Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Factory? - NCRS Discussion Boards

Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Factory?

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  • Jace H.
    Very Frequent User
    • April 1, 1997
    • 253

    Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Factory?

    The judging manual says that Exhasut Manifolds and attaching hardware were not painted. But I have been told by more than one that they were indeed on the motor and painted chevy orange at the factory. I have seen low mileage original cars with orange paint still on the tips of the manifolds. What is the real story?

    Thanks,
    Jace Holt
  • Joe L.
    Beyond Control Poster
    • February 1, 1988
    • 43221

    #2
    Re: Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Facto

    Jace-----

    For Flint-built engines (small blocks), the exhaust manifolds were installed after engine painting, so no engine paint should be present on exhaust manifolds or attaching hardware. For Tonawanda-built engines (big blocks only as far as Corvettes are concerned), the exhaust manifolds were installed prior to engine painting, so paint was originally present.
    In Appreciation of John Hinckley

    Comment

    • Mike M.
      NCRS Past President
      • May 31, 1974
      • 8383

      #3
      Re: Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Facto

      The unpainted , raw cast iron exhaust manifolds were bolted on the mouse before chevy orange was sprayed on the engine. judges expect to see a small amount of orange on the manifolds where they contact the heads(about an inch away from the head and feathering of the paint as you leave the head. gottqa warn ya , the paint won't last long after the engine is fired up initially. heat tend to discolor the orange to a orange-brown shade. mike

      Comment

      • Mike M.
        NCRS Past President
        • May 31, 1974
        • 8383

        #4
        Re: Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Facto

        joe; were the manifolds installed after painting on the small blocks from 55 to 67? thanks, mike

        Comment

        • Joe L.
          Beyond Control Poster
          • February 1, 1988
          • 43221

          #5
          Re: Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Facto

          Mike-----

          As far as I know, this assembly order was pretty much the same throughout the 57-72 period, and even thereafter. It is also confirmed in Alan Colvin's books "Chevrolet By the Numbers". The assembly order for Flint and Tonawanda engines is presented. For Flint engines, painting takes place several assembly steps before installation of the manifolds.
          In Appreciation of John Hinckley

          Comment

          • William C.
            NCRS Past President
            • May 31, 1975
            • 6037

            #6
            Re: Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Facto

            Mike is 100% correct on this, I don't know what went on at Tonawanda when they were building smallblocks but Flint engines were painted with the manifolds on. Look at the factory pictures of engines in Nolands book, or look at the LH alternator mount area of an old exhaust manifold and there is always some of the paint left in that area because of the massive heat sink in that area. In the '66 era, and I believe '67 the lower Alt bracket is painted orange and it was bolted to the exhaust manifold when it was painted. This is an area with a lot of research in the last 30 years, and I don't think the process as it has been understood over this period of time in Flint is going to change now. Look at Nolands 63-67 book at the pictures on page 225-227-143-134, all factory photos with a gloss finish on the exhaust manifold.
            Bill Clupper #618

            Comment

            • Joe L.
              Beyond Control Poster
              • February 1, 1988
              • 43221

              #7
              Re: Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Facto

              Bill-----

              A few comments:

              ---I have examined the photos that you described in Noland's book. For the most part, the manifolds appear unpainted to me. The exceptions are the photos on page 224 and page 134. In the photo on page 224, it looks like the exhaust manifold MIGHT have some paint on the upper, right surface. It's not cleat to me, though, that this is paint. It's very easy to see a difference between the manifold and the cylinder head right at the center----the cylinder head appears painted and the manifold is clearly different and devoid of paint adjacent to the cylinder head. This is an area where paint usually burns off the cylinder head very quickly so this engine has not been run very much. In this photo, what appears to be paint at the top of the forward part of the right side, I believe is just excess light at this point. Supporting this theory is the appearance of the valve cover at the rear as opposed to the front. The front is "washed out" with light; the rear is very clear and distinct.

              The picture on 134 shows what appears to be painted manifolds. However, this is a proto-type engine and may not be typical of a PRODUCTION engine. This engine may have been "dressed" for other photo-taking;

              ---the information provided in Alan Colvin's books, "Chevrolet By the Numbers" indicates that the exhaust manifolds on Flint-built engines were installed on the engines several steps after engine painting. This was, apparently, the case for 1955 through, at least, 1975;

              ---the alternator bracket that you described was used for 1966 through 1971 Corvette small blocks. It was painted engine color. However, it's my understanding that this bracket was "hung" on the engines in some fashion (like with a wire or something similar) and painted with the rest of the engine. Then, it was installed when the exhaust manifolds were later installed. It could also have just been retained under the water pump bolt and painted in-place with the final retaining bolt added after installation of the exhaust manifold;

              ---when my original owner 1969 was delivered to me, I spent about an hour inspecting the engine compartment the first evening that I had the car. I remember doing this very well. I remember studying the exhaust manifolds and looking at their "smooth", natural cast iron finish and wishing that they could stay that way. I am absolutely certain that there was no paint ever applied to these manifolds. So, if small block manifolds were ever painted, the practice ended prior to 1969;

              ---at the 1992 NCRS Convention at the Tech Center in Warren, MI, I (and many others) had a chance to tour the Flint engine plant. I recall (and have photos around here somewhere) which show the engines being fire-tested without their permanent exhaust manifolds installed. Of course, by this point in time the engines were component-painted since all painting had ceased at Flint (and other GM engine plants) for environmental reasons. However, it did show that the engines were fire-tested PRIOR to the installation of permanent exhaust manifolds just as Colvin's book indicates that they were in the 55-75 period.
              In Appreciation of John Hinckley

              Comment

              • Bill W.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • March 1, 1980
                • 2000

                #8
                Re: Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Facto

                I think they quit painting them around 68 due to new owners complaining about burning smell in the engine compartment.all the early 60s orig. manifolds I have seen have orange left on the ends. Im sure my 70 s.b. was painted before manifolds were on.

                Comment

                • Robert W.
                  Frequent User
                  • March 1, 1977
                  • 81

                  #9
                  Re: Were 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted At The Facto

                  Noland Adams book and he personally has told me the small blocks exhaust manifolds were installed on the motor prior to painting and some of his pictures actually show that. Can't believe they would install an aluminum intake manifold on some cars and not a cast iron exhaust prior to painting. Also provided some protection to keeping paint out of cylinder and explains why the lower alternator bracket on 66 is painted engine color. It was attached to the block/manifold when painting. GM spent very little time masking and plugging on the assembly line. Believe this goes with the mitted exhaust and sway bar urban legend.My two cents!

                  Comment

                  • Tom Merkel

                    #10
                    Re: 67 SB Exh. Manifolds Painted?

                    Jace - Original owner '67 SB. Exhaust manifolds were not painted Chevy orange.

                    Tom

                    Comment

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