Distributor Hold Down - Clutch Return Spring

[Ken K.]

I have two questions for a 1966 427/425hp car.
1) Is the steel distributor hold down bracket and bolt still painted orange with the natural aluminum intakes?
2) Is the clutch return spring painted, if so what color? What about the two clutch fork springs? (The springs on the push rod.)

[Michael H.]

Re: Distributor Hold Down - Clutch Return Spring

Ken,

The two piece distributor clamp assy was of two different finishes. The wire portion was a black, almost shinny color and the small retainer was never painted or plated at all.

The clutch return spring was a medium grey plating of some sort. (Phos?)

Not 100% sure on the two small springs on the lower rod. I have these new in the GM box and they are unplated natural steel but I don't know for sure if the original assy line parts were that way. Hope this halps

[Ken K.]

Re: Distributor Hold Down - Clutch Return Spring

Thanks Michael for the help.
The distributor hold down that I have is the solid flat steel type. Not the wire type. I guess another question I have is what type is correct for my '66 427/425 car? And what type of finish is on both of these hold downs? Thanks

[Michael H.]

Re: Distributor Hold Down - Clutch Return Spring

Ken,

As far as I know, all Chevrolet V8 engines, at least through the 67 MY, used the two piece style wire/retainer distributor clamp. I believe it was somewhere around the intro of the 68 MY that changed to the one piece style.

The wire of the two piece unit was a strange, somewhat shinny, black coating. Looked almost like it was treated with gun bluing or turned blue from heat during the run/mfg of the bulk wire. I have an NOS wire here somewhere and as soon as I find it, I'll scan and post a closeup. The small square retainer would have been natural.

I really don't remember what the finish would have been on the one piece retainer for C3. Hopefully, someone can help with that.

[Rick S.]

Re: Distributor Hold Down - Clutch Return Spring

Mike,
What about a 67 small block hold down?
Rick

[Michael H.]

Re: Distributor Hold Down - Clutch Return Spring

Rick,

As far as I know, it would be the same two piece clamp assy for 1960 through 1967. The parts book has always been a bit unclear, at first, but listed in Gr 2.363 is a clamp, which would be the wire section, and a retainer, the small square piece with the hole for the mounting bolt. The same is shown in a 69 printing but by the time the 74 printing was released, the original clamp was replaced with one #3704912. The small retainer remained available separately for several years and finally discontinued in about 1983, but was still listed in a 1974 printing of the parts book. Hopefully, I'll find the clamp and retainer so I can post a pic later today. (unless someone else happens to have these parts handy and can post a scan)