What year did Chevy change engine color form orange to blue? - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dean · 03-17-2004, 01:59 PM

I had a 79 Vette and it was blue.

oldsub86 · 03-17-2004, 02:25 PM

Then there was black. My 86 Suburban had a 350 that was black.
My father had a 1973 pickup that was new and I am sure the motor in it was orange.

cwilli84 · 03-17-2004, 05:13 PM

Definately by 1977 the trucks were blue. My dads 77 burb was blue.

crazy4chevs · 03-17-2004, 08:48 PM

I have a 76 monte motor and its blue.

nu2-72 · 03-17-2004, 10:55 PM

change to blue in 77.

Brewski* · 03-18-2004, 12:58 AM

My 67 had a blue 283 I believe it was stock. Does anyone know if this is right. The truck was a farm truck we bought in about 76.

firemapper · 03-18-2004, 01:26 AM

My original '67 has orange peeking through the crud. Damn oil bath air cleaner. I will be doing a little cleaning soon.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 03-18-2004, 08:35 AM

This same question came up on the Stovebolt Page recently. Their main focus is on GM inlines Pre-'72, but one member did offer an interesting link:
http://mars.ark.com/~babytrkr/mtrcolor.html
As I recall, Chevy engines were blue, then went to orange in the later '60s, then back to blue in the late '70s, then, I guess, black in the late '80s.
Some exceptions: the 261 L6 was an alpine green, so the dealers could tell it from the same exterior sized 235 L6. When the 292 L6s came out ['63 model year] the first couple of years they were this same green, even though the 292 is obviously 1-3/4" inches taller than the 230/250 block. By '67 all L6s and small block V8s were the famous Chevy Engine Orange. I have also heard Big Blocks were painted a slightly redder orange, but I'm not certain.

jamis · 03-18-2004, 08:42 AM

mine is rust color with a grease overtone........and a few lime green coolant high lights.

biglou55 · 03-18-2004, 09:40 AM

My 46 -216 6 cyl. was light blue

Churchill · 04-09-2015, 08:37 PM

My 1970 C20's engine is stock, numbers matching. less than 100k miles... and is/was blue. It's mostly worn off/grimey but what is there is blue. It's confusing

EARNHARDT#3 · 04-09-2015, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Churchill

My 1970 C20's engine is stock, numbers matching. less than 100k miles... and is/was blue. It's mostly worn off/grimey but what is there is blue. It's confusing

But there is no such thing as numbers matching with these trucks.

Churchill · 04-09-2015, 09:40 PM

well I mean to say the engine code has the correct year and engine to match the spid and whatnot. Point is it's not repainted and is somehow blue

ls1nova71 · 04-09-2015, 11:12 PM

Holy old thread revivals, Batman! 11 years and 22 days, has to be some kind of record!?

Churchill · 04-09-2015, 11:35 PM

lol sorry folks. Didn't even realize. Was googling blue chevy engine because I was confused why mine was blue haha

hugger6933 · 04-10-2015, 07:20 AM

I was thinking 77 from the start of reading this post. But almost all re builders painted their rebuilds blue for some reason. I also think the black engines came about in the 80-81 model years they went to black to cut down on warranty work making it harder to see weeping oil seals that leaks small amounts. Jim

**special-K** · 04-10-2015, 07:51 AM

The Blue Flame 6s were blue from what I have heard. Pretty sure about that. They were propane, right?

toms68cst · 04-11-2015, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

Holy old thread revivals, Batman! 11 years and 22 days, has to be some kind of record!?

Wow, For a minute I thought "68 suburban" and "longhorn man" were back!

Eddie H. · 04-11-2015, 12:07 PM

The first year I recall seeing the blue engines was 1977.

stomper · 04-11-2015, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by passthebuck

when my dad got our '79 bel air with a L-6 it was blue

I'd love to have one of these era Bel Air's. Saw an 82 coupe on eBay a looong time ago. Last year for the model sold only in Canada.

