it now but eastwood paint is on the way so I hope I can get it sprayed on it o.k.thanks for the help guys. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

HI, I use eastwood underhood black paint on my firewall looks very close to the factory flat black, just one more idea for you.

Thats what I ordered,I'm glad you like it I was kinda wandering about it.

I just want to put in "my opinion" again. I've been using Eastwood Underhood Black for about 12 years now, but not on the firewall. For me it is too glossy for that. I think their Chassis Black is also too glossy for the way I would want my firewall. I would still go with something more flat.

That's probably my last two cents worth here. Of course, whatever you end up being happy with is all that matters.

Crowenate,
No I didn't wet sand the primer, just the paint. Again, you have to do AT LEAST 3 coats of paint (& wet sand in between) to get the look your after...

Crowenate,

To be honest, I did the firewall in my '71 with Krylon 1613 Semi-Flat black from Walmart.

I think it turned out pretty nice. But, I do think jerryr's '69 with the Eastwood paints looks better.

My firewall was pretty clead to start with, so I just scuffed it up a bit and sprayed it.

How many coats of paint/primer do you have on it now?

Dwayne

BTW,
I think I'm going to ride up to see Troy and Tracy Monday evening and stay Tuesday. If so, I'll get him to bring me buy to meet ya.

Don, I just visited you site again. I had forgotten just how sweet your car was. Great job!

Later

Hey Dewyane,
I hope you do get to come up,I wish my car was father along than it is right now,but at least youll get to see the before and after.As far as the engine compartment I have just put 2 coats of black primer on it rigt now Im going to out another one on in the morning and wait till my eastwood paint gets here then wet sand the primer and use the eastwood paint,I dread putting the final coats of paint on it thought because I got a quart and have to use my spray gun and I'm affraid of getting carryed away and ruining my firewall.I thought the spray gun would make it look a little better than the can though,I dont know I might be wrong.I just hope it turns out good,the engine compartment is just as important as the exterior paint to me.Thanks for all the help too.And whatever you do If you get to Troy's and your sisters get up here and visit.I want you to see my project,its no where near done though but Im still proud of it. :D

I'll definatley come by if I can get up there.

And, we all have to start somewhere. You should see Amyes Z28 right now. I practically have the whole front end off and the engine out for a rebuild. I just hope I get it all back together in time for the Grand Run in April, because thats the car we want to take.

Troy seems to have gotton a fairly nice car to start with. I have'nt seen it yet, only pictures.

Later
Dwayne

You z28 sounds like my chevelle,the front end is half off the engine is out,I know all about that.:)Your right Troy and your sister has a hell of a car to start on,It is one of the best if not the best body I have seen,especially the floor pans they are perfect.Well hopefully we will get our cars done by april,It looks like I am going to have to get a winter job to finish mine,the small engine business is dead right now,and I havent advertised enough about the car parts to get much business.but as long as its done by april I dont care if I have to work 3 jobs or not this winter.

Has anyone ever used the GM restoration paint on their firewall? What about the inner fenders/wheel tubs? Should they be the same as the firewall? Thanks for any advise.Vince

I was going to use it but the eastwood is suppose to be pretty close and it is cheaper than the gm paint I got a quart og eastwood underhood paint for 14.00.

Well my eastwood under hood paint came today,and I wet sanded the primer and spreayed the firewall with eastwood,and I couldnt be happier.It suits me just fine.That eastwood is the onlyway to go,I quit for the day and I think I might wetsandit again and put a couple more coats on it.When it was wet it kinda looked like I had alot of orange peel but I dont know now that is dry,If it still has the orange peel Im going to have to figure out what I am doing wrong,but so far so good.Thanks for all the help. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I just did a test spot on Amyes' Z with the Underhood Black. It looks great, but, It is a little flatter than the original firewall color.
Still looks fantastic though.

Dwayne