Engine paint question(s)

[Joe R.]

This is a L72 (427 / 425). In the latest and greatest version of the judging guide it says:

"Aluminum intake manifolds are installed on the engine before painting with the exposed surface of the heads painted silver."

Are they referring to the portion of the head that's between the valve cover and the intake? Shouldn't that be orange? I thought the intake should have some orange overspray in that area. What am I missing here?

Thanks,
Joe

[John H.]

Re: Engine paint question(s)

This is a L72 (427 / 425). In the latest and greatest version of the judging guide it says:

"Aluminum intake manifolds are installed on the engine before painting with the exposed surface of the heads painted silver."

Are they referring to the portion of the head that's between the valve cover and the intake? Shouldn't that be orange? I thought the intake should have some orange overspray in that area. What am I missing here?

Thanks,
Joe

Joe -

Flint V-8 did a dull aluminum "touch-up" process on the outboard edges of the intake manifold (and bolts) and on the intake face of the the heads on SHP engines with aluminum intakes and valve covers, as the intake face of the heads got little to no orange paint with the plastic masks for the intake and valve covers in place, and would show rust without being painted.

I can't say for sure if Tonawanda did the same thing on big-blocks with aluminum intakes and chrome valve covers (which were also masked with vacuum-formed plastic covers); I never saw that paint operation personally.

[Joe R.]

Re: Engine paint question(s)

Joe -

Flint V-8 did a dull aluminum "touch-up" process on the outboard edges of the intake manifold (and bolts) and on the intake face of the the heads on SHP engines with aluminum intakes and valve covers, as the intake face of the heads got little to no orange paint with the plastic masks for the intake and valve covers in place, and would show rust without being painted.

I can't say for sure if Tonawanda did the same thing on big-blocks with aluminum intakes and chrome valve covers (which were also masked with vacuum-formed plastic covers); I never saw that paint operation personally.

John,

Thanks for the info! The L72 had orange valve covers, the chrome ones came along later. I'm just guessing, but I would think a box to cover most of the intake manifold would be all that was needed to mask the engine off prior to painting. Does anyone have pictures of L72 engines that have done well in judging or are known to be correct?

Joe

[Ronald L.]

Re: Engine paint question(s)

John,

For the 427 ignition shield it looks like from the asy manual that the intake bolt (with orange painted heads) were removed and the two side supports secured with these bolts - is that correct?

[John H.]

Re: Engine paint question(s)

John,

For the 427 ignition shield it looks like from the asy manual that the intake bolt (with orange painted heads) were removed and the two side supports secured with these bolts - is that correct?

Yes, that's correct - shown in Section U69 for '66-'67.