hunt4cleanair

Thought those that are checking in to see what's new for 2012 might be interest in following the assembly of my 1978 L48 engine restoration...limited to cosmetics. The objective is to prep for the eventually for some future owner to campaign it for NCRS Top Flight. I've spent the past few months dis-assembling, clean and paint. Know I won't need to solicit comments...I'm confidant they'll flow objectively but with affection....

So, here are a couple of pics of the block freshly painted from underneath.

Engine Left Side
Engine right side
Topside

I used an airbrush and Eastwood's engine GM Corporate Blue paint. Offered some nice control over the spray but still ended up using a brush to get the back of the block and avoid overspray on the tranny.

hunt4cleanair

Yesterday and today began to install shields which are a pain and a lot of them. Got the starter installed, plug wires, looms, V shield, tranny lines.

Engine assembly passenger side

Also shot a photo of the frame front crossmember topside that I did along with a-arms. Will install new dust shields while also polishing the front shock washers. Finish on frame is Rust-O-leum flat...suggested by several CF regulars

Front crossmember

Alan 71

Hi h4ca,
Very interesting pictures and nice attention to detail.
I ALWAYS enjoy seeing what people are doing.
Regards,
Alan

PS: During the Chevy orange period the jagged part of the timing tab OFTEN had a piece of tape on it.... so no paint; did that continue to the Corporate blue era? Thinking of Top Flight!

gcusmano74

Scrape or strip off some paint off by the mounting area of the starter, so you know it has a good reliable ground.

billla

I'm not an NCRS guy by any means - but weren't the engines painted with the exhaust manifolds in place, such that there was overspray on the manifolds and then a shadow on the block?

Alan 71

Hi b,
You're sorta right.
The bb exhaust manifolds were in place so had some paint on them, but the sb exhaust manifolds went on after paint.
Regards,
Alan

7T1vette

Ignition wire shields and gas lines painted with 'aluminum' paint isn't going to cut it with NCRS. And, the paint on the block looks more like Pontiac blue than GM "Corporate" blue. I'm not trying to be "picky", but you asked for feedback....

As far as cleaning things up...you're doing a nice job.

hunt4cleanair

Actually gas lines are the original, carbon steel but rather corroded and left in place. You're probably referring to the tranny lines that are replacements but not painted.

The lighting and camera effects "lightens" the actual finish in the photo but the paint matched up nicely with the oil cap color that I left until the end for touch-up. So, the color seemed pretty close to what was left of the original paint.

Heat shields are 5 point condition and originality. Finish is 20% so do you take the hit for rust on condition or take the hit for finish on originality due to non-original finish? So either route won't cut it for about a point. The alternative was to send them all out for cadmium plating. The chrome covers, yet to be installed, were left as original. They are nice but rust is obvious if studied closely.

hunt4cleanair

The tech manual (1978-79) does not state that that practice continued during the later model years. I know as late as 1977, the manual describes the practice of using a mask on the timing tab and for the center of the harmonic balancer...as well as the dab of grease on the engine VIN stamp pad. Having said that...I've seen many low-mileage timing tabs with no paint...this one got paint!

In 78, pads were painted. So what you expect to see is the engine suffix painted, while the VIN derivative characters, stamped at the assembly plant, the characters cut into the metal and typically some rust can be seen where paint was cut away. I masked my pad and left it as it was. I attempted to retain elements of originality where it was practical and significant enough to do so.

VIN pad

1yy07

were is the clip for the solinod?

billla

Thanks, Alan. Always new stuff to learn, and the restoration aspect has always facinated me. Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate and admire the knowledge, skill and effort that goes into it!

Easy Mike

Nice work.

KapsSA

My two 78s and two 79s all had fully painted timing tabs.

hunt4cleanair

Got some more work done but need some tips on how to crank down the balancer to 60# without the engine turning over.

So, here's the driver's side underneath...a few of the sins are visible.
Engine Left

Topside with pulleys in place, carb, throttle support bracket.

Engine topside

Of course, I found myself experimenting with new paints so here's one for those that have worked to refresh their EGR TVS valve with paint. Its Valspar picked up from Lowe's before hitting the hobby shop...its flat purple. I would suggesting guessing but, with the exception of the color, the closeup gives it away which one is original vs that for service replacement.

EGR TVS Valve

CraigH

Its starting to come together and look great.

You can open your hood and not be concerned about how it looks, rather the compliments.

Great work

Shark Racer

FWIW, and yes, OP, I read your response - I completely agree with 7T1.

This engine shows the correct shade of blue.

hunt4cleanair

Quick update on this project that I'm wrapping up. This weekend I added water and oil and after a few pumps of the pedal...it cranked right up. Let it run several minutes checking for leaks but basically admiring my handiwork. Wanted to back it out of the garage and top of the radiator but thought I best do a walk around including a check underneath. That's when I discovered a pool of tranny fluid. Several CVers have helped figure that out but here are some pics from the top view.

engine final01
engine final02
engine final03
engine final04

Also, in terms of the engine paint shade of color, at Orlando last week, I placed the oil cap from my handiwork on the valve cover of a 176 mile L48 M20 Pace Car that went for $35k. The paint of the oil cap is actually a shade darker than the valve cover...but the lighting fails to capture the subtle difference.

VIN 3976_176 miles

Thanks all for the tips and suggestions.

7T1vette

Glad to hear the paint color is just a photo issue. Keep up the good work.

Vette5.5

You mean to say you're actually doing all that work with the engine still in the car. Pulling an engine, really isn't much a deal, and way easier detailing everything.

Oldguard 7

You used spray cans to paint the engine block?