Would the intake manifold bolt in the position highlighted with the arrow have been painted engine color on an AC car? 69 Coronet R/T w/ 440 if it matters.... I know the bolts in the picture are incorrect.

My guess would be yes (engine color) as the engine would have been assembled and painted before the AC parts would of been installed. So the already engine color bolt would have been removed to install the AC support bracket. IMO only way it would of remained phosphate would be if the painted bolt was dumped in the trash and a new bolt installed with the AC... I know it is claimed from evidence that the pivot point PS bracket bolt that helps hold the water pump case on is engine color as it was in place at engine assembly/paint time before the PS was added... following this logic the intake bolt would be orange as well.

Anybody????

If the bolt is the same length as the rest you would think that whomever installed the pump took that bolt out and reinstalled it , so it would be engine color.

engine color

Hmm...I was told & saw many other examples that that bolt was left plated & NOT painted engine color....

Heres mine

And in most cases any bolt that goes through a bracket is usually a little longer.