Originally Posted by 65 C20 (Post 7328608)

I could be wrong but I was under the impression that 283s were gray and the 327s were the blue/green.

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms (Post 7330258)

but the 283s in particular were done in more than one color depending on a variety of things,

Originally Posted by factorystock (Post 7330308)

This is new news to a lot of us here, please go into depth about the "variety of things" , including a photo of this so called original survivor 283!

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms (Post 7328511)

ok guys, I have been searching through all these posts to try and find the original blue/green engine paint used on my 66 with a 283. I can find formulas, etc, but is there anyone out there that makes it in a rattle can? I can have it mixed locally easy enough, but sure would be easier if there was something out there I could just buy. ?

any help would be appreciated

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms (Post 7330416)

different factories used different colors/tints, and the color of the engine depends on the trim/option level of the truck. it also reads that engine colors were especially variable on the 283..

Originally Posted by VictoriaHardware (Post 7330850)

Back then all of the small block Chevy motors came from the Flint, Michigan engine plant on Bristol Road. They made them for cars and trucks and painted them numerous different colors- orange, gray, green, maybe others. So it's possible that truck SBC engines came in colors other than gray or green. However the engines were painted long before anyone knew which truck it was destined for and the vehicle assembly plants did not re-paint them for specific trim/option level trucks.

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms (Post 7328511)

try and find the original blue/green engine paint used on my 66 with a 283.

Originally Posted by theastronaut (Post 4951315)

I love that truck! Here's some shots of a repainted grill shell and fenders with the correct pattern. I've been told that the black shouldn't be gloss though.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...uckpics556.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...uckpics555.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...uckpics549.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._2586678_n.jpg

Originally Posted by theastronaut (Post 4958148)

Correct pattern for 1966 Deluxe seat covers, this is an original cover.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._1705288_n.jpg

Correct pattern for 1965-1966 Deluxe seat covers (the tan vinyl is not the correct color, should be silvery-gold, but the cloth is correct).

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._5862307_n.jpg


Not the best pic but here's how the factory masked off the white stripe on the cab corners for models with side trim.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._2163112_n.jpg


The radiator shrouds had metal staples to hold the seals in place.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._8378114_n.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._4217975_n.jpg

Seat tracks should be silver zinc/cadium plated, seat frame is low gloss black (not flat), the hinge bolt is a silver plated finish, back rest adjustment screw should be silver plated. Not sure what the seat track to floor bolts were so I painted them a contrasting black. Silver colored plating was probably correct on those.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...toshoot013.jpg

Underside of the hood was painted black from the factory. I used low gloss but I don't think they had that much sheen originally. Satin would be more correct.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._4444577_n.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._7045347_n.jpg


Fleetside models had filler panels under the bumpers. Not sure of the correct finish of the bolts so I used polished stainless. These may have been painted body color?

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._4919806_n.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._7270901_n.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._2926261_n.jpg

Original grease pencil marking on the steering column plate, interior side.

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms (Post 7330416)

The primary reference article is in this thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=392554


it reads that different factories used different colors/tints, and the color of the engine depends on the trim/option level of the truck. it also reads that engine colors were especially variable on the 283..

My truck belonged to my grandfather who bought it new in 1966. I do not have a good shot of the engine color, but I assure you it is blue/green.

Originally Posted by sodly (Post 7331573)

Cool truck! Is that original paint?

Here's a second vote for a pic of that turquoise 283! Unfortunately, some of those threads about engine color that you refer to contain a lot of dubious information from long ago (2009!) when less was known about some of these originality details. What a lot of folks assumed (or still assume) was original really wasn't... like decals on both valve covers, etc. I'll defer to 60-66 and factorystock on this topic but I sure haven't ever seen an original-paint 283 in these trucks that was anything but gray.

Speaking of turquoise 327s, for some reason unknown to me I've only ever seen a handful of original-paint turquoise 327s in survivor trucks. Not sure why that is. I've seen significantly more gray 283s for some reason. Don't know if they just didn't make many 327s or they just didn't survive well. I'd love to see some more original paint hi-torque 327s!

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms (Post 7331968)

here are a few pics of my valve covers, the first pics shows the color under the oversprayed blue.

Any thoughts on what this color is.? way more of a blue/turquoise than the "alpine green" ..??

so confusing.. maybe that's an oversprayed color as well? I'm at the point that I'm just thinking of spraying it gray and be done with it..

Originally Posted by sodly (Post 7332738)

Neither of those blues is correct for a 60-66 v8 as far as I'm concerned. It was gray for the 283s and turquoise/teal/alpine green (whatever you want to call it) for the 327s. Neither v8 was blue (light or dark). Does the "Hi-Torque 283" decal still exist on the passenger side valve cover? If it's truly original paint that decal (or its remnants/outline) should still be visible.

Originally Posted by theastronaut (Post 7333335)

Overspray on the bellhousing would be a good way to tell the original color, if it has overspray there. I've read that '66 Suburbans with 327's had blue engines, and have seen a couple pictures of different blue valve cover. But it was blue, not teal.

327green:

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...B58A1DCFA5.jpg


Suburban 327 blue:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=525379

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...A5A02A3F6C.jpg

Originally Posted by sodly (Post 7333863)

Has anyone ever seen an original blue 327 in a Suburban? Anyone? I have not.

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms (Post 7334642)

Anyone know where to get the 283 engine gray paint? or is it something I will have to have mixed?

Originally Posted by 1Bad62Pro/Street (Post 7334725)

:-)
https://www.fillingstation.com/articles/grayengine.htm

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms (Post 7334642)

Anyone know where to get the 283 engine gray paint? or is it something I will have to have mixed?

Originally Posted by 60-66 (Post 7335376)

1964 1965 Lambrecht V8 trucks
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...ION/35L_10.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...ION/39L_5a.jpg

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms (Post 7335420)

Thanks guys, great info, for now, since im not doing a "full" restoration just yet, I am going to use the Ford grey just to freshen it up.

60-66, do you have any more photos from the lambrecht trucks for reference? I would love to see anything you have from that auction.

thanks

Originally Posted by theastronaut (Post 7333335)

Overspray on the bellhousing would be a good way to tell the original color, if it has overspray there. I've read that '66 Suburbans with 327's had blue engines, and have seen a couple pictures of different blue valve cover. But it was blue, not teal.

327green:

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...B58A1DCFA5.jpg


Suburban 327 blue:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=525379

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...A5A02A3F6C.jpg

Originally Posted by 60-66 (Post 7335427)

That would take up a lot of picture space. I posted pictures back awhile , not sure where to link you though. If you have a certain request I can post here ? Glad to help in any way I can.

Originally Posted by 60-66 (Post 7335489)

I thought I better explain my reasoning , John , for my doubts on the Blue paint on Suburban engines VS regular trucks. I have a large collection of Chevrolet literature , parts books, truck DATA books etc. What I'm getting at is , there is a letter suffix stamped in all of these engines. None of these engine suffixes are unique to only Suburban meaning the same 283 or 327 powerglide engine combination for instance, will share the same suffix code in a 10 or 20 series pickup , short bed, long bed, suburban or Panel truck . Nothing here is unique to Suburban only. Nothing on the engine is unique to a body style in this exact suffix application. The color of a given engine had to do with engine , not body style in 1960-1966 trucks , yes they were different from Cars. It also has nothing to do with the body assembly plant as these engines were painted at the engine assembly plant and shipped.