64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

[Michael H.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

Why so many service replacements for inspection covers? Its not like they would wear out. Closely looking at mine I think it must have been replaced at some time as it is black on both sides with no sign of any orange. .

Jef,

The original design of the shield was a very poor design. It didn't fit well and very often was installed incorrectly which resulted in the sheet metal hitting/scraping on the flywheel. You can imaging the sound that made!
Many were somewhat straightened while others were replaced.

At some point, GM finally changed the design and included two tabs that hooked into the oil pan rail (or something like that) and the problem was fixed. (mostly)

I don't remember any originals that were painted black before the orange.

[Joe L.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

Hmm interesting no paint on the bottom of the oil pan from the factory. I think it would be very difficult indeed after spending 40 or 50k or so and 400 to 500 hours restoring a Midyear Corvette to leave the bottom of the oil pan bare metal. What would cause so many service replacements of the inspection cover? Mine was black, my car had never been apart and shows only 37000 miles on the odometer and I dont think it has rolled over as I am going to leave my original red and white seat covers on. Another question did 64's have a boot on the clutch fork originally? It seems to need one but there was not one on my car. The entire fan is painted black does that inclde the clutch mechanism it shows no sign of black. A silly question if you follow the assmbly manual for a1960 and rewire your car the ammeter of course reads backwards which is fine if you know that. Mine reads backwards. If you get your car judged is that a deduction?

Jef------

Unless one has an original oil pan with a fairly pristine original paint, one does not know the degree of paint coverage originally applied to their pan. So, in that case, one can "assume" that the pan was among those originally receiving nearly complete coverage. One might be right or one might be wrong but no one's going to be able to say which.

Also, ALL 1964 Corvettes originally had a boot on the clutch fork.

[Joe L.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

Here's a earlier service cover [bottom] (black, painted orange on oil pan side) and an original [top] (no paint on clutch side, and what could be the original orange paint on oil pan side. Another point to note is the lack of "clips" at the crank semicircle on both of these; current service has them. Also note that on the service cover, the edge that contacts the bottom of the engine block is not straight across, but is bent forward at the outer extremities to form a lip.

Wayne-----


The covers pictured are GM #3788422. While there are differences between the two covers, I believe this was done via a change to the specifications for the 3788422 cover. Just when that happened, I do not know.

In January, 1976 the 3788422 cover was discontinued and replaced by GM #354497. The latter is the cover with the two "clips" which attach behind the oil pan rear seal flange and prevent inward deflection of the cover. While this cover may have been used in PRODUCTION on some Chevrolet applications it was never used on a Corvette application since it did not exist when the last Corvette application requiring this configuration cover was manufactured (1972 ZR-1).

[William C.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

I'm with you Michael, all the originals I have are bare metal on the inside (and under what's left of the orange)

[Joe L.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

Why so many service replacements for inspection covers? Its not like they would wear out. Closely looking at mine I think it must have been replaced at some time as it is black on both sides with no sign of any orange. As far as over restoring I think it is a mute point that we are a lot more careful restoring these buggies, working alone in our garages pondering every aspect of thier assembly, then some Korean War Vet earning what $3.85/ hr or whatever the line wage was in late April of 1964 doing the same task over and over. I had a good laugh the other day with a friend in my garage looking at the stripped down frame on jack stands in my garage I had just spent half a day installing a new gas line doing something that some guy back in 1964 probably did as the frame went by him on the assembly line.

Jef------

Does your cover have the 2 "clips" near the crank semi-circular cut-out periphery? If it does, then you KNOW it's not an original cover since no original covers had this feature----absolutely none. Even if it doesn't have the clips it could still be a replacement made during the 1964-76 period.

A LOT of these covers were replaced. If the cover gets bent or, even, just slightly distorted, it will contact the crank flange and make a hell of a racket. Trying to re-configure it is usually a very temporary solution. So, what causes the covers to distort? Something as simple as driving through a moderately deep puddle of water. Once-upon-a-time folks drove these cars on a daily basis and in all weather conditions.

For the sake of originality would I ever use one of these covers without the "clips"? NEVER. EVER.

Also, I do not believe that any of the original covers were painted black. I believe the covers used in PRODUCTION were bare metal and were painted (more-or-less) with the engine assembly. Once-upon-a-time the SERVICE covers were also unpainted but, at some point, that changed. Most likely that was spurred by customer complaints when they were handed a rusty replacement cover by the dealer counterman.

[Jef S.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

My cover does not have the clips nor does it have any sign of orange paint. It must be an 70's replacement which is suprising to me as I took what I think is the original clutch out of the car when I tore down the engine. Anyway thanks to everybody for the help I think I can finish detailing my "over restored" engine, bellhousing and transmission properly now. And it does make a racket when it is slightly distorted the first time I started my 1960 last year after complete drive line rebuilding it sounded like the crank was coming out. SCAREY! When I figured out where the grinding was coming from it was the smallest little scratch on the cover but what a noise.

[Jef S.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

One other question I forgot to ask were the motor mounts on the block when it was painted or added later. Would they be orange or blacked out?

[Joe L.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

One other question I forgot to ask were the motor mounts on the block when it was painted or added later. Would they be orange or blacked out?

Jef-----


They were installed at St. Louis and should show no signs of paint, either orange or black.

[Jef S.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

The exhaust manifolds were on prior to painting so they get orange paint? If that is the case there must be a very thinly painted area underneathe them on the bloxk is that correct?

[Joe R.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

The exhaust manifolds were on prior to painting so they get orange paint? If that is the case there must be a very thinly painted area underneathe them on the bloxk is that correct?

Jeff,

That's correct, the exhaust manifolds were on the engine when it was painted. Yep, I would expect poor coverage on the block behind the exhaust manifolds.

Joe

[Tony S.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

Jeff, from my own personal experiences, even though the exhaust manifolds were definitely attached to the engine before engine paint, think twice about actually painting the entire exhaust manifolds. Here's what happens if you do: within about 5 to 10 minutes, most of that paint either burns off or small hot embers of orange paint lift off and land on places where you won't be happy. Imagine small embers of orange paint landing on your nice, glossy black upper A-arms or on your aluminum intake or on your inner fenders. You're much better off just thinking about where the paint will remain AFTER engine start up and just paint those limited areas. You will greatly reduce the chances of orange paint "embers" floating where they don't belong and you'll end up with a correct look ten minutes after engine run. Take my advice for what it's worth...

[Jef S.]

Re: 64 Transmission and bellhousing paint

oki doughky good tip I really didnt want to paint them at all. Whenever you see engine shots in the corvette books of flashy cars the exhaust manifolds are never painted. When I detailed my 60 I didnt have that problem because the the second owner of the car had put headers on I know they are a major no no for the the NCRS but they sure are cool. The original manifolds were in the trunk. I'll go back to the stock look eventually. Thanks again for your help.