L-78 intake gaskets/paint

[Bill Rose]

I'm getting ready to assemble and paint the engine for my 69 ElCamino. The machine work will be finished tomorrow.

What did the original paint look like around the aluminum intake and intake gaskets? If the intake and intake gaskets should be oversprayed orange, I don't think I can bring myself to do it that way, so I'm looking for advise on how you guys paint around the aluminum intakes and which (brand) gaskets you use. . I will mask off the intake area, then I'll paint the block and heads orange. When that's all dry, I'll install the intake.

[VintageMusclecar]

Although it's not technically correct, I simply masked off the ports and painted the manifold surface of my heads before installing the intake. I don't care for the factory overspray look either, even if it is correct from a restoration standpoint. You can see it here (http://www.vintagemusclecarparts.com/496/A_34_Cut_plenum.JPG).

I used Fel-Pro factory replacement style intake gaskets.

Eric

[firstgenaddict]

If the car had an Aluminum intake and Chrome valve covers there was a plastic mask that laid over the intake and the valve covers during painting... so the intake sides of the heads were bare machined steel... although there have been other claims of seeing original cars with the sides painted...

[Chevy454]

Got a picture of the factory masking apparatus? Just for an FYI kinda thing...http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[SS427]

Here are two the SCW guys did and two from an LS-6 I did many years ago. Truth be told, you either love it or you hate it. As far as we are concerned, it is what our customers wanted.



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/impalass427/YenkoNova2.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/impalass427/YenkoNova1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/impalass427/MVC-008F.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/impalass427/MVC-020V.jpg

[firstgenaddict]

[ QUOTE ]
Got a picture of the factory masking apparatus? Just for an FYI kinda thing...http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a direct quote from JohnZ from a thread on this board...

I worked at the Chevrolet Pilot Line from '66-'70, just a couple of hundred yards down Van Slyke Road from the Flint V-8 plant, and I spent a lot of time at Flint V-8 during that time; a friend of mine ran the Piston Department.

Both Flint and Tonawanda used vacuum-formed plastic masks on aluminum intakes and on aluminum or chrome valve covers during painting, and the intake mask was pretty much open at the front to accommodate the water pump bypass fitting and hoses - that's why you see more overspray at the front of the intake than at the rear. Engines came through the paint booth at Flint V-8 at nearly 300 per hour, and it was hardly a "concours" operation - the last guy at the exit of the booth was plenty busy removing masks, cardboard tubes from the spark plugs and water pump hub, the can over the distributor, tape from the stamp pad, etc., and I never saw anyone doing any "silver touch-up" at the front of any intakes. This operation varied a lot from hour to hour and from day to day, and it wasn't precise or consistent by any stretch of the imagination, as each guy had less than twelve seconds to do his assigned job, and engines with aluminum intakes and valve covers had twice the work content for them than standard engines.

The way we restore engines today, we wouldn't be satisfied with the way aluminum-intake engines actually looked when they left Flint V-8 or Tonawanda in the 60's.

[firstgenaddict]

Does anyone have engine photos of Jeff Boone's Survivor 1969 L78 or the 1969 Silver Camaro that was at the Camaro Nationals this year?

[firstgenaddict]

The pictures I have of the Silver 69 L78 9000 mile car that was at the Camaro Nationals this year show no orange on the intake mating surfaces on the heads.

[Bill Rose]

You guys are killin me!! Now that I see the pictures of the Nova, (thanks Rick) I really like that original over sprayed look. Then again, I like the clean look too. This may come down to a coin toss. Thanks guys, for the opinions and feedback, but all this did was make the decision harder. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif : http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Mr70]

I say opt for the clean look.

[SS427]

Bill, I say opt for the original (overspray) look with maybe a little more emphasis on subtlety. In reality, it is your car, do it the way you want it. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Lee Weber]

[ QUOTE ]
You guys are killin me!! Now that I see the pictures of the Nova, (thanks Rick) I really like that original over sprayed look. Then again, I like the clean look too. This may come down to a coin toss. Thanks guys, for the opinions and feedback, but all this did was make the decision harder. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif : http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

*Clean job is always easier to maintain/touch up if need be.

