By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
This other car I bought had a 352, I believe 1966 was the last year for this engine.
1965 big Fords:
240 CID inline-6: 150 hp
289 V-8: 200/271 hp (the 271 hp sounds like a hot 4-bbl, which would seem odd for a full-sized Ford. Maybe this was just for Falcons, Fairlanes, and Mustangs?)
352 V-8: 250 hp
390 V-8: 300/330 hp
427 V-8: 425 hp (probably VERY limited production, on par with the 425 hp 396 or 426 Hemi. Interesting how they all came out to 425 hp, eh? :P )
1966 big Fords:
240 I-6: 150 hp
289 V-8 :200/225 hp (probably 2bbl/mild 4bbl)
352 V-8: 250 hp
390 V-8: 265 hp
390 V-8: 315 hp
427 V-8: 410/425 hp
428 V-8: 345 hp (Marketed as the "Seven Litre")
I too preferred 60s GM cars (especially 62-64 Impalas) when I got my Galaxie, but these were out of my price range. It seemed there were several 60s Fords in my area for 1-2K ca. 1993. I remember looking at a very nice black on red '62 Galaxie 500 XL 390 that the guy wanted a mere 2K for, but my dad somehow didn't like it. That same year my friend's father sold an immaculate '62 Impala SS for $5500.
british_rover mentions a 392, I think this was a Chrysler engine. Ford had a 292, but I think it was gone by 1963 or earlier.
Yeah, I figured he meant 392, or was getting 352 and 390 mixed up. On that subject, didn't Ford make a 354 V-8 for awhile, as a truck-ony engine? I remember years ago, my company had a contract with a moving company that had a beat-up old Ford moving van that the driver said had a 354. I remember asking him if he meant a 352 and he said the 354 was a truck-only engine. Regardless, the damn thing broke down, and I helped them get it started with my '68 Dart. We tied a blanket between the two vehicles and I got them up to speed to where he could drop the clutch and get it to fire up. In retrospect, probably not the smartest thing to do, using a ~3000 lb compact to pull-start a fully-loaded moving van!
Caballero
Wish he had a pic
Another Poncho without a pic
Not quite a classic
Is this so hard to find?
Beautiful and I think market correct
It looks OK but that list is pretty long
Not the best pics
His wife likes to drive it, so, without doing any permanent mods, he added AC, a 4spd auto, and four wheel disc brakes.
Talk about a head turner!
Thanks,
Anne
As for th engine,I'd guess it'll have a Pontiac 350-2bbl? If it was a GTO or even a factory big-block LeMans, it might be worth restoring, but if it's just something like a 350, it's a hard call. But on the plus side, the bucket seats and center console are desireable options. Also, is that transmission a 4-on-the-floor? If so, that would make it a pretty rare car, as most of these had automatics.
I used to have a '69 Bonneville 4-door hardtop that was very close to that color, so seeing those pics brings back some memories! One thing I'm curious about...do you know what's up with the trunk lid? It's kinda odd how the rest of the car is shiny but the decklid is faded, as if it was perhaps repainted? I'm really curious about that because I recently picked up a 1979 Chrysler that has the same affliction. The rest of the car is nice and shiny, but the trunk lid is faded and oxidized, like it was repainted but with a cheaper grade paint than the original paint.
Did any of them come with 6s? If that's a 6 cyl 3 spd, might as well go to Ebay, I would think.
Restored to a "daily driver' condition, the car might be worth $12,500 or so, if it were a V-8. Question is, how much $$$ will you have to sink into stabilizing and re-painting the body? That could eat up a fortune.
I haven't seen the car but my instincts are to advise you not to do it, given that it's not a GTO or a Firebird 400. If it were, I'd give you the green light because you have 2 to 4 times the potential value.
The reason I'm leaning towards "no" is that if you start the body restoration and they find serious structural issues, then you've got a car all apart in a body shop with no choices left but to spend way more money than you thought.
Perhaps the best thing is to have the car examined thoroughly by a body shop than knows how to deal with rust.
1) light blue block and heads
2) upper radiator hose seems obscenely long, and tends to rub the spout for the power steering pump
3) spark plugs point slightly upward
4) distributor in back (same with Buick and Olds)
5) location of air conditioner makes the #2 spark plug almost impossible to get to.
