What is the absolutely correct blue engine paint color for a 74 Duster?

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This is mine. I can’t swear that it’s correct. It was custom matched to cleaned up original paint that survived on one of the valve covers, but more than forty years of exposure to oil, grease, dirt and ultra violet light may very well have altered that sample. Anyways, it was the best I could do.View attachment 1715940343
Tanker - great looking engine. I'd like mine to look like yours. Would it be possible to provide me with the paint formulation so that I can paint my slant six this shade of blue? Thanks - cruiser
 
Well...I dunno, but Ill tell you I once painted a 318 Chevy blue because that was the only blue Duplicolor engine paint they had at Wal Mart and it was a budget build... Ive heard some say it was sacriledge so i then just quit telling people it was chevy Blue...the protests then stopped. Beleive it or not Chevy guys complained the most... :)
 
Tanker - great looking engine. I'd like mine to look like yours. Would it be possible to provide me with the paint formulation so that I can paint my slant six this shade of blue? Thanks - cruiser
I just called the shop that mixed it for me and they no longer have the mixing instructions in their system. But there are a couple possible solutions. I can send you a partial spray can which you can use to paint a bit of sheet metal and then take to a shop for matching, or I can paint a bit of sheet metal and send that to you for matching. Which ever you prefer.
 
Yeah
I just called the shop that mixed it for me and they no longer have the mixing instructions in their system. But there are a couple possible solutions. I can send you a partial spray can which you can use to paint a bit of sheet metal and then take to a shop for matching, or I can paint a bit of sheet metal and send that to you for matching. Which ever you prefer.
Yeah if you could send me a sample of sheet metal painted in that color, that would be great. Just keep track of your expenses and I'll reimburse you. Thanks!
 
Yeah

Yeah if you could send me a sample of sheet metal painted in that color, that would be great. Just keep track of your expenses and I'll reimburse you. Thanks!
What? Reimburse me for such a small thing? This is on me. I can afford to help out a fellow Mopar guy.
 
What? Reimburse me for such a small thing? This is on me. I can afford to help out a fellow Mopar guy.
Thanks a million! Please let me know when your sample is ready. You could PM me and I'll provide mailing info. By the way, were you a tanker in the Army? What was your MOS? Thanks - cruiser
 
I had a shiny painted engine a few times..... then it got some gas spilled on it, some oil and then dust got on the oil, hood up and got some bird poop on it, but it was impressive for a while!!!
I had a bud that bult him a 70 Cuda 440-6 clone before they called them clones. He had bought a big fancy house for him and the wife retired to play with his cars. One day while "tuning" those triple carbs, it caught fire an burned down the house. He AND the wife was PISSED!!!! and this guy built and raced hemis and MW starting back in the 60s!!! Go figure!!??:BangHead::BangHead::BangHead::steering::thumbsup:
 
Thanks a million! Please let me know when your sample is ready. You could PM me and I'll provide mailing info. By the way, were you a tanker in the Army? What was your MOS? Thanks - cruiser
Yes I was. The tank I crewed was identical to the one in my avatar, so that will date me a bit. My MOS was 19E10.
 
I had to check my notes, but found this.
I have not had any of these mixed to confirm, but at least its a starting point.

70's Blue - 5351D dupont or PPG 2423

Turquoise - 4799D dupont or PPG 13195 (but delete the metal flake)
 
The idea that you can look at 45 year old engine and think that is the color the engine was when it was built is just silly. Of course new corporate blue paint looks brighter and bluer than faded paint on an old engine...
 
The idea that you can look at 45 year old engine and think that is the color the engine was when it was built is just silly. Of course new corporate blue paint looks brighter and bluer than faded paint on an old engine...
I remember the 1975 Sportsman Royal Van my dad bought new when I was twelve pretty clearly. Its 318 had a definite turquoise look about it, to the point that I commented on it to my dad. And as for my engine, the valve covers were pulled off and replaced with Mickey Thompson's when the engine was only seven years old. They then spent the next 38 years sitting on a shelf in my parents garage, so they probably aren't as far off as you're thinking.
 
