1966 C10 Correct engine color (foam green) for the 283 V8

[64jmb]

Hello,
I am putting in a new motor in my 66 C10 and was considering the factory green for engine color instead of the orange. Anyone know what the color it is and where to get it and did them make stickers to go on the valve covers as well for the 283? Please let me know thanks! 64jmb@cox.net

[TJ's Chevy]

I am not sure of the Factory color, but I did used Dupli color engine paint Alpine Green for my GMC V6 and it's darn close if not exact.

[cv65]

I also used alpine green, although Im not stock

[62stepside longbox]

Originally Posted by cv65

I also used alpine green, although Im not stock

Wow that is a beautiful 327! Excellent job on it

[jocko]

looky here - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=392554 - post #11, very helpful. Footnote calls out alpine green (plastikote, but am sure several hi-temp coating paints provide same). Some threads reference the 327 being gray, but they are incorrect. Green is correct for 327, gray for 283. Recommend give member Chipflyer a shout regarding the engine stickers - but the truck vendors carry them also (LMC, etc - most all of them I believe)

[64jmb]

ok thanks for the info. I am planning on a crate new 350 but wanted to paint it to look like the original 283. So do I do the green or the grey or the orange? I like the green as my truck is original 503 green truck, but the motor is orange and believe it was orange from the factory. Ill bet they ran out of paint and just used what they had there is a guess from that article that was posted. I am planning on driving mine so I really did not want rebuild my original 283 and it run warm here in the desert, not to say for sure, but my experience with rebuilds in AZ can run warm at least on the 289's when I had my mustangs. A new crate 350 seems to be a much better deal right from Chevrolet 190HP/230HP with 4BBL GM Alum intake and a 36 month 100K mile warranty $1499 long block, and they have the GM Aluminum intake and the holly recommended from them right at the dealership. Seems like a great deal to me!

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by 64jmb

ok thanks for the info. I am planning on a crate new 350 but wanted to paint it to look like the original 283. So do I do the green or the grey or the orange? I like the green as my truck is original 503 green truck, but the motor is orange and believe it was orange from the factory. Ill bet they ran out of paint and just used what they had there is a guess from that article that was posted. I am planning on driving mine so I really did not want rebuild my original 283 and it run warm here in the desert, not to say for sure, but my experience with rebuilds in AZ can run warm at least on the 289's when I had my mustangs. A new crate 350 seems to be a much better deal right from Chevrolet 190HP/230HP with 4BBL GM Alum intake and a 36 month 100K mile warranty $1499 long block, and they have the GM Aluminum intake and the holly recommended from them right at the dealership. Seems like a great deal to me!

They didn't start using orange until 1967. If your 283 ran a little warm it was a coolant problem not the motor itself. A new 350 will be no better. Will run just as warm if you don't add some cooling power.

[64jmb]

Ya the 283 is a great engine, it has served its purpose well! But I like the 350 idea better. For one it will pull a trailer better then the 283 from everyone I have spoke to and the water jackets will be really clean no thin cylinder walls from the rebuild, not saying that all rebuilds are like that, but this motor is pretty worn out. The newer technology new never used clean block with the aluminum radiator and intake from GM with the warranty too good of a deal. My truck is staying all original in appearance, but the motor and fact in-dash AC is all going to be updated for daily driving. As far as the engine color I know that 67 was orange but the articles I have seen say if they ran out of paint they used what they had and all the other engines at that time were orange including 283's in the cars. And it seems like Ill bet later in the 66 model year they may had already switched over to orange from the gray. Seems some of the original 66 trucks I have seen have the orange 283's, not gray. Maybe they were later in the year, the last ones on the line. Ya never know.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by 64jmb

Ya the 283 is a great engine, it has served its purpose well! But I like the 350 idea better. For one it will pull a trailer better then the 283 from everyone I have spoke to and the water jackets will be really clean no thin cylinder walls from the rebuild, not saying that all rebuilds are like that, but this motor is pretty worn out. The newer technology new never used clean block with the aluminum radiator and intake from GM with the warranty too good of a deal. My truck is staying all original in appearance, but the motor and fact in-dash AC is all going to be updated for daily driving. As far as the engine color I know that 67 was orange but the articles I have seen say if they ran out of paint they used what they had and all the other engines at that time were orange including 283's in the cars. And it seems like Ill bet later in the 66 model year they may had already switched over to orange from the gray. Seems some of the original 66 trucks I have seen have the orange 283's, not gray. Maybe they were later in the year, the last ones on the line. Ya never know.

They did do some strange stuff. haha I'd paint it the color you like best. Like said, grey would be original for that year. And, less used. I've seen thousands of Orange SBC's. A grey one is a nice change. haha But whichever color you choose will look great. A big dual core aluminum water with electric fans and a shroud would be best. It might trailer a load a bit better.....personally I think with a 290/350 you'd actually Feel a difference...but torque is the important factor here.

[bpmcgee]

64jmb,

No matter which engine you pick, make sure that it has the correct radiator and radiator shroud. As TJ pointed out, those will have the biggest effect on cooling.

[62 Barnfind]

I am still running a 235 in my 62 which is gray. I found that Jim Carter has the correct blue gray but they want $45 for a quart. So I went with Ford gray and its real close. The only way you can tell is if you had another engine next to it. I vote for gray!

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by 62 Barnfind

FORD gray

So That's why it spun a bearing! lol

[64jmb]

Hey Guys, Where can I get the Alpine Green paint in a can? I think I wasn't to paint it green..... Let me know! I am taking it in Friday for the new motor!

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by 64jmb

Hey Guys, Where can I get the Alpine Green paint in a can? I think I wasn't to paint it green..... Let me know! I am taking it in Friday for the new motor!

Napa no way, O'riellys, Auto zone. I got mine from Napa. Duplicolor Alpine green. Edit: Spray can or Can to pour in a spray gun?

[64jmb]

Hi TJ,
Thanks, so I have it right, NAPA Auto parts, O'Relieys, And AutoZone carry it in store right? And the color is called Alpine Green and named on the can and 2 cans covers it? Is it gloss or is it satin in the sheen? Or do they have both? Let me know and how many cans would be great thanks!

[66Submarine]

Just FWIW on the 290hp 350, most say don't do it anyway. AFAIK it's the same weak-suck goodwrench 350 for $750 more (???) with the addition of a 222/222@.050 cam that really doesn't belong there. I think the actual compression on those is 7.8:1? Not exactly what you want to see for a NA hot rod piece. Bad heads and low compression. A cam and lifter kit costs $100 anyway if you wanted that.

The smaller cam is vastly better suited to that engine and your intended purpose. If you want a hot rod engine later on, just stick some Vortec heads on there with a mild cam. It's a proven combo that will do everything better than the 290HP 350.

[66Submarine]

And yes, it's ceramic high-temp engine paint. Plasti-Kote or Duplicolor will probably be what you find. (Detroit Diesel) Alpine Green.

[theastronaut]

I think Duplicolor or ValSpar makes a touch up can for 2003 Nissan Sunlit Sand, code EVO. Should be a close match to your wheel.