'65 Big Block Question(s)

[Joel T.]

A couple of questions for you 396 guys out there....

1 - Exhaust manifold painting... Just how much of the exhaust manifolds were painted at the factory? Was it just the tops near the block proper or the entire casting?

2 - Intake manifold painting... I believe that the intake manifold got orange over spray... when the motor was painted. Was the intake manifold then painted silver, in whole or in part?

Thanks,

Joel

[Jack H.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

The entire exhaust manifold was typically painted as there was engine surface area behind it to hit/cover. As John Hinckley has taught us, the engine lines ran at something like 300 units/hour meaning there was only a few minutes for the painter to shot a given engine before he had to move on to the next job. So, coverage was typically spotty and varied with who was working the paint station on the day your engine was built. Bottom line, don't be looking for a 'correct' answer regarding coverage.

On the intake, there was a drop-down 'masking bag' that formed the parting line between the orange painted cast iron surfaces and the adjacent cast aluminum intake manifold. Again, due to the rate of production and attention to detail of those working the line (did they nicely straighten out the bottom of the drop-down mask or let it sit 'as dropped' on your job?) there's no fully 'correct' answer here and 'some' engines were spot corrected for workmanship issues...

[Joel T.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Jack;

Thanks! This is what I was looking for!

Joel

[Joe R.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

A couple of questions for you 396 guys out there....

1 - Exhaust manifold painting... Just how much of the exhaust manifolds were painted at the factory? Was it just the tops near the block proper or the entire casting?

2 - Intake manifold painting... I believe that the intake manifold got orange over spray... when the motor was painted. Was the intake manifold then painted silver, in whole or in part?

Thanks,

Joel

What about Joel's question on the silver paint? I have the same question on the 66 L72 (427 / 425). It also has the aluminum intake.

Joe

[Carl N.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Do not believe there was paint on the intake other than orange overspray.

Might check latest judging manual to be sure.

Raw aluminum IMO

Carl

[Joe R.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Do not believe there was paint on the intake other than orange overspray.

Might check latest judging manual to be sure.

Raw aluminum IMO

Carl

Carl,

I don't have the '65 TIM&JG, so I don't know what it says. But the '66 JG does mention silver paint in several places. I don't know what it was for either.

Joe

[Daniel K.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Had my 65 BB judged this past March. Judges thought the over spray on the engine was fine. No Ag paint on manifold, just the T-stat housing (I think). Over spray on e-manifolds could have been better, but after heat and running the car, what can be expected?

[John S.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Had my 65 BB judged this past March. Judges thought the over spray on the engine was fine. No Ag paint on manifold, just the T-stat housing (I think). Over spray on e-manifolds could have been better, but after heat and running the car, what can be expected?

Mine 396 has little more orange paint on the exhaust manifolds. The overspray on the intake manifold looks about the same as Daniels..

[Jody B.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Here's an untouched original paint scheme.

[Tony S.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Here's some practical advice: don't paint the entire exhaust manifolds. Yes, I know that they were originally painted at the factory--maybe not entirely but largely. If you liberally paint them, you'll start up your engine and as it heats up, these irritating little embers of hot orange paint can fly off and land in placed in your engine compartment where you definitely don't want them to land.

I would spray a very small amount of high temp orange paint on just the areas where the paint will remain. Just enough for the judges to see that there is a little paint on the margin next to the mating surfaces to the block. Maybe a dab on your exhaust bolts/french locks. You need very little paint to pass.

Take my advice as you see fit.
Good luck.
Tony

[Tony S.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

ps.

as for the silver paint, only the thermostat housing is painted 'silver'.

[James W.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

I painted the engine based on pictures of Jody's engine along with other unrestored 396 cars I've looked at along with Jack and Tony's description.


Regards,

James West

[Joel T.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Had my 65 BB judged this past March. Judges thought the over spray on the engine was fine. No Ag paint on manifold, just the T-stat housing (I think). Over spray on e-manifolds could have been better, but after heat and running the car, what can be expected?

Dan;

Thanks for the pictures, they really help.. Was your judging at the Chapter level or higher? I just did a Regional judging event... Got dinged a few.. claim was that the entire exhaust manifold was painted and intake was supposed to be same color as the thermostat neck... Also, did anyone say anything on your intake manifold bolts.. I was told there were black phosphate color..

Regards, Joel

[James W.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Dan;

Thanks for the pictures, they really help.. Was your judging at the Chapter level or higher? I just did a Regional judging event... Got dinged a few.. claim was that the entire exhaust manifold was painted and intake was supposed to be same color as the thermostat neck... Also, did anyone say anything on your intake manifold bolts.. I was told there were black phosphate color..

Regards, Joel

Joe,

The water neck is supposed to painted silver with a natural finish aluminum spacer between the water neck and the intake manifold; the water neck should not be the same natural aluminum finish like the intake manifold. As you know the water neck is made of iron and would rust quickly if left unpainted; painting it silver to to look like the intake is correct.

The intake manifold bolts are to be silver cad/zinc plated not black phospate. I've looked at and taken pictures of several unrestored 396 cars to verify these items you are discussing.


James West

[Joel T.]

Re: '65 Big Block Question(s)

Jim;

Thanks for the info/confirmation on the manifold bolts... that's what I thought.

Joel