What is the correct shade of black for a 70 GS air cleaner? I tried to do a search on the site but didn't find much info. I've seen beautifully restored air cleaners on what looks like concours level cars with different shades of black. Some glossy, some more of a semi-gloss. Was it different at say Flint compared to Fremont? What's the consensus on the correct shade? I'm getting ready to repaint mine and want it to look correct. Thanks!
There was a discussion on this site many years ago. Semi gloss was the correct colour. I repainted the breather on my '72 GS semi gloss many years ago. However, I repainted the breather on my '84 Trans AM gloss black so it would stand out.
Glossy it is! I couldn't go by the radiator cover as mine is the early plastic style, the metal end pieces were pretty glossy though. Thanks for the input!
I would like to find the first guy that did a concourse and did the air cleaner in flat or semi. I’d like to string him up by his buster browns. Hasn’t anyone peeled the decal off one of these things??????
My search skills are evidently lacking. GS+Air+Cleaner+color = 10 pages with 1 vague reference to someone with a gloss air cleaner. I tried a few different combinations. In my original question, I put "what looked to be a concours restoration" I'm definitely not a judge. The cars I was referencing were beautifully restored, but had an air cleaner that was not glossy. Thanks to all for the input!
I think the discrepancy in the level of gloss on the air cleaner stems from the type of paint used by the factory. While the air cleaners were painted gloss black, I believe they were painted with laquer paint which, without buffing, is not nearly as smooth or shiny as modern day urethane paints.
The problem here was for years we thought the air cleaners were a semi-gloss. Then years later we found nice original examples that were gloss, so now that is what the Judges want to see on the cars. There were early pics of the cars in Magazines, but you never know if anyone "touched up" anything to get better shots, so they could not be used as references. There are other incorrect things like this we discovered over the years of research, like Shocks. We always thought that all 70-72 cars came with GM Delco Spirals, but through some research found that during mid-production of the 1970 model year, GM changed the F-41 suspension cars to the smooth Pliacells. Which were state of the art at that time, and only used on the Buick GS with the F-41 suspension and Corvettes. If you look at an earlier restoration you will probably see spirals on late 70's thru 72 cars, and maybe semi-gloss air cleaners. As more is learned those changes will get added to what the Judges want to see. That is the way it is. Like it or not life is a learning experience, and as we lean more, the restorations get better. A lot of the info you guys "know" and take so easily for granted, has been found thru years of research. That is the legacy of what we have done. Duane
After seeing several 70-72 cars up close here, that were restored in the late 90's or early 2000's, they all had similar authenticity issues. Things like door latches, mounting screws, and striker posts are unpainted. Incorrect color trunk paint. Tower clamps on everything. Incorrect door panel screws. Air cleaner sheen
I personally had several original paint air cleaners and considered them to be gloss. I thought I had read 90% gloss at one point. Years ago there was a '67 GS400 at Bowling Green that was absolutely an untouched time capsule with something like 5k miles on it. Under the hood, there must have been 15 different shades or sheens of black and it hit me like a brick. Every part under there was probably painted individually at different times and was probably this car probably was the epitome of factory correct, even though it didn't appear as nice as restored examples we see today.
I am looking at this thread because I am working on my 1968 GS cal air cleaner box and it appears to be glossy. but I was wondering what paint you guys like for this job? I have a can of black VHT High temp in Gloss black that it would be good to use up... Think I might try that. We shall see. Sometime they look Satin because they are caked in old oil sludge. I am going to try and leave the original silk screened BC/Service instructions and paint around, which probably won't look right. We shall see...
GM was using lacquer back then. Gloss black will have a tendency to to "dull down", especially when dealing with the heat of the engine compartment.
