As I complete the 1966 Chevelle 283 engine, I am wondering if I have all of the Chevy orange parts painted correctly. So far, VHT Chevy Orange has been painted on the: engine block, heads, intake, oil pan, water pump and the harmonic balancer.
Black paint has been reserved for the oil filler pipe on the front of the intake.

Any changes needed yet?

Sounds good so far.The alt,p.s.,pulleys,fan,etc... satin/underhood black. Jim

Thanks Jim. Is the 4 speed aluminum bell housing for the 283 painted Chevy orange?

Not to my knowledge.The trans was bolted to the engine after it was sprayed orange. Jim

I beg to differ, every bell housing I saw (original) was painted. This would make sense because it would protect the clutch from the paint process. I have used Plasticote on all of my engines with very good results.
John

I would say the bell housing was painted also. This was always the case with production engines. The fly wheel and clutch and bell housing were assembled to the engine before it was painted.
I have a 1961 magazine road test of a 348 with a 4 speed,. They show the paint scratched in an area of the bell housing to show it is aluminum.

I would also have to agree that the bell housing was painted.

Thanks for all of the help on the cotrrect paint schemes for my Chevelle. My goal is to have it ready for our 50th Anniversary Meet which I believe will be in Flint, Michigan from July 3rd thru July 9th, 2011.

Hi John/Gene,
I agree with both your statements through the '64 model year.My experience with '65-'70 is the bell housings were not completely painted engine orange.They simply had over spray that over lapped a few inches onto the bell housing.Same for hi-po aluminum intakes of the era.Also common was overspray on the exhaust manifolds of some big block cars.This sloppy over spray is documented in the marque specific Chevy clubs.A friend of mine has an all stock all original 66 Impala SS 327-4 speed with his aluminum bell housing that only has orange overspray at the flange area.This technique is used by big $$$ resto shops for 65-70 era Chevy stick cars.
That said,I have seen several 58-64 with completely painted bell housings that appear to be original'genny cars.If I were doing a '66 stick Chev I would do the overspray and not completely paint the bell housing.My Thoughts,Jim

Jim,
My memory somewhat agrees with what you are saying.

regarding aluminum bell housing paint coverage: NCRS, having judged/examined countless "Bowtie" judged corvettes, states the chevy engine orange copverage can be partial or complete. how much of the bellhousing was 'Oranged" depended on the painters mood the day he shot the engines. mike

Hi Mike.
Agree with your statement 100%.I've seen these same minor variances many times over the years in my experience of over 20 years of 1,000 point judging B-bodies outside of VCCA.
I own 2 70 Impala's same model colr trim drivetrain,etc..One built very early in the model year(aug-'69)at Lordstown,Oh(pre-strike '70).The other built at very end of model run(july'70)(post strike)at Janesville Wi.
The Lordstown car is sloppily put together compared to Janesville car.Also different firewall colors,trim screws driven into non drilled hole locations,etc...
Anyone who believes these massed produced cars were all built/finished exactly the same is mistaken.
I believe you may know a friend of mine;NCRS 68-72 Nat team judging leader Terry Mac.He still owns his 70 LT-1 coupe he purchased new.We used to work together and we both judge at Chevy Vettefest in Chicago.I do big cars and Mac does 68-72 Vette.Take care,Jim Downum

terry and i go back nearly 30 years in NCRS. he's knowledgable and honorable. only thing i don't care for about terry is his lack of C-1 and C-2 onwnership. pass that on to him --he'll get a kick out of that. also tell him you believe"he's older than dirt". regards,mike

Will do,Mike<vbg>!

At Nov '08 Vettefest I'm positive Mac told me he had recently purchased a new Vette('07 or'08).He's put some 6k miles on it already.Also he bought an extra OEM set of wheels/tires "In Case" he ever wants to show or display it. Jim