[projectjohn]

I have a question for you guys. I know for a fact that in 72 Chevys block were painted orange, and in 79 they were painted blue. What year did this change?

The reason i as is that i was looking at buying what was called small block Chevy 350 ( orange in color) that was in a 1978 truck. so i got thinking that the motor was changed. I didn't say anything at the time and told him that if it was a 350 i'd take it. he called me back and didn't give me any numbers, but said that it came out 1976 305 camaro. so i guess a better question is did a 1976 camaro come with a 305 and would have it been painted orange?

Just have this feeling that the motor turned out to be something like a 327 or a 400 that he doesn't want to give up.

Thanks for any and all help
John

[RCastle]

Not sure the year change on colors.But all factory painted 305's I have seen are blue.They also painted them black in the later years.

[docvette]

Doc here,

Factory 305's were forest Green... Not sure about the year though...

An engine rebuilt by a third party may well be Red/orange..(or any other color..) Or the past owner may have wanted to "Dress" It up.

The BEST way to determine it's year , displacement and origin is get the casting numbers off the block and go to Mortec. com and look them up..

http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm






Doc

[matt167]

I do belive the color changed from Chevy orange to GM corporate blue in 1977, for the 350's at least. don't go by the colors.

[projectjohn]

well i'm asking about the color because that is the only think that i could see at the time. And wanted a ball park figure. it all comes down to caveat emptor.

thanks
john

edit: I've been to mortec good site, but i didn't get the number i was just told what it is

[topfuel]

Originally Posted by matt167

I do belive the color changed from Chevy orange to GM corporate blue in 1977, for the 350's at least. don't go by the colors.

You are correct. 1977 was the year Chevrolet went from Orange to Blue.

[kohle1ce]

Does anyone happen to know what the stock color of a 1956 265 would be?

[docvette]

Doc here,

Chevrolet Orange..Which is More red than orange.. but orange none the less..

The accessories were all Gloss black.

Doc

[Hippie]

Originally Posted by docvette

Factory 305's were forest Green... Not sure about the year though

All my 305's were Corporate Blue:

'77 Camaro (2nd owner)
'78 Malibu (3rd owner)
'79 Camaro (2nd owner)
'81 Camaro Z/28 (bought new)

[johnsongrass1]

All Mine too.

[DoubleVision]

Every 305 I ever had was blue as well. I once looked at a 305 a guy had for sale claiming it was a 350 because he was told it was, well, the casting numbers told a different story, his not so intelligent employee, told me it was a 350, how did he know? "all 350`s from 62 to 72 were blue, didn`t you know that?" I replied with "no I didn`t, I also know they didn`t make a 350 until 1967, the same year the camaro was released"
As for all my engines now, I just do as the Rolling Stones said, Paint it black.

[vfast1]

I think silver would look sweet

[docvette]

Originally Posted by Hippie

All my 305's were Corporate Blue:

'77 Camaro (2nd owner)
'78 Malibu (3rd owner)
'79 Camaro (2nd owner)
'81 Camaro Z/28 (bought new)

Doc here,

This is a Stock 305, 1980, Second owner (with history, no rebuilds..)



Looks more green to me than Blue, But I guess it could fade into that ugly color over the years (not a good look at all..)

But the closest match color (paint Chip on that confuser shade~O~meter thing..at the paint store) Was Forest Green (also not a good look..) But the two did match..Maybe a Replacement Engine from the factory..? Dono..First owner said no rebuilds/Changes..

Doc

[jvsapp]

Originally Posted by Hippie

All my 305's were Corporate Blue:

'77 Camaro (2nd owner)
'78 Malibu (3rd owner)
'79 Camaro (2nd owner)
'81 Camaro Z/28 (bought new)

ok i'm a little confused... the original 305 pulled from my 77 year c10 was orange. the engine was never changed until i pulled it because my dad bought the truck new. also i pulled a 350 from a 78 anniversery vette. that all original engine was orange too... so i am not sure about there being a definate yes or no answer. i would definately check the casting # though. those never lie.

[Hippie]

Originally Posted by docvette

Doc here,

This is a Stock 305, 1980, Second owner (with history, no rebuilds..)



Looks more green to me than Blue, But I guess it could fade into that ugly color over the years (not a good look at all..)

But the closest match color (paint Chip on that confuser shade~O~meter thing..at the paint store) Was Forest Green (also not a good look..) But the two did match..Maybe a Replacement Engine from the factory..? Dono..First owner said no rebuilds/Changes..

Doc

Don't know Doc, the picture sure looks Blue to me and I had to take a color perception test a few years ago to be certified by John Deere to inspect paint colors on parts we supply them. It was a pretty extensive test and I got a perfect score............. but then again it could be the difference in monitors. ??????

Now I have seen some late 70's Pontiac engines that turned a greenish blue from heat after a while. Might depend on what plant or batch of paint but I have only ever had two factory colors on any of my Chevy engines, Chevrolet Orange and Corporate Blue. My '76 Monte's 350 is Orange and I had a '77 Malibu with a 350 that was Corporate Blue. I was the 2nd owner of that one too, I had it at the same time as my '77 Camaro.