I've seen the top and sides of the cowl both in 60% gloss black and in body color. The Camaro restoration guide has it in body color. The Firebird restoration guide does not list it at all.

I'm thinking it was in black but seeing many in body color. Any idea what color it was?

Are you talking about the area under the cowl. If so it is black.

The area above the firewall where it runs to the windshield and down the sides behind the door.

Yes it is black. At least on the 1967s.

I've read the door hinges were body color. It seems strange that the door jams and hinges were body color and the side cowl was black behind the door where the hinges bolt on.

The part where the hinges are bolted, I believe, is painted body color. Mine has been repainted there so I am not absolutely sure.

Got it. Thanks.

My guess, based on the Camaro Assembly Process at the Camaro Research Group's website - is that the body shell was 1st totally painted body color and then line workers sprayed the semi-gloss black over the body color on the firewall.

Thus the stop line of the black paint probably varied by vehicle.

That is what my researched reviled too. I reading a article now from Hemings muscle machine nov 2011 on a 68 400 conv. He painted the top and sides body color. He was doing a concours restore pretty much. He has taken 998 out 100 at the trans am nationals in 2009. I guess either way is fine.

Mine appeared to be black but who knows after 45 years and what might have been done.

Also, according to CRG, the doors and trunk were installed on the body shell prior to shell painting.

Camaro Assembly Process

Nice to see that in print. My cowl is painted top coat color and the top and bottom. Then the black spray sounds right to me. The top coat remained on my cowl on the outside portion that is covered by the fender.

Thanks for the link Salmon. Great doc to follow. I think it will make putting it together easy as well.

Harold,

The front end work you have done looks awesome. Lots of fun putting it together when the final product looks that good ehh?

Thanks. Yes it is great seeing it going back together.

I have a bunch of pics uploaded on my Google account of Firebirds with pretty good stock restoration of the suspension and engines.

Here is an example. You should be able to find my other "Publc" photo albums I think.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/105908860112140983297/albums/5899076407881417665

Thanks. I've been checking them out. Lot of good pics there and great cars.

You're welcome. I should have remembered that site a bit earlier for you.

I have a firebird mystery for you, i posted this subject four years ago.
my 69 is white, has had one repaint the same color. the cowl and firewall on it has a teal green shade of paint on the fire wall and cowl area. under the green is the correct black.

What paint codes are on the trim tag?

"50 B" on the trim tag

Interesting. My guess is a previous owner did the green paint for some reason.

no it came from the factory like that. i had a post on it in 09. a camaro research guy said that he had seen a couple of camaro's from the Van nuys Ca. plant come out like that.

the engine has never been out until i removed it to reseal every thing. it came with paper work for maintenance performed on it. it was a one owner, black plate, dealer tag frame ect...

its a mystery to me. i had the engine out pressure washing the engine bay noticed two colors on the fire wall and quit washing with pressure. i left it the way it was.
this bird is more original than the two i had in the late 70's, early 80's.

Mine is body color on my coupe and convertible with some black overspray

Salmon, Do we know that the Camaro assembly process was pretty much the same for our firebirds?

We can't say that for sure - but it should have been similar. Looks like Firebird and Camaro were not assembled on the same line until April 1969 according to the CRG.

That means that Firebird assembly was by itself at Lordstown until Norwood and Van Nuys were added where it shared the line with Camaros.

If I can help I will. My Oct 68 69FB was built in Van Nuys and has had one respray in 86. The painter did a crappy job but never removed much to do the job. Under the cowl should be the factory paint and colors.

If it can be done I will pop the wiper arms off and lift the cowl up enough to peek inside. If I can take pics I will.

Will this work?

There was a standardized GM plant layout and all GM products were assembled pretty much the same way. Minor variations for various reasons, but not much. That article is specifically written to cover other GM models. Look at the 1959 Life pictures - same process!
You can always ask John. He was there - he's standing on the far left talking to the production manager in the pic of the red 69 Firebird.
http://camaros.org/assemblyprocess.shtml#chevmetal