1983 KZ550 LTD paint code

Hi All

Believe it or not I purchased a brand new never been used fuel tank for my 1983 KZ550 LTD. It was sitting on a shelf for over 20 years in the original shipping box from Kawasaki. Its a nice deep blue metallic.
My question is how do I go about getting some paint to match the side covers (previously repainted) to the new tank. Is there some kind of code available. ? I know nothing about this sort of thing so any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Dennis.

Also does anyone have any idea how many 1983 KZ550 LTD's were brought into the USA?

You can take the 'brand new never been used' tank to your local autobody paint store (NAPA around here), and they can scan the tank to match the paint color for your side covers.

Gee,
Why didnt I think of that!
Thanks.

Also I was wondering if I should be using some kind of sealer before I fill it with fuel for the first time.

I have never had much luck with the computer match scan process as Kaw generally shoots a two-part base consisting of either black or silver with an opaque 2nd base color over the top then clear coats. The computer doesn't like this type of paint and will give bogus formulas. If have a normal base/clear, scanning does a better job. If the side covers and tank have some space between them, not having an exact match won't be all that terrible. I suggest you take the tank into a friendly auto parts store that sells touch up paint in the little pen-type applicators and match it by eye as best you can. Then have the autoparts store mix you some of that paint using the OEM paint code. If you find a friendly paint store, they might do a 1/2 pint for you.

The5thMan wrote:

Gee,
Why didnt I think of that!
Thanks.

Also I was wondering if I should be using some kind of sealer before I fill it with fuel for the first time.

As long as it isn't rusty. don't seal the tank. As for production numbers, look on the tripletree and see if your bike was made in the US or in Japan...can't speak for 1983, but there were about 14,000 made in 1982...interpolating that figure from the factory manual information.

Ahh yes the factory paint job on the new tank is an interesting deep metallic blue just as you described. I'm really not going to get too critical about color match and the guys at the local auto parts store are very friendly and told me to bring the tank in to see what they can come up with.
Thanks for the advice.

No rust in the tank at all so I'd rather not do anything to the interior of the tank if I dont have to. I just thought now is the time if it was the right thing to do.
I had no idea they actually built those bikes here in the USA. Are there known reliability differences between the two? 14,000 units does not impress me as being very many.