03-17-2004, 02:25 PM	#27
oldsub86 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 695	Then there was black. My 86 Suburban had a 350 that was black. My father had a 1973 pickup that was new and I am sure the motor in it was orange. __________________ 1968 Chevy - 292 with a powerglide

03-17-2004, 05:13 PM	#28
cwilli84 1FINE69 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 239	Definately by 1977 the trucks were blue. My dads 77 burb was blue. __________________ Had a 69 swb fleetside 350zz3 w 400turbo trans oak lined bed with rhino coated sides red exterior. SOLD

03-17-2004, 08:48 PM	#29
crazy4chevs Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Des Moines WA. (Kent, area) Posts: 668	I have a 76 monte motor and its blue. __________________ 70 chev c10 swb fleet 72 grill, sb 400, 2/4 drop. 68 chev c10 swb fleet Early classic 4/6 drop with 4wheel disc brakes 9"rear 67-8 buckets tilt and A/C Classic GM Truck Club of Washington .

03-17-2004, 10:55 PM	#30
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	change to blue in 77. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

03-18-2004, 01:26 AM	#32
firemapper Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: California Posts: 13	My original '67 has orange peeking through the crud. Damn oil bath air cleaner. I will be doing a little cleaning soon. __________________ 1967 C 20 Custom Camper

03-17-2004, 01:59 PM	#26
Dean Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,492	I had a 79 Vette and it was blue.

03-18-2004, 12:58 AM	#31
Brewski* Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Rocky Mount, MO Posts: 1,293	My 67 had a blue 283 I believe it was stock. Does anyone know if this is right. The truck was a farm truck we bought in about 76.

03-18-2004, 08:35 AM	#33
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,504	This same question came up on the Stovebolt Page recently. Their main focus is on GM inlines Pre-'72, but one member did offer an interesting link: http://mars.ark.com/~babytrkr/mtrcolor.html As I recall, Chevy engines were blue, then went to orange in the later '60s, then back to blue in the late '70s, then, I guess, black in the late '80s. Some exceptions: the 261 L6 was an alpine green, so the dealers could tell it from the same exterior sized 235 L6. When the 292 L6s came out ['63 model year] the first couple of years they were this same green, even though the 292 is obviously 1-3/4" inches taller than the 230/250 block. By '67 all L6s and small block V8s were the famous Chevy Engine Orange. I have also heard Big Blocks were painted a slightly redder orange, but I'm not certain. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

03-18-2004, 08:42 AM	#34
jamis F.A.S.T. president Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 1,883	mine is rust color with a grease overtone........and a few lime green coolant high lights.

03-18-2004, 09:40 AM	#35
biglou55 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Greenfield Mass. Posts: 551	My 46 -216 6 cyl. was light blue __________________ Certifiably crazy person

04-09-2015, 08:37 PM	#36
Churchill Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bonney Lake Posts: 101	Re: What year did Chevy change engine color form orange to blue? My 1970 C20's engine is stock, numbers matching. less than 100k miles... and is/was blue. It's mostly worn off/grimey but what is there is blue. It's confusing

04-09-2015, 09:40 PM	#38
Churchill Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bonney Lake Posts: 101	Re: What year did Chevy change engine color form orange to blue? well I mean to say the engine code has the correct year and engine to match the spid and whatnot. Point is it's not repainted and is somehow blue

04-09-2015, 11:12 PM	#39
ls1nova71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Independence Mo Posts: 4,118	Re: What year did Chevy change engine color form orange to blue? Holy old thread revivals, Batman! 11 years and 22 days, has to be some kind of record!? __________________ My '72 short bed build. http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conver...6-0-4l80e.html 5.3 swap into my RUSTY '71 C10 http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...71-c-10-a.html

04-09-2015, 11:35 PM	#40
Churchill Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bonney Lake Posts: 101	Re: What year did Chevy change engine color form orange to blue? lol sorry folks. Didn't even realize. Was googling blue chevy engine because I was confused why mine was blue haha

04-10-2015, 07:20 AM	#41
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,280	Re: What year did Chevy change engine color form orange to blue? I was thinking 77 from the start of reading this post. But almost all re builders painted their rebuilds blue for some reason. I also think the black engines came about in the 80-81 model years they went to black to cut down on warranty work making it harder to see weeping oil seals that leaks small amounts. Jim



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04-10-2015, 07:51 AM	#42
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: What year did Chevy change engine color form orange to blue? The Blue Flame 6s were blue from what I have heard. Pretty sure about that. They were propane, right? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

04-11-2015, 12:07 PM	#44
Eddie H. Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Paradise TX USA Posts: 1,200	Re: What year did Chevy change engine color form orange to blue? The first year I recall seeing the blue engines was 1977. __________________ "Negative people always seem to have a problem for every solution"

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