What was on the engine when painted at the factory?

[Ralph S.]

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

1972 LT-1 factory paint job

[Jeff P.]

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

My 1968 L79 SB had paint on the chrome valve covers. They were on at the time of painting.

[Terry M.]

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

Mike
In 1969 AIR pump bracket was on the engine at time of painting.
Supposedly the aluminum rocker covers were installed after paint. A set of "travel covers" were installed for paint and removed and replaced by aluminum rocker covers after paint. That said, we have seen engines with rockers and valve springs painted orange indicating that no covers were on the head when the engine was painted. Since we can't see the rockers and springs during judging, I do not recommend you follow this factory practice.
For 1969 the heater hose nipple was installed in the water pump before paint, so it will be orange -- just like Joe said.
A mask (probably formed cardboard) was placed into the spark plug holes and another into the holes for the engine mounts. There were connections between each spark plug hole and each engine mount hole which left shadows in the engine paint. A picture of a 1972 LT1 head has been posted here showing the shadows from the spark plug mask and from the masking of the exhaust ports. The exhaust manifolds were installed after paint.
Put a piece of tape over the engine stamp pad.
Above all the original paint was applied in a rush and sparingly. There is almost always a deduction to be made for too much paint on "restored" engines. I have seen some engines with enough paint for five original engines.
The engine suffix code was in grease pencil (lumber crayon) on each side of the cylinder case upside down. Put it on before the paint.
There are lots of pictures on this board of original paint on engines. The search function, if you have the patience for it, will yield you a plethora of results.

[Michael L.]

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

Mike
In 1969 AIR pump bracket was on the engine at time of painting.
Supposedly the aluminum rocker covers were installed after paint. A set of "travel covers" were installed for paint and removed and replaced by aluminum rocker covers after paint. That said, we have seen engines with rockers and valve springs painted orange indicating that no covers were on the head when the engine was painted. Since we can't see the rockers and springs during judging, I do not recommend you follow this factory practice.
For 1969 the heater hose nipple was installed in the water pump before paint, so it will be orange -- just like Joe said.
A mask (probably formed cardboard) was placed into the spark plug holes and another into the holes for the engine mounts. There were connections between each spark plug hole and each engine mount hole which left shadows in the engine paint. A picture of a 1972 LT1 head has been posted here showing the shadows from the spark plug mask and from the masking of the exhaust ports. The exhaust manifolds were installed after paint.
Put a piece of tape over the engine stamp pad.
Above all the original paint was applied in a rush and sparingly. There is almost always a deduction to be made for too much paint on "restored" engines. I have seen some engines with enough paint for five original engines.
The engine suffix code was in grease pencil (lumber crayon) on each side of the cylinder case upside down. Put it on before the paint.
There are lots of pictures on this board of original paint on engines. The search function, if you have the patience for it, will yield you a plethora of results.

Thanks Terry. Just to clarify, Joe posted that the heater hose nipple was NOT painted. Guessing maybe there was some variation in this. If painting it is an option I will go with that since then I won't have to worry about what the unpainted finish is. I'll also take your advice and search the forum archives for pics of original paint.

Mike

[John S.]

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:

very early , if not immediatey, in the 1955 corvette run shipping of the engine with the generator adjusting arm was discontinued. therefore you see corvettes with black arms, while the passenger and truck engines have the arms painted the color of the engine.

[Joe L.]

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

1972 LT-1 factory paint job

Ralph------


These pictures clearly show that a "mask" was used to shield the spark plug holes and exhaust ports prior to engine painting. Based on your photos, it would even be possible for someone to re-create that "mask" if they so-desired prior to painting their engine.

[Joe L.]

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 aware the car involved was a 1969 when I responded.

[Joe L.]

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-

Dan------


1956 was the first year for what most folks regard as "ram's horn" exhaust manifolds (actually, 1955 was a form of a "ram's horn" manifold as opposed to a "log" type manifold).

The fact that, apparently, the photo was taken at the Tarreytown, NY assembly plant probably indicates that these engines were Tonawanda-manufactured. I believe that Tonawanda was likely the V-8 engine supplier to Tarreytown.

[Joe 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

Mike------


The waterpump heater hose nipple was zinc plated (with NO dichromate over-plate).

Incidentally, the 1969 L-46 valve covers were somewhat unique. They had no internal drippers and the finish was natural aluminum, not polished as were later aluminum valve covers).

[Joe L.]

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?

Patrick------


It was painted with the engine. However, there is almost always a large "holiday" in the area behind the oil pan.

[Michael B.]

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

I don't want to hijack this thread from the 1969 engines, but I've read conflicting information about 1972 base engines with air conditioning. Was the heater hose nipple in the water pump painted? Also, I'm wondering about the four bolts that secure the water pump to the block. I'm assuming the two on the right (facing front of engine) should have paint because the water pump was painted at Flint. I'm also assuming the two on the left were replaced with different bolts at St. Louis to accommodate the air conditioning bracket and were left either natural, zinc, or black.

I'd really appreciate knowing the current thought on this.

Thanks.

[Michael B.]

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

I hit the "Post" button too soon.

I'm also curious about the head markings on those water pump bolts.

[Ralph S.]

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

My April 1973 base motor W/AC has a long style nipple on the water pump with remnants of orange paint looks like A/C cars had the longer nipple to clear the A/C bracket. I am the original owner and the water pump has never been removed.

[Joe L.]

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

I don't want to hijack this thread from the 1969 engines, but I've read conflicting information about 1972 base engines with air conditioning. Was the heater hose nipple in the water pump painted? Also, I'm wondering about the four bolts that secure the water pump to the block. I'm assuming the two on the right (facing front of engine) should have paint because the water pump was painted at Flint. I'm also assuming the two on the left were replaced with different bolts at St. Louis to accommodate the air conditioning bracket and were left either natural, zinc, or black.

I'd really appreciate knowing the current thought on this.

Thanks.

Mike-------

For 1972, the heater hose nipple was installed on the waterpump as delivered from the engine factory for BOTH C-60 and non C-60 small block applications. The C-60 nipple was GM #3849848 and is 2-3/4" in overall length. A photo is attached below. I'm quite sure this was either masked off when the engine was painted or was installed after painting.

The bolts for the A/C bracket were installed at St. Louis. They are phosphate-finished.

I do not know what the headmarkings were. For a common-sized bolt like this, I expect there were many.

[Michael B.]

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

Thank you Joe.

Ralph,

After reading Joe's post I'm assuming the nipple on your water pump was taped prior to painting. Are the remnants of orange paint only down toward the threaded portion of the nipple?

Mike