When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Just wondering if anyone knows for sure what color the engine lift loop on the aluminum intake as well as intake bolt color was on 70-72 W-30. It stands to reason that base engines had them all painted engine color as engines got painted as an assembly. The Aluminum intake must have been masked some way so those would not have gotten paint I’m guessing. So probably black paint or some type of phosphate? They were not going to take that thing off and disturb the critical torque sequence. I had a Bunch of these cars back in the late 70’s and 80’s. I saw plenty of blue ones but I’m sure they got swapped with intakes. Wished I paid more attention back then. This picture is from a 72 magazine article but black and white is no help.
I forgot about this video. There are some good shots of the engine and you can see the loop. It’s a bit dark in the shot however. Can’t see the thermostat housing that well. Maybe some of the more computer types on here can close in on it a bit better. Notice the zinc alternator bolt as well. I’ve noticed that in magazine pictures from the day as well. Anyway it’s a great video for anyone who hadn’t seen it. The guy beats the snot out of that car.
The 1968 cars have a cast iron intake that was painted with the engine (along with the lifting loop and t-stat housing). That has nothing to do with the 70-72 motors that used an unpainted aluminum intake.
Reference? How does Steve know so much about these cars.
Sorry if I struck a raw nerve, but I used Minore as a reference source since he may know just a little more than myself. Of course, you like everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion; so, instead of me engaging in a pi$$ing match with you regarding Minore, here is Minore's contact information. You can contact him directly to question his credentials; that’s the proper thing to do.
Cas-Am Performance & Restoration LLC, Stephen J. Minore, member
Sorry if I struck a raw nerve, but I used Minore as a reference source since he may know just a little more than myself. Of course, you like everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion; so, instead of me engaging in a pi$$ing match with you regarding Minore, here is Minore's contact information. You can contact him directly to question his credentials; that’s the proper thing to do.
Cas-Am Performance & Restoration LLC, Stephen J. Minore, member
Sorry if I struck a raw nerve, but I used Minore as a reference source since he may know just a little more than myself. Of course, you like everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion; so, instead of me engaging in a pi$$ing match with you regarding Minore, here is Minore's contact information. You can contact him directly to question his credentials; that’s the proper thing to do.
Cas-Am Performance & Restoration LLC, Stephen J. Minore, member
The 1968 cars have a cast iron intake that was painted with the engine (along with the lifting loop and t-stat housing). That has nothing to do with the 70-72 motors that used an unpainted aluminum intake.
Thats my point exactly Joe. That’s why I included it.
How is that germane to a discussion of the 1970-72 cars with aluminum intake?
Just to show how it was done differently and why there would be many of those loops kicking around engine color confusing the issue. In my mind it’s very important. Many who swapped to an aluminum intake probably ended up using their painted loop instead of the rusted one from the aluminum intake. They may not even have gotten one for that matter so when a painted one was used it just caused all this confusion we are discussing 50 years later.
Sorry if I struck a raw nerve, but I used Minore as a reference source since he may know just a little more than myself. Of course, you like everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion; so, instead of me engaging in a pi$$ing match with you regarding Minore, here is Minore's contact information. You can contact him directly to question his credentials; that’s the proper thing to do.
Cas-Am Performance & Restoration LLC, Stephen J. Minore, member
Reference? How does Steve know so much about these cars.
Originally Posted by WTHIRTY1
No nerves struck--not even raw ones. Not sure why you got defensive with your reply, either.
I thought the same thing when I read your first reply but I can see it both ways. I think everyone around here just assumes that if you own a W car you must know of Steve.
A friend who was a mechanic at Olds Dealerships from 1965 through the 80’s confirmed to me he remembers the parts as bare metal and remembers overspray on gaskets so it was painted before the aluminum intake was dropped on,
A friend who was a mechanic at Olds Dealerships from 1965 through the 80’s confirmed to me he remembers the parts as bare metal and remembers overspray on gaskets so it was painted before the aluminum intake was dropped on,
How would one explain overspray on an aluminum intake manifold based on that?
How would one explain overspray on an aluminum intake manifold based on that?
I've owned two W30 intakes, a 70 and a 71 and neither had overspray. I know the 70 manifold sat under the bench of a machine shop after being taken off an original W30 in the early 70's
I've owned two W30 intakes, a 70 and a 71 and neither had overspray. I know the 70 manifold sat under the bench of a machine shop after being taken off an original W30 in the early 70's
How would one also explain overspray on the therm housing for an aluminum intake?
