Resto Color Check 70 GSx

Jim-

I have my original fuel pump around here someplace. As I recall, it's coated in oil and dirt (preservative? ), so I'll have to clean it off after I find it to see what's left. I've been doing some major tree work around here (cutting down about a dozen big oaks), so I probably won't get to it until the early part of the week. I know you're looking to paint your motor, so I won't take too long.

 

Thanks

What is your opinion on the distrib?

 

Jim-

I want to say that it was unpainted, but I'm really not sure. I was sixteen when I pulled the original out (1977). And, well, I'm a little bit older than that now and I just don't remember.

The guy that posted the pics of the low low mile '72 GS 350 survivor had it painted, but somehow it just doesn't seem right to me for our cars. I even think some of the hoses were painted on that car.

Who else put there has a big block car that's in original shape? C'mon, somebody jump in here.

 

Guys,
Another thing to keep in mind is this;
Don't assume that 70 or 71 engines/parts were painted the same way a 72 was, you will get into trouble. You will also get into trouble if you don't take the different assembly plants into consideration. There are many differences between plants.
Duane

 

Duane for Ken and my resto what is your understnding of red paint on a 70 or 71 fuel pump and distrib?


Ken

I thought the guy with the original low mileage 350 had red paint on his too.

 

Jim,
I have a copy of a 1970 Engine "Build Reference" Pamplet from Buick Engineering. It lists the following;

Standard Paint Mask

Water Outlet (Plastic Cap)

Water Inlet (Plastic Cap)

Fuel Pump (Plastic Cap)

Fan Hub & Card (Cardboard Cover)

Distributor (Plastic Cap)

Timing Mark (Grease)

Front Heater Neck (Cap)

Now, there is no mention of the size or shape of the protective covers, so it would be hard to say whether the entire parts were covered, or if there was some engine paint, where the parts attached to the engine. There is also no mention of a "paint mule" for chrome Stage 1 valve covers, but I assume they also had them.

Now with all that being said, I am sure that some motors had more overspray then others, what if one of the paint mules slipped. Personally I have seen a few distributors with red paint where they attached to the engine, and one was almost completely red, but who can say that they were not touched up over the years.

When we judge Concours we allow for some variations in painting, so if you want to have some overspray on the bottom of the distributor, or on the top of the fuel pump, I don't see this as a problem.

Of course that is how I judge the cars, others may not feel this way.

We don't take points off for GSX stripes without the factory defects either, but if we ever have a "Platinum" class, things may be different.
Duane

 

Thanks Duane


Whereever it says for example "outlet" or "inlet' then says "plastic cap", unless you feel otherwise I presume they were covering the orifice and part of a neck. The distributor and the fuel pump I am not painting at all for now. I am puzzeled by the original car shown earlier that did have I think the top of the pump painted.



The timing mark" grease" reference I will infer means to limit the amount of paint there or perhaps prohibit it there entiely by grease. Do you have thoughts on this?


Thanks as usual for the info you cannot find anywhere else.

 

Jim,
Dude, the reason I didn't offer this info before was because I knew it would raise more questions then answers.

For the hose outlets, they slid a plastic cap over the end. This insured that the hoses attached directly to the metal, with NO paint in between to corrupt the seal. Where the paint started is your guess, maybe someone has some pictures they can post here. There were also covers placed over the other parts listed.

Somewhere I have a picture of an assembly line worker putting spark plug wires on a small block chevy. He is standing there with a pile of small plastic covers all over the floor. Those covers were put on the end of the spark plugs, so they did not get painted. It appears the chevy motors were painted with the plugs installed, so to be completely accurate the bottom of at least some chevy spark plugs should be painted orange.

You keep referring back to the picture of the 72 350 motor. Yes it was a low mileage car, and yes it had a ton of original parts on it, but to assume it was not touched up, or was painted the same as your motor, is asking for trouble.
A lot can change over 2 years, and it's not a 455.

You would get better answers from Ken's car, as it was owned by the family forever, and Ken knows what was done to it. There are other "survivor" cars out there, and I am sure some are 70 GSX's.
Duane

 

Hey Duane-

Thanks for the info. Please don't think Jim or I are making any assumptions with regard to that 350 car. I'm not and I am pretty darn sure that Jim isn't either. In fact, even between our two cars that are a year apart out of the same plant we've had some good debates.

We're just both enthusiasts who are pretty anal about originality and detail. I'm sure you can relate!

 

Brad,
BTW, I already included a copy of it in the last batch of stuff I sent you. The cover says "Build Reference", and it should be with all the BPG judging sheets. It was supposed to be a surprise.


Ken,
I would be the last one to complain about originality, and think it is commendable that you and Jim and Carl, etc, are doing your research. My point is to be careful with assumptions, I don't want to see anyone get spanked at Concours, or at the BCA events.
Duane

 

Understood, completely. :TU:

 

Brad, Duane

FYI
A member with an original 70 stage 1 sent me a set of pics. The fuel pump was not painted. However, the distrib. was painted red along with the rest of the car. The vacuum advance can had overspray on the backside . So the cap or mask used at the factory must have covered the top of the distrib and the front side of the vacuum advance can.

 

My head is going to explode.

I am almost afriad to start putting this thing back together. I think I'll just spray everything black.

ou: ou: ou: ou:

 

Please don't do that Len! That car is much too rare. How many were made? Gotta be less than the 124 total production of the '71 GSX.

Hang around with us, we'll help you. :TU:

 

Len,
It would look fine all Black, that is except for the grill and bumpers. Of course if you painted the bumpers black it would look like one of the Mennonite cars.
Duane

 

We are plowing the ground in front of you. All you have to do to follow the groove on these threads. Ken is doing a grear job compiling a master list of the findings. Plus we have Brad, Duane and all the other great minds on here checking the findings for accuracy.

 

Jim,
Shame on you, I never check to make sure you stay on the straight and narrow.
Duane

 

I had always believed the fuel pump was on the block when it was painited.
The original 70 GSX at the BPG Nats confirmed it for me, as it did have a painted fuel pump (at least some paint on it).
As for the distributor, I believe it was in the block and masked off, so it could have some paint around the bottom of it.

Jeff