Correct Engine Orange for my 59

[Jeffrey C.]

I know this is hard to imagine but I decided to pull the motor out of my 59 just 4 months before attempting a Duntof at the national in Montery. I was judged off on the shade of orange & this is a good time to fix it. Who puts the most accurate shade of orange in a spray can??? Thanks again Guys

[Patrick H.]

Re: Correct Engine Orange for my 59

Jeff,

You can search the Archives as we've discussed it before, but there doesn't seem to be one "best" color. It might help if we knew what color you have on there that allegedly didn't work. Personally, I've only ever seen one motor where I thought the paint was wrong, but tht was mostly because it looked very flat, not because the shade was wrong.

I've used Plasti-Cote, which is brighter and VHT which seems redder. I've also used Quanta's paint from a quart can and used a sprayer and compressor to put it on. I think to some degree it is a matter of personal preference which shade you like.

Your best bet may be to find an original orange paint part and see which spray bomb is the closest after buying each and trying it.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: Correct Engine Orange for my 59

Jeff,

You can search the Archives as we've discussed it before, but there doesn't seem to be one "best" color. It might help if we knew what color you have on there that allegedly didn't work. Personally, I've only ever seen one motor where I thought the paint was wrong, but tht was mostly because it looked very flat, not because the shade was wrong.

I've used Plasti-Cote, which is brighter and VHT which seems redder. I've also used Quanta's paint from a quart can and used a sprayer and compressor to put it on. I think to some degree it is a matter of personal preference which shade you like.

Your best bet may be to find an original orange paint part and see which spray bomb is the closest after buying each and trying it.

Patrick

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Engine Orange for my 59

Jeff and Patrick-----

The "Chevrolet Orange" engine paint used for small blocks varied quite a bit over the years that it was used (1957 to 1977). For earlier engines (in the 57-63 range, or so, the paint was more red than it was orange. In the later 60s to early 70s, it became more orange but with a definite amount of red in it. Then, in the mid 70s it became more orange with little red.

Chevrolet, apparently, never gave up on the notion that it was more red than orange since the cans of Chevrolet engine paint available from GM at least through the early 90s specified the color as "red", even though the paint in the can at that time was decidely orange, with little or no red in it.

My recollection is that Krylon Chevrolet Orange engine paint has about the degree of "redness" typical of earlier engines.

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Engine Orange for my 59

Jeff and Patrick-----

The "Chevrolet Orange" engine paint used for small blocks varied quite a bit over the years that it was used (1957 to 1977). For earlier engines (in the 57-63 range, or so, the paint was more red than it was orange. In the later 60s to early 70s, it became more orange but with a definite amount of red in it. Then, in the mid 70s it became more orange with little red.

Chevrolet, apparently, never gave up on the notion that it was more red than orange since the cans of Chevrolet engine paint available from GM at least through the early 90s specified the color as "red", even though the paint in the can at that time was decidely orange, with little or no red in it.

My recollection is that Krylon Chevrolet Orange engine paint has about the degree of "redness" typical of earlier engines.

[Gary S.]

Re: Correct Engine Orange for my 59

I used Krylon Chevrolet Orange in my 66 and I thought it looked great. My friend used the Plasti-Coat on his 73 and it too looked good.
Gary

[Gary S.]

Re: Correct Engine Orange for my 59

I used Krylon Chevrolet Orange in my 66 and I thought it looked great. My friend used the Plasti-Coat on his 73 and it too looked good.
Gary