A friend who was a mechanic at Olds Dealerships from 1965 through the 80’s confirmed to me he remembers the parts as bare metal and remembers overspray on gaskets so it was painted before the aluminum intake was dropped on,
I've owned two W30 intakes, a 70 and a 71 and neither had overspray. I know the 70 manifold sat under the bench of a machine shop after being taken off an original W30 in the early 70's
So are you saying no overspray on the intake manifold or just not on your two examples?
So are you saying no overspray on the intake manifold or just not on your two examples?
I'm not an expert and don't pretend to be. A friend who owned a machine shop had the 70 manifold. He wasn't a Olds guy and the manifold had been in his shop for years. I have no reason to doubt him. The 71 manifold wasn't in great shape. It's finish appeared original but it was marred by scrapes and gouges. For all I know that one was sold over the counter.
I know Steve pretty well. He bought the 71 manifold from me maybe 15 years ago and I probably first met him 18 years ago. It was long before he started his Oldsmobile authentication business. He knows 70's pretty well. Better than most. I have no reason to doubt his opinion. He's been a part of enough true W30 "barn finds" over the years that I'm sure he's probably correct. I know for sure that there are a heck of a lot more cars that have been restored (or over restored) than exist as original examples. Most of what we've all seen over the last 20-30 years have usually been changed in one way or another. He's been privy to the few that haven't
Last edited by allyolds68; Feb 2, 2021 at 01:26 PM.
The aluminum intakes and the therm housings were definitely on the engines at the time they were painted.
Jimmy, I'm no expert either.
I've seen a few examples like yours, but have not seen an original without over-spray.
Knowing how factories want minimal disruption to their routines, it makes sense that every engine was completely assembled before being painted. Apparently the factory used some sort of quick cover to keep (most of) the engine paint off the aluminum manifold.
I have an original engine, removed in 1973 that has the over-spray. The engine lift hook and coolant outlet are not painted.
This makes the most sense to me, a cover. I don't know the answer, but I definitely know covers were used for some engine items by GM throughout there divisions. You can be sure they wanted people to see the manifold as "special' like a factory hot rod item, because that's what everybody was putting on their cars back then. A cover makes sense to me.
How would one explain overspray on an aluminum intake manifold based on that?
I don’t know, he said he saw overspray on head gaskets and not aluminum manifold. Could his memory be dusty? Yes but not many people have seen more than him.
I don’t know, he said he saw overspray on head gaskets and not aluminum manifold. Could his memory be dusty? Yes but not many people have seen more than him.
Perhaps he just didn’t notice or the paint had burned off. Either way, there was overspray on the aluminum intake and the thermostat housing.
The aluminum intakes and the therm housings were definitely on the engines at the time they were painted.
I believe the cover for the intake while an engine was being panted was called a "mask". Before the aluminum intake a pre paint engine assembly with or without A/C included the intake and everything that the intake bolts held down ( like the lift strap), and included the thermostat housing, water pump, bypass hose, fuel pump, distributor, lower alternator bracket, SMT bell housing and exhaust manifolds. This his how we know all pre '70 engines to look. If that was the procedure, it seems likely that they followed the same procedure for an engine with an aluminum intake and used a mask during the paint process. I highly doubt the mask would have been intricate enough to allow paint application to the T-stat housing and lift strap.
I believe the cover for the intake while an engine was being panted was called a "mask". Before the aluminum intake a pre paint engine assembly with or without A/C included the intake and everything that the intake bolts held down ( like the lift strap), and included the thermostat housing, water pump, bypass hose, fuel pump, distributor, lower alternator bracket, SMT bell housing and exhaust manifolds. This his how we know all pre '70 engines to look. If that was the procedure, it seems likely that they followed the same procedure for an engine with an aluminum intake and used a mask during the paint process. I highly doubt the mask would have been intricate enough to allow paint application to the T-stat housing and lift strap.
Maybe I could have stated that better. There likely was some type of masking. Whatever was used allowed blue or gold overspray to hit the aluminum intake and also a bit on the thermostat housing. The thermostat housing (at least on a ‘70) was not painted.
Maybe I could have stated that better. There likely was some type of masking. Whatever was used allowed blue or gold overspray to hit the aluminum intake and also a bit on the thermostat housing. The thermostat housing (at least on a ‘70) was not painted.
My understanding always has been they painted engines assembled and used masks. I know I always found original cars with over spray on the distributor and I have even seen factory pictures of painted oil filters. I know on Buick anyway they painted right over the bypass hose on the thermostat hose. I would not be surprised if Olds painted that and the clamps as well. I took an engine blue painted date coded 1971 Witek clamp off a Vista 455 wagon I owned years ago. It was an original paint engine.
No nerves struck--not even raw ones. Not sure why you got defensive with your reply, either.
I want to extend an apology to you for my inappropriate response to your question. There is really no excuse for being rude to members across this forum; I regret this occurred.
