BB68Vett

I have my aluminum intake ('68 L36 big block) off the car and would like to put it back on with the correct factory paint scheme. Was it originally painted all Chevy orange? When I bought the car many years ago the intake was all Chevy orange but I know the engine had been rebuilt prior to my purchase. Thanks for any replies.

PRNDL

I am guessing NOT painted, but I will check the book tomorrow and get back to you. MJ

marky mark

I had an incorrect cast iron intake on my L-36 when I bought it. As part of my rebuild I found a "correct" aluminum intake. I put it on not painted and it looks great (much better than the painted one). I don't know for sure, but my guess is that those aluminum intakes were not painted.

Regards, mark :chevy

daniel77350

They might have had overspray on them? Maybe some orange just around where the intake meets the block (on the back and front)...I don't know how exact you want to be, but that seemed to be a theeme through-out many cars I have seen from that era(like the 72 SS chevelle big block that my neighbor has). But for the most part I'd say they where probably unpainted...

Daniel

TCTBBB

Definitely not painted. My father was the original owner and I have had the car since 1976. There was maybe 1/4 " of orange overspray on the edges that meet the heads.

BB68Vett

Thanks for all of the replies. I guess I can return the paint I purchased. THis is not a big time restoration but when it comes to cosmetics when I fix something I want to do it the GM did it.

PRNDL

BB68Vett, I saw your post over on the NCRS board, and I was surprised you did not get a more definitive reply. Here is what my judging guide says: "Aluminum intake manifolds should show no signs of glass beading or polishing. Mark IV aluminum intake manifolds were natural. Cast iron intakes are painted engine orange."


And later, in section 16, engine color: "The Mark IV engine, when equipped with an aluminum intake manifold, was painted orange using a mask that did not always fit the intake manifold well, resulting in orange over-spray on the intake." and a bit further.... "Mark IV aluminum intake manifolds are not painted and should have a natural finish."


So I can see the source of confusion. Some intakes are orange, but they are the iron ones. The aluminum intakes are natural.

The NCRS Corvette Technical Information Manual & Judging Guide is a great reference, even if you are not restoring your car to original condition. There is a new edition due out in a couple of weeks.


and P.S. My first guess, above, was correct !! MJ


[Modified by MNJack, 4:23 PM 8/27/2001]

RatRacer

GM used a piece of cardboard to mask the manifold when painting the engine orange. this allowed a certain amount of overspray to hit the edges along the valve covers.

BB68Vett

Wow, thanks for the replies. You never know how much you don't know until you know it.