To Paint or not to paint
 

I am in the process of restoring a 71 W30 convertible. I just recently acquired a NOS short block specific to the year and tagged as a warranty replacement block for this application.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps5115f6f6.jpg

My question is twofold:
When a dealer replaced an engine back in the day with a factory replacement unit,would they have painted the block or entire assembly or left it bare with just the painted original parts,assuming the paint had not been boiled off.

For my restoration I am considering leaving the block bare but with a clear protective coating that will preserve the inspection marks and not rust. The other parts would get a full detailing as the car is getting a body off frame roteserie restoration.

Thaought,comments input from anybody who worked in a dealer or had a engine replaced under warranty and has recollection on how it was delivered back to the customer.
Not including a ZLI what would have been the practice?

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...opics/437858/1

There was a similar debate here.

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

The paint or no paint on the warranty block was up to the mechanic working on the car. I painted every block or head and even water pumps that I worked on. The man working 2 stalls away from me never painted anything. He said "It doesn't pay anything to take the time to do it, so I'm not doing it". I usually timed the job to do the painting just before lunch break or quitting time so I didn't worry about the wet paint. The paint always came out of the clean-up shop.

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

When I worked in a dealer I asked what do I do about painting the block,in 1971 on as auto flat rate mechanic,they said,the warranty clerk,if the paint is charged to the repair order the manufacturer would bounce or deny the whole repair. So if I saw a can of correct paint in the clean-up area I would ask for it and some times I would paint the replaced engine.

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

So if GM never issued paint, and there wasn't a part number for factory GM engine touch-up paint I guess painting it would be a Day 2 mod [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pxtx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So if GM never issued paint, and there wasn't a part number for factory GM engine touch-up paint I guess painting it would be a Day 2 mod [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img] </div></div>

Agree DH [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

The 70 Z28 project I am working on now has a CE block in it. Never painted. The heads were put back on with the orig paint on them. Same for the oil pan. I was shocked. I guess it depends on who was putting it in.
Buddy

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

I wouldn’t paint it for no other reason than the fact that it would be very cool to show all of the original markings that came on a replacement block………….very cool : )

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

All
Thanks for the comments. I spoke with my parts guy at The GM dealership I have been dealing with for 30 years and he has been there 38 years. He said it was up to the mechanic and only if the parts dept supplied the paint.
My gut feeling was to leave it bare,it could always be painted later.
Paul

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

IMHO -- leave it alone ... if you change your mind, you can paint it later.

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

I know it's not the same thing, but I just pulled the engine out of my minivan that was replaced under warranty. The dealer that did the replacement didn't paint anything. Block was factory black with the warranty stickers still on it.

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

Cover it with rust prevention magic! I am not sure if lacquer thinner would take it off if you wanted to paint later or not

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

ok - my view, if your doing a top of the line rest on the car - the unpainted block is going to look unfinished and detract from
the overall car. I would take pics of the block with the marks and display that - but would paint the block.

Would you leave paint off the bottom of the car because that is what GM did - or add a run to the paint . I know some guys like the exact original factory look - but this is not the factory look.

At some point in time , if you were to sell the car - what is the audience you want to appeal to?

Lastly - everyone looking at the car - you will be explaining this unpainted block......and if the mechanic painted the block - then you would paint it.

Sounds more like the block should be displayed with the car and another block found for the rest?

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

ive parted so many cars over the decades i cant even come close to remembering how many...many and i mean dozens...had CE or SR blocks or motors...ive owned dozens of SR blocks too..and every single replacement block thats gone thru my hands where painted..no bare blocks...but ive never had one still in a crate...they came from cars....i did have an L79 CE and it was painted..horribly...i could see thru it...but it did have paint on it.

I cant even imagine having a restored car with a bare block in it..document what you want with pics etc and paint it..or piss coat it enough to give it color and light enough to see the paint marks and clear it....id believe that would be closer to what happened back then then...

i am a strong believer in doing what you want with your car..its yours..but would you buy a frame off restored car with a bare block? and not think..man i gotta pull that thing and paint it....

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

How about clearing it? It is cool to see all the inspection marks.

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

A lot CE blocks that were installed got painted. I worked at a Buick dealer, and we routinely painted stuff like that. Think about it. New car owners are already disappointed that their vehicle is having to be fixed under warranty. The dealer is trying to keep the disgruntled customer satisfied. We wanted the car to LOOK like it was still a new car.

I say paint it. Not painting is kind of like those guys who graffiti a firewall with all the stuff they found UNDER the firewall black out, but they go nuts ON TOP of the black paint. Mark mentioned poor paint, which a lot of assembly line cars got on the engine.

Re: To Paint or not to paint
 

If you painted the warranty block and the warranty clerk said that if the paint is charged to the repair order, the manufacturer would bounce or deny the whole repair. So if you painted the warranty block and it comes back because the customer complained then who pays for the next said paint job? GM Warranty, the block people, the paint people, or the person who painted it (the mechanic)--as the warranty clerk pointed his finger at me the mechanic!