Engine colors

[chevyrestoguy]

Did the 63 Chevy truck engines get painted a different color besides the standard Chevy orange? I have a buddy with a '66 (factory 327/th400) and it's painted a greenish-blue color and it's 100% original.

I've got my eye on a '63 C-20 that's been sitting for a long time, and it's 100% complete. It looks like someone a long time ago freshened the engine (283) and painted it a dark blue. I'm just curious if Chevy painted these truck engines a non-standard color from the factory. The blue that's on the engine looks like a darker Ford blue to me.

[LILRED66]

FYI, the sbc engines in the '60-'66 Chevy light-duty trucks were not painted Chevy Orange.

Here are a few good examples of various engines and colors. This topic has been discussed in great detail in the past and the answer to your question is a somewhat elusive one, although there are many varying opinions.

[chevyrestoguy]

Thanks, Tony for the info.

My buddy's '66 is nearly identical under the hood to the first picture you posted. His engine color is a grayish green, and he had a heck of a time trying to find anybody who duplicates that color in spray can form. He changed out the timing chain and wanted to spray whatever he could with that color. He was able to find it, and although the engine has over 250K on it, it looks great but it's really tired. He got the truck from his father in law who is the original owner. It's a 327/th400, PB, PS, A/C, dual tank truck. It's never been butchered, and it's a great driving truck.

If I grab the '63, then it looks like it's going to get the engine resprayed back to the factory gray. I'm a stickler about colors and shades under the hood.

Your pictures are a great reference to somebody who's looking to restore a 60-66 under the hood. I'm going to bookmark them for a future reference.

[burlapen]

I've had the same question for some time. Anyone know where to locate a color code for the elusive "grey green?"

[chevyrestoguy]

I did a little investigating, and called my buddy, who looked through his paint cabinet and found the can that he used. He found three cans of it about 10 years ago at a local CarQuest store and bought everything they had. The paint is made by Tempo and the color is #225 Alpine Green. It is high temp engine paint.

This paint is now being reproduced by Plastikote and it is still called #225 Alpine Green. A little bit more research uncovered that GM still uses this color on the Detroit Diesel engines. Just Google "Plastikote #225 Alpine Green" and lots of results come back.

Next question: What years used this color? Were all the V-8 optioned 60-66 truck engines painted this color?

[ol Curt]

Alpine green would be close to the color of the 292 shown and the 250's in the 66 trucks.
I believe the 327 colors Tony shows are a grey.

[demon79]

was the color different on the 1-ton trucks? i have a 66' 283 from a 1-ton. truck was all original motor was orange with chevrolet script valve covers. guy i got truck from said it had never been apart still had 2-barrel carb on it is it possibly original? i ask because i'd like to repaint to look stock

[demon79]

here's a pic of my motor

[63burb]

Here is mine untouched since the 70

[Bugeyev8]

my one owner 62 with 283 and 3 speed had a green engine and bellhousing..I know the engine was never removed before I removed it and scrapped it...wish I had it now !!

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

1912-1966 Chevrolet Engine Colors


http://www.1954advance-design.com/We...ineColors.html

[Muleman100]

Thanks for the info, can't get more specific than that.

[Hilandr451]

My dad's '63 C10 came with a 283. In 1967 the cam shaft broke just past the 1st lobe. Apparently this was a recall issue at the time. Chevy gave my dad a brand new 283 to put back in. I remember him doing the work himself - I got to "help" (which really ment watch - I was only 5) I remember the old engine was battleship gray and the new one was chevy orange out of the crate.

[factorystock]

Thats exactly what happens hilander451, engines get changed out and people go by what they see or remember as fact. Orange was never used on 60 -66 Chevy pickups engines. There are many errors in that list, too numerous to mention.

[collins10672]

i don't know about the 60-65,but the 1966 owners manual clearly states all the colors of engines.no orange to be found as factorystock stated.my dad had a 1964 with the 230 6 cylinder when i was a kid and it was the factory original engine and it was blue.later after the engine was worn out its new rebuilt replacement was chevy orange.shows that most of these trucks after 40-50 years do not still have the original engines.also most original engines that have been rebuilt get a fresh coat of chevy orange.

[factorystock]

If we want to know how these trucks were made , I recommend to check out authentic low mileage trucks. I have found the ultimate original 9K mile 66 Chevy base model pickup on the internet. My problem is I am not good with computers and don't know how to do a link to it. Hopefully someone will help me out on this. Just go to google and enter: automobilemag 1966 chevy pickup You will see the article written up on this truck with great photos, this truck is a time machine. Also notice the 66 250 is the correct blue( same color as 63-65 230).

[wild one]

Originally Posted by factorystock

I have found the ultimate original 9K mile 66 Chevy base model pickup on the internet. My problem is I am not good with computers and don't know how to do a link to it. Hopefully someone will help me out on this. Just go to google and enter: automobilemag 1966 chevy pickup You will see the article written up on this truck with great photos, this truck is a time machine. Also notice the 66 250 is the correct blue( same color as 63-65 230).

Here's the link noted above, it does have some really good pics: http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...uck/index.html

[chevyrestoguy]

^^^^That truck is awesome! If I owned that truck, it would be so hard to let that thing sit in the garage. I would want to drive that thing all the time. Back in the day, trucks were used as workhorses, and it's rare to see one with such low mileage and that hasn't been ran into the ground.

There's still lots of them on the road, and it's a true testament to how well they were engineered and built. If you drive a 1966 Chevy truck, a 1966 Dodge, and a 1966 Ford truck, there is NO comparison. The Chevy was light years ahead in every aspect.

[factorystock]

Thanks for the link wild one It probably deserves a separate post of its own. A lot can be learned from this one.

[protrash64]

Cool link!! I picked up my truck ten years ago and they were saying the same thing about them then.

[LostMy65]

I like the blue gray.

[Lokin4AReason]

Informative thread with engine colours ....