Fuel pump adapter plate - painted or unpainted?

[Troy P.]

For 1955 the TIMJG says the V8 fuel pump adapter plate was unpainted as were the pump attaching bolts. Theory is the plate and bolts were not in place when the engine was painted. Seems like that logic would also apply to the distributor hold down clamp and bolt. But I've always found that (early V8) clamp painted engine color.

What have you found on unrestored cars with original engine paint?

[Joe L.]

Re: Fuel pump adapter plate - painted or unpainted?

For 1955 the TIMJG says the V8 fuel pump adapter plate was unpainted as were the pump attaching bolts. Theory is the plate and bolts were not in place when the engine was painted. Seems like that logic would also apply to the distributor hold down clamp and bolt. But I've always found that (early V8) clamp painted engine color.

What have you found on unrestored cars with original engine paint?

Troy-----

The fuel pump plate was installed at St. Louis so it was un-painted.

The distributor clamp was installed at the engine plants. For cast iron manifold engines it was painted. For aluminum manifold engines I believe the clamp was phosphate-finished.

By the way, the phosphate-finished clamp was never available in SERVICE. SERVICE clamps were bare steel (at least they were until much later SERVICE with the release of the GM #10096197 which was zinc plated).

[Gary C.]

Re: Fuel pump adapter plate - painted or unpainted?

As John Hinckley preached to me many times and I was so slow to remember; "if it's in the AIM with a part number, then it was installed at St. Louis".

Gary
....

[Troy P.]

Re: Fuel pump adapter plate - painted or unpainted?

Unfortunately there is no 1955 Corvette AIM.

I have a very early 55 with a build date of about 2-11-55. Thus not many V8s were assembled before then. We all know that Chevy incorporated lessons learned in their manufacturing and assembly. I know that the adapter plate was installed in Saint Louis and other assembly plants later in 55 and on and on for many years. Thus it is said it was not painted. But I'm trying to find out if they initially installed it at the engine plant and later switched to installing it at the assembly plant.

Although no info is available from a Corvette AIM, the drawing for the 55 Passenger Car AIM that shows the V8 option is available. The fuel pump install drawing with part numbers was redrawn on 2-10-55. So we don't know what major changes were made to cause it to be redrawn. I'm thinking the adapter plate being switched from engine assembly to car assembly might have been the major change.

One change shown entered on the V8 drawing, which is mysteriously undated but falls between 2-10-55 and 3-18-55, is the switch from the 4150 fuel pump to the 4262 that was used into 56. Wouldn't this tell use the Corvette V8 fuel pump was also changed at that time? Our TIMJ says 4150 for the entire year.