Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

[Joe L.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Are you refering to just 1959 Flint engines or all Flint engines?

Michael------

Through at least 1960 I believe the assembly order at Flint was such that the manifolds were not painted. From at least 1968 onward, the Flint-manufactured assembly order was such that the manifolds were not painted. From 1961-67, I don't know.

[Michael H.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Michael------


Through at least 1960 I believe the assembly order at Flint was such that the manifolds were not painted. From at least 1968 onward, the Flint-manufactured assembly order was such that the manifolds were not painted. From 1961-67, I don't know.

Joe,

There are a ton of pictures of new Flint built engines from 1955 through 1965 that definitely show that the exhaust manifolds were in place when the engines were painted. We have a lot of other proof as well. I don't think there is any doubt of this.

Unpainted Flint/Corvette small block manifolds first appeared at/near the start of the 66 model year.

[Joe L.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Joe,

There are a ton of pictures of new Flint built engines from 1955 through 1965 that definitely show that the exhaust manifolds were in place when the engines were painted. We have a lot of other proof as well. I don't think there is any doubt of this.

Unpainted Flint/Corvette small block manifolds first appeared at/near the start of the 66 model year.

Michael-----


I suppose it's possible. However, that's contrary to the Flint engine plant records that Alan Colvin obtained and published information from in his books. I have found about 99.5% of the information in these books I've cross-checked to be accurate. This could be among the 0.5% that's not, though.

[Michael H.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Michael-----


I suppose it's possible. However, that's contrary to the Flint engine plant records that Alan Colvin obtained and published information from in his books. I have found about 99.5% of the information in these books I've cross-checked to be accurate. This could be among the 0.5% that's not, though.

Joe,

It's not just possible. It happened. I don't think any production Corvette engine from that era left the Flint plant with unpainted manifolds, even though records may say they did. That also includes the 53-55 6 cyl's.

As always, there's a lot more to research than what records show. Things didn't always happen the way they were supposed to happen.

John Hinckley posted a pic of new 55 engines being loaded into box cars and the exhaust manifolds are definitely painted.
I have a several detailed pic's of new 57, 62 and 63 engines at the St Louis plant that also clearly show the coating.

I think most folks now agree that the manifolds on Corvette engines were coated with engine color.

I know there are a LOT of discussions (heated, at times) on this in the archives.
I feel responsible for all of it as I was the guy that first started the "painted manifold" debate 30+ years ago.

[John D.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

I worked as an Engineer at the GM Tarrytown, N.Y plant from 1985-1995 and I can easily identify many of the areas where those pictures were taken even though the old B-car and truck lines were long gone before I got there.

Back in those days there were over 5,000 people working at the plant which is on the bank of the Hudson River 25 miles north of NYC. It was the economic engine of the town and surrounding area. The plant closed in 1996 and was demolished. It's a huge vacant lot now, the town balked at the plans of the developer and he ran for the hills. There are trees growing up through the cracks in the concrete....

[John H.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Exhaust manifolds were in place during the paint operation at Flint V-8 from 1955 through the end of the 1965 model year; that's when the process change was made to install the manifolds after paint.

Photo below was taken on the Flint V-8 shipping dock in 1955; painting remained the same through 1965.

[Rod K.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Did anyone notice the 348 (409?) engines in the background?

[Michael H.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Did anyone notice the 348 (409?) engines in the background?

[Michael H.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Exhaust manifolds were in place during the paint operation at Flint V-8 from 1955 through the end of the 1965 model year; that's when the process change was made to install the manifolds after paint.

Photo below was taken on the Flint V-8 shipping dock in 1955; painting remained the same through 1965.

Something else was painted that most don't know about. The spark plugs were installed before the engine was painted and each had a shield, shaped about like a spark plug socket, placed over it. Most of the steel spark plug shell would be painted orange. This is slightly visible in the picture.
I still have one original spark plug from the new 64 coupe that we bought in 64. It has quite a bit of orange on the shell. (that plug was dead from day one, never fired. car was delivered running on 7 cyl's)

[Rod K.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

1958 was the first year the 348 appeared in pass cars, but it was born as a truck engine. Anyone know what year?

[Craig D.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Did anyone notice the 348 (409?) engines in the background?

Funny you should mention that, since that was the first thing I looked for when I saw that photo. I had several 409s when I was younger, back when they were not considered rare or expensive . Most called them boat anchors back then. I always liked them never had any problems. Maybe I was lucky .............. but I love the valve covers

[Joe L.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Funny you should mention that, since that was the first thing I looked for when I saw that photo. I had several 409s when I was younger, back when they were not considered rare or expensive . Most called them boat anchors back then. I always liked them never had any problems. Maybe I was lucky .............. but I love the valve covers

Craig-----

You can build a brand new one now if you wish. All of the pieces, including the block, heads, valve covers, crank, connecting rods, pistons, camshafts, etc. are now available in the aftermarket. For years, the big impediment was the scarcity of blocks and heads. No more. Not only are they available, but they are available in aluminum. So, now you can have a 409 that's lighter than a cast iron small block.

By the way, the 409 had the largest bore of any engine GM ever put in a passenger car in "modern" days. The only other GM engines with the same bore size were the Buick 425 and 455.

[Cecil L.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

1958 was the first year the 348 appeared in pass cars, but it was born as a truck engine. Anyone know what year?

1958
The "truck engine" myth is an oft repeated misinterpretation of the W engine history first appearing in an article by Don Francisco in Hotrod back in 59.
A more accurate description of the engines origin can be found in the article "Engineering The "W" 348-409 Powerplant":

"Just as the 265 cubic inch V8 of 1955 was making a big impression on both the general public and performance-minded car owners, chevrolet was already thinking about an engine which might make it obsolete.
The immediate acceptance of bigger engines, more horsepower and larger small cars by those people who had previously been economy shoppers made it apparent to Chevy that their production of V8's would have to be stepped up if anticipated demands two or three years ahead were to be met. Whether to double up on the rate of manufacture of the 265 or develop an entirely new engine was a problem.......
Torque, as a function of stroke length, was the one definciency of the small V8. It was plain that no amount of hopping up, in the conventional sense, where rpm range is extended and the power curve moved up, would increase low end torque to the point required for a much bigger, heavier car with an automatic transmission. Nor, and this was important to Chevrolet, was the 265 really suitable to larger truck applications.
An engine which would not be too much larger in outside dimemsions but have considerably more displacement and be strong in the 2,000 to 3,000 rpm range would fit both the requirements for anticipated bigger models and the truck line...."

I bought my first 348 car in 1960 and currently own seven 348 engines and 3 409 engines, including one of the first 409 3795623 casting blocks, mine being cast on November 15, 1960.
Besides my long time Corvette interest, I have been collecting and researching the history of these engines and cars for years. I don't claim to be an expert, but, much like everyone here, I try to shed more information where I can.

[Tom H.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

Exhaust manifolds were in place during the paint operation at Flint V-8 from 1955 through the end of the 1965 model year; that's when the process change was made to install the manifolds after paint.

John:

Stupid question. As always, there seems to be a reason at GM for everything they do. What was the reason the process was changed ?? Surely not just for cosmetic purposes, was it ??

[John H.]

Re: Exhaust manifold Paint - Factory Photo!!

John:

Stupid question. As always, there seems to be a reason at GM for everything they do. What was the reason the process was changed ?? Surely not just for cosmetic purposes, was it ??

Tom -

I have no idea what drove the process change, but it must have been part of a larger project that re-sequenced hot-test as well. Prior to '66, hot-test was done prior to paint, and in '66 they changed it to after paint and exhaust manifolds.