Oh I just gotta stir the pot a little Tim. I've been following a thread over on the VCCA chat on engine paint, not what color this time but what was painted. According to the "experts" the intake and exhaust manifolds and clamps and gaskets and bolts were all painted the engine color. This was based on archived photographs and first hand from one of the former heads at the GM proving grounds.
Which means that, for the exhaust manifold to be showroom original, it should be "caramelized dark gray"!!!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
