Need Paint Code help

[frenchy51]

I'm trying to find the color to order to repaint my 1974 C20. The SPID states 1537 TWO TONE and I can't seem to find codes for it to give to the paint shop. It's a light tan solid color-no metallic. Anybody have any advice? Thanks

[82Diesel]

Maybe try a finish-master?? They'd have all the GM paint chip books

[jocko]

537 = Frost White (code 521) roof and Sunset Gold (code 527) body.

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by jocko

537 = Frost White (code 521) roof and Sunset Gold (code 527) body.

Thanks! Where did you find the info?

[jocko]

It’s in the 74 Truck Vehicle Info Kit - you can download them from the GM Heritage Center
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-...tion-kits.html

[frenchy51]

Jocko-Thank you. I looked everywhere....

[jocko]

You bet, glad i could help.

[82Diesel]

Originally Posted by jocko

It’s in the 74 Truck Vehicle Info Kit - you can download them from the GM Heritage Center
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-...tion-kits.html

Where in the manual did you find that? Trying to find High Gloss Black Or what ever they'd called it.

[jocko]

I was looking on pg 19 of 65 in the 74 manual for Frenchy's question, however, note that black was not available on light duty trucks from 74-78. In 73 and earlier "Black" was RPO 500. In 79 and later "Midnight Black" was RPO 86.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by jocko

I was looking on pg 19 of 65 in the 74 manual for Frenchy's question, however, note that black was not available on light duty trucks from 74-78. In 73 and earlier "Black" was RPO 500. In 79 and later "Midnight Black" was RPO 86.

Hmm - we had a black 2wd swb fleetside in ‘75...

K

[jocko]

I was kinda surprised as well Keith, I was using the VIK for ref and couldn't find any black codes 74-78 (and I know my Uncle had a black 78 stepside now that I think of it). I dug a little deeper on some color charts and that seemed to back that up. So just now I broke out the big guns to cross check (the 76 and 78 data books I have) - and I found one disconnect. While the 76 db indeed doesn't show black available (except on medium duty and El Camino), the 78 does show it available in the Series 10-90 area, so it doesn't jive with the VIK. Now I'm really curious - would love to see a 74-77 (not 78 I guess) SPID with black or I won't be able to sleep tonight!

EDIT: I am finding black on some of the less-detailed paint chip charts floating around online for some of these mid-years, but it's not to a level of detail where I can tell if it was available on light duty. It just had to be though. It's a sad night for me to lose faith in the Vehicle Info Kits... I thought they were kinda rock solid. What am I missing here...?

[jocko]

For example - two paint chip charts, both 1974 (one dupont, one acme), one shows black and the other doesn't - but the acme one is suspect to me, it covers multiple years and still doesn't show black anywhere. Hmm. Granted, these don't show which series they cover, but still. 3rd pic is the 74 VIK for ref.

[jocko]

Anyway - 82diesel, hope I didn't give you a heart attack.. Bottom line, if you use 73 code 500 or 79 code 86, you'll be good, they should be the same - and if I had to guess, 500 is probably actually the code in 74, per the Dupont chart at least. Do you have a SPID pic by chance?

[mingoman]

Not a 74 color chart, but this is from the 78 factory sales album. It shows 86 midnight black available on all 10-90 series models and 19 black on el camino.

[Keith Seymore]

Hmm.

Here's the '75 info kit: it doesn't show black as an RPO color but it does show it under "Permanent Fleet" colors. Maybe we got it as a COPO color?; I do recall back in the day that there weren't very many black ones around.

Originally Posted by jocko

It's a sad night for me to lose faith in the Vehicle Info Kits... I thought they were kinda rock solid. What am I missing here...?

I think they are about as rock solid as you are going to get, but I know they are not perfect (I used to approve them for publication in the 1990's - so I know mistakes were made!).

K

[82Diesel]

Originally Posted by jocko

I was looking on pg 19 of 65 in the 74 manual for Frenchy's question, however, note that black was not available on light duty trucks from 74-78. In 73 and earlier "Black" was RPO 500. In 79 and later "Midnight Black" was RPO 86.

Mine is 1982... Just trying to figure how what black or how many they had from 81-82-83

[SBPage1]

I just bought a Sherwin Williams Paint Code Chip Manual from someone on Ebay. He has several other manuals. Not sure if he has anything for yours, but its worth asking. Let me know if you are interested and I'll send you his contact info.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by 82Diesel

Mine is 1982... Just trying to figure how what black or how many they had from 81-82-83

OH(!) Well, that's a little different then... I thought you were referring to a 74 like the OP. In 82 the black options (for regular cab trucks) were:

WITH BLACK AS THE PRIMARY:
Midnight Black (code 86) solid paint
or
Midnight Black (code 86) primary with Light Silver Metallic (code 17) secondary

WITH BLACK AS THE SECONDARY:
Light Silver Metallic (code 17) primary with Midnight Black (86) secondary
Charcoal Metallic (code 18) primary with Midnight Black (86) secondary
Burnt Orange Metallic (code 95) primary with Midnight Black (86) secondary