Actually, I guess it's possible that Pontiac, and Olds, were still using 2-speed automatics in 1969 as well, with a 3-speed being optional. I'm not sure when the 2-speed was finally dropped in intermediates, but I'm sure it was gone by the time the restyled 1973 "Colonade" models appeared. Chevy was still most likely sticking 2-speed automatics behind the 307 in the '68-72 styles, but once you got into the 350 range, I think the 3-speed was much more common in all of these cars.
As for hp in 1969, this is off the top of my head...
Chevy 350-2bbl: 255 hp
Pontiac 350-2bbl: 265 hp
Olds 350-2bbl: 260 hp
Buick 350-2bbl: 250 hp
I think the Buick was a bit more of a torquer, so even though its hp was a bit lower, acceleration may not have suffered much, if any. Plus, it's anybody's guess as to what the "real" hp numbers really were, as those numbers are gross. And in some cases, grossly exaggerated!
At a quick glance, I could always spot the Buick 350 by the distributor up front. The clue for the Olds 350 was that tall oil filler tube up front, and for the Pontiac 350 I'd notice that extra long upper radiator hose. And if it had none of those, I could tell it was the Chevy block.
Also, the Chevy block looks like it's physically smaller than the Olds/Buick/Pontiac blocks, but sometimes it's hard to tell unless you actually look at them side by side. And sometimes it depends on what vehicle the engine is in. Naturally, the Chevy 305 in my pickup truck is going to look tiny in that massive engine bay, but the Pontiac 350 in my LeMans looks kinda crammed in.
Chevrolet = Orange
Pontiac = Light Blue
Oldsmobile = Blue-Green
Buick = Red
Cadillac = Dark Blue, sometimes gold air cleaner and valve covers.
Of course this all changed later on. My more recent GM cars engines were painted black. The one in my 1979 Park Avenue was medium blue.
The trunk and rear valance don't look good, but the rockers (at least from what I could see on the laptop screen) don't look bad.
I agree though that this one needs to go up on a lift for a real expereinced body guy to take a look at.
Would look much better in a different color.
Hey, maybe you could have someone nominate you for being on Overhaulin? That is my dream, but not sure what they would do with a 2005 Accord!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I think the Chevy red was more of an orangish-red, so that might be what Lemko was calling orange. By the time my '85 Silverado came out though, they were just black.
Pontiac's last V-8's were the 265 and 301 in 1981...I wonder if they were still light blue? I think the last "real" Pontiac engine was the 400 in 1979. You could get a 350 in the big '79 Pontiacs, but I dunno if it was still a Pontiac unit. I looked at a '79 Bonneville a few years back, and it had a Buick 350.
I think Mopar used a dark red for their 273's and 318's (at least, my '68 Dart is that color), medium blue for the 360 (my two '79 New Yorkers verify this) and copcar engines were black (again, verified by my '89 Gran Fury, but it's possible that they were just making them all black by this time)
I recall seeing Studebaker engines painted yellow as well as a few older Ford engines in yellow and white.
Pontiac:
1955-57 Pontiac V-8 Dark Green
1956-early 77 Canadian Pontiac with Chevy V-8 Chevy Orange
1957 Bonneville, all 1958 Pontiac V-8 Turquoise Blue
1959-65 Pontiac V-8 Light Blue
1966-70 Pontiac 6 & V-8 Light Blue Metallic
1971-March 15 1973 Pontiac V-8 Light Blue, a darker shade than 1959-65
March 16 1973 & all 1974 Dark Blue
1975-early 77 Pontiac & Oldsmobile V-8 Metallic Blue, a darker shade than 1966-70
1977-82 All GM Corporate Blue
1982-Up Black
Mopar
Year Engine Variations Color Note
1960 170 / 225 Six non Valiant Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752 - Not sure about this color.
