1968 C20 Build

[dagnabbitt]

So, after hemming and hawing and putting it off for too long, I finally got the courage together to paint the engine. I decided to put a flat black down as the first coat, then follow it with the correct color for a 1964 6 cyl 292: Alpine Green.

I have come to the conclusion, finally, that this engine is not the original but a transplant, based upon the stamped engine dress number. My curiousity is still not satisfied, though, as now I want to know the history of this engine and what it came out of. It seems as though the transplant engine might have been a warranty job itself: that dress number is weird.

I am glad I laid down the easy-to-acquire flat black first, as it showed me where I still needed to do some scraping. Where it bubbled or cracked I took my wire toothbrush to it and took it down to the metal again, then repainted, and so on.

[dagnabbitt]

Anyway, this Alpine Green engine enamel is not easy to get. There was not a single can in all of Canada, so I paid more than one typically would for a can of spray paint, and shipping from the US through ebay. I got two cans, actually, to be safe. For those who are wondering, one can is enough to paint an engine, but two is peace of mind.

When I first saw this color I wasn't sure about it: but it has really grown on me. I am pretty sure it is the same color that they did Detroit Diesels in, or close to.

[dagnabbitt]

I have a new valve cover for the engine, this one I got off the board from a member who had gone through the trouble of sandblasting it. Of course, I wanted it because it has that Chevrolet script. Sitting on the shelf it had acquired some surface rust, so I wire wheeled it and then sprayed it with rust converter. It made it a nice blue. If I was building a rat rod I think I would have just clear coated it after, it looks kind of cool.

It has a hole for the PCV system that came out in 67 or 68. I suppose that would make it correct for the truck, but not for the engine, which predates that system. I've considered adding the correct setup, but I will probably just plug it with a rubber grommet.

This cover will go on last, probably, as we still have some tappet tinkering to do. I am wondering if I am good enough with a brush to try and paint the raised scripted black or gold, or some other color.

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

I have a new valve cover for the engine, this one I got off the board from a member who had gone through the trouble of sandblasting it. Of course, I wanted it because it has that Chevrolet script. Sitting on the shelf it had acquired some surface rust, so I wire wheeled it and then sprayed it with rust converter. It made it a nice blue. If I was building a rat rod I think I would have just clear coated it after, it looks kind of cool.

It has a hole for the PCV system that came out in 67 or 68. I suppose that would make it correct for the truck, but not for the engine, which predates that system. I've considered adding the correct setup, but I will probably just plug it with a rubber grommet.

This cover will go on last, probably, as we still have some tappet tinkering to do. I am wondering if I am good enough with a brush to try and paint the raised scripted black or gold, or some other color.

That script would look great in gold. I say go for it, worst case you will not like it and have to repaint the valve cover. Sounds like you have enough green to do that.

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by Roostre

That script would look great in gold. I say go for it, worst case you will not like it and have to repaint the valve cover. Sounds like you have enough green to do that.

Green and Gold are our local football team. Might have to give it a try!

[68Gold/white]

I know little about the 6 cyl engines...

I DO know that the PCV systems on engines, is a very useful thing. THe PCV system pulls the crank case vapors out of the crank case and burns them. The system also has to have a breather somewhere to allow fresh air into the crank case to replace the combusted air.
The first many years that engines were in automobiles had issues with the crank case vapors damaging bearings and the oil turns acrid, making the oil in the engine to do as much harm as it did good.

If there was any way that you can retain the PCV steup, I give it a go... Just my thoughts....

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

I know little about the 6 cyl engines...

I DO know that the PCV systems on engines, is a very useful thing. THe PCV system pulls the crank case vapors out of the crank case and burns them. The system also has to have a breather somewhere to allow fresh air into the crank case to replace the combusted air.
The first many years that engines were in automobiles had issues with the crank case vapors damaging bearings and the oil turns acrid, making the oil in the engine to do as much harm as it did good.

If there was any way that you can retain the PCV steup, I give it a go... Just my thoughts....

I know I said I had no interest in setting up a PCV system, but then I literally tripped over one that I took off of an old truck several years ago. So I am going to use it! Never throw anything away, folks.

I need to clean it up a bit, get a new hose and another 1 barrel gasket, but it will be in place. Hope the hood still closes, seems high. Thanks for the advice!

[dagnabbitt]

My experience with paint is as a house painter when I was a kid in school. I've painted hundreds of houses. I still paint everything as well as I would the side of a house.

I like how this paint "lies down", a phrase I have heard before but never understood until now. It just flattens and coats, it's quite a good paint. Wonder if it is the ceramics. This thermostat housing is just something I blasted indifferently, and if you run your fingers over it it feels like glass. I have this instinct to wetsand it and reapply, but that's just silly.

[dagnabbitt]

I decided to give painting the lettering a try. This is gold nail polish from Amazon. Took twenty minutes, and after a couple coats of "clear", I think it looks pretty good.

[dagnabbitt]

While I was painting the lettering a friend of mine called and asked for a hand picking up a 292 he was buying. Ironically it was 1968. He paid the price of a couple McDonalds Happy Meals for it, but unfortunately that was all it was worth: it is seized. A welcome distraction anyway.

Can't help but notice it has that thermostat bypass housing intact... the one that I paid a hundred bucks to have shipped to me from Kentucky because mine was missing. He will be able to pick that part and a few accessories off of it, anyway. Not a total loss.

He has a really nice 1967 with a 250 that he wants to upgrade. I have been trying to talk him into simply buying one from S&J Engines, I am really curious about their products and I'd buy one if I was in the market for another 292.

https://www.sandjengines.com/product/1967~~~1002

[dagnabbitt]

I am also putting together the heater system now. In an earlier post I mentioned how much mouse was in this thing. It's good now. I have cleaned it up, epoxied the holes in it, and repainted it. A member was nice enough to send me a couple heater core brackets... they rust out easily, mine did anyway. Now I just need to remember how to put it together.

I hooked the old fan motor to a battery and was surprised to see that it works. I considered reusing it, but I already bought a new one that turns twice as fast, and it has a new squirrel cage on it. I'll sell the old one or put it on the shelf.

I am looking forward to putting this engine bay back together, and then putting the front body panels on, too.

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

I decided to give painting the lettering a try. This is gold nail polish from Amazon. Took twenty minutes, and after a couple coats of "clear", I think it looks pretty good.

That turned out really nice.

[raggedjim]

Nice work. I tried to paint my script by hand, no bueno, I ended up screwing them up. Had to buy vinyl decals.

Good job, Rg

[dagnabbitt]

I have a gasket kit for this heater, and I am wondering, is that just as good as using dumdum to seal it in?