Reproduction Parts for 1916-1964 Chevrolet Passenger Cars & 1918-1987 Chevrolet & GMC Trucks


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#276837 04/30/13 03:29 AM
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This is a post by Gene on engine colors which has been compared with information from Bob Hensel.

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Engine color history.
1929-1952 all engines were gray, car and truck. Truck engines has Thriftmaster or Loadmaster painted on side of valve cover.
1953 passenger car stick and all truck engines were gray. Power Glide car engine were blue in 1953 and had the Blue Flame decal on the valve cover. Truck engines had the engine type on the valve cover.
1954 all passenger car engines were blue and had the Blue Flame decal. For passenger cars and the same blue was used through to the last 235 engine in 1962. NOTE -Blue Flame is teamed with a blue engine.
1954 trucks continued with the gray engine EXCEPT for the new 261 engine. 1/2 thru 1 1/2 ton trucks had Thriftmaster decal, 2 ton had the load master decal. If a 2 ton was equipped with the new 261 engine it was painted green and had the Jobmaster decal. The engine color and decal helped the mechanic ID the engine.
1955-1962 truck engines folowed the same pattern. As per the 1955 Engineering manual 1/2 thru 1 1/2 ton trucks had gray engines. Had the Triftmaster decal. The 2 ton truck (6000 series)had a heavy duty 235 engine and it was painted green and had the New Heavy Duty Loadmaster decal. The 1955 261 engine was yellow and had a New Jobmaster decal.The base (standard) 8 cylinder engines in 1/2 thru 1 1/2 ton trucks used the same gray color as the 6 cylinder.....and this was true from 1955-1962. (above info from 1955 Engineering and various introductary Info.)
There were several other colors used for the optional/larger truck engines made from 1957 and up. There again the colors helped to ID the engine.
NEVER believe any thing Chevrolet says as to the ancient history. They just do not have the facts.
My info. agrees with Bob Hensels finding and Bob collect truck history for many years.


Agrin devil


RAY


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Ray,

Thanks for your engine color list. I will come in handy. Just today I was advising a doubter that the 1951 engine was supposed to be gray. He insists that it was supposed to be blue. He is restoring... well, screwing up a 1951 wagon for a friend or ours and is about as knowledgable about what he is doing as Goober would be doing brain surgery.

He even has 1950 hubcaps on it and said they are right because the owner had the car a long time and that is what it always had on it. See? I can't make up stuff like that.

I'm going to print out your list, show it to him and hope for the best.

Thanks again,
Charlie computer

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One way to remember is all full pressure passenger car engines were blue.
All rod dipper engines were gray.

years back Bill Hirsch advertied the blue for 1951 and up. This confused many people.


Gene Schneider
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Gene,

Excellent tip and way to remember.

Thanks,
Charlie computer

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More info
on
engine
color
breakdown
here

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I purchased a quart of the FS Engine Paint for our 31. The paint is almost black. Is it supposed to be that dark?

I also have a NOS 29-31 Water Pump in the box and it is black.

It is all confusing.


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Quote
The paint is almost black. Is it supposed to be that dark?

Yes.

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I have never seen a six cylinder painted that dark but I'll take your word for it. I just do not see much blue in the FS Dark Blue Gray.


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When the engine is out in the sun the dark blue-gray does have a blueish cast to it.

Check out the zillion discussions that we have had on the dark blue-gray engine paint here on Chevy Chatter in the past.

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A point of information. I called Bill Hirsch Automotive to order a can of engine paint. Had talked to Bill himself several years ago when he finally agreed to make the correct dark blue gray color instead of the battleship gray he promoted for years as correct. When I requested the dark blue gray engine paint the order taker told me that someone would have to call me back. Got the call from Bill's son who told me that the gray they have been selling was the correct color and they had NOS engine parts to verify the color. Also stated that there were three different suppliers and therefore three different colors. All were correct. When I tried to tell him of the conversation I had had with his father, he told me he couldn't help me. With that attitude they will not stay in business much longer. You can bet that is the last call I will ever make to Bill Hirsch Automotive.


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Bill Hirsch has been spreading the same incorrect information about his engine paint for over 30 years and there are many, many Chevrolet engines painted the wrong color because of his false advertising.

Anyway Back Roads, a lot of technical information and research went into the dark blue-gray engine paint that the Filling Station sells to make sure that their paint is the correct stuff.

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As for Paint Color, When I was working on the 1930 it was the Light Gray Color: Light Gray Paint - 1930 Engine Pict

Yet on the 1929 the Engine Color is the Dark Blue Gray: Dark Gray/Blue Paint - 1930 Engine Pict

On the 1929 I have actually bought a can to do touch up and paint parts I have reworked. Matches up Perfect. Also Have a can on hand so that I can prime & paint the parts currently over at the Shop: Valve Cover, Push Rod Cover, and Oil Pan.


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I know that 1957 V-8s are a little off topic, but since we are discussing engine color, its my understanding that Chevrolet installed a few 265s in '57 and painted them a chartreuse yellow to differentiate them from the 283s. Am I correct in this tidbit of trivia?

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For 1957 Chevrolet used a smaller bore 283 in standard transmission 2 barrel cars ans trucks. The engine was a 265 with the 3//4" bore but was the same block as a 283 with the 3 7/8" bore. The early versions were painted Chartuse and in Dec. of 1956 they were painted orange like a 283.


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Does someone sell the correct red for a 1955 265 engine?

Roger

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The 1956 Passenger V-8 engines were red. The 1955 and 1957 V-8 and several newer years were orange. There are many places to find Chevrolet V-8 orange including local auto parts retailers.


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