engine paints

[Dick W.]

Re: engine paints

I have looked at several very low mile '71 big blocks and the only paint I have ever seen on the might extend 1/4" from the cylinder head. A 3,000 mile car showed traces but the paint had turned yellow. Clean them, do the old automatic transmission fluid trick, and learn to wipe them down occasionally with a good coating of your favorite oil.

[Jim M.]

Re: engine paints

Terry, So, I'm guessing, when you say "minor corrosion" on the manifolds, that these cars are judged from what they should look like the day they roll off the assembly line and not what they would look like, say a year old, when most manifolds would have a good coat of rust on them?

[Patrick H.]

Re: engine paints

I thought Lyndon was asking for his 1971 LS5 that he is so dedicated to. Please see his signature in the opening post. If he is asking about a 1968 I stand corrected and withdraw my comments.

Me too. However, the JG implies that painted exhaust manifolds stopped in 1968. That would infer that in 1971 (which, I believe comes after 1968 ) would also have unpainted manifolds.

Again, if this statement is not correct then we need to throw this onto the JG revision board and address it.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: engine paints

Terry, So, I'm guessing, when you say "minor corrosion" on the manifolds, that these cars are judged from what they should look like the day they roll off the assembly line and not what they would look like, say a year old, when most manifolds would have a good coat of rust on them?

That is exactly the theory. Our judging standard is (I don't have the exact quote), but to paraphrase: "to the standard as delivered to the original owner without owner or dealer inspired additions and with normal dealer new car preperation."

[Lyndon S.]

Re: engine paints

On the exhaust manifolds what is that they put on them to keep them from rusting? Is it some kind of ceramic coating? I know you still have to paint them. Typically what is the percentages of point lose for a manifolds done with this type process? Also the man that is doing this recommend that I put gaskets on that are trimmed to fit the manifold. He said that I could have them resurfaced but that it would cost more an still have leaks so this what he recommend that people use on Big Blocks.
What kind of hit will they take for the gaskets on them but sort of hid?

Dick
Something tells me you have looked at a lot of exhaust manifolds in your lifetime.

[Patrick H.]

Re: engine paints

Don't gasket them. They'll still blow out and you'll replace them once a year.
Get them resurfaced and you'll have zero issues. The only leask I've ever had are with gaskets, never with resurfaced manifolds.

[Terry M.]

Re: engine paints

I can't tell you how many BB my brother and I did back in the day and NEVER put gaskets on the exhaust manifolds -- even on trucks used for towing. NEVER resurfaced them either -- we were on a budget.

Now if someone put gaskets in them and heated the exhaust manifolds up real good -- ever seen them glowing red? -- you are SOL. We used to throw out those manifolds. The garbage guys got real mad at us for putting that heavy stuff (heads and blocks) in the garbage. Ah, the good old days.

[Dick W.]

Re: engine paints

On the exhaust manifolds what is that they put on them to keep them from rusting? Is it some kind of ceramic coating? I know you still have to paint them. Typically what is the percentages of point lose for a manifolds done with this type process? Also the man that is doing this recommend that I put gaskets on that are trimmed to fit the manifold. He said that I could have them resurfaced but that it would cost more an still have leaks so this what he recommend that people use on Big Blocks.
What kind of hit will they take for the gaskets on them but sort of hid?

Dick
Something tells me you have looked at a lot of exhaust manifolds in your lifetime.

Use Permatex Hi Temp Silicone, a very thin coat. After it dries cut any excess off so that it cannot be seen. Works like a charm

[Ron G.]

Re: engine paints

Guys,
I have done a myriad of research with personnel on the paint line from both Flint and Tonawanda. I was able to obtain from the same paint from the manufactures that the engine plants purchased their paints from. A couple of things that I probably metioned before is that small block engine paint was an oil base up til calendar year 1970 and was switched to a water base in 1971. Big block paint was oil based in which I am still in possesion of both. However, addressing the subject of exhaust manifolds on or off during painting is this: Between my personal experieince judging Bowtie and Survivor Corvettes and numerous converations with factory employees is that small blocks had the manifolds on thru the 1967 model production. Beginning with 1968 engine production the mainfolds were left off. All big blocks regardless of the year, were on the engine when painted and when the vehicle was fairly new would display evidence of it. The only way to reproduce the "look" and have the paint not burn off for a period of time, because eventually it will, would be to over spray the manifolds with VHT Engine (Very Hot Tempature) paint that can usually be purchased at your local speed shop. As I said even this paint will at some point flake off due to extended running of the engine.

[Bob J.]

Re: engine paints

In the words of a Florida Junkman, "in rust we trust"

Nice quote MD ,hope you got permission to use it.
I worked at a Chevy dealer back in the day and new cars had rust (late 60s-early 70s).
The lack of any rust today makes a restored car look fake. IMHO Bob

[Mark D.]

Re: engine paints

So sue me and, oh yeah, check your emails.

[John H.]

Re: engine paints

However, addressing the subject of exhaust manifolds on or off during painting is this: Between my personal experieince judging Bowtie and Survivor Corvettes and numerous converations with factory employees is that small blocks had the manifolds on thru the 1967 model production. Beginning with 1968 engine production the mainfolds were left off.

Ron -

I have 3MB high-resolution images taken at St. Louis (from GM negatives, supplied to me by GM Photographic) in both 1963 and 1966; the 1963 photos show clearly that the shiny manifolds were painted, and other photos I have from '64 also show them painted. The 1966 GM photos show clearly that the small-block manifolds were unpainted/as-cast, and other photos I have from '65 show the same thing. That leads me to the conclusion that engine painting at Flint V-8 changed for the '65 model year, with the manifolds installed after engine painting. At least that's my take on it.

[Mike F.]

Re: engine paints

Does anyone know for sure that Tonawanda did not spray engine exhaust manifolds in the 70-72 cars with LS-5 engines? I am going to send my manifolds off to Jerry MacNish and let him do his magic on them . I was thinking of putting a base coat of the cast high heat paint then shooting orange over the cast paint.

FYI..... I sent my manifolds to Jerry in November (He estimated an approx. three week turn around time.), it's been two months and I'm still waiting.

Mike

[Mark D.]

Re: engine paints

Mike,
Have you picked up the phone and called him? What did he say?
Thanks,
Mark

[Mike F.]

Re: engine paints

Mike,
Have you picked up the phone and called him? What did he say?
Thanks,
Mark

Called after 30 days, busy with car shows/other work commitments/wants to spray multiple manifolds at one time.
E-mailed and called after 60 days, was closed for holidays/Barret-Jackson(?) auction commitment/wants to spray multiple manifolds at one time.
Sorry for delay, thanks for patience........

No updates, unless I made contact.