Was the chrome 1968 Convertible Header Moldings the same between the Firebird and the Camaro orignally? Did they share the same part numbers originally? I found a #8714979 driver side header molding and that part comes up as a Camaro part number. All the repos say they can be used on either a Camaro or Firebird.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Dave

It's the same part for both cars,69 also.

Take a look at the convertible top header moldings from my '68 Bird. They are half shiny (front) and half satin (rear). Has anyone seen this before? The satin area is certainly not painted or a sticker.

I was planning to replace them as you can se some pitting on them, but everything I have read says the 1967 moldings are all shiny and the 1968 moldings are all satin. Anyone have any ideas or seen this before? Whats on your 1968 'vert?

the rear area was satin on 68s....not painted on as the new ones now..if its not painted on its an original...67s were shiny...68 got sating as the govt thought you could get blinded from sun shining on them...the new are painted on..but for my 69 I bought new , but as it started to peel off I used paint remover ,took it all off, then bought the visor knuckles for 67 and now mine is like a 67 on top of windshield, personally i like it better

Thanks for checking this out Bjorn. I was speaking to 68tpls400 earlier tonight and he looked at his header moldings on his '68 vert and said his were 100% satin...not front half shiny and rear half satin. He stated his definitley were not painted either. So was wondering what others had. Were they really supposed to be half and half?

Dave

The ones I have with my car are half and half.

Hey Dave,

My '68 originals are 50 / 50 chrome & satin too. They look just like yours. I think it was a sun reflection thing brought in by the gov't in '68 as stated above (but there I go thinking again LOL !). Total gov't B.S. You are correct the '67's were solid chrome. When I rechrome mine I'm gonna chrome the satin too.

Sorry can't comment on the crapmaro's.

Dion

Mine were almost totally satin/brushed. Only the ears that drop down on the ends are shiny.

I wondered how long it would take you to get in on this conversation Jim! Intersting feedback. So it seems there were some all satin and some half and half on '68 cars. Wonder if that has to do with build plant location? Mine was Lordstown.

Dave

Mine are both Lordstown. One is second week of Sept '67, and one is second week of November '67.

January '68 build at Lordstown.

Well that blows that theory all to hell!

Dave

4th week of November, Lordstown.

on my 68 convert built first week of august 67 the header is 100% satin.

For those who say 100% satin, are the ears on the end uncoated chrome as on mine or is that a difference too?

Here's what I mean:


This is the original header chrome. Since the repro parts are no more than chrome painted with easily scratchable paint, I simply refinish mine with a close match silver paint (not shown in the picture) every couple years to make it look acceptable.

Jim, the headers on my cars are just as you describe. The only 'shiny' parts showing are at the very ends where they line up with the vertical pillar mouldings. About 3/4" x 3/4" spot at the ends of the headers. Everything else is satin.

OK, that's what I thought. I added a picture since you replied.

Wow. The originals on my car look to be in better shape than yours. Maybe mine aren't so bad...

Yes they are pretty rough but since the repros are so bad, I just refresh them with paint periodically. If good satin (with the original robust coating process) repros that fit ever hit the market, I will replace mine.

This is all good info, but my 67's are both chrome and I want to get them off for re-chroming. I have pitting across both sides.
Does anyone here have a step by step on getting these #%^&*%^&(^*# things off ?
Do I need to take off the trim around the windshield as part of the process?
I have already taken off everything else ! Do I work back to front or front to back with putty knife.

Any help would be great.

On my 69 they were buried into the black windshield caulking. It took me forever to get them off. I had to use razor blades and a lot of prying to get them off. I was taking the windshield out too so I didn't have to worry about that.

SAM

Here is a pic of my 69FB vert.





What I have read over the years is that the 50/50 paint was changed in mid 68. My 69 was built Van Nuys 4th Week Oct 68 and has a full satin header. I "believe" that the satin is a sprayed epoxy argent silver as that color was used on wheels and other parts of the car. I have no way of proving that fact. I have heard that the header molding is held on with "DumDum" and is horrible to take off. have also read that the repops are even worse so it would be best to have yours rechromed if you remove them.

I have tried two different paints to match the "satin" look. Eastwoods Argent Silver and Krylon Metallic Dull Aluminum.

They look identical to me which makes me believe that the Eastwood paint is a simple relabel at 4 times the cost.

If anyone has a better paint to match the look I am all ears.

Marc

Mine is 50/50, built 3rd week of 1968 at Lordstown.

x2. Mine built second week of Sept '67. My 4-speed was built second week of Nov, and it has one 50/50, and one bright chrome. Obviously something was replaced, but funny thing is that both pieces look like they have been on there for 43 years!

And just one week later, mine has the full brushed/dull.

Are there suppose to be part numbers on the OEM molding? Mine was built 4th week Sept 67 in Lordstown. Both mine are bright chrome look pretty pitted but may have been replaced. I searched for a part number and could not find one.