The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Bell Housing Finish '49 Suburban

I have seen restored Chevy trucks with the 216 engine with bellhousings painted gray like the engine, black and sometimes bare. Does anyone know which was factory correct?
Thanks

supposed to be bare metal- 99% sure about that. However, I used a "cast iron gray" paint so I wouldn't have to worry about rust- looks close to the original bare metal.

I suppose it would depend on what plant built the engine. I know that on most Chevy muscle cars and Corvettes the bellhousing has overspray on it from when the engine was painted, it was attached to the block but not painted other than the overspray. I like oldcar's idea, maybe add a little gray overspruy at the front after the cast iron paint to add some authenticity.

I would have to say the bellhousing was painted the same as the engine block. It is my understanding that the engines were mostly assembled and then spray painted. So I assume the flywheel and clutch were installed, and if the bellhousing were not on, the paint might interfere with the clutch mechanism. At least that is my theory, and I have heard from others that the bell housing was painted. And before I rebuilt my engine, there were traces of gray paint on the bell housing and the shield under it. And I do not think the engine had been overhauled and repainted, but I could be wrong.

The '62 261 I have came with the bellhousing painted same green as the engine. It had never been out of the truck I pulled it from. The other bellhousings I have found are black or just caked with dirt.