67 327/350 hp, intake paint color?

[William B.]

I have read the archives about painting this intake. It seems a lot of people use krylon dull alum. # 1403. Problem is none of the local stores stock this. Is another brand a close substitute, And also should this be painted with a high temp paint which krylon is not?

[John H.]

Re: 67 327/350 hp, intake paint color?

Bill -

I've never seen an original SB aluminum intake that was fully painted - only along the edges and the adjoining head surface.

[Randy R.]

Re: 67 327/350 hp, intake paint color?

I think Krylon is a Sherwin Williams product. Maybe a Sherwin Williams store would be willing to order a can for you.

[Peter B.]

Re: 67 327/350 hp, intake paint color?

Bill...Since points ride on everything, I've also been trying to unravel the mystery of the finish on an L79 aluminum intake manifold...thought I'd share what I've found so far...

TIM 4th Edition, "Small Block Mechanical", page 77, states the base engine cast iron manifold is painted engine color and the L79 aluminum manifold is painted silver. In the "Big Block Mechanical" section the aluminum manifolds for the L68, L71/89, & L88 are noted as natural in color. Since painting is not mentioned there, I assume that the word "color" means natural aluminum color. Since the TIM apparently treats the aluminum finish differently between small and big block engines, I decided to research the subject further in the following reference books:

Richard Newton's book "Corvette Restoration Guide, 1963-1967", Chapter 7, Fuel Systems, refers in several places to the finish of intake manifolds. Cast iron was painted to match the engine color and aluminum was unpainted and would show signs of overspray since they were installed on the engines before painting.

Noland Adams "...Corvette Restoration...Vol. 2, 1963 Through 1967" refers in each model year to the aluminum manifolds being natural in color, with no reference to painting. He notes one exception on page 276 regarding a 1965 L76 SB engine. Referencing a specific serial number car in his survey he stated "Besides its natural color, the manifold was painted aluminum on serial number 110708. This was normal since it both covered overspray and presented a racy appearance." It's unclear whether the entire manifold was painted or just a touch-up of the orange overspray, or for that matter, who painted it. That's the only place I've found so far where painted aluminum is referenced in these two very detailed texts.

At this point I have no idea what is the correct "As-Shipped" finish. However, I suspect it's natural aluminum with a possible overspray at the edges. There are a couple of factors supporting that; 1) Aluminum doesn't need to be painted; and, 2) "The General" was in this thing for profit. Although these cars are remarkable in the amount of hand work, the needless painting of aluminum doesn't make sense...particularly when you'd have to carefully mask the engine or end up with a reverse overspray (or brush strokes) of silver on orange...no profit there.

Anyway...sorry for the rough idle here, just trying to sweat the details...Pete

[William B.]

Is there a brand other than krylon to use? *NM*

[Lee S.]

Mine is painted

My '67 with L79 Engine intake manifold is painted silver. I'm not sure if a previous owner painted it. The finish, while now discolored, is very uniform in texture, gloss, and quality. I almost suspect it was originally painted.

It is a low VIN... 101048.

I'm in the same quandry. Should I strip it? Paint?

[Peter B.]

Re: Mine is painted

Lee...I really doubt that these manifolds were painted in the factory, with the possible exception of touch up to take care of too much overspray. My L79 shows no evidence of silver paint on the manifold and after 40 years, if there was any orange overspray, it's not obvious. I've decided to give mine a mild application of a degreaser, a power wash and no paint.

The total value for the intake manifold, bolts, gaskets and seals is 50 points on the judging sheet. I think the TIM should be modified on this item, but if not, the mark-down for no paint would be nominal. These cars need to be driven...drive to the judging and make up the loss. Pete

[Patrick H.]

Re: Mine is painted

Pete,

Not sure how "driving" and "silver paint on the manifold" are mutually exclusive.

Anyway, I recently posted some pictures of original engines and parts with obvious silver paint. To refresh memories:

Here is a picture of an original factory plug used to block the oil fill tube hole prior to installation of the chrome tube. Note the overspray color:


In this picture, note the silver on the small area of the heads that would normally reside between the intake and the valve covers. It is especially noticeable between the water jackets and the intake ports at the rear of the engine (the "bottom" of the picture):


I hope that helps.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: Mine is painted

Pete,

Not sure how "driving" and "silver paint on the manifold" are mutually exclusive.

Anyway, I recently posted some pictures of original engines and parts with obvious silver paint. To refresh memories:

Here is a picture of an original factory plug used to block the oil fill tube hole prior to installation of the chrome tube. Note the overspray color:


In this picture, note the silver on the small area of the heads that would normally reside between the intake and the valve covers. It is especially noticeable between the water jackets and the intake ports at the rear of the engine (the "bottom" of the picture):


I hope that helps.

Patrick

[Lee S.]

Re: Mine is painted

Thanks for your comments. As I understand your note, you have an original intake manifold and it is NOT painted.

I'm just trying to validate what its supposed to be. I just purchased this car and there is much to be done. Neither of my cars are trailer queens... I drive them.

Thanks

[Lee S.]

Re: Mine is painted

Thanks for your comments. As I understand your note, you have an original intake manifold and it is NOT painted.

I'm just trying to validate what its supposed to be. I just purchased this car and there is much to be done. Neither of my cars are trailer queens... I drive them.

Thanks

[Dick W.]

Re: Mine is painted

I detailed a very late '66 about 20 years ago. Was very low mileage, but had not been stored with care. The intake DEFINITELY had silver paint on it. I took a rag soaked with lacquer thinner and wiped silver paint from the intake. Car condition was pretty obvious that it had not been detailed.

[Dick W.]

Re: Mine is painted

I detailed a very late '66 about 20 years ago. Was very low mileage, but had not been stored with care. The intake DEFINITELY had silver paint on it. I took a rag soaked with lacquer thinner and wiped silver paint from the intake. Car condition was pretty obvious that it had not been detailed.

[Peter B.]

Re: Mine is painted

To all on this thread...This discussion is interesting in that there are both painted and unpainted aluminum manifolds reported on the L79 engines. Yet the reference books indicate they were unpainted for both SB and BB engines (with the one exception I noted above). I wonder if the BB manifolds are also a mix of paint and no paint...maybe engines that had too much overspray to be touched up, received a full coat of paint. Maybe either finish is correct and both should be allowed in judging.

Are there any NCRS members from "back in the day" that would have direct knowledge from the assembly line that could comment on this? This is pretty subtle detail, but since the TIM has a specific reference to painted L79 manifolds and anything else would probably lose points, it would be nice to know what the standard practice was on the "Line". Pete

[Peter B.]

Re: Mine is painted

To all on this thread...This discussion is interesting in that there are both painted and unpainted aluminum manifolds reported on the L79 engines. Yet the reference books indicate they were unpainted for both SB and BB engines (with the one exception I noted above). I wonder if the BB manifolds are also a mix of paint and no paint...maybe engines that had too much overspray to be touched up, received a full coat of paint. Maybe either finish is correct and both should be allowed in judging.

Are there any NCRS members from "back in the day" that would have direct knowledge from the assembly line that could comment on this? This is pretty subtle detail, but since the TIM has a specific reference to painted L79 manifolds and anything else would probably lose points, it would be nice to know what the standard practice was on the "Line". Pete