Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

I am getting ready to restore my Indy soon and I can see the cowl markings under the black paint on the firewall, but they are not very clear. What is the best way to clean paint off the cowl without eliminating the markings?

Thanks !!

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

plastic media blasting, very carefully.

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Check this out. Those crayon marks were done on bare steel. I stripped this firewall with cheap Kleen strip. It was buzzed with rattle can black, plus the OE lacquer.
The primer underneeth is very tough stuff, work the black off and wipe with lacquer thinner till you get to the gray.
The crayon will be gone, but the primer that was over the marks locks in the image.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../COPO02831.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../COPO02827.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../COPO02826.jpg

Show us the pictures... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]...we like pictures... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

I like YOUR picts Mikey!

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Thanks guys..I will try the lacquer thinner method since I have no media at the moment....

And Yeh, great pics Mikey...I will post some pics of my car 'as-is' before I remove the paint... And then some after pics also.....I am in Brasil at the moment but will post some pics when I get back in the US next week..I can see some of the markings, but cannot figure them out...I'm sure you guys probably can help.

Thanks agaian..and thanks SYC

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Thanks guys..I think I will try the lacquer thinner method since I have no media at the moment....

And Yes, great pics Mike...I will post some pics of my car 'as-is' before I remove the paint... And then some after pics also.....I am in Brasil at the moment but will post some pics when I get back in the US next week..I can see some of the markings, but cannot figure them out...I'm sure you guys probably can help.

Thanks agaian..and thanks SYC

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Awesome photos Mike! Saved for reference!

Thanks,
Dan

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Is that a OR (orange) behind the Z21

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Look closely , it is a big &quot;OK&quot; in yellow, it was over the Z21.

Mike

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Note that the cowl markings were all under the blackout paint and wouldn't be visible in the finished car. That was the whole purpose of the blackout paint..... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

The markings that I have encountered on the earlier cars that I have('61, 62 &amp;63) have been written on the bare steel before any paint has been applied. Of course the firewalls in my '61 &amp; '62 cars were not blacked out, I have used lacquar thinner to remove the paint and the markings are the last thing that comes off. Even then they are etched in the metal. They are visable because they bled through the lacquar paint that was used back then.

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

I have noticed those early 60's cars that were painted lighter body colors are much easier to pick up on...sometimes.

Mike

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

got back from brazil yesterday so went and took a few pics. looks like 740?? could be 720 for orange houndstooth?? dont think so...also looks like something else below..I am going to clean this week and see what shows up...will post pics...

this pic is in center of fire wall above tunnel...

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

can see two T,s and 1 P...there is another T and P on other side also...

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

other side of cowl..you can barely see the P and the T

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

cowl hidden VIN and cowl orig. paint...

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

original vin

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

ds door w orig paint showing pinstripe

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

cowl paint pass side

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

ooops that was drivers side//here's pass side..i hiope!!

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

any thoughts on the crayon markings..the car is an L-78 M-22 Indy. (few option), besides mandatory Indy options, L-78, M-22, AM radio, power steering. No console, manual top.

thanks max

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

thought this pic would help of the whole cowl..to get an idea of the location of the markings...sorry for the quality..(ifone pics)...

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

So on the 69 pacers there is no x22 or x66 on cowl tag. Do you have an x2 or x6 on the rear seat divder?

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Actually the Indy Pace Cras had the Z-ll package...which was denoted as Z-11 on the cowl tag. This package included mandatory Rally sport/ Super Sport/ Conv. with the special orange and white paint and orange houndstooth interior.

But something I did not think of...would the car have maybe a Z-1 on the seat divider??? Did the Indys have anything typically there?? I will check later today..I am curious now.

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

This documented survivor L78 Pace Car has an XO on the seat divider.

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/Fami...tuff%20003.JPG

Another original pinstripe shot

http://texasbuiltmusclecars.com/DSCF5407.JPG

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

&quot;XO&quot; as in kisses &amp; hugs?

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

stopped by and took a look at my car...seems to be nothing on the seat divider...but I spent about 1 hour with lacquer thinner on the cowl and firewall...wowww...there is a whole lot more old crayon marks there than I thought. Interesting stuff. Some makes sense..some doesnt..?? Im sure you guys can help.

i will post some pics later when I have more time...

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

So i started with lacquer thinner on the center of the cowl above the tunnel where the obvious marks were...these letters appeared at first.. I think I know what they are now, but I'd like others opinions first.....

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

then I started to wipe above the heater box area with lacque thinner and remains of these letters started to appear...I was very intrigued...my car was telling a story...verifying itself....

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

a little more lacquer thinner and this on the left side above the heater box opening...you can barely see the first number...

date code??

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

and ths was really cool to me... two option codes?? any guesses?

what is that hole I wonder?? Any body seen a hole made like that before? that is nor factory is it?? an old tach hole or guage or something?? and how did they do that I wonder?

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

and after cleaning further in the center....

appears some other numbers below...and apparently numbers uder the very first numbers?? this is where i am lost a bit...

it is probably harder to tell in the pics than in person..

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

thought this was interesting orange overspray on the cowl on the lip of the wiper motor hole...apparently came out the wiper motor hole in the cowl when they sprayed the cowl orange...??

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

I removed the heater box and hetaer core for the first time a little while back. I believe there were crayon marks and/or date codes if I remember.

I will post pics if anyone interested.

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

full cowl pic..to get a reference..

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Neat.. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Nice to see such an original L78 pace car without the rattle can paint treatment! The factory sealant is still visible over the cowl vin stamp, like rubber cement. The factory used it to protect the bare metal exposed when the vin was stamped through the paint. You don't often see that survive.
Thanks for posting the pics.

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

I marked up what I think I see....

3 06... Date code March 6th..03D car

Z22..Rally Sport Option
M22..4speed trans option

W..white paint..???
D80.. spoiler package

These markings I have no clue..??

1) DIY or b/c (below the W)...??????? (Now thinking it is b/c for basecoat..?? possibly??

2) (in the center below the D80)...6T..or 67..or 61....or upside down 49??? or could it be a g for the first letter??


3) seems to be other letters below the D80..(underneath each other but in the same space)now thinking possibly the whole word white?? written first..and D80 later written overtop ??

any ideas?? am I wrong on the other markings?? thanks...

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: iluv69s</div><div class="ubbcode-body">and after cleaning further in the center....

appears some other numbers below...and apparently numbers uder the very first numbers?? this is where i am lost a bit...

it is probably harder to tell in the pics than in person.. </div></div>

after staring at this for a while I beieve it is not DIY below the W...it is actually b/c..... anyone know is that typical?? seems to make sense.... <span style="font-weight: bold"> </span> w <span style="font-weight: bold"> </span> hite <span style="font-weight: bold"> </span> b <span style="font-weight: bold"> </span> ase <span style="font-weight: bold"> </span> c <span style="font-weight: bold"> </span> oat...I'm still looking for the 'or/str' markings somewhere...(am I fishing here or what?? )haha

Re: Cowl markings on my L-78 M-22 Indy
 

Dual exhaust cars usually have N10.