Engine color question

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Sublime Swinger

Sublime Swinger

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Hi everyone, I have a 1971 Swinger with the original 318LA, decided to pull the motor and do a re-ring, rod bearing and gasket set. the motor has never properly been degreased or repainted so i thought what a perfect time to do that also. Once I started cleaning it up and sand blasting parts I noticed that the original paint is turquoise and not blue like other 71's I have seen at local shows.
Anyways I'm trying to keep somewhat of an OE look to the car, so do I paint it Blue or Turquoise? I'm stumped any help would be appreciated.
 
Not sure if you can tell but the block, heads and oil pan look turquoise to me amongst all the rust, but the valve covers seem more blue. I'm baffled, is it supposed to be blue or turquoise?
 

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its blue. what you see is just old worn paint making it look like the turquoise. actually the turquoise has a lot more green tint to it..
 
I dont think the 318 was ever turquoise. I think it went from red to blue. Big blocks were turquoise until late 68 I believe.
 
Could heat and age over time change the color to look more turquoise? Or do I just have a motor that got painted the wrong color from the factory?
 
I took an original painted valve cover from a '70 Polara that was turquoise and set it next to my oil pan and it was almost a match, that is what started this debate between my father and I.
 
It's supposed to be BLUE!

All LA engines went from Red to Blue early 71.

ALL smallblocks in 71 were blue according to my engine color chart.

Mopar Paint P4349217
 
ALL smallblocks in 71 were blue according to my engine color chart.
Click to expand...
340s were orange at the beginning of 71. They changed to blue in May I believe.

As said above, years of oil leaks will make blue look like turquoise.
 
Go to CarQuest and order Plasti-kote 232 blue. It is chrysler small block blue...
 
burdar said:
340s were orange at the beginning of 71. They changed to blue in May I believe.

As said above, years of oil leaks will make blue look like turquoise.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not sure when the change over was, my chart doesn't say. It just says they were red and then changed over. You would think it would be better detailed.
 
Just to be precise, does anyone know what was all on the engine when it was painted at the factory? For instance the dipstick, harmonic balancer, etc.
 
Sublime Swinger said:
Just to be precise, does anyone know what was all on the engine when it was painted at the factory? For instance the dipstick, harmonic balancer, etc.
Click to expand...


I know that the water pump bypass hose was on it and usually got some over spray.
 
When I disassembled the motor I noticed the water pump had been replaced there wasn't a spec of paint on it just aluminum and I noticed it said "made in China" so that can't be original. #7 spark plug wire also had a spec of blue on it.
 
I think that they were painted at the engine factory after they were assembled but before they went to the car assy plants. So any engine dress items that weren't on it from the engine factory would get painted.
 
Here is a list of items that were on the engine when it got painted.

bypass hose
exhaust manifolds
throttle bracket
upper kickdown pivot (on 3-piece linkage setups)
throttle return spring bracket
dipstick tube
harmonic balancer
torque convertor
bell housing on stick cars
some years had the fuel pumps installed before paint
some years had the negative battery cable installed(my 73 did not)

The dipstick handle has been a point of discussion for years. Some say bare metal, others say black. Some of the later years I think were engine color. I think bare or black is the way to go.(I went black on my 73)

When the engines were dressed with their accessories, the same bolts were used that were already on the engine. For instance, the alternator bracket attaching bolts should have engine color on the heads. Same goes for any water pump/timing cover bolt that was used to attach a power steering bracket.
 
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