Fuelie engine paint question

[Florian W.]

I have a '60 Fuelie that I am preparing for judging and I'm trying to sort through some of the details as I put the motor back together. Today's issue: Was the intake side of the heads painted on the aluminum intake manifold cars? I know that the intake area was masked during painting, but I can't seem to find out if the head area above the intake runners was covered and left unpainted. Exactly where does the paint stop in the intake area?

Thanks

[Chris E.]

Re: Fuelie engine paint question

This probably doesn't help much, but my 67 L79 shouldn't have orange paint on the intake side of the heads. I'm assuming your car would be the same?

[James G.]

Re: Fuelie engine paint question

I have a '60 Fuelie that I am preparing for judging and I'm trying to sort through some of the details as I put the motor back together. Today's issue: Was the intake side of the heads painted on the aluminum intake manifold cars? I know that the intake area was masked during painting, but I can't seem to find out if the head area above the intake runners was covered and left unpainted. Exactly where does the paint stop in the intake area?

Thanks

Barry Holmes 57 fuel engine had no paint. There was very little if any paint on the heads and engine. See the attached. These are of the engine when removed in 1974. Engine is 100% original.

[Barry H.]

Re: Fuelie engine paint question

Guys, Not visable in the 57 engine pics, but there was evidence in the head area between the aluminum valve covers, & the aluminum intake adaptor plate of being shot with silver paint. I also found some light silver overspray on some of the bakelite nozzle blocks. The same on my orig 62 FI car, (silver paint between valve covers, & alum FI unit). Also as a note most of the flint engines with alum valve covers, & alum intakes were also painted silver in that area. That means FI's, 2/4 barrels, 340 hp, 350 hp, & 365 hp. It was a low grade of alum paint, usually washed off with the first solvent cleaning when you had the intale off. For the older guys this will explain why after cleaning your orig alum manifold for the first time there was always some silver paint floating in the cleaning kerosene.
Barry Holmes #940

[Florian W.]

Re: Fuelie engine paint question

Thanks for the input and photos. From these and other research, it looks as though the intake side of the head was never painted engine color on the aluminum intake motors, but may have had a silver paint in that area. Any thoughts on where the engine paint ended on the heads?

[Gary C.]

Re: Fuelie engine paint question

Florian, please do a search and you'll find excellent information from John Hinckley on how the aluminum versus the cast iron intake painting process. Gary....

[Barry H.]

Re: Fuelie engine paint question

Florian, From what I remember of orig engines, The silver seemed to follow roughly the intake gasket line on front & rear of heads, & seemed to bridge a triangle on heads between intake, & valve cover. It never looked to be a "masked" line. Gary is right, look for John Hinkley's article, I can't find it myself, but I think I read it before. John is very good at remembering production procedures. Last time I was thru the Flint Engine plant was 1992, while at the Warren Mich. Nationals, & didn't spend much time at the final paint area.
Barry Holmes #940