In the restoration Part 5 of this site Skip Cain recommends "GM recondition black" paint for the firewall and inner fenders. I have looked everywhere and even contacted GM and can't locate this paint. I don't want to use Eastwoods because it is a laquer. Anyone know where I can get GM's?

One word of caution, the older GM paint that I'm assuming Skip reffered to was a nice satin black you could put on just about anything, it was the correct shade of black. The new stuff GM sells is almost flat black, not the same stuff as before, I know this for a fact as I bought the new stuff and had to buy paint to spray over it. Any local paint supply can mix up some 60% gloss black, that converts to satin. Any GM dealer can order the paint but it comes in a case with four gallons in it, they may want you to buy all four!

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GM recondition black comes from the 60's and is very sub-standard by today's standards. You would be far beter off using a 2-part catylized product such as Spies Hecker "Rally Matte Black" single stage paint. This will give you a chemically resistant,very tough finish while still providing the original "look".

You can get a gallon of the GM Recondition black from Year One, but as Tom says, it's not very good. You can almost rub it off with your bare hand. Strong cleaners will definately damage it. I used Dupont Centari gloss black with 20% (by volume) Dupont flattener added, then thinned about 25%. This gave about 60-70% gloss. I used POR Chassis Coat black on the frame. It gives a tough semi-gloss coating.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575
My '69 SS (http://sites.netscape.net/von69ss/homepage)

In my limited experience I found the GM Recondition balck harder to wipe clean and touch up minor scratches. I use a Chassis black from my local auto paint store now.

It's sprayable right out of the gallon can, inexpensive and is really close to the GM recondition black, maybe 70% gloss (description: glossy flat black).

So far it has held up well, and as long as your are not a 100% correct, yada yada ya kind-of guy, it's the way to go.

PS I think I paid $18 for a gallon.

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Springfield, Ohio

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Try Eastwoods (http://www.eastwoodco.com) Their Underhood Black is very close (or equal to) the original black for the firewall, inner fenders, and underhood areas.

[This message has been edited by Super70 (edited 02-15-2002).]

if there is anyway you can get to an auto paint jobber or distrubitor of paints such as PPG or Dupont, go there and ask for the low gloss GM paint for under hood. i used low gloss PPG direct gloss paint. direct gloss is a single stage paint, no clear coat is used and it lasts forever. i used it on the firewall, wheel wells, underhood, rad support, etc. im not sure of the cost but you will need at least a quart of paint and then the hardener and reducer.