*The factory also did a s%4ty job on pannel alignment - you going to hang your fenders crooket to get the "factory look?" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Bill - one thing is for sure - knowing you're doing it - it'll be done perfect - whatever option you go for.... can't wait to see her done http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Keith Tedford]

I will say enough is enough when the restorers start duplicating the poor finish of the leaded roof joints, and so so paint jobs. Hey, I might just have the talent to pull off an original restoration. Not too good on the lead, and not too good on the paint. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif The roof joints on our Chevelle were obvious from ten feet away. Rick and others have done a ton of research into how the cars were put together. The look isn't tidy but if you want original then that is the way it is/was. Back in the day, the line was running close to one vehicle a minute, so you know how much time the operators had to do the job. I worked in a lead booth for about six months. There were four operators on each side of the line. Each man down the line had a disc grinder with a successively finer disc. There was approximately four minutes to rough down and finish the joint before the vehicle went out the other end of the grinding booth. Not much time for a good job. Every so often a new operator was added to the mix and there would be some poor workmanship until he learned the job. Same with the paint.

[firstgenaddict]

The lead seams on the A pillar of the Black 69 RS/Z have grind marks which are VERY visible... Plus runs in the door jambs... restore one like that and see what it gets you. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

OBTW... the edges of the chrome valve covers would have minimal overspray on them as well...

[SS427]

Thanks Keith.

With all due respect guys, Bill was asking about engine paint not body paint, seams or panel fit. The majority of the people that come to this site are looking for factual information more so than opinions. That is certainly one reason I am here. I don't like a lot of the things Chevrolet did when they built these cars but I still like to know what is correct or "original". Do some of you think the Benchmark car is perfect? No, but most certainly respect it for it's originality and what it has taught us about how these cars were built (ok, prior to it's stripes). http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[Lee Weber]

Rick:
Easy tiger. I know Bill, and he knows I respect all he does in this craft. Simply givng him a few jabs - clearly Bill will make the call, and it will be the right one. However, if the overspray is "in keeping with factory standards" and originality, I think some were simply suggesting - why stop there?
These are only opinions...not criticsms. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[SS427]

Here are some shots of some valve covers that were taken off an LS-6 shortly after it was purchased in 1970 and put into drag form. These covers have never been touched since they were removed in 1970.

Lee, I'm cool. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Just pointing out some facts and only taking those responses as opinions. Tiger???? Hmmmmmm, that is the second time I was called that tonight..... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/impalass427/earlytakeoffsLS-6.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/impalass427/LS-6Originalowner.jpg

[Lee Weber]

[ QUOTE ]


Lee, I'm cool. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Just pointing out some facts and only taking those responses as opinions. Tiger???? Hmmmmmm, that is the second time I was called that tonight..... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Rick...that's one more than me!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Nice pics Rick. Enjoy both the "factory" and "resto" look. Truth is - I'd be like Bill..."flip a coin."

[WILMASBOYL78]

You can't see the overspray when you're behind the wheel http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif build it, drive it and enjoy it!!


wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[William]

The ONLY big-blocks that should have orange overspray along the edges of an aluminum intake are 65-67 Corvettes; they did not have chrome rocker covers. All other SHP aluminum intake bbs with chrome rocker covers should not.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Took a few shots to show the overspray or lack of it...

I noticed some very small paint fleckson the bottom edge of each valve cover....also some on the water temp unit and TCS sender...paint was absent form the intake side of the heads....very minor paint on the front edge of the intake manifold at the corners..

wilma

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/313004-tn_DSCN1027.JPG

[WILMASBOYL78]

pic 2...overspray on TCS switch area

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/313005-tn_DSCN1029.JPG

[WILMASBOYL78]

pic 3...TCS again


http://www.yenko.net/attachments/313006-tn_DSCN1028.JPG

[WILMASBOYL78]

pic 4....pass side near TCS gizmo...no paint on the head

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/313007-tn_DSCN1030.JPG

[firstgenaddict]

Those are perfect shots... Exactly... the sending unit most likely had a loose paperboard tube over it, the sparkplugs, and the water pump snout...

[WILMASBOYL78]

Thought I had a photo of the temp sender side...anyway the cloth covered wire had orange overspray on the end of the plastic connector and the green wire. Here is a shot of the bell housing..another area of interest for "overspray gurus"

wilma

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/313010-tn_DSCN1031.JPG

[Mr70]

Real nice Pix Tom.
Daves father would've been pleased. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif