1981 Headlight/marker light bucket and upper/lower grille Color

[TomatoStripeZ28]

The last things that need to be painted... Are the T-top trim and the old lower grille and new upper grille. The question came up about the new OER headlight buckets and new OER marker buckets, THEY ALL CAME IN GLOSS. The window trim is matte/flat/satin.. whatever that is.. NOT gloss or semi.

Should I do the buckets & grilles in the MATTE black.. or all in the gloss Body paint?

Really appreciate opinions... just trying to figure out what makes sense?

Jeff

 

[Twisted_Metal]

The headlight bezels I bought (many years ago) were a semi-gloss black.
I replaced the upper grill and shot it with SEM trim paint and it was a very good match to the bezels.

They now also sell an "Trim Black Ultra" product but I have no experience with that one.
It is available in three different gloss options.

You Z28 would originally have had a body colored grill.
So... I don't think the light bezels would look bad as long as they all matched each other.

I would pop them in and see if you could live with the different black.

If you can't... Use the SEM paint (#39143) and I don't think you will be disappointed.
I used it on my N90 wheels, rocker panel, grill and license plate frame.
It's a VERY good product which is easy to spray and very durable.

Here's a pic of the grill (shot with SEM) and black (non gloss) light bezels for color/gloss comparison..

 

[TomatoStripeZ28]

Thanks @Twisted_Metal
I am just trying to decide. I do like your SEMI gloss and the continuity of them all together. I always assumed that all the grills on the 80s and 81s were black... not body color. Were the buckets also black by default?

So if I go with body color with the Grille.. then i will go with it on the buckets.

Jeff

 

[Twisted_Metal]

^ Body colored grills and black bezels.
The light bezels were always black on the 78-81 Z28s.

Only black 80-81 Z28s got black grills.
(I don't know if they were painted black of if they were a black finish out of the mold.)

The light bezels were always black on the 78-81 Z28s.

Replacement Z28 grills are black and many people leave them that way.
(The grill is susceptible to rock chips and having them painted body color makes it more difficult to touch up.)

Personally... I like the Z28 grills in black as the continuity across the front of the car looks better, IMO.

 

[TomatoStripeZ28]

Thanks Twisted, I really appreciate your input. The buckets look glossy on that cover car. hmmm.. UGH too hard. Last thing to be painted and I should have thought about this MORE and SOONER.

The whole touch up thing is a bigger deal...

Jeff

View attachment 215237
^ Body colored grills and black bezels.
The light bezels were always black on the 78-81 Z28s.

Only black 80-81 Z28s got black grills.
(I don't know if they were painted black of if they were a black finish out of the mold.)

The light bezels were always black on the 78-81 Z28s.

Replacement Z28 grills are black and many people leave them that way.
(The grill is susceptible to rock chips and having them painted body color makes it more difficult to touch up.)

Personally... I like the Z28 grills in black as the continuity across the front of the car looks better, IMO.

 

[Hogdaddy]

Here is a pic of a nos bezel I have. Like Twisted _Metal says, they are semi-gloss.
Hard to get a accuate photo because of reflection
.

 

[TomatoStripeZ28]

Here is a pic of a nos bezel I have. Like Twisted _Metal says, they are semi-gloss.
Hard to get a accuate photo because of reflection
.
View attachment 215247

Thank you sir!

Keep piling on people. LOL

Jeff

 

[junkyarddawg]

Putting up pictures of 80z code 79 with black grills, buckets and side marker trim. The grills are semi gloss I think….

 

[Twisted_Metal]

^ The black grill contrasts the emblem so much better than body color, IMO.

 

[TomatoStripeZ28]

^ The black grill contrasts the emblem so much better than body color, IMO.

Agree Twisted, but my car is black so the triple red stripe kit will pop. So I DO think I will go with straight black in semi gloss or whatever the finish is to match the window trim. It was on today when I went by and I didn't even notice at first. It was sharp and looked clean (they were the OER front and rear in black).

Jeff