Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Here are a few pictures of a '66 Chevy C10 swb fleetside with a factory 327 and A/C. The firewall was painted black and the battery cable clamps and radiator cap have been upgraded, but the rest is very close to the original look of a '66 Chevy engine bay, including the factory power brake booster, air cleaner, Harrison 4-core Desert Cooler radiator and wire and hose routing.

Maybe these photos will help others with the underhood details, if you are looking to redo your engine bay to near factory looks.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

that looks very nice!!
for some reason, I really like the stock look under the hood, now the exterior that is a different story ;)

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

That's awesome. Did trucks with 327's originally come with those concave style valve covers? I thought those were used only on cars and trucks came with the 'Chevrolet' script.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

I know this is an old thread, but i'm curious about the valvecovers too, mine are the chevrolet script. I do see lmc, etc. selling the valve cover decals as for'66 (mine.is'66)
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Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

That motor is not correct , the scripted valve covers were right and the color is wrong.Could be a 67-68 327 truck motor.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Yep, there's a lot wrong under that hood. A '66 327 would have been slightly darker than the commonly available Alpine Green with script covers and 'High Torque" decals on the side of the valve covers, not the air filter. Firewall should be body color or fawn depending on what plant it was assembled at. 283's were usually gray.


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...B58A1DCFA5.jpg

Yelmer's truck is correct.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1345349010

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

That engine bay looks great but there are several things that are not 100% "correct" in a truck. The truck engines were not orange, they were a blueish green. The valve covers should be the Chevrolet script. The upper radiator "hose" should have a steel tube connected at each end with short rubber hose. The AC compressor brackets aren't the correct truck items. Truck brackets were all stamped steel. The brackets used on this engine are the type used on '64-'68 Chevrolet cars and '68-'72 trucks.
I really like the "327" valve covers and the orange paint. Seems a Chevy engine should be orange. I'd do same thing plus a few other changes using all OEM Chevrolet items to spice up the engine bay. Factory chrome air cleaners and Corvette valve covers look at home on most any small block Chevy!
1967 was the last year for the script valve covers. In 1968, engine castings were changed. The PCV vent hole at the back of the block was eliminated. The PCV system was changed and was vented out of the valve cover and air cleaner. This change made it difficult to use earlier non-vented valve covers on post '67 engines.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

A lot of info on what was correct in these three threads:


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=488680

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=538621

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=439322

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Although the engine in the initial post looks nice, it's not even close to being factory correct. Mike's (Yelmer) engine compartment is as good as you're ever going to find. The rest of the truck is equally as nice.

I like orange engines too, but in a truck, it's gotta be the color it was born with, either gray or green depending on the year and engine size. The trucks had some unique truck-only stuff, and that's where a lot of restorations get it wrong.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

I can't wait to get my '66 done and take it to shows just to see how many "experts" tell me that the green engine paint is wrong. :lol:

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

I wonder if the assembly plant had to do with eng. paint color? I bought a new 1966 C-20 custom camper with a 327- th400 and it had the grey engine paint. It was built at the fremont ca. plant. I've seen alot of posts on eng. colors with different answers.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

They did get rid of the PCV vent hole at the back of the block, but I think all the venting was then through the air cleaner/oil fill tube for 1968. My stock '68 327 had the same valve covers as that orange engine, without vent holes. I agree about the finned Vette covers, they look killer!

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Just to clarify if you will... You bought a '66 Custom Camper brand new in 1966, and it came with a grey 327?

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Correct.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Dad and I have been slowly working on getting a 327 ready to swap in place of the tired 283 that's in his 66 C10. The info I've been reading on this site (about factory engine colors and such) has been particularly helpful !! Here's a pic of some of the parts we've got painted/ready so far:

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...psf2468051.jpg

I'm sure he'll be getting some comments from those "experts" at the local car shows on the engine color as well :D

And a shot of the 3 speed OD trans that'll be replacing the regular 3 speed:
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps11be3ee7.jpg

Dad's 66 is an older frame-on restoration that we did about 15 years ago. Seeing these original trucks and factory correct restorations (such as in the three threads theastronaut posted earlier) has inspired us to go back and correct some of the mistakes we made earlier. The engine color is #1 on that list ... a former owner had painted the old 283 blue and not knowing it should be gray we used Chevy orange. This 327 swap (which we've been planning for several years now) will be a good opportunity to get the engine looking a little more factory correct.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Agreed. Back in '09, this is the way it was. I remember when I first came to the site, this was the common mentality of what a factory job was. This site has really grown up since then.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

just some info the top pulley on a 66 327 ac truck is cast iron unit the 283 used stamped steel . that is the pulley off the water pump . the photo of mine has the 283 pulley at that time, but was changed to the cast pulley . just some info

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

I'm glad I'm not doing a restoration but a refresh to my Burb. I like the Chevy orange and went with that.
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Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

I am kinda partial to the grey they used, it is different.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Heres some factory paint.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_1348.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_1347.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_1346.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_1344.jpg

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Those parts look great! Good to see someone else going back with factory colors.



