So how many of you guys restore your engines correctly
 

I have always had a disagreement with car show judges on them incorrectly judging restored cars. I had this very discussion with one years ago and I said that he should be deducting points for the guys who have their engines too detailed. I guess this picture proves the painting process of the engine itself. (looking at the big block in the subframe next in line). I know that a few do this now. not nearly as pretty as natural exhaust manifolds.

Also interesting the shine on that upper control arm & the paint coverage...Joe

I almost did, but I didn't leave the block bare behind the manifolds. Two step painting. I couldn't bring myself to be THAT correct.
Verne

Attachment 160780

I modified an engine cradle so the bell could be attached during painting as it was done at Tonawanda.


Verne



Attachment 160781

Right, wrong or otherwise, I restore mine the way they were painted originally unless the customer says no. Concours is concours. I do not paint my manifolds entirely but rather I paint them to simulate what they would look like after much of the paint has burned off.

What about the incorrect battery insulator on that alternator? LOL

What’s interesting in that line picture is that the frame/engine behind the 67 Camaro is not a Camaro subframe , it looks like big car or maybe Chevelle? Makes me wonder if this is a GM staged publicity photo?

I use an airbrush with the engine paint so I can lightly spray the manifolds and other high heat areas to allow the heat to dissipate through the paint or burn off like appears on original low mile cars... this is prior to firing the engine... and after
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/v7...w1461-h1095-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eY...=w1184-h888-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7_...g=w800-h600-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7U...o=w800-h600-no
one of the masking of the pad...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nx...w1550-h1034-no
JOHNZ's photo of the pad masking in Tonowanda
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/XF...x=w600-h597-no

Here's how mine came out. Took the paint out of the can & shot it with a HVLP...Joe

shouldn't the heater hoses be ribbed and not GM stamped?

Big Car & Camaro built at Van Nuys maybe, (LOS) plant

Did they run different cars on the same line like that? You would think that would be a parts nightmare not to mention specialized equipment like the body jigs shown on the Camaro.

The Los Angeles plant started that in '64 when they added the Chevelle to the line with full size cars. They were also the first Chevy plant to change to a "chassis rise" mating rather than the standard "body drop" joining.



Verne

Per the report
LOS - Fisher Body body scheduling code
at the .crg site they talk about Codes on the tag re to body build and this state
Camaros and full-size passenger cars both incremented the same sequence counter.

http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml#VINvsStyle

I assume this is the los plant based on the smog pump on the big block????

Yes that image back on page 1 is from GM Van Nuys. (LOS)

Towveyor assembly line at LOS.

Fixed Pedestal/Body drop at Norwood. Big difference in the assembly process between the two plants.

Absolutely.

If the pic is from LA, it could be an Impala.

I’ve always wondered this,

I admit, I normally don't restore engines correctly. I am guilty of over restoring, just because it looks better. If I had aspirations of having a car judged (I don't) of course I would do it differently.

Same with the exterior. I couldn't live with the waviness of the seam between quarter panels and the roof panel on my black car as it came from the factory. I re-leaded the seam to get it smooth. I also couldn't bring myself to paint the tail end the same way they did at the factory, leaving almost an inch of panel without black paint; it just had primer way down low in some places. I also improved panel fit (my doors were slightly "twisted") from factory.

I did take special care to get the firewall, heater cover, and "white out" and underside of the car replicated as close as I could. But then, I went with stainless brake and fuel lines so I wouldn't need to take any steps to keep the lines from rusting.

I think if you look at most high end restored cars, they look way better than they ever did on the show room floor. That too can be considered incorrect. Correct?

From my observations early 69's had GM stamped hoses later cars had ribbed hoses.