I'm trying to determine the correct finish on the distributor hold-down bracket for a '71 BB. This is the Y shaped bracket on the intake manifold. I have looked in the tech manuals both new and old and various other books/manuals. I've also looked through my collection of engine photos, but in every picture it is too dark to tell. Any help would be appreciated.
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Re: Finish on distributor hold-down bracket
Bob,
This bracket is a wire form (rather than a sheet metal stamping) on the '64 327. The bracket and the bolt are black oxide. Hope this begins the answer to your question.
Bob D. -
Re: Finish on distributor hold-down bracket
Bob----
The distributor hold-down clamp for your 1971 was a stamped steel-type clamp. On my original owner 69 small block, the clamp was painted engine color. I don't know if the distributors were on the engines when they were painted but, if they were, they were masked or otherwise covered. In any event, one way or another, the clamp got painted. My recollection is that the clamp was sloppily painted, with a portion of it an unpainted "holiday".
I don't know for sure, though, if the Tonawanda engine plant used the same procedure. So, perhaps other original big block owners can shed additional light on this point.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Finish on distributor hold-down bracket
Hi Bob, I believe all the dist. stamped steel hold downs were dip painted semi-gloss black. Can't remember the finish on the nut. I think cad. Good to see you on this page! Bob in DallasComment
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Re: Finish on distributor hold-down bracket
Bob-----
I don't think that they were painted black, although the early "wire" type ones may have been. There were three different, stamped-steel type distributor clamps used over the years, continuing to the present day. The first was GM #3704912. The second was GM #14007385. The third is GM #10096197, which is the last version and currently available. I have NOS examples of each of these clamps and none are painted. These SERVICE parts are the exact same PRODUCTION parts that would have been delivered to the engine assembly plants,and I really doubt that the engine assembly plants would have gone to the effort of painting them black. So, I could see where the clamps might be bare steel, painted engine color, or a combination of both, but I really don't think that they were originally black.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Finish on distributor hold-down bracket
Bob,
At both Tonawanda & Flint the engine was painted before distributor hold down (and distributor)were installed, HOWEVER, engines were sometimes touched up and thus some over spray SOMETIMES shows up on the distributor hold down. Sorry the answer is not cut and dried, but that is the way it is.
Terry
TerryComment
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Re: Finish on distributor hold-down bracket
Other member in my chapter have found original engine cars in junkyards with SB Chevrolet clamps in early 70 period which where more or less painted. No paint at the back. Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMCComment
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