What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

[Michael L.]

Guys,

I'm getting ready to paint the engine and need to know what was on the engine when painted? Specifically looking for whether these items that were engine color were bolted on at the time of painting and whether the attaching bolts should therefore be painted:

Water neck
Water pump
AIR injector mounting bracket
fuel pump mounting plate
timing cover
anything else you can think of?

Also, there is the large screw in nipple in the water pump that the heater hose attaches to. Painted? if not then what's the original finish?

Finally, was anything else on the engine that was not intended to be painted but instead was taped off, resulting in small amounts of overspray? Trying for the truly authentic look.

Thanks,
Mike

[Joe R.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

I'll step out on this limb! I like the punishment!

Block
Intake
Water Pump
timing cover
Fuel Pump Mounting Plate? Don't think so!
Heads
Exhaust Manifolds R & L
Upper Water Pump Bypass Hose if HP
Water Neck Painted if not Aluminum Manifold
Oil Pan
Harmonic Balancer
Valve Covers

JR

PS. Aluminum Manifolds were masked

[Keith B.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

anything in the AIM that is called out with a part number was installed at the finial assembly plant. so there for is not painted

[Michael J.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

anything in the AIM that is called out with a part number was installed at the finial assembly plant. so there for is not painted

+1, something many of us learned by listening to John Hinckley.

[Michael L.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

Ok so if the ex manifolds valve covers etc we're on but not painted was there some overspray on them? Typically the masking job done by the factory would be expected to be hurried and sloppy, so was overspray common? Also, since the belts and pulleys would have been added at the factory based on the options listed for a specific build, I would expect that the AIR pump bracket was also put on late in the process but my understanding is it was engine color. Does this mean it came from the forgery painted orange and the attaching hardware is therefore unpainted? Also, if painted separately from the engine was it typical for the two oranges to not match perfectly?

Thanks,
Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

Guys,

I'm getting ready to paint the engine and need to know what was on the engine when painted? Specifically looking for whether these items that were engine color were bolted on at the time of painting and whether the attaching bolts should therefore be painted:

Water neck
Water pump
AIR injector mounting bracket
fuel pump mounting plate
timing cover
anything else you can think of?

Also, there is the large screw in nipple in the water pump that the heater hose attaches to. Painted? if not then what's the original finish?

Finally, was anything else on the engine that was not intended to be painted but instead was taped off, resulting in small amounts of overspray? Trying for the truly authentic look.

Thanks,
Mike

Mike------

All of the items you mentioned were painted with the engine EXCEPT the fuel pump mounting plate.

harmonic balancer, oil pan were painted.

By 1969, small block exhaust manifolds were not painted with the engine (there was not even a trace of paint on my manifolds the day it was delivered to me new, essentially right off the truck).

Heater hose nipple on the waterpump was not painted.

[Michael J.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

Ok so if the ex manifolds valve covers etc we're on but not painted was there some overspray on them? Typically the masking job done by the factory would be expected to be hurried and sloppy, so was overspray common? Also, since the belts and pulleys would have been added at the factory based on the options listed for a specific build, I would expect that the AIR pump bracket was also put on late in the process but my understanding is it was engine color. Does this mean it came from the forgery painted orange and the attaching hardware is therefore unpainted? Also, if painted separately from the engine was it typical for the two oranges to not match perfectly?

Thanks,
Mike

Here is what an engine looked like on the line just before being put on the frame: Thanks to John Hinckley:

[Joe L.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

Here is what an engine looked like on the line just before being put on the frame: Thanks to John Hinckley:

Michael------


These are VERY early small blocks. For early small blocks the exhaust manifolds were painted with the engine. Later, the order changed and manifolds were installed after engine painting. I think the change took place sometime in the mid 60's.

[Terry M.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

Guys,

I'm getting ready to paint the engine and need to know what was on the engine when painted? Specifically looking for whether these items that were engine color were bolted on at the time of painting and whether the attaching bolts should therefore be painted:

Water neck
Water pump
AIR injector mounting bracket
fuel pump mounting plate
timing cover
anything else you can think of?

Also, there is the large screw in nipple in the water pump that the heater hose attaches to. Painted? if not then what's the original finish?

Finally, was anything else on the engine that was not intended to be painted but instead was taped off, resulting in small amounts of overspray? Trying for the truly authentic look.

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,
Without telling us the year of your car and size of engine and AC or not -- any advice, however well intentioned, is a shot in the dark.

As an example: For some mid-years the distributor was installed and covered with a can during painting -- thus there will be a "shadow" on the iron intake manifold from that can.
Later the distributor was installed after paint and that "shadow" should not be there.

Joe's comment about the water pump heater hose nipple is correct for early C3s, but changed in 1971 & 1972 due to a different nipple for Air Conditioning.
Others have also noted the change to with/without exhaust manifolds at different times.
And then there are big blocks which can be different yet in oh so many ways.
See how complicated this gets? You need to be very specific if you wish specific answers.

[Patrick C.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

Was the inspection cover on a manual transmission C2 painted orange, or just overspray?

[Richard M.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

Mike,
Without telling us the year of your car and size of engine and AC or not -- any advice, however well intentioned, is a shot in the dark.

As an example: For some mid-years the distributor was installed and covered with a can during painting -- thus there will be a "shadow" on the iron intake manifold from that can.
Later the distributor was installed after paint and that "shadow" should not be there.

Joe's comment about the water pump heater hose nipple is correct for early C3s, but changed in 1971 & 1972 due to a different nipple for Air Conditioning.
Others have also noted the change to with/without exhaust manifolds at different times.
And then there are big blocks which can be different yet in oh so many ways.
See how complicated this gets? You need to be very specific if you wish specific answers.

Terry, I was confused too so I checked his Profile "About Me". Probably a oversight that he forgot the year. If he is asking about the car in his Profile.....

....it's a '69 Black Coupe.

Rich

[Michael L.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

Ok sorry it is a black 69 coupe 350/350 with AC and PS. With that info, can anyone tell me whether or not the AIR pump bracket, which apparently was painted orange prior to being installed, was a different shade from the motor? Thanks Joe was not aware the HD was painted orange with the engine that's good to know. If the WP nipple isn't painted what's the finish? I've had mine clear zinc played already but if it was natural I can strip that.

Also, any overspray on the valvecovers? Seems likely, at least a little. Thanks.

Mike

[Dan D.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

I noticed the paint too Joe, but I thought 55's and maybe even 56 engines did not have ram horn style manifolds. So are these 57s, or am my wrong?

These look to be all low horsepower 2 barrel carburetors. So this photo might be Tonawanda passenger car engines?

-Dan-

[Michael J.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

That picture is from John Hinckley's presentation on the way Corvettes were built in St. Louis. This picture, according to John, is from the engine dress line in Tarrytown NY, in 1959. Since I didn't know what year the OP was talking about I put this in to show how much of the engine was painted. He also showed a picture of a '63 Corvette further along the line, after the engine had been run about an hour, with most of the paint burned off, except on the cold ends. According to John, this extensive painting of the engine and components lasted until the 1965 MY, when the exhaust manifolds were installed after the paint booth.

[Ralph S.]

Re: What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

This head is from a 1972 LT-1