'65 396/425 intake manifold overspray patterns

[Carr C.]

We are prepping a '65 396/425 car for Top Flight. The JG is not even remotely clear on the paint process on the intake bolts and then the orange overspray. The correct bolts are black Oxide, book says they were painted silver during the intake painting process (?????), even though it specifically states that the L78 intake was unpainted aluminum on Page 99. In the same section it states that there is very little orange overspray on the intake and only on the front and rear seals. Can someone please provide some clear and correct guidance on how the process was originally done, and how to duplicate it. Regards

[Bill W.]

Re: '65 396/425 intake manifold overspray patterns

I have an original engine removed at one year old . The intake had very light overspray around the edges but also a little lite overspray on the runners just below the carb. I have two 396 intakes and neither one had any silver on them . I think silver was only used to cover up large orange overspray mistakes .

[Tony S.]

Re: '65 396/425 intake manifold overspray patterns

Carr, there has been alot of discussion about this topic in the past. After the engine was assembled, a paint tent was placed over the aluminum intake manifold to help shield it when the block was painted orange. The paint tent was configured to cover the intake, but when the engine was painted orange, orange paint would fog under the edges of the tent and cover the edges of the aluminum intake. You shouldn't see hard paint lines where the orange paint mists along the edges of the intake. The sides of the aluminum intake were never painted silver as you find with a small block with an aluminum intake (e.g. 350 or 365 hp cars in '65).

If you do a search, you may find some original photos.
Hope this helps.
Tony