Chevy Orange Engine Paint

[Dennis Voiro]

Does anyone know of a paint supplier who carries the Chevy Orange Engine Paint in pints or quarts for brush on application? Would like to freshen up the intake area without doing the paper and tape drill? I'm close to Philadelphia.

Thanks, Dennis

[John H.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Dennis -

There are as many shades of "Chevy Engine Orange" as there are paint vendors, but I've been pleased with both Seymour and Quanta; Quanta has it in both rattle-cans and in quarts.




Quanta

[Stephen W.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Many shades of orange! You couldn't have said it better. I have two questions on this subject:
1. What brand would give me the closest match or shade for my 64 (327/300)?

2. My 68 small block is still the original faded and worn color but the rt head still has the engine ID in what looks like white paint on it. The letters are correct for my engine (327/350) and match the pad stamp. Should I try to photo this and duplicate it after its rebuilt and painted? This is an original car that needs full restoration but will be judged when finished.

[John H.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Steve -

I doubt if any new paint will "match" the original engine paint, especially after it has weathered and aged; the engine plants bought cheap orange enamel paint in drums on a lowest-bidder basis, and both the shade and vendors changed regularly. Best to paint the whole engine when you have the opportunity.

The grease-pencil suffix marking was applied on the raw head casting (to "clue" the pad-stamp operator further down the line which gang-stamp to pick up), and was covered much later when the engine was painted; similar markings were applied (upside-down in car position) just above the pan rail on the block, also painted over, to tell line operators which innards to install in the block (it was upside-down until the heads went on). I'd photograph them for reference.

[Stephen W.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Thanks John. I'm not trying to match what is on the engine but was wondering if different years were more orange or others more red and if there was brand that tended to match better. What would the popular choice be for a C2 vs a C3 ect.

Thanks for explaining the markings I guess its because the paint is so worn off that I now see the markings.

I understand the pad should not have any paint and show the milling marks. Does that mean the block was painted before the deck surface was milled? I understood the engine was always painted assembled so did the factory use masking or grease to cover the pad area?

[Dave Suesz]

For what it's worth...

I brush painted my 55 last spring with POR-15 Chevy Red. I am extremely pleased with the results. There is no trace of brush marks on even the smooth parts, such as motor mount, or oil pan. Takes an hour to get tacky, really flows out. Takes a week to dry enough to start the engine, according to the instructions. This BBS was why I chose this supplier, seemed to be the consensus they had the best red. A pint did the whole job, in one coat, about half a can left over. Gets a lot of looks at shows, with the bright red color.

[Dave Suesz]

Bad photo link, click here...

http://www.c1registry.com/index.php?..._specifics.php

[Kevin T.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

John:

Is there a recommended or more appropriate technique you would suggest (spray cans vs. brush application) for painting the block, and how much will be required to repaint an entire 283 block after a rebuild? Thanks. - Kevin

[Patrick H.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Kevin,

If you can do it, the most accurate/best looking paint job I've ever done on a motor was done with a real paint sprayer. While your local paint jobber can likely mix you up some orange, I used a quart of the paint from Quanta. If you don't have one, see if a friend does and would be willing to paint the motor.

I've done a couple by spray bomb, and they look like, well, a spray bomb no matter how nice I make them. I have only brush-painted once, on an intake, and it did not look as nice as the real paint sprayer either.

Patrick

[John H.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

The same guy ahead of the paint booth that dropped the coffee can over the distributor and the tubes on the plugs and water pump hub, etc., stuck a piece of tape across the stamp pad; they had to be able to read it in the engine plant so they could switch it to the correct delivery conveyor to the racking/shipping area and get it in the right rack (they made over 100 different suffix engines every day).

[Kevin T.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Thanks for your input Patrick. Would you elaborate on the proper technique for painting an engine after a rebuild? Exactly what components are painted, which parts are assembled prior to painting, what areas should be masked, etc. Regards, - Kevin

[Kevin T.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Patrick:

I think I pretty much found the information I was looking for in the NCRS Tech Manual & Judging Guide (I should have looked there first), and earlier in this thread. So I won't make you reiterate that - unless you have something further to add. Thanks. - Kevin

[Dennis Voiro]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Quanta tells me they no longer sell the Chevy Orange Paint in quart cans even though it is still on their web site. I will look into the POR but does anyone have any additional information on who might sell the paint in cans for brush on? Thanks, Dennis

[Dennis A.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Dennis...

Use alum. Foil from the kitchen as a masking material and use the rattle can.

[Dave Suesz]

I used POR on mine...

Although I used Chevy red, I painted this engine in the car with brushes from 1" down to #000. The paint flowed out so well there is not one brush mark evident, even on flat items like the throttle spring bracket, number pad, motor mount, or oil pan.




55 Engine