1970 lt1

[James S.]

Does anyone have any very detailed pictures of a 70 LT1 engine. Bolt heads,what's painted what's not. Correct orange paint color.over spray etc. thanks for any help. Jim.

[Jeff P.]

Re: 1970 lt1

Here is one James

[James S.]

Re: 1970 lt1

Here is one James

. Thanks Jeff wish I had pics of the engine out of the car. My block and heads are not painted right now. Just trying to get some close up views around the fuel pump area and where the intake meets the heads to see if the surface of the heads are painted or bare where the intake meets. I've been told the intake and valve covers were not on the engine when it was painted. Thanks.

[Michael G.]

Re: 1970 lt1

Here is one James

Exhaust manifolds appear painted and no orange overspray on manifolds....is that correct? Wouldn't the manifolds at best have orange overspray on them?

[Alan S.]

Re: 1970 lt1

Hi Michael,
I believe the exhaust manifolds were not on sb engines when they were painted, so typically have no paint at all on them.
You're right, the manifolds were/are natural cast iron, not painted gray as many are now seen.
Regards,
Alan

[Jeff P.]

Re: 1970 lt1

Someone will chime in here James. Different year and engines but my chrome valve covers and intake were all on when painted. 68 L79. Including the spark plugs. LOL

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 lt1

Does anyone have any very detailed pictures of a 70 LT1 engine. Bolt heads,what's painted what's not. Correct orange paint color.over spray etc. thanks for any help. Jim.

Welcome to NCRS James. Perhaps you have not been on the Tech Board long enough to have seen some of the many threads on this subject. I highly recommend the use of the search function - awkward as it is. Doing so you will find photos of original engine compartments -- which is what I highly recommend you use as examples for your restoration. I would invite you to the next Illinois NCRS Judging event April 27 where we will have two original 1970 LT1s (one with 9000 miles), but it looks like you are rather remote from us and we still may have snow on the ground at that time. The event will be almost in Wisconsin -- or at least at a location from which I can see Wisconsin.

To get to your questions: The rocker covers (of some type) and intakes, but not exhaust manifolds were on ALL Flint built small blocks in 1970 at the time the engine was painted. At least that is what the engine build instructions say. That being said I have posted images of a set of 1972 LT1 heads that clearly had no rocker covers on them when the engine was painted. I would be a fool if I told you that was the only one of the LT1 engines to get that treatment, yet I am sure they all did not get that.

The story from the painters at Flint Engine (well before it was torn down) was that there was 'travel covers' that were loosely installed before painting and the aluminum rocker covers were installed after paint. There was also a form fitting plastic mask that covered the aluminum intake during painting. I will also tell you that is not the way ALL 1970 LT1s were painted, and I don't mean the presence or lack of the travel covers. Buy the 1970-72 TIM&JG from the NCRS membership office. The unique way very early 1970 LT1 engines were painted is described in there. So is the parts of the engine that were masked or otherwise covered and the order of installation of other parts -- before or after paint is in there. Some of us spent a lot of time and effort compiling that manual and while I know guys are visual -- in this case words can work wonders.

Remember that not ALL LT1s that Flint built went into Corvettes. If you really must have pictures you may enjoy someone else's efforts:

http://www.1970z28camaro.com/

While that whole car is impressive, the engine compartment should interest you. Just remember that is just one example of 1970 Flint built LT1s, and you will have to look at many -- probably more than 50 -- in order to get good at what you are trying to do. And before all my buddies who have seen hundreds of 1970 LTs get mad at me, I admit to pulling that number out of one of my body orifices.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: 1970 lt1

TERRY You have more 1970 corvette knowledge in that orifice than most of us do in our heads. Love the Camaro LT-1 site. great picts. I had a orange one with 40,000 mi. The guy I sold it to hit a tree & was killed.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 lt1

TERRY You have more 1970 corvette knowledge in that orifice than most of us do in our heads. Love the Camaro LT-1 site. great picts. I had a orange one with 40,000 mi. The guy I sold it to hit a tree & was killed.

The original 1970-72 Team Leader (Jim Buck) once told me that I had not lived until I drove an LT1/M40, and there is only one way to do that in OEM configuration. That is one thing I have yet to do.

I have a lot of sympathy for the 'hi-performance car/low-performance driver' situation. Been there and got that T-shirt, and I am lucky to be here to talk about it.