1960 170 Six Valiant Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1960 318 Poly All Silver Mopar Paint P4529148
1960 361 Golden Commando High Perf Red/Gold Red block with Gold Valve Covers P4349218 / P4529149
1961 All All Silver Mopar Paint P4529148
1961 170 Six Valiant Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1962 170 / 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1962 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1962 361 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1962 383 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1962 413 V-8 All Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1963 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1963 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1963 361 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1963 383 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1963 413 V-8 All Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1963 426 V-8 All Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1964 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1964 273 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1964 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1964 361 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1964 383 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1964 413 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1964 413 V-8 Race Engine Race only Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1964 426 HEMI Race only Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1964 426 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1965 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1965 273 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1965 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1965 383 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1965 413 V-8 All Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1965 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1966 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1966 273 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1966 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1966 383 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1966 383 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1966 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1966 426 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1966 440 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1966 440 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1967 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1967 273 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1967 318 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1967 383 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1967 383 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1967 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1967 426 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1967 440 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1967 440 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1968 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1968 273 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1968 318 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1968 318 V-8 - LA - Police only Police engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1968 340 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1968 383 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1968 383 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1968 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1968 426 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1968 440 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1968 440 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1969 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1969 273 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1969 318 V-8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1969 318 V-8 - LA - Police only Police engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1969 340 V-8 - LA - See Note below All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1969 383 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1969 383 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1969 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1969 440 V-8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1969 440 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1970 225 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1970 318 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1970 318 V-8 - LA - Police only Police engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1970 340 V-8 - LA - See Note below All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1970 383 V-8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1970 383 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1970 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1970 440 V-8 All Blue or Turq Mopar Paint P4349217 or P4120752 (not sure) ****
1970 440 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1971 225 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 318 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 340 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 360 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 All - LA engines Till early in 1971 All Red Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 383 V-8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349218 (not sure when changed)
1971 383 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1971 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1971 440 V-8 All Blue or Turq Mopar Paint P4349217 or P4120752 (not sure) ****
1971 440 V-8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1972 225 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 318 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 340 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 360 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 400 V-8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 440 V8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 198 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 225 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 318 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 340 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 360 V-8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 400 V-8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 440 V-8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
***Note on 1969 and 1970 340LA engines - many were painted Street Hemi Orange - the list below says they all were - for any 340 engine that appears to be more orange than red - if you know it was original - then use the P4349216
****Note: I have had much discussion about the years of 1970 and 1971 the RB and B engines - two club publications say blue (Judged sheets etc.) and it appears that official Chrysler (below) says turquoise was correct. On those two years let your original color be the one to use.
Here is yet another source of engine paint data.
All "L" head in line engines 1924-1970, 4-6-8 cyl., silver with black accessories.
Except - Prior to 1930 all 4 and 6 cyl. engines were finished in black.
Except - Aluminum hi-compression heads were left in natural aluminum color.
Except - 1938-1942, Straight 8's were red with black accesories also some of the 1941-1942 - 6's
Except - SIlver green on Imperial 8's is also found on some 1924-1930 Chrysler 4's and 6's.
Except - 1924-1942 "Red Head" engines factory hi-compression cast iron heads were painted red.
Except - 1930-1934, large Imperial staight 8, silver green with black accessories.
Except - All air flows 6's and 8's had engines fnished in black, if hi-compression aluminum head left natural, cast iron painted silver.
Except - Engines with the word "Spitfire" cast in the head, the word Spitfire is sometimes painted red.
Except - Korean War cars 1951-1953 some engines were painted flat light gray non-aluminum paint due to sortage of silver pigment.
All early V8 double-single rocker shaft engines, 1951-1960, silver with black accessories.
Except - All early hi-performance engines 1955-1960, silver with black accessories, gold valve covers, gold air cleaners, Plymouth Fury, Chrysler 300, Dsoto Adventurer, Dodge d-500.
Except - 1955-1956 Plymouth 241-260-270 cu. in. V8, silver with black accessories, red valve covers, yellow air cleaner (hi-fire engine).
1960-1969 all slant "6", all "A" block V8, 273-318-340 V8 (LA) red with black accessories.
Except - 1961-1963, "Hi-Perf. Pac" slant 6 with aluminum block and 4 bbl carb, silver with black accessories.
Except - 1964-1966, hi-performance 273 V8, red with black accessories, black crinkle finish valve covers, chrome air cleaner.
1959-1961, 361-413 Golden Lion, black with gold accessories, 361-383 V8 Golden Commando, red with gold accessories.
Except - 1964-1964, all race hemi engines and orange with black crinkle finish valve covers, some had chrome air filters and accessories.
Except - 1962-1964,short ram 413-426 engines, orange some had chrome air filters and accessories.
1962-1971, all "B" block engines corporate turquoise with black accessories - some with single 4bbl 426 V8's, chrome valve covers and air cleaners.
Except - 1960-1962, Chrysler 300 with long cross ram manifolds, red block with black accessories, gold air cleaners
1970-1981, all 6 cyl. V8 corporate blue with black accessories, including 1972 and up Hi-Performance engines.
