Paint code
 

Is there anyplace other than my glovebox to find the paint code?

Truck was poorly painted white. I can still see some blue behind the den, under the headliner, and under hood. Chevy seemed to have 4 similar blues in 1979 but when I looked up GMC for 1979, it only listed one color Medium blue; 27 or 6208. I bought a rattle can of touch up but it looks too dark and a little too metallic and compared to existing (albeit old and faded) old color has more of a green hue.

Is the difference new vs. very old/tired paint or incorrect code? Need to find alternate paint code location to tell.

Re: Paint code
 

Do you have picture of the blue on your truck? Just a small area with the original blue paint. Someone might be able to identify the color just by seeing it.

Re: Paint code
 

Only if you can find an original build sheet under the carpet or in the seat springs.

Beyond that, you'd have to pop the $50 to send your VIN to the GM Heritage Center and have them pull the original invoice.

http://www.gmmediaarchive.com/?page=3

(unless you can find an online VIN decoder that works with a '79 VIN and can pull the RPOs in that way).

K

Re: Paint code
 

Chevy and GMC would have the same offerings (no difference in content between the nameplates)

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

But - you are right, in that I see three different blues:

Code 23 - Hawaiian Blue (said with the same inflection as Mark Knopfler in "Money for Nuthin' - 'what is that? Hawaiian noises?")

Code 25 - Mariner Blue (Metallic)

Code 26 - Deep Blue

Code 27 was not available in '79 on LD pickups according to the GM archives documentation.

Those would be your menu choices.

K

Re: Paint code
 

Hmmmm….very interesting. I bought the paint card and leaned toward 23.

Truck was poorly painted white and on the cowl was flaking. So found a spot to clean off and clean up. Wife didn't agree BUT she is typically way better at color match than I am.

Then went to a touch up paint dot com website and found the color card for 1979 chevy with multiple listings for blue paint (incidentally none were color code 23). So I figured that there may be blues not offered on trucks so checked GMC and the only metallic blue was code 27. I ordered a rattle can for some small pieces, interior, and behind bed/cab. Tested a small area and looks too bright, too metallic, too blue. The paint between the bed and cab was thin but not painted white so feel good about sample.

Back to the drawing board. Thanks for the tips.

Re: Paint code
 

Still no luck with tag on drivers door or inner fender. Seat isn’t original so no go on build sheet.

Funny thing is, I was at the local pick-a-part pulling a couple things from a 78 Dually with same paint color ALSO repainted white. But the glove box door (&sticker) we’re gone.

Looking at the info above and a few other online pics, Hawaiian Blue seems too light and bright. Seems I am going to be closer with #25 Bright blue poly/Catalina Blue/mariner blue which appear to be the same color but named differently depending on the year.

Re: Paint code
 

Have you peeled the carpet or floor mat back to take a look? Unless someone went to a lot of expense to paint it the floor should be the original color and not faded or worn.

Re: Paint code
 

Yeah, looks like someone took out the carpet and soaked it with the rust converter. Little bits of blue here and there but mostly black. Someone was also heavy handed with interior dye/paint and tried to repaint everything black. There is some okay paint under the headliner though.

Re: Paint code
 

The front of the box & back of the cab painted white? Door jam moldings/rubber seals been removed to paint white too?

Re: Paint code
 

Spent some time wet sanding overspray with 800 grit. This is what was hiding on the back of the cab.

Oh yeah, also bought a small touch up bottle of Mariner Blue that stills doesn’t Appear to match.

Re: Paint code
 

That shot ^^ & the provided color chip chart looks like Brt. Blue Poly. To match that OG shade that is left, you need a pro to mix/adjust the OG formula step by step to get it really close.

Re: Paint code
 

You will only get close to that color because its been faded over time. The original paint can be matched, but preferably paint the whole car by the year and paint chip.

Also, if you can get the formula they used when you get the paint, that way you can get a true match later on. Even with the same paint code, there are variations to each

Re: Paint code
 

I'm a terrible painter. Plan is to do a faux patina finish with original color on top. Then sand down to simulate 40 years of sun fading. Main part to match is door jams and dash where there should be little fade.

Going to try my hand at one or combination of these techniques:

https://www.themotorhood.com/themoto...-a-faux-patina


https://www.instructables.com/id/Fauxtina/

https://www.powernationtv.com/episod...classix-part-1

After addressing some rust issues.

Re: Paint code
 

Okay, so i popped for the GM Heritage for a copy of the invoice. For color I have:

Type options/Extra Equip :90125L 040
Description: 25 Mariner Blue 26 Deep Blue

So which is it? Was it 2-tone with 2 different but similar blues? That seems like an odd choice. However, when I pulled off the aluminum cab band, it looks like there were 2 blues under there. No idea if it was factory or 1 of at least 2 repaints.

Re: Paint code
 

If it lists 2 blues, then it was a 2 tone blue. Usually it would say u-upper &
l-lower.