Heat shield

[Kaptain K]

I have a 68 Dart with a 318 that has the heat shield on the left side exhaust manifold. I want to clean it up and I can't find a definitive answer on whether it's supposed to be matte black or match the red engine color. Does anyone know for sure what color these were from the factory?

 

[toolmanmike]

I have a 68 Dart with a 318 that has the heat shield oayn the left side exhaust manifold. I want to clean it up and I can't find a definitive answer on whether it's supposed to be matte black or match the red engine color. Does anyone know for sure what color these were from the factory?

They really weren't painted except for the overspray from when the engine was sprayed. Even the tops of the manifolds got some paint but it burned off within a short time of engine running. Everybody seems to paint them black. I painted mine engine color.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Rule of thumb. If it was bolted to the engine before paint it got painted engine color.

 

[Professor Fate]

They were black or natural to begin with, but as stated they got hit with a lot of overspray when the engines got painted (Chrysler Industrial Red in your case).