1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

[Jerome E Pederson]

It is my understanding the aluminium intake manifold on an LT1 equiped car was painted with a dull aluminium paint after the engine was painted Chevy orange. Therefore some aluminium overspray paint may be present on the engine casting and cyclinder heads.

In the alternative was the engine, water pump, cyclinder heads, oil pan, etc painted orange and the aluminium intake maniflolds masked off to prevent it from being painted orange.

Does anyone know the paint sequencing used? Is it one of the above or something completely different?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

Jerome------

The aluminum intake manifold was never painted orange with the engine and then re-painted with aluminum paint. For LT-1 engines the intake manifold and valve covers were covered with a mask, and the rest of the engine painted.

As far as aluminum paint on the manifolds, it's very often present to one degree or another. Whether the manifolds were painted prior to installation on the engine (perhaps, due to stains, grease marks, etc., from the manufacturing and handling process) or whether they were "touched up" to one degree or another after the engine was painted, I do not know.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

Jerome------

The aluminum intake manifold was never painted orange with the engine and then re-painted with aluminum paint. For LT-1 engines the intake manifold and valve covers were covered with a mask, and the rest of the engine painted.

As far as aluminum paint on the manifolds, it's very often present to one degree or another. Whether the manifolds were painted prior to installation on the engine (perhaps, due to stains, grease marks, etc., from the manufacturing and handling process) or whether they were "touched up" to one degree or another after the engine was painted, I do not know.

[Gary Schisler]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

Jerome,
When I bought my 72 LT-1, it had 30300 miles on it and I talked with owners back to number 2. If my car has any orange paint on the intake, I would be surprised. Either the mask was fit quite well on that particular application or the painter was sloppy. Regardless, Joe's advice is dead on in that it varied significantly.

Gary

[Gary Schisler]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

Jerome,
When I bought my 72 LT-1, it had 30300 miles on it and I talked with owners back to number 2. If my car has any orange paint on the intake, I would be surprised. Either the mask was fit quite well on that particular application or the painter was sloppy. Regardless, Joe's advice is dead on in that it varied significantly.

Gary

[Mike G.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

what kind of grey paint do you use on the intake? i am at that stage where i need to buy the paint.

[Mike G.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

what kind of grey paint do you use on the intake? i am at that stage where i need to buy the paint.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

M,

You don't "have to" use any silver paint, at all. It seems to be noted on some, but not all, cars. So if you'd like to leave it nice and aluminum, that's just fine. I would, because I can always add silver later. It's much harder to remove it.

Otherwise Krylon Dull Aluminum color is one possibility, and one I have used.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

M,

You don't "have to" use any silver paint, at all. It seems to be noted on some, but not all, cars. So if you'd like to leave it nice and aluminum, that's just fine. I would, because I can always add silver later. It's much harder to remove it.

Otherwise Krylon Dull Aluminum color is one possibility, and one I have used.

Patrick

[Mike G.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

if i can leave it natural i would rather do that. the person that had the car before me painted it orange for some strange reason. i will just clean it and run it.
thanks

[Mike G.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

if i can leave it natural i would rather do that. the person that had the car before me painted it orange for some strange reason. i will just clean it and run it.
thanks

[Sal C.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

For what it's worth, I have restored 2 pretty original 1972 LT1s and in both cases found orange under dull aluminum paint on the intakes. One of them was extensively covered as the orange reached well up onto the runners.

[Sal C.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

For what it's worth, I have restored 2 pretty original 1972 LT1s and in both cases found orange under dull aluminum paint on the intakes. One of them was extensively covered as the orange reached well up onto the runners.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

Thanks for the input, Sal.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 - LT1 engine/manifold

Thanks for the input, Sal.

Patrick