NOS paint... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/ima...s/icon_eek.gif

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

That's even more different from Alpine Green than I thought it would be. There are some specs on the stir stick that look blue-er, and around the rim has some dried spots that look blue-er- especially on the right side. It's more like Alpine Green but a tad darker.

60-66, how well is that paint stirred, and could you possibly brush a couple coats on a small test piece to see if the color changes when it dries? Very interesting to see original paint!


http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_1347.jpg


Alpine Green:

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s..._7093834_n.jpg

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

theastronaut, All I did was a quick stir and sent some pics to yelmer. The only info I have found on this paint by the accessory part number is in a 1963 Chevy parts book. It doesn't list the application though, it just says all ? Its also used for Oldsmobile. I cannot confirm its correct for 66. I need the correct paint for my 66 327 Carryall engine also.

On another note, my 1960 C30 283 engine is green, truck has 502 miles on it. I will post a few pics later. I know the c30 engines were not painted the same as C10s.

Since your a paint guy, I have no problem sending you this can of paint if you want to use it to match ?? Just let me know.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Ha! Loving the NOS can of engine paint. Just incredible, Jon.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

I really appreciate the offer! I do have a shop that I have a great working relationship with, I went to tech with the guy that mixes all the paint there. If you're willing, we could thoroughly shake/mix the paint, spray a small 4"x4" test panel and use that to scan and find a modern paint code that matches.


Comparing the dried edge, they look pretty similar.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...B58A1DCFA5.jpg

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

I love these threads about the original specs of these trucks.

I have a 1965 GMC shortwide, made in the Fremont plant. It has a 230 / 3spd in it. I am planning on rebuilding the 230 and installing a 700R4 behind it.

The information about the colour for the 1965 230 truck motor that I have found, says Blue.

Can someone tell me the code / name / shade of blue that has been used.

Thanks

Ken

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Wow, what a huge amount of info added! Talk about kicking up a hornets nest, this thread exploded! I had no idea truck motors were different colors, mine was touched up orange. I kind of like the blue (being a pontiac guy and all) so i'll likely go that route.

Thanks for the info everyone, and wow, NOS PAINT!!

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Thread about '66 Suburban 327 blue engine color.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=525379

I found this set of valve covers on eBay that appear to be original paint.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...A5A02A3F6C.jpg
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Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

NOS Alpine Green engine paint still in the can!! How cool is that?

This NOS paint that 60-66 has could be the "Rosetta Stone" that answers all of the Alpine Green shade questions we've asking for years. If John is able to get a test panel and then have it analyzed and deciphered, this could be huge.

There really has never been any solid information anywhere on that paint mix. We've all kind of "winged it" over the years.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

The first photo looks just like the 327 in my 65 Impala. It's like someone restored that engine to look like a car, not a truck.

Since we're talking about engines, is there a source for the valve cover "High Torque" decals?

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

The LMC catalogue has a section for decals.

Ken

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Made this in MS Paint to better see the difference between the wet paint and the dried paint around the edge. Looks pretty close to the Alpine we've been using, just darker.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Hate to spoil the "Alpine Green" party, but this is not the correct shade GM used on 292's and 327's in pre '67 pickups. There were various blues, grays and greens GM used in the 40's 50's and 60's, but nobody sells the correct exact shade for 63-66 230's 250's 283's and 327's. used on 63-66 pickups. Another example of how difficult it is to pull off a 100% correct factory restoration.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Beware engine color is Make specific, A GMC (American built) is a different animal than a Chevy. THe GMC 230 250 is the same color of the 305 V6, a reddish color.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Looks good! The color of your engine looks pretty close to the Danbury Mint 327, and the color I would probably choose also for these engines. What color are you using? Ford Green DE 1619 Duplicor Engine Paint?

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

the color also varied from supplier to supplier of paint to gm and lot numbers . i have various 327s that the motors was slightly varied . these colors samples i found were located behind the pulley on the damper. i think that many shades existed . i think it is very hard to know what is right or wrong . i had the same questions when i did mine. so i think if you pick a color that is close you are probably correct .

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Where do you get the color Yelmer used?

Steven

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

A lot can happen to a finish of a 45 to 50 year old engine. Years of chemical degreasers can bleach out a color, besides wear and tear hot and cold. Danbury mint does a lot of high end toys and researches there subjects very carefully before pulling the trigger. Here a 292 when brand new.

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Danbury Mints engine compartment for a '66

Re: Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C
 

Been watching this thread and there has been a lot of different colors used between 60-66. Does anyone have a chart detailing what colors were used on what years and engines? I read somewhere that V8's were grey and 6's were blue but I see examples that don't support that. What is the official list? I painted my engine orange because I grw up thinking Chevy was orange, Pontiac was blue, Ford was a different blue. I would like to paint mine the correct color even though it never came factory with a 350.