72 LT1 manifold color

[Rick M.]

I see most LT1 intakes are silver and the judging manual says a dull aluminun color. Can someone tell me which is correct? Thanks

[Terry M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

I see most LT1 intakes are silver and the judging manual says a dull aluminun color. Can someone tell me which is correct? Thanks

I guess we are talking about definitions. To my way of thinking dull aluminum is silver, but not everyone sees it that way. Maybe a dull or flat silver would be more descriptive. It is not like a BC/CC auto body silver.

Any chance someone has an original un-molested 1972 LT1 near you?

[Rick M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

I don't know of one. I have a can of paint that says it is aluminum color and when I tested it it is dull I hate to paint it with the wrong color. Does anyone have any pictures of one. Thank you

[Terry M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

I don't know of one. I have a can of paint that says it is aluminum color and when I tested it it is dull I hate to paint it with the wrong color. Does anyone have any pictures of one. Thank you

Pretty sure I do from home tonight, but it is a 1970. You may be better off with a picture of a 1972, but if none appears by tonight I will see what I have.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

Is the paint/color unique to a 72 LT-1? I took a 70 LT-1 manifold off 30 years ago and can take pictures of it if that is of any help.

[Terry M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

Is the paint/color unique to a 72 LT-1? I took a 70 LT-1 manifold off 30 years ago and can take pictures of it if that is of any help.

I believe there in no difference in the paint color between the three years of LT1, but I have meet a couple of people who swear there is no paint on 1972 LT1 intake manifolds. Now that would be a difference.

[Rick M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

In the judging manual says 350 Aluminums were painted a dull aluminun paint and 454 were natural

[Patrick B.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

I believe there in no difference in the paint color between the three years of LT1, but I have meet a couple of people who swear there is no paint on 1972 LT1 intake manifolds. Now that would be a difference.

If memory serves me right, I believe there was little if any paint on the 70 manifold except maybe near the heads. I will get it out this week and take a picture.

[Rick M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

I know there was some orange over spray(front and back) on the manifold.

[Terry M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

For 1970 the quantity and location of silver/orange paint depends on the production date of the engine. Not worth getting into here because the topic is about 1972. However, I am pretty sure we covered that issue in the 1970-72 TIM&JG.

[Kevin G.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

Hope these help.

[Larry M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

I don't know of one. I have a can of paint that says it is aluminum color and when I tested it it is dull I hate to paint it with the wrong color. Does anyone have any pictures of one. Thank you

ASSUMING that you are planning to have your car judged (and this is a big assumption on my part) would you do better to have the manifold "reskinned". There are a couple of folks that do this with excellent results. Cost is moderate ($$$)

This is what many of the C2 guys do?? Or is the LT1 manifold somehow different in its finish than the aluminum manifolds of the C2 cars?? I don't remember any big differences during this time period.

Larry

[Terry M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

ASSUMING that you are planning to have your car judged (and this is a big assumption on my part) would you do better to have the manifold "reskinned". There are a couple of folks that do this with excellent results. Cost is moderate ($$$)

This is what many of the C2 guys do?? Or is the LT1 manifold somehow different in its finish than the aluminum manifolds of the C2 cars?? I don't remember any big differences during this time period.

Larry

The LT1 manifold was painted with aluminum paint. If you want to cover all that expensive re-skinning with paint -- knock your socks off.

[Terry M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

Nice pictures Kevin -- thanks. The LP in the second image is likely the identifying stamp of the UAW worker who hot tested, balanced and set the timing at the hot test station in Flint. I was told that each worker at this station had an identifying mark on a hammer and after they performed the above tests and adjustments the marked the engine so that if there were future issues the worker responsible could be identified. Among the marks I have seen initials are unusual. More often there is a symbol of some kind, and the location is all over the intake.

[Terry M.]

Re: 72 LT1 manifold color

I see most LT1 intakes are silver and the judging manual says a dull aluminun color. Can someone tell me which is correct? Thanks

Some pictures:
1972:
100_0833.jpg
Interesting to note that Kevin's 1972 as well as this above shows no silver paint on the attaching bolts, and that argues for no paint in 1972.
1970 #2161:
DSCN5893.jpg
Note in the photo below the silver paint on the distributor hold-down and fastener. Early 1970 LT1 intakes were brush painted silver and the rear of the engine was brush painted orange. I don't know how long that brush painting continued, but I have seen LT1s in February 1970 with sprayed silver and orange. So these techniques will not apply to your 1972, however the color should be the same -- I think.
DSCN5968.jpg
1970 Z28 1100 miles -- before you turn up your nose remember these engines, and a lot others, were produced on the same assembly line, with the same tools and techniques, by the same workers, at the same time. Of course I have a lot of 1970 images -- that is my interest.
1970Z28 1100 miles int bolts 1.jpg