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Old 08-18-2014, 08:26 AM   #88
Keith Seymore
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
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Re: Factory Correct Restoration Details

Quote:
Originally Posted by toms68cst View Post
There is one detail about my 68 327 that is odd compared to every other small block chevy from that vintage and nearly every original small block I've seen on this site. that is the color of the alternator bracket.

I am sure my 327 bracket was orange from the factory and that's what I went with when I redid my engine a few years ago. 99.999% of all other small blocks with orange blocks seemed to have black alternator brackets. I have seen one or two other orange-bracket 68/327 trucks show up on this site over the years however.

I've had a couple people over the years tell me I did my bracket up in the wrong color and have had to argue my point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by davepl View Post
How are you sure? Are you the original owner?

I can't envision any scenario in which a bracket would get painted a different color. For one, the engines are sprayed and the brackets dipped, and for two, they're made in completely different plants.
Dave's questions are valid. I doubt the orange bracket is original.

It's very unlikely, knowing the production process. Engines were built in Flint or Tonawanda and the base engine was painted orange at that location.

Brackets were built at a local individual supplier and painted black at that point, or shipped bare and painted at the final vehicle assembly plant.

Engines were picked from the rack and hung on the "motor line" at the vehicle assembly plant, where they were trimmed out with the correct transmission, carburetor and accessory drive (including bracketry).

As a result - there is never a place in the production process where the engine accessory drive would be exposed to orange paint. Note that none of the factory photos of engines in the racks have the alternator bracket installed.

K
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Last edited by Keith Seymore; 08-18-2014 at 08:37 AM.
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