smelling paint from my '65 manifolds.

[Twan B.]

Today I finnished rebuilding my original exhaust system on my '65 Conv.
I painted the manifolds with 550 F paint chevy orange.
When I started her up (I let her run for about 5 min.) the manifolds began to smoke a littlebit and the smell of paint was filling the garage.
Is this normal???? Will the smell disapear.
Also was some water (a few drops) out off one mufler, I geuss it will get out when the system is all on temp.
Also i replaced the alternator for the original one. A 55 amp came out and the ogiginal is 37 amp. When she was running the alternator get a littlebit warm, is this normal or does the belt have to much tension, i can puch it in for less than 0,5".

Thanks,
Twan,
#44079
Dutch Chapter.

[Gene M.]

Re: smelling paint from my '65 manifolds.

The paint will stop burning off as you run the engine. But 550 degree is to low to hold up on the manifolds if you want it orange and not burnt black. There are rattle cans of 1200 degree paint but not sure about orange. I use a cast 1200 degree paint and it holds up well but still smells on start up.

[Paul J.]

Re: smelling paint from my '65 manifolds.

The condensate is normal. As you said, it will stop after the exhaust gets warm enough, but you need to run the engine long enough to dry out the exhaust.

Paul

[Twan B.]

Re: smelling paint from my '65 manifolds.

Thanks for the comment but what about my alternator??????

Twan

[Larry M.]

Re: smelling paint from my '65 manifolds.

Thanks for the comment but what about my alternator??????

Twan

If you installed a new belt, I would probably leave it as is, since a new belt will stretch during the first hour or two of running. You may even need to re-tighten a week or two down the road.

If, however, you tightened it using a (large) pry bar to remove belt slack, then I would loosen and re-tighten using just your hands to pull on the alternator snug before tightening. This works (for me) for alternators.

Now, my air conditioning compressor belt requires a "cheater bar" to get the right tension. But the alternator I just use my hands without a bar.

After awhile (YEARS of experience adjusting belts) you pretty much can just set the tension by feel. But GM did have a tension gage available.......often you can find a used one at a swap meet or on E-bay. Pictures are in the GM shop manuals. To find one, search E-bay for "engine belt tensioner", or something similar.

Larry

[Michael W.]

Re: smelling paint from my '65 manifolds.

Twan,

If your battery was low, the alternator was going full tilt in an attempt to recharge it. This work creates a considerable amount of heat. If the bearing housings (only) are hot to the touch, this is a different matter.