396 dipstick tube color???

[DT]

Was the dipstick tube for big blocks painted chevy orange on 69's ??

[Mike S]

Hi Donny,

  I know you asked for a '69 but I suspect '67 was the same. My 67 assembly manual shows the stick as a separate item so I assume it was added when the engine accessories were installed during the car assembly. What does the '69 manual show? On my original unrestored '67 L35 the dip stick body still retains the factory black finished, though it is faded and I can't tell what the gloss level was, but it is definitely black. I have the notes to my other 67 I restored in the mid-80's and I recorded it black as well. Hopefully someone here with a 69 BB will chime in.

Mike

[DT]

Thanks for the reply Mike.  I will check the AIM.

[JohnZ]

Was the dipstick tube for big blocks painted chevy orange on 69's ??

No, it wasn't - the 396 dipstick tube was installed at the car assembly plant, not at the engine plant; it was natural (unpainted).

[DT]

Thanks John!!!

[Mike S]

I have seen that stated before about being raw but I can assure you my original 396 stick body is definitely black. Unless 69 was different?

Mike

[69Z28freak]

I was under the impression that 69's were unpainted. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[68camaroz28]

I was under the impression that 69's were unpainted. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I think there are many examples of not painted iin Gen 1 Camaro's along with other similar engines in other model cars. Does not mean whatsoever that what Mike has noted is incorrect on his LOS 67.

[DT]

I guess it is very possible that 67's were painted black.  I will leave mine natural/unpainted.  Thanks again everyone.

[169INDY]

1967 BLACK.

I would offer the following as proof;
Take a peek at the Color photo that is floating around of the line in 67 where they are loading the rear into a 67 camaro body. The car behind the camaro is a BB full size, you can make out the black painted dip stick tube w NAT handle?

Jim

[JohnZ]

1967 BLACK.

I would offer the following as proof;
Take a peek at the Color photo that is floating around of the line in 67 where they are loading the rear into a 67 camaro body. The car behind the camaro is a BB full size, you can make out the black painted dip stick tube w NAT handle?

Jim

Guess it depended on the plant - those are VERY early 67's, and in '67, St. Louis didn't paint the BB dipstick tube - maybe Van Nuys did (it was received unpainted from the supplier).

The "Painted Parts List" was issued monthly by the Chevrolet Central Office Paint Standards Department to each plant's Material and Paint Superintendents, listing every part that required paint processing at the assembly plant, and what process each part required. The Material guys got it so they could intercept the parts that needed painting, and the Paint guys got it so they could segregate the parts by the different paint processes they required. This was an internal document, not issued outside GM.

[bergy]

Something is definitely wrong there - look at all of the paint on the ex manifold!

[Mike S]

Something is definitely wrong there - look at all of the paint on the ex manifold!

 Coverage depends on the artistic mood of the sprayer at the moment. Sort of like how the bell housing went anywhere from partial to full coverage.
One moment you can be like Bob Ross and another, Earl Scheib. Maybe it depends on how high the person was from the fumes?
  I attached a picture of my 67 4B LOS L35 showing the dip stick and you can see it is black.
Excuse the grease as the old gal is in need of a Cover Girl makeover.  

Mike

[68camaroz28]

Something is definitely wrong there - look at all of the paint on the ex manifold!

Tonawanda painted big-blocks with exhaust manifolds bolted on. I have noted other pics with them showing lots of paint. In the early 70's that process was changed I believe JohnZ noted due to the workers complaints of paint burn off.

[mickeystoys69RSSS]

Something is definitely wrong there - look at all of the paint on the ex manifold!

I was going to say the same thing.