kdlp

So I'm sitting in the... well I guess it doesn't matter where I'm sitting....

I'm looking at a Mid-America catalog and they show pics of the rocker panels for various years of C3's. I notice that the '81 rocker panels are solid black... when it occurs to me that I have an '81 and they look just like the pair for '70-'77.

So my question is... did I get Bubba'd here? Or did GM decide to put the brushed aluminum w/ black stripe rockers on Black (like mine) '81's?
It makes perfect sense that the '81's would have black trim. The nose and tail emblems are black trimmed. MAM says '81 & '82 should be solid black.

I think I'm smellin' a Bubba here.......

kdlp

bluesilver82

My 82 is solid black...Which I am about to repaint flat black! They are already off the car.

2TONE82

...ditto, mine are solid black as well. Thought the 80's had chrome, 81 and 82 black?

AND we don't care where you're sitting...must get visual out of my mind...

JungleCat

The '80 Corvettes had black rocker panels with a thin chrome stripe at the top.

Crab

jomor

My 81 has chrome rockers and windshield trim , this was a BUBBA installed option in 81.
They were satin black from the factory.

Bangkok Dean

Like the trim they can be painted or stripped and polished bright.

Glensgages

..... and the correct proceedure for this IS ?????

My all-Black '82 'needs' something to help brighten it up.....



ya can't tell where the car-stops, and the shadows-begin.....

kdlp

If you're interested in polishing them bright, it's pretty easy. Just strip the paint (there are lots of products that work on aluminum.) It's been my experience that aluminum tends to let go of paint pretty easily. The trim surrounds on my windshield and back window that were satin black from the factory are almost a natural aluminum now. Once they're free of paint, buff them bright.

Find an Eastwood catalog or http://www.eastwood.com/ for the buffer goodies. Although I'd bet Home Depot or Lowe's or whatever big hardware outlet is near you would have everything you need. The Eastwood site might give you an idea of what buffer/rouge, etc. you're looking for.

If you don't want to do it yourself, most any credible body shop could do them or recommend someone to do them for you.

Should warn you though that very often the hardware that holds those rockers on is rusted, crusted, nasty, no fun to deal with stuff. Have seen a couple guys end up drilling out the hardware to get the rockers free.

Good Luck,

kdlp

By the way, thanks for the pic of a black on black '81. Now I know what my car is supposed to look like.

C3Racing

My 82 is is like that also. But the chrome trim is mostly worn off and the rest of it is satin black.

BLUSHRK

I kinda like it that way. I think your car looks better that way. Nice and clean...Just my .02

IrishJoker

1981 - they are Black.

Steve COSD

I would stay away from flat black on any part of your car. After paint wears the surface becomes aged. This becomes a place for dirt to accumulate. After a while flat black starts looking chalcky. Try painting with a satin black. This will look better in the long run and be easier to maintain. The paint I would recommend is John Deere Blitz Black. It's the best I have found so far. Get it at your nearest John Deere tractor store.
Good Luck
Steve

mooneyd

I like the all black look

bluesilver82

Your car looks fantastic! Nice ride.

UKPaul

Forget paint...... get them anodised black Looks great & you don't need to keep touching in chips from stones, etc. My panels were clear anodised under the paint & this needs to be stripped prior to anodising. You can do it yourself but it takes ages, far better to get the anodisers to chemically strip it prior to polishing & anodising.
Haven't got a decent close up pic of the result, but it does look nice.

C3 RV

I had to minimize all my open windows to look at my wallpaper. My 81 has bright rockers with a thin black line (just a minute, let me look again) near the top. So, that's probably not original? I like it, though.

PRNDL

I just noticed that yesterday. The pic looked like 68/69 rockers! Supposedly unavailable for a while:

C3 RV

Chrome sidepipes are another option...

Lovin_my_81

I painted mine flat black, but I like the striped ones better, gives some character, Kinda like my window trim that's polished not painted.


How do you guys post pictures in your replies?