From: Rad Davis
Subject: Re: Information
To: corvair@shadow.mitre.org
Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 23:01:49 -0500 (EST)

Mark Boster, wrote:
> 
> 
> Were corvair valve covers painted from the factory?  If so, what 
> color?
> 
> I asked members of the Northern VA Corvair Club and got all sorts 
> of answers.
> 
> Mark
> '68 Monza Convertible

All the ones I have seen were unpainted and stamped from zinc-plated 
steel.  I have not seen all that many, though.

The no-paint philosophy fits in well with the statement in SAE #140C that 
the valve covers accounted for something like 20-30% of the engine's oil 
cooling capacity.

BTW, let's take one more try at squashing that old myth about black paint 
on corvair engine parts:

Yes, a black surface is a more efficient radiator of heat at surface 
temperatures above about 500 F.  This is about where the thing starts 
putting out longwave infra-red.  Now for the bad news:

1.  If any finned surface on your engine is actually at 500 F, you have 
melted something expensive, and the engine either has or is about to 
quit, because the finned surfaces are the coolest parts of the heads, 
cylinders, and oil cooler.

2.  At anything resembling normal operating temperatures, any layer of 
paint applied to a cooling surface on the engine will only impair the 
convective flow of heat from that surface.  Ditto varnish, oil goo, rust, 
etc.  A clean bare metal surface is ideal.  Surface finish is 
largely unimportant.

So take Bill Fisher to heart and solvent clean your heads during 
rebuilds.  sand/bead blast the jugs to get heavy rust off.  And spray 
some light oil on them to keep them from rusting until they're put on the 
car.  BUT DON'T PAINT THEM.

Rad.