St. Louis Plant engine paint...

[Patrick T.]

My understanding is that the new (back then) Corvette engines were painted on the assembly line in about 14 seconds. My question is that I would think a new, unpainted engine would have a light coat of grease or machine oil on it after assembly.

If this was the case, how would the paint stay adhered to the engine without flaking off? Were the engines wiped down with a solvent prior to painting? Thanks, PT

[Michael W.]

Re: St. Louis Plant engine paint...

I believe the engine were painted at the engine plant, (Flint or Tonawanda) not St. Louis. It is resonable to assume that they were degreased in some manner to allow at least some of the paint to stick.

[David M.]

Re: St. Louis Plant engine paint...

I know that before I spray my engines I put laquer thinner in the gun and soak the assembled engine down sometimes twice. Upside down and right side up while on the stand. Followed by some compressed dry filtered air. When the thinner evaporates it will show any oil spots that need further attention. Of course use the usual precautions when using thinner!

[John H.]

Re: St. Louis Plant engine paint...

Pat -

The engines were painted at the engine plants. The major castings (block, heads, iron intakes, water pumps) went through hot high-pressure washers after machining, and that's the only "cleaning" that occurred prior to the engine paint booth. They went through the booth at 300 per hour and just got sprayed - no surface prep at all. Amazing the paint lasted at all considering the hundreds of oily hands on everything during assembly.

[Patrick T.]

Thanks guys...

you mean to tell me I went through 20 cans of carb cleaner for nothing?