Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions for First Generation Firebirds that have been asked and answered on FGF. Special thanks needs to be given to all the FGF members who took the time to respond to other member's questions.
Engine - Paint
Short answer: For correct, durable engine paint, Bill Hirsch Automotive (hirschauto.com) specializes in restoration finishes — the correct engine paint in pints or aerosol, plus 1,800° exhaust paint for headers. (It’s one source; others exist.)
Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.
Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Short answer: Original engine-compartment finishes:
- Transmission dipstick handle: engine color.
- Exhaust heat shield: natural silver-zinc finish (some restored cars and early road-test photos show it black — it’s debated).
- Fuel line: natural — the pump and line were installed after the engine was painted.
- Fan: aluminum color.
- Cast-aluminum brackets: natural (can be polished for a sharp look).
- Oil filler cap: painted if the valve covers are.
Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.
Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Short answer: Most of the engine is Pontiac Blue — block, heads, balancer, water pump, timing cover, intake manifold, oil-filter bracket, and tin (except chrome). Black goes on the pulleys, power-steering pump, accessory brackets, motor mounts, heater-hose bracket, and coil-mount bracket.
Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.
Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Short answer: Per Jim Mattison (PHS), the correct gloss level on the firewall area is 85% black.
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Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Short answer: That bracket (the one bolting to the passenger head to keep the heater hose off the exhaust manifold) is black, not engine color. The correct location appears to be the far outside hole under the freeze plug (lower-left corner of the head), with the tang in the hole directly below it.
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Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Short answer: Engine-compartment sheet metal is eggshell/semi-gloss black; the frame and suspension are a flatter black enamel; and the steering/suspension linkage is left natural (unpainted). Formulas below.
PPG formulas:
- Firewall, inner radiator support, engine-compartment sheet metal: 2 qt “mixing black” #386 · 1 qt universal flattening agent · 1 qt “mixing clear” #310 · PPG #DDL-16 quick-dry thinner or DuPont #3608S.
- Undercarriage, frame, suspension (eggshell black enamel): 3 qt mixing black #386 · 1 qt flattening agent · PPG DTR601 quick-dry reducer.
- The center link, sway bar, tie rods, idler arm, and spindles are natural (unpainted) — many restorers use a flat clear or Eastwood Natural Steel to keep them from rusting.
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Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Short answer: For brush-on Pontiac engine paint, try POR-15 (Restomotive Laboratories) engine paint or Bill Hirsch — both reputable. POR-15 has a higher gloss but goes on thick: it shows brush marks on flat surfaces (oil pan, valve covers, valley pan) though not on rough ones (block, heads).
Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.
Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Short answer: The greenish-blue is just aged Pontiac Blue metallic — the original paint shifts green after 30 years of heat cycles. To repaint, use the correct Plasticote “Pontiac Blue Metallic” (#227/#228, the same paint Performance Years and others sell); it looks like the factory brochures when fresh and naturally ages to that green hue. Use a high-temperature primer (e.g., Plasti-Kote, good to 500°F).
Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.
Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Content last modified: June 9, 2026 at 7:10 am
