65 Hipo Engine and Bracket/bolt Painting

[mygt350]

When the factory assembled a 65 HiPo engine, logical to install timing cover and water pump with their attaching bolts in place before painting it all black, Was the bare stamped steel upper alternator bracket bolted to the engine before the engine was painted or was the bracket painted black and then attached to the engine using bolts that were not painted black? Would think bracket was painted black before it was attached to engine. Otherwise, really hard to completely paint entire bracket while on engine.
Would think attaching the upper alternator bracket and then painting engine would make it more difficult to later install the alternator and spacer.
Any bolts not painted?

Anyone explain engine painting and bracket assembly sequence?

[Bob Gaines]

When the factory assembled a 65 HiPo engine, logical to install timing cover and water pump with their attaching bolts in place before painting it all black, Was the bare stamped steel upper alternator bracket bolted to the engine before the engine was painted or was the bracket painted black and then attached to the engine using bolts that were not painted black? Would think bracket was painted black before it was attached to engine. Otherwise, really hard to completely paint entire bracket while on engine.
Would think attaching the upper alternator bracket and then painting engine would make it more difficult to later install the alternator and spacer.
Any bolts not painted?

Anyone explain engine painting and bracket assembly sequence?

The already painted bracket was installed after the engine was painted. The already installed bolts were reused to attach the bracket. It would not be uncommon for the reused bolts to have scar marks from tools during the unbolting and bolting process. Another place that bolts were reused is on the intake manifold. No perfect painted bolts in these areas would be typical.

[gt350hr]

   +1 brackets ''dipped" , in very thin paint , by the outside vendor.

[mygt350]

Thanks for the clarification! Makes sense.

Follow on question regarding coating of the hipo balancer and the lower pulley:
1. Assume hipo balancer was painted/coated before it was installed on engine. Was the large balancer attaching nut "natural" or coated in some way?
2. Assume lower pulley was dipped by outside source in same manner as alternator bracket prior attachment. Were the three lower pully attaching bolts "natural" or coated in some way?

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks for the clarification! Makes sense.

Follow on question regarding coating of the hipo balancer and the lower pulley:
1. Assume hipo balancer was painted/coated before it was installed on engine. Was the large balancer attaching nut "natural" or coated in some way?
2. Assume lower pulley was dipped by outside source in same manner as alternator bracket prior attachment. Were the three lower pully attaching bolts "natural" or coated in some way?

The balancer was painted prior to install. Pulley got a similar looking coat as the bracket.   

[mygt350]

Thanks Bob.
Would you happen to know what type coating was applied to the balancer bolt and 3 pulley bolts?

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks Bob.
Would you happen to know what type coating was applied to the balancer bolt and 3 pulley bolts?

Balance bolt is P/O and so is the washer. I have many times found evidence of silver plating on the pulley bolts so that is my default.

[mygt350]

Assuming iron intake and cast thermostat housing were bolted to the engine prior painting black by Ford. Once engine went to Shelby, SA removed the black painted thermostat and its black painted bolts as well as the black iron intake and its black painted bolts. The iron intake was replaced by the Cobra alum intake using the black painted bolts from the iron intake. The thermostat housing was reinstalled to the Cobra intake by SA, again using the painted black bolts from Ford.
So should expect to see some degree of scratches on the black painted intake and thermostat housing bolts?

Trying to consolidate what was plated/dipped/painted/allowed to rust, etc.  Always get questions like why is thermostat housing black and intake is natural alum....

Thanks to all who are contributing.

[Bob Gaines]

Assuming iron intake and cast thermostat housing were bolted to the engine prior painting black by Ford. Once engine went to Shelby, SA removed the black painted thermostat and its black painted bolts as well as the black iron intake and its black painted bolts. The iron intake was replaced by the Cobra alum intake using the black painted bolts from the iron intake. The thermostat housing was reinstalled to the Cobra intake by SA, again using the painted black bolts from Ford.
So should expect to see some degree of scratches on the black painted intake and thermostat housing bolts?

Trying to consolidate what was plated/dipped/painted/allowed to rust, etc.  Always get questions like why is thermostat housing black and intake is natural alum....

Thanks to all who are contributing.

Yes regardless of if Shelby installed early 65 or Ford installed later ,intake bolts and thermostat housing bolts would show reuse installtion evidence.

[J_Speegle]

2. Assume lower pulley was dipped by outside source in same manner as alternator bracket prior attachment.

Sprayed like water pump pulley not dipped so that the balance remains unaffected by paint build up plus does not affect the ability for the pulley to site flush against the balancer. Often for the water pump pulley you can find where the center of the pulley was left unpainted to assure the same flat connection to the fan spacer plus the water pump flange

[mygt350]

Am confused about pulley coatings. Was the water pump pulley and balancer pulley dipped or spray painted?

[Bob Gaines]

Am confused about pulley coatings. Was the water pump pulley and balancer pulley dipped or spray painted?

As Jeff indicated pulley's typically were sprayed same with balancer because of balance issues. Even with the spray process drips sometime happened but not near as much as if dipped.

[J_Speegle]

Am confused about pulley coatings. Was the water pump pulley and balancer pulley dipped or spray painted?

Here are a couple of unrestored examples to  illustrate on these pulleys across the classic period. Another note worth mentioning is that paint on the center hubs - especially allot would make installing them on a water pump or crank since there is little if any gap between the two metal surfaced.

Different application but shows results and area covered on many



Crankshaft pulley


As a side note. On NOS pulleys the inner edge of crank pulleys I have pictures of are bare steel as well as about a 1/16" around the hole also as if (for those service parts) they used a prepared mask of some type

[mygt350]

So, water pump pulley, lower pulley and balancer spray painted same color as black dipped alternator brackets. No paint in bolt holes or where V belt fits.

[CharlesTurner]

The balancer was usually more on the satin to low gloss side of black, the pulley's had a little more gloss.