63 engine over spray patterns

[Rob M.]

Hi all,

I'm curious on your feedback of my '63 L84 engine I'm building up in my spare time when I'm not working on NCRS programming or running the Dutch Chapter ;-). Please comment on inconsistencies or other findings. I've tried to mimic the paint thickness (and lack off paint in known areas), over spray patterns, etc...



Question 1: should the rubber plug for the breather pipe be orange???





Your feedback is welcome...

regards,
Rob.

[Dan H.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

Rob, the water pump heater hose nipple was installed after painting and should be raw. The distributor was installed and might get a hint of over spray. The intake and FI unit were all there and were touched up with silver after the orange spray coat. Even some silver on the nozzle blocks I'm told.
Dan

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

Looking good, Rob. As Dan mentioned, the water pump heater hose fitting should be unpainted, Dull aluminum paint was used between the FI adapter and valve covers.

The PCV grommet in the back of the block was installed at the St Louis plant and should be unpainted. (also, the grommet is the late replacement style. should be flush with the top of the block and in a steel cup. more on that later if I can find a pic of an original)
The horizontal surface of the block around the PCV grommet would be unpaiunted.

I don't think the PCV hose had GM ink stamped on it.

The 45* PCV fitting in the plenum should be natural brass or zincad plated. Not black.

[Barry H.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

Rob, All good comments on paint, especially on the silver intake overspray. Please check casting Numbers & dates on heads (under valve covers). The 461 heads appear to have been produced at Tonawanda instead of the Flint engine plant. Barry

[Rob M.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

\The PCV grommet in the back of the block was installed at the St Louis plant and should be unpainted. (also, the grommet is the late replacement style. should be flush with the top of the block and in a steel cup. more on that later if I can find a pic of an original)
The horizontal surface of the block around the PCV grommet would be unpainted.

Thanks all for the feedback, does anyone know if someone is selling a better repro of this grommet or even better where I would get an original one?

regards,
Rob.

[Rob M.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

The intake and FI unit were all there and were touched up with silver after the orange spray coat. Even some silver on the nozzle blocks I'm told.

So, if I understand this correctly, they sprayed orange and there where there was orange overspray they touched up with silver paint?

regards,
Rob

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

For small block engines with aluminum intake manifolds/adapters, a cover was placed over the entire intake and valve covers. This would shield/mask these items and also prevent any orange paint from covering the area of the cyl head between the intake and valve cover. This area would than be unpainted cast iron.
Some means of protection was required and this area was sprayed with DULL ALUMINUM paint. Mist overspray from this operation would cover the inner sides of the valve cover and some areas of the FI unit.
The same dull aluminum paint was used to paint the thermostat housing, which also covered the studs and nuts.

Years ago, I found that Krylon dull aluminum was a near perfect match for the paint that was used originally at the Flint engine plant.

(By the way, I still think the firing order is incorrect in your avatar)

[Rob M.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

Please check casting Numbers & dates on heads (under valve covers). The 461 heads appear to have been produced at Tonawanda instead of the Flint engine plant. Barry

Barry, I'm just curious, how can you tell if the heads would be from the wrong factory without taking the covers off? IOW what gives it away if this is the case?

greetings,
Rob.

[Rob M.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

PS what is the component pointed out with the black arrow in the attached picture of a reference engine I'm using to restore mine?

txs,
Rob.

[Rob M.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

For small block engines with aluminum intake manifolds/adapters, a cover was placed over the entire intake and valve covers. This would shield/mask these items and also prevent any orange paint from covering the area of the cyl head between the intake and valve cover. This area would than be unpainted cast iron.
Some means of protection was required and this area was sprayed with DULL ALUMINUM paint. Mist overspray from this operation would cover the inner sides of the valve cover and some areas of the FI unit.
The same dull aluminum paint was used to paint the thermostat housing, which also covered the studs and nuts.

Michael, was this aluminum color applied after or before the orange was applied to the engine (so could the aluminum over-spray also be on the orange of the engine)?

regards,
Rob.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

PS what is the component pointed out with the black arrow in the attached picture of a reference engine I'm using to restore mine?

txs,
Rob.

Pivot ball/stud for the clutch cross shaft.

Rob, the FI on this engine looks like a very early unit??

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

Michael, was this aluminum color applied after or before the orange was applied to the engine (so could the aluminum over-spray also be on the orange of the engine)?

regards,
Rob.

Rob, the dull aluminum paint was after the orange. It was the last paint operation.
Areas of aluminum overspray/mist can often be seen on the ends of the cyl heads. Also, at times, aluminum is seen on the rear end of the water pump bypass hose and clamp.

[Rob M.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

Rob, the FI on this engine looks like a very early unit??

That is possible, stamp on this engine is 3109522 F0212RF. It was ones on e-Bay and I saved all the attached pictures (30+) since the engine looked 95% original to me. FI unit number is 3142 and type nr is 7017375. regards, Rob.

It might be a nice test case for the picture gallery discussed in another thread currently discussed...

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

That is possible, stamp on this engine is 3109522 F0212RF. It was ones on e-Bay and I saved all the attached pictures (30+) since the engine looked 95% original to me. FI unit number is 3142 and type nr is 7017375. regards, Rob.

It might be a nice test case for the picture gallery discussed in another thread currently discussed...

I think it may just be an early production unplated choke pipe on a later engine. Also noticed an unplated dipstick which would also be for an early car built some time before January 63.

[Barry H.]

Re: 63 engine over spray patterns

Rob, & Michael, I my opinion I believe that the low grade aluminum paint was shot with a touch up gun, very haphazardly, first. Then the mask was installed & engine orange was painted on the rest. The mask covered the aluminum valve covers, aluminum intake, FI unit, & carborator if used. In reguards to the heads, the Flint heads are typically machined on each end, yours appear to be rough, (as cast) typically seen on Tonawanda heads. Judges usually check for this. You will be able to tell by looking at the dates, Flint will have single digit year cast date (2 or 3) while Tonawanda will be double digit a(62 or 63). Also Tonawanda heads usually have a (debossed) T cast on the heads, under the valve covers. Barry