Except - All Hi-Perfomance engines 383-440, 196901971 and All 1966-1971 street Hemi engines and 1970-1971 340's - street hemi orange (red-orange) with black accessories.
1978-1980, all 4 cyl. front wheel drive, silver with black accessories.
1981-on all 2.2 4cyl. and 318-360 V8 and 6 cyl engines, coporate black.
Hey!
Look what I found! http://www.matanuskatowing.com/auction_photos/aug/54.JPG
It is on the auction block this weekend..... maybe I could pick it up for $25? :-D
She responded this morning with haha! Does Winki need a lovey? (forgetabout it!)
For some reason, she calls my beloved van "winki." I do not understand it, for it clearly is "The Bumble E."
Oh, and speaking of rust, this is probably reparable surface rust, right? :P
Big Block CIDs
CID Years Bore Stroke VIN Color
400 '65 - '67 4.000 3.980 Bronze
400 '68 - '69 3.870 4.250 H[,V] Bronze
425 '65 - '67 4.126 3.975 O[,P,R] Red; Toronado is Blue
455 '68 - '72 4.126 4.250 W Red; Toronado & 1970+ is metallic Blue
455 '72 - '76 4.126 4.250 S,T,U,V,W metallic Blue
High compression 425s and early 455s were painted red and the air clearners were an orange/red, definately a different shade from the engine. Low compression 425s had black air cleaners.
Here is the Ford list from 1959-1971
All Ford engines were black from 1959 up to 1965, Ford didn't start to paint their engines blue until 1966.
YEAR ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEADS AIR CLEANER VALVE COVERS
1959 223 Black Red Red
1959 292 Black Red Red
1959 332 Black Green Green
1959 352 Black Blue * Blue
1960 223 Black Red Red
1960 292 Black Red Red
1960 352 Black Blue Blue
1960 352 HP Black Gold open-element Gold
1961 223 Black Red Red
1961 292 Black Red Red
1961 352 Black Blue Blue
1961 390 Black Silver Silver
1961 390 HP Black Gold Gold
1961 390 HP-6V Black Oval aluminum Gold
1962 223 Black Red Red
1962 292 Black Red Red
1962 352 Black Blue Blue
1962 390 Black Silver Silver
1962 406-4V Black Gold open-element Gold
1962 406-6V Black Oval aluminum Gold
1963 223 Black Red Red
1963 289 Black White White
1963 352 Black Blue Blue
1963 390 Black Silver Silver
1963 406-4V Black Gold open-element Gold
1963 406-6V Black Oval aluminum Gold
1963 427-4V Black Chrome open-element Chrome "baldies"
1963 427-8V Black Oval aluminum Chrome "baldies"
1964 223 Black Red Red
1964 289 Black Red Red
1964 352 Black Blue Blue
1964 390 Black Gold Gold
1964 427-4V Black Chrome open-element Chrome "baldies"
1964 427-8V Black Oval aluminum Chrome "baldies"
1965 240 Black Red Red
1965 289 Black White White
1965 352 Black Gold Gold
1965 390 Black Gold Gold
1965 427-8V Black Oval aluminum Chrome "pentroof"
1965 427 SOHC-4V Black Chrome open-element Cast aluminum
1965 427 SOHC-8V Black Oval aluminum Cast aluminum
1966 240 Blue** Blue Blue
1966 289 Blue Blue Blue
1966 352 Blue Blue Blue
1966 390 Blue Blue Blue
1966 427-4V Blue Chrome open-element Chrome "pentroof"
1966 427-8V Blue Oval aluminum Chrome "pentroof"
1966 427 SOHC-4V Blue Chrome open-element Cast aluminum
1966 427 SOHC-8V Blue Oval aluminum Cast aluminum
1966 428 Blue Blue Blue
1967 240 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"***
1967 289 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1967 390 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1967 427-4V Blue Blue Tall Chrome "PBF"
1967 427-8V Blue Blue Tall Chrome "PBF"
1967 427 SOHC-4V Blue Chrome open-element Cast aluminum
1967 427 SOHC-8V Blue Oval aluminum Cast aluminum
1967 428 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1968 240 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1968 302 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1968 390 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1968 427 Blue Blue w/chrome lid Tall Chrome "PBF"
1968 428 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1969 240 Blue**** Blue Blue "PBF"
1969 302 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1969 351 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1969 390 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1969 429 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1970 250 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1970 302 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1970 351 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1970 390 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1970 429 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1971 302 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1971 351 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1971 390 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1971 400 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
1971 429 Blue Blue Blue "PBF"
* The blue used on these engines is very similar to the lighter blue used on the late-'60s Ford engines.
