'66 BB starter nose painted black?

[Michael G.]

My '66 427 was judged at the Joplin Regionals in April. I got docked points because my starter nose wasn't painted black. I've reviewed the new judging manual and unless I've missed it see no where the starter nose is painted black.....the case yes. Did I miss something here?

[Ronald L.]

Re: '66 BB starter nose painted black?

Michael, the nose as defined by the part that goes into the bell housing...yes but not all of it from my observation of un molested originals. Plus you can't see that part that is not painted. What did you have - the cast iron part raw?

[Joe R.]

Re: '66 BB starter nose painted black?

Michael,

Someone seems a bit confused here as the nose of the starter cannot be seen unless it is removed from the mounting and pulled out of the bellhousing. Not likely at a Regional Meet!
It doesn't matter if it's green, it cannot be judged.

JR

[Michael G.]

Re: '66 BB starter nose painted black?

Ron/Joe,

Probably used the wrong term....let's call it the cast iron section of the starter. Judges called it the nose however I knew what they meant.....which is the cast iron section which bolts starter to block was judged as "supposed to be black". Never have I saw this section of the starter painted. Examples I've seen were natural or raw. Judging manual doesn't address a finish for that portion of the starter.

[Joe L.]

Re: '66 BB starter nose painted black?

Ron/Joe,

Probably used the wrong term....let's call it the cast iron section of the starter. Judges called it the nose however I knew what they meant.....which is the cast iron section which bolts starter to block was judged as "supposed to be black". Never have I saw this section of the starter painted. Examples I've seen were natural or raw. Judging manual doesn't address a finish for that portion of the starter.

Michael-----


The "nose" component of the starter is more properly referred to as a starter motor drive HOUSING.

In general, these housings were painted black with the rest of the starter motor. The very end of the housing (the part that cannot be seen within the bellhousing) is usually unpainted.

A bare housing may indicate a starter that's been through a commercial rebuilding operation which sometimes leave the housing unpainted. It may also indicate a starter that's had the housing replaced with a SERVICE part. The SERVICE housings were usually not painted.

Why would anyone replace a housing? Well, the mounting bolt ears can sometimes break off when carelessly torqued.

Was every original starter cast iron housing painted? I don't know as I've not seen every one ever made. However, they were TYPICALLY painted.

By the way, I have several NOS starters with one manufactured as early as 1970. ALL have the housing painted black

[John P.]

Re: '66 BB starter nose painted black?

Typical factory production painted the entire starter as a unit,so the feild housing ,drive end,and commutator end(plate)would ALL have been painted seme-flat black.