79 intake manifold color

[Don Thomas]

What color is a 1979 L48 intake manifold, blue or silver? I have an early production 1980 that I am doing some engine clean-up and repaint work too. The NCRS manual says that the 1980 intake is silver, but mine is blue. The engine has never been painted before as I am the original owner. The date on the intake is 9/17/79 and the thermostat housing has a 78/79 designation on it.That is blue as well and the manual says it should be silver. Thanks for your opinions.
Don

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

I had a 79 with a L-82 and I think it was black.

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

then again it might have been silver on the L82 and that was so many years ago.

[Kurt K.]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

I still have a 79 L-48 I bought new, intake is blue and cast iron. L-82's were aluminum and silver in 79. Can't say what happened in 1980.

[Joe L.]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

Lyndon----

If it was painted black, I can guarantee you that it was not original.

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

the motor was black I think hell that was over twenty years since I had that corvette. it might well have been blue, I was to bussy driving the crap out of it at the time!

[Joe L.]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

Don------

The 1979 L-48 intake manifold was a cast iron manifold of GM CASTING #14007376. This manifold would definitely have been painted blue, even if one happened to be installed on an early 1980.

The 1980 manifold for all Corvette engine applications was of GM CASTING #14014432. This was an aluminum manifold. Although most of these may have been painted with aluminum paint, I believe and have seen some apparently original engines that were painted blue with the remainder of the engine. I don't know if this was an L-48/L-82 "thing" or if it was as a result of something else.

[Joe L.]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

lyndon-----

If the engine was black, then it was a replacement engine or a re-painted original engine.

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

no it was blue now that I think about it, the one in my 89 truck was black. hell have the time if I look at a engine that is not orange I dont know what I am looking at.

[Tom R.]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

Don:

Two different issues here and let's keep them separate. Your 79 L48 intake manifold was painted blue.

You raise a good question on L48s in 1980 and I would defer to others familiar with 1980-82s but I would suggest you avoid the temptation to do a touch up if its original engine paint...it would be an interesting study. I say that because there may have been a transition period and with an early build date...the factory may have been leaving L48s blue. Also...the manuals are not gospel...simply guidlines. Your 1980 may have information that will influence the next edition. These manuals are in constant evolution with new information revealed whether its a 56 or a 1980. Don't change what you know to be original because a manual suggests otherwise....that's my advice.

Also know that to this point, smallblock manifolds were painted blue but than dressed at the St Louis Plant/BG plant with aluminum paint for L82s...and later for L48s as well. We've seen aluminum overspray over blue engine paint rather frequently.

The organization needs Corvette owners like yourself who owns a model that departs from what the manual states and to do engage themselves in the research to add to the body of knowledge. If what you have is original...and you're the original owner...you have something that will change the directin of NCRS thinking in terms of 1980 models and the L48 intake manifold paint scheme. Make it work for you.

[Michael H.]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

Tom,

Glad you mentioned the "silver over blue" on some intake manifolds. I mentioned this here on this board some time ago and I was shot down. I still don't remember the year or years that this occured (I thought it was around 79) but I know it did. I'm also unsure of the exact reason why it occured. I never understood why an AL manifold was painted blue to begin with.

[Don Thomas]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

Thanks Tom,
That is good information and good advice. This is the fourth mystery item I have discovered on my car that deviates from the manual. All of them so far have panned out to be true and/or highly probable. Seeing as though the thermostat housing and the water pump are also blue, as the manual notes they should be the same as the manifold, and none of these parts have been out of the car; I think without a doubt these came from the factory as blue. It is also the correct casting number for an 80.

I am cleaning up some parts for the NCRS Regional in Boston this fall, that is how I got into this dilema.

[Tom R.]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

Hope to see you in Boston.

[Mike E.]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

Lyndon--
Help me understand why you feel a need to comment, some times multiple times, on so many threads, and with so little technical expertise. If you're trying to be the top contributor (number-wise) you've made it. But I for one, would much rather see less posts and greater wisdom.
Mike Ernst

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: 79 intake manifold color

Well belive me when I say that I could care less about bening the TOP poster! And I will make this my last post on this NCRS (technical board) board. You obviously dont think I have any thing to contribute in the form of wisdom. I do know this sir that you lack tact. And that you seem like a ARROGANT person. From the few times that you have posted anything to me on this board. So I will let you have your precious board back you pompous.