GM Transmission Colors

[cwcarpenter98]

After doing a search this evening, I haven't been able to find what I'm looking for. When I bought my 63, I figured out that the engine and possibly the transmission came out of a 64-65 car. Typical sm318, but looks like it might have been painted red at some point. The sm319 (3 speed with overdrive) that I'm almost done rebuilding has blue paint on it. It came out of a 65 C10. Not sure if it's original paint on either transmission.

So the question is, what color would GM have painted the transmission for 60-66 trucks, or were they even painted at all? Was the 4 speed a different color than the 3 speeds? What about the powerglide?

[60-66]

Great question. One I've been thinking of for awhile . This is one truck I know has never been fooled with and a great example of a very low mile , 1780 original miles, 1962 GMC . I'm not certain all were painted black but this truck was. As for aluminum case automatics , I don't believe they were painted. Transfer cases in 4x4s were Glyptal Red .

[Alloyvert]

I just pulled the 4-speed out of my '64 and under the crud was a dull red paint. Here's a photo for reference, but who knows if it was original.

[MusicMan70]

I found Blue under the grime on an SM420 1962 GMC

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Great question. One I've been thinking of for awhile . This is one truck I know has never been fooled with and a great example of a very low mile , 1780 original miles, 1962 GMC . I'm not certain all were painted black but this truck was. As for aluminum case automatics , I don't believe they were painted. Transfer cases in 4x4s were Glyptal Red .

That is really cool to see a truck like that. I wonder if the transmission colors varied by Chevy/GMC and also by plant the drivetrain came from?

Originally Posted by Alloyvert

I just pulled the 4-speed out of my '64 and under the crud was a dull red paint. Here's a photo for reference, but who knows if it was original.

The red on my standard 3 speed is a lighter shade of red, but there's not much paint left on it these days.

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

I found Blue under the grime on an SM420 1962 GMC

That blue looks very similar to the blue on my 65 overdrive transmission. I do know that the truck it came out of was either a 230 or 250 inline six because it was still attached when I got it.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

I found Blue under the grime on an SM420 1962 GMC

Would be interesting to see that one cleaned off completely. My K1000 panel , The Blue was an Inspection marking ,also had yellow and remnants of black on the case and shifter mount. Cant post pictures this morning for some reason

[MusicMan70]

60-66
Interesting comment about the inspection marking. Ill have to do some scrubbing later and report back.

[cwcarpenter98]

It’s probably not technically correct, but I decided to go with black. Partly because of that 62 GMC above, mostly because it’s what I had in the garage. High heat too, even though that might not be needed.

When I do all the rust repair, I’ll have the opportunity to repaint the correct color, whatever we figure out that is

[AcampoDave]

Looks good. Black was what I used too.