** The blue used on 1966-1968 Ford engines is a darker blue than used on earlier Ford 352 valve covers. The correct color is TRW #630224 or Eastwood's "dark Ford blue."
***"PBF" indicates "Power by Ford"
**** 1969-1974 Ford engines were a lighter blue than 1966-1968. The color is similar to the early 352 valve covers.
This would cover most of your Ford engine color questions.
But they have missed some Windsor engines though.
The 1962-63 221cui, black block and I think they had yellow air cleaner and valve covers.
The 1963-64 260 cui, black block and valve covers and air cleaner on those should be light blue.
The 1964-65 289cui 4V, black block, gold valve covers and gold air cleaner.
The 1964-65 289cui HP, black block, chrome valve covers and chrome open element air cleaner.
Chevy Engine Colors 1929-at least 1972:
1929-52 all engines: Dark Gray
1953-62 Blue Flame 235cid 6-cylinder Chevrolet Engine Blue.
1955-56 265cid V8 (all passenger cars & Corvette) Chevrolet Engine Red. CHEVROLET script on valve covers stenciled in black.
1957 265cid V8 Light yellow (with stenciled CHEVROLET script on valve covers in black.
1957-on 283cid V8 Chevrolet Engine Orange ('57 has CHEVROLET script on valve covers stenciled in black)
1958-72 at least All passenger cars and Corvette V8 engines Chevrolet Engine Orange, color of valve covers could vary from this with high performance big block engines.
1962-72 140cid 4-cylinder, 194, 230, 250cid 6-cylinder Chevrolet Engine Orange.
As a general rule, those parts which were bolted on after the basic engines were assembled and painted (in practice, blocks, heads, iron intake manifolds, iron exhaust manifolds, water pumps, crankshaft pulley, oil pans and bellhousings were all bolted in place and the engines painted as a unit) were semi-gloss black, pretty much the standard paint for Delco (starters, generators, coils) and AC (air cleaner, fan, power steering units and their respective pulleys).
AC cartridge (optional oil filters for 216, 235 6's, and 265cid & early 283 V8's) were painted by AC as follows: Bright orange filter body, with royal blue upper "cap". AC full-flow, spin-on oil filters back then (1958 onward) were white.
AMC Engine Paint Colors
ENGINE COLOR YEAR PAINT CODES
196 L Head gray 56-65
196 OHV (1) lancelot turquoise 64-66
196 aluminum (1) silver 61-64
250 (2) gray 56-60
287 Forum Blue 63-66
327 (3) red 64
327 Rampart Red 64-66
199 Cape Cod Blue 64-67
290 copper 66
232 Rampart Red 64-67
290 gold 67
343 copper 67
all Caravelle Blue 68
all Blue Poly (metallic) 69-72
all AMC engine blue 73-83
V8s (4) rampart red 71-73
151 Pontiac blue 79-83 [sic] Ditzler(PPG) #15159
all black 84-up
NOTES:
1. Valve covers are Rampart Red for some or all of these engines.
2. The 250 V-8 is believed to be the same gray as used on the 196 L-head engines.
3. Different sources give different paint codes. Possibly used as dealer service paint of slightly different color.
4. All 1971 California V-8's and AMC engines used in International Harvester vehicles were red in color to distinguish them from other engines on the assembly line as California engines required different emission controls.
Engine colors, indeed!
What's wrong with black?
RX-2
james
Also, I was under the impresssion that a siamesed block was weaker, and I always thought the Chevy 400 smallblock, which is siamesed, was a weak block. But then I read somewhere that the siamesed block is actually STRONGER! So, which is it? That's one problem with the internet...too easy to find too much info, and often it ends up contradicting.
BTW, isn't the Olds 403 also a siamesed block? I was always under the impression that these were sturdy blocks, but then I've heard that they could have problems, too.
Would an Olds 403 be a stronger block than a Chevy 400, since it was a stronger block to begin with? I guess the high nickle content of the Olds block might be one advantage for the Olds block.
One thing I've also noticed is that, for the most part, the Chevy 400 was offered in fairly low hp configurations, like 150 hp for the 2-bbl and 170-180 for the 4-bbl. The Olds 403 was only offered as a 4-bbl, but with hp ranging from 185-200.