painting factory louvers? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

04-14-2011, 01:06 PM   #1 Supreme Member     Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mesquite, Texas Posts: 2,934 Car: 89 rs Transmission: T5 painting factory louvers? I just bought a set of factory louvers in great condition. I'm not expecting to have to do any restoration on them at all. If that's the case, would it be really stupid of me to paint them? Am I killing the value of them to paint them a glossy black to match a two tone paint job, with gloss black on the rest of the roof and hatch? I've seen what flat black louvers look like with a black car, and I'm not a fan. for those who are wondering why I would paint them... consider the next two photos... a study in color perception... here's a picture of my car with my current, plastic louvers. they look black, right? now here's my car photoshopped black. now the louvers look grey. If anybody has any good pics of a black car with flat black louvers that looks good, I'd like to see them __________________ My 89 RS Camaro restoration thread North Texas Third Gen Association   04-14-2011, 03:02 PM   #2 Senior Member   Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, TX Posts: 271 Car: 91 Firebird,00 c2500, 68 T Bird Engine: 3.1, 350, 429 Re: painting factory louvers? I think it would look good painted gloss black to match. I had that idea because all the old calendars I have w/ a louvered third gen show the louvers painted to match. Though I knew they are supposed to be flat/ semi flat black I felt that the louvers looked good w/ the paint match.   04-14-2011, 06:05 PM   #3 Moderator     Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Florida Posts: 5,101 Car: 87 IROC-Z 350 Re: painting factory louvers? Just an FYI that the louvers posted are not factory louvers so there is no real "value" to them. Also, the paint on them is a satin or trim black, not flat. You can repaint those any color you want and not affect their value. __________________ 87 IROC 350 03 Monte Carlo SS Pace Car Special Edition #1177   04-14-2011, 06:09 PM   #4 Member     Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 195 Car: 1984 Camaro Z28 Clone Engine: Crate 5.7L Chevy V8 Transmission: T5 5speed Axle/Gears: Open 3.42's Re: painting factory louvers? Quote: Originally Posted by scottmoyer Just an FYI that the louvers posted are not factory louvers so there is no real "value" to them. Also, the paint on them is a satin or trim black, not flat. You can repaint those any color you want and not affect their value. Yeah, i was about to say, those aren't factory. I can check the books again, but I am nearly 100% sure. The factory ones look much different   04-14-2011, 06:11 PM   #5 Supreme Member     Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mesquite, Texas Posts: 2,934 Car: 89 rs Transmission: T5 Re: painting factory louvers? Quote: Originally Posted by scottmoyer Just an FYI that the louvers posted are not factory louvers so there is no real "value" to them. Also, the paint on them is a satin or trim black, not flat. You can repaint those any color you want and not affect their value. hey guys....I clearly said in my post that the louvers pictured are my current, plastic louvers. I just bought the facotry louvers last night, and I'm waiting on delivery Last edited by 58mark; 04-14-2011 at 06:20 PM.   04-14-2011, 06:28 PM   #6 Member     Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 195 Car: 1984 Camaro Z28 Clone Engine: Crate 5.7L Chevy V8 Transmission: T5 5speed Axle/Gears: Open 3.42's Re: painting factory louvers? Quote: Originally Posted by 58mark hey guys....I clearly said in my post that the louvers pictured are my current, plastic louvers. I just bought the facotry louvers last night, and I'm waiting on delivery oh, sorry about that man! Totally read that wrong!   04-14-2011, 06:30 PM   #7 Member     Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 195 Car: 1984 Camaro Z28 Clone Engine: Crate 5.7L Chevy V8 Transmission: T5 5speed Axle/Gears: Open 3.42's Re: painting factory louvers? Oh and personally, i have seen some louvers painted the body color before, and I dont like it. To me, it looks like the person got lazy and painted everything. haha.   04-14-2011, 06:30 PM   #8 Supreme Member     Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mesquite, Texas Posts: 2,934 Car: 89 rs Transmission: T5 Re: painting factory louvers? no problem. back to the original question. would painting factory louvers that otherwise were in greet condition be stupid?   04-14-2011, 06:31 PM   #9 Supreme Member     Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mesquite, Texas Posts: 2,934 Car: 89 rs Transmission: T5 Re: painting factory louvers? Quote: Originally Posted by vistageek92 Oh and personally, i have seen some louvers painted the body color before, and I dont like it. To me, it looks like the person got lazy and painted everything. haha. good point.. I like some variation, which is why I put the stripes on my car. the car will be two tone, and rather busy one at that, so I'm not really concerned about looking plain jane or lazy   04-14-2011, 06:40 PM   #10 Member     Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 195 Car: 1984 Camaro Z28 Clone Engine: Crate 5.7L Chevy V8 Transmission: T5 5speed Axle/Gears: Open 3.42's Re: painting factory louvers? Quote: Originally Posted by 58mark good point.. I like some variation, which is why I put the stripes on my car. the car will be two tone, and rather busy one at that, so I'm not really concerned about looking plain jane or lazy I would leave it. But you might want to look at your options. I say wait on it, get the car painted, then put them on and see how you like it, if you don't, then paint them up and put em on!   04-14-2011, 06:43 PM   #11 Supreme Member     Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mesquite, Texas Posts: 2,934 Car: 89 rs Transmission: T5 Re: painting factory louvers? yeah, that's an option. I'm on the fence with the two tone anyway,so I may just play it safe, give it a paint job similar to what I already have, and forget about the two tone, leaving the louvers as is   04-14-2011, 06:48 PM   #12 Senior Member     Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Somerset, New Jersey Posts: 795 Car: 2000 SS Engine: LS1 Transmission: 4L60e Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi Re: painting factory louvers? if they're in good condition then leave them. if any thing i'd paint them satin black, thats what i did to mine   04-14-2011, 06:51 PM   #13 Supreme Member     Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kemah and College-Station/Bryan Texas Posts: 1,670 Car: 1991 z28 Engine: turbo'd tree fiddy Transmission: t56 Axle/Gears: dana 44 w/ 3.73's Re: painting factory louvers? Quote: Originally Posted by vistageek92 I would leave it. But you might want to look at your options. I say wait on it, get the car painted, then put them on and see how you like it, if you don't, then paint them up and put em on! this is a good idea   04-21-2011, 07:34 AM   #14 Supreme Member     Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mesquite, Texas Posts: 2,934 Car: 89 rs Transmission: T5 Re: painting factory louvers? Last night a friend brought over his 89 IROC. He just got it back from the shop where they were fixing a dnet and repainting part of it. While it was there, he had them paint the buckets, the hood and hatch louvers gloss black. I didn't mind the buckets, but the others I wasn't a huge fan of. Something about shiny louvers really seemed off. I'll see his car again on saturday (if he brings it to the NTTGA cookout) and I'll take a couple pictures and post them here. I think I've pretty much decided to leave mine flat black   04-21-2011, 07:34 AM ThirdGen 1992 Camaro Paid Advertisement   Third Generation F-Body Message Boards > Tech Boards > History / Originality painting factory louvers? « 1988 Camaro with color codes 66 and wa9538 medium orange | 18 Gallon Gas tank....take 2 » Tags 3rd, black, camaro, camaros, car, code, explorer, factory, fbody, flat, gen, history, louvers, painted, painting, plastic, rpo Thread Tools Search this Thread Show Printable Version Email this Page Posting Rules You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off