Hmmm, Norm, with PS & no A/C, your W.P pulley should be p/n 9778808, right?
I wonder if maybe they switched from painted to plated for '66? And if they did, there is a chance they made the change prior to the end of the '65 MY.
Found this on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-...item5887cf3e8c
Not much to go on but the guy says 9778808 (see item specifics for p/n) for a '66 Catalina. I assume he must have pulled it from a '66 Cat so that is why he advertised it for that application. I can only assume it is an original factory installed pulley.
Sure looks like it was not painted to me.
And if it was zinc plated, that would match Norm's '66 pulley, so that would be consistent for a '66 9778808.
But I still believe for '65 the 9778808 will usually be painted black. Hopefully more input will follow.
Larry, since the pulleys were same for big Pontiacs, suggest you try the same question in the big Pontiac forum.