When painting the engine block for an SS is the intake manifold painted the same color or is the block orange and the manifold aluminum? Is it Chevrolet orange or a red color?

Always orange for the block. Intake paint depends on the HP rating. 375 HP got an aluminum intake, which would be left unpainted. All others got cast iron intakes that were painted orange.

The aluminum would also have overspray on the edges.

Always chevy orange!!!!!

And believe it or not, the exhaust manifolds were painted orange. The paint burned off and left color around the heavier cast portions by the heads. This what many think is correct "overspray" when in fact solid orange is correct.

you'll be argueing at all the local cruise in's though.

Interesting .. so is that the general rule for all Chevelles? 350HP and below BB intakes were painted chevy orange and the 375HP and above were not painted?

And believe it or not, the exhaust manifolds were painted orange. The paint burned off and left color around the heavier cast portions by the heads. This what many think is correct "overspray" when in fact solid orange is correct.

you'll be argueing at all the local cruise in's though.

I would have to disagree that the entire exhaust manifolds were painted... and not looking to argue here, but that's just my opinion. ;)

I would have to disagree that the entire exhaust manifolds were painted... and not looking to argue here, but that's just my opinion. ;)

Me too. Ive had several cars here that had all original manifolds on them and I've never seen any signs of orange paint on them at all. If they were painted from the factory, there would be some sign of orange that didn't burn off.

Oh come on 66 Mystery Chevelle, you were around in 2000/2001 when I was here last. :) there was extensive posting on this but I had trouble finding the original thread in search. They had a seminar from an expert at Chevellabration that went into extreme detailing and the manifolds were attached to the block when painted at Tonowanda.

I'll keep looking for the thread.

I believe that slight overspray would have been the norm on exhaust manifolds. I think the dealerships would have revolted if some care wasn't taken to not slop paint all over everything just because it's attached to the motor.

Can you imagine the smoke in the plant at the end of the assembly line with all that paint burning off the exhaust manifolds as the vehicles were fired up? I would think that any paint on the manifolds would be minimal. Same with the aluminum intake. There might be a mist of paint getting up under the mask onto the manifold. If that mask wasn't seated properly, then a little more paint might get on the aluminum. I was around quite a few of these L78 cars in the old days and don't remember seeing paint all over the intake like you see on these restored cars. Old pictures of our Chevelle don't show any. The picture quality isn't the best so there could have been slight fogging that wouldn't show up. At one time restorers were putting a slight green tint in the rally wheel silver. We have a '72 Lemans that was painted silver on its first repaint. The car sat for many years and in the process the paint pigment turned a pale green. The same thing probably was happening to the wheel paint.

Oh come on 66 Mystery Chevelle, you were around in 2000/2001 when I was here last. :) there was extensive posting on this but I had trouble finding the original thread in search. They had a seminar from an expert at Chevellabration that went into extreme detailing and the manifolds were attached to the block when painted at Tonowanda.

I'll keep looking for the thread.

I have been here since the Start and whether there was a thread about it once, twice or 50 times, it wouldn't change my mind.. same goes for an expert at Chevelle-abration. Sorry... Did the manifolds and bypass hoses and such get orange paint on them.. absolutely! Was this intentional or Full Coverage.. No Way! Did it burn off quickly.. absolutely! These were masked with cardboad shields.... but keep looking for the thread, might just be someone else who HEARD this and so the whisper down the lane starts.

Bellhousings were attached also, they got anywhere from little overspray, to moderate to almost full coverage.. but it was not the intention to paint these items full coverage.

No offense, like I said, just agree to disagree on this subject.

Mike Crown

No, no, not intended for full coverage, but attached on the block prior to paint. With that extensive coverage as with the bypass hose.

I scoured again with no luck on the original thread. There were some high caliber restorers and what I would call experts on this site that agreed. it was very interesting.

but since I can't find the original thread I'll surrender.

This what many think is correct "overspray" when in fact solid orange is correct.

you'll be argueing at all the local cruise in's though.

What you said is "when in fact solid orange is correct".....

That is incorrect and how somebody reading here may leave with the impression that the manifolds should be sprayed full coverage, I don't want anyone confused about this.. Nobody is questioning the fact the manifolds were attached, like the bells...but they did not get SOLID ORANGE. I accept your white flag :thumbsup:

That would mean the french locks and bolts would also have overspray.

"French Locks" and "surrender"...

Maybe this thread should move to Bench Racing :D