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I remember the 1975 Sportsman Royal Van my dad bought new when I was twelve pretty clearly. Its 318 had a definite turquoise look about it, to the point that i commented on to my dad. And as for my engine, the valve covers were pulled off and replaced with Mickey Thompson's when the engine was only seven years old. They then spent the next 38 years sitting on a shelf in my parents garage, so they probably aren't as far off as you're thinking.
Can you add a photo of your blue valve covers?
 
Can you add a photo of your blue valve covers?
When I decided it was time to resurrect the Duster I switched back to the factory valve covers. They are the ones seen in the picture I posted of the engine, and they've now been repainted. Sorry.
 
Just pressure washed this greasy engine, 74 360.
It is original paint.

7jEG4a.jpg
 
For comparison, here are a couple photos of the slant six in my grandfathers 71 Satellite wagon. As it happens it's parked right in front of my hangar just now. This car hasn't been driven since the late eighties and it's been in the family since new, so i can guarantee it's never been repainted. Obviously this engine's paint has seen better days, but this looks nothing like the blue seen on the 360 valve cover above. Not sure what to make of that, but there it is.
img0001.jpg

img0000.jpg
 
For comparison, here are a couple photos of the slant six in my grandfathers 71 Satellite wagon. As it happens it's parked right in front of my hangar just now. This car hasn't been driven since the late eighties and it's been in the family since new, so i can guarantee it's never been repainted. Obviously this engine's paint has seen better days, but this looks nothing like the blue seen on the 360 valve cover above. Not sure what to make of that, but there it is.
View attachment 1715943027
View attachment 1715943028
This is a 78 318 in a 78 power wagon I had, it had 49,000 miles, I bought it off the original owner, I did add the LD4B intake and carb, but original paint on the valve covers, it even had the sticker on the drivers side.
pXX2B6.jpg
 
Found a pic of a 75 Duster I had, I would say it was original paint, but cannot confirm.
27NAcF.jpg
 
For comparison, here are a couple photos of the slant six in my grandfathers 71 Satellite wagon. As it happens it's parked right in front of my hangar just now. This car hasn't been driven since the late eighties and it's been in the family since new, so i can guarantee it's never been repainted. Obviously this engine's paint has seen better days, but this looks nothing like the blue seen on the 360 valve cover above. Not sure what to make of that, but there it is.
View attachment 1715943027
View attachment 1715943028
Tanker, what is this color on the rectangular sheet? Is it from a spray can? Thanks.
 
Tanker, what is this color on the rectangular sheet? Is it from a spray can? Thanks.
Yes it is, and it looks a little dark to me, as though there isn't quite enough green in it. But it is the paint I used on my engine. I'm repainting the other side now with a different can to see if it comes out lighter. Also, I'm looking at the slant six in the 75 Duster that sireland67 posted and there's a noticeable difference in the paint on the intake manifold vs the rest of the engine. The manifold has much more of the turquoise appearance I always associate with Mopar engines.
 
Thanks, Valleyant. Is the repaint of the engine close in color to the original color? To determine this, you'd have to find some original paint left on the engine and compare it to a repainted area. I was just wondering how accurate his repaint was to the original blue color. Yours almost looks like the lighter blue in the first photo in the replies above. Not really a darker "Ford-ish" blue. Your thoughts?
Cruiser, I stand corrected. The previous owner purchased a quart of engine enamel back in 2005 from a company named Hirsch Automotive. Here is a link to the paint, the business is still going.
Engine Enamel Online | High Temp Engine Paint | Hirsch Auto-hirschauto.com
I am also attaching a better pic of the engine. Look for Chrysler Blue engine enamel '73-'83.
IMG_2234.JPG
 
I am wanting to try their engine paint next time I have one to do. I've used their gas tank coating with good success. Never heard anything bad about that company.
 
My engine builder took several samples, from the original engine in my '71 Dart GT, and had it color matched. Correct? I don't know, but I like it!

1-323 Borer.jpeg
 
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