4 speed bellhousing bolt question
 

ok so on a 69 Camaro 4 speed the wiring harness that runs down to the starter and the small bracket that mounts to the bell housing I am assuming that bolt was left out of the bell housing when the engine got painted and the housing got overspray as I believe the factory never went back words to remove a bolt to install harness and replace it so with that said that bolt should be natural and not have over spray on it

The AIM notes the bolt and lists a torque spec. There is no item number flagged or part number listed. That indicates the bolt was already installed.

As for overspray, here's a 21,000-mile survivor. Some had it, many didn't.

You referred to "the small bracket that mounts to the bellhousing...". Both big block and small blocks received a bracket that holds the starter wire harness away from the exhaust which attached to the bellhousing via the top right-side bolt. As the wiring harness was installed at Fisher Body, the clamp would likely not have been bolted to the bellhousing until after the body drop at the Chevrolet (VN / NOR) Plant. The bellhousing bolt that attaches the clip and harness received engine paint (overspray) when the block was painted with the bellhousing attached. From reference photos of original cars I believe the bellhousing bolt was removed following body drop for the bracket / starter harness to be attached, therefore the bolt should also have tool marks (paint damage). The clip is natural steel with the clamping end vulcanized rubber coated. Below are photos of the small & big block clips (they are different). Also a photo of a 9,600 mile 69 Camaro SS L78 with the clip attached.

Original Small Block Clip with Starter Harness attached.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a5d2f13a_c.jpg

Small Block Clip (top) vs Big Block
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e8711b07_c.jpg

9,600mile 1969 Camaro SS L78 survivor with it's untouched clip and bolt. Note: paint and tool marks on bolt.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...66457611_c.jpg

Here's how I duplicated the clip installation including the tool marks on my 69Z project.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9fbe2f70_c.jpg

little rough with the socket - eh mate :-)

Agree 100% with Eddie on how that bolt would have looked when it left the factory.

As to when that happened in the assembly process (on 65-67 Chevelles at least), that harness was installed on the engine as part of the engine / transmission dress work (while pullies, brackets, coil, plug wires, etc., were being put on), so it was on the engine before the engine was ever installed on the frame. That way, after body drop all they had to do was take the fuse block end of the harness over to the fuse block and plug it in.

Same goes for the 4-speed backup light switch harness, or the TH400 kickdown harness, when so equipped.

Much easier than installing those harnesses to the engine after the body was already in the way.

Agreed, a better assembly process with early Chevelles.

LOL, thanks pal.