The subject of overspray has been discussed as many times as rebodies and the jury is still out on both. These engines were massed produced on an assembly line and a template was placed over the intake and sometimes the valve covers. There are hundreds of photos documenting overspray on both the intake, valve covers, exhaust and by-pass hose. Some are barely noticeable while others are crude. I have had numerous survivor big blocks in my shop over the last 25 years and currently have Joe D's here and you can see orange overspray on several areas of the intake. When I restored Dennis L's LS6 he had just purchased it from the original owner. That owner bought the car specifically to race and removed all the OEM parts such as exhaust, smog, intake, carb, valve covers, etc from the car shortly after purchasing the car and had all the parts stored in boxes. You could clearly see orange overspray on many of those parts as well as the intake and valve covers. The were several areas on the length of the intake showing signs of orange paint. I also frequently see where the mating surface of the cylinder head and intake is orange. This would be hard to do unless some small amount got on the intake. In a lengthly conversation I had with Fran Preeve a little over a year ago he confirmed this. I guess it boils down to personal preference. I like a little overspray because I feel this was the way they were originally done and also I am not restoring a museum piece but rather a replication of what Chevrolet built. Just my opinion, let the flaming begin........
