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Old Sep 6, 2013 | 10:02 PM
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Default Engine paint question

Maybe this is common knowledge to some, but was the small block in a C1 ALL orange, or was it just the block, heads and intake? Did they build the whole engine and paint it before installing it, or did they paint before building?
Also, what color was the motor mount originally- black or orange? I've seen both ways.
Just one of those laying in bed mind wandering questions, figured you guys would know!
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Old Sep 6, 2013 | 10:46 PM
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JohnZ posted a photo of the engine line in 1959 showing the answers to many of your questions

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1579233785-post9.html

The engine mount in 56-62 were orange. The brackets on the frame were black. I'm unsure about 55.

Last edited by 62Jeff; Sep 6, 2013 at 11:07 PM.
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Old Sep 6, 2013 | 11:35 PM
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Early small blocks in some passenger cars and trucks were yellow.
I don't think any of these made it into Corvettes.

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Old Sep 7, 2013 | 09:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon
Early small blocks in some passenger cars and trucks were yellow.
I don't think any of these made it into Corvettes.


Wow - that's something I haven't seen before. Wonder what Chevrolet was thinking there. Maybe a bean counter found a truck load of cheap yellow paint somewhere?
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Old Sep 7, 2013 | 09:52 AM
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One correction. Since the original poster asked about C1's, the '53 through '56 were actually painted a specific shade of red, not orange. The OP is more interested in knowing what was painted as opposed to what color, but he didn't mention what C1 model year he was speaking of and I would hate to see him do a beautiful job of painting, but with the wrong color.
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Old Sep 7, 2013 | 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Panama 58
One correction. Since the original poster asked about C1's, the '53 through '56 were actually painted a specific shade of red, not orange. The OP is more interested in knowing what was painted as opposed to what color, but he didn't mention what C1 model year he was speaking of and I would hate to see him do a beautiful job of painting, but with the wrong color.
Panama58
Good catch
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Old Sep 7, 2013 | 10:06 AM
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Thanks for all of the replies! It is a '59. Just trying to make it as "period correct" as possible while the engine is out.
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Old Sep 7, 2013 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by 62Jeff
JohnZ posted a photo of the engine line in 1959 showing the answers to many of your questions

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1579233785-post9.html

The engine mount in 56-62 were orange. The brackets on the frame were black. I'm unsure about 55.
since you mentioned 55, the masked off areas are: the last 1" of the water pump outlet and intake manifold water outlet, brass fitting 135628 was masked with tape, the treaded studs of the exhaust manifolds, a coffee can was placed over the distributor,the fuel pump machined pad was masked with tape, the engine pad was masked with tape, the carburetor gasket mating surface was blocked off by a cardboard dust cover also covering the carb studs, sparkplugs had sleeves over the entire length, the flywheel and inside of the clutch housing had to be paint free, the harmonic balancer pulley "V" grove was masked by tape, the water pump pulley mounting flange was masked off, clutch fork. painted areas included the exhaust manifolds. item not assembled to engine and therefore not painted the engine color are the water pump pulley,ignition brackets, engine oil dipstick, fuel pump mounting plate and draft tube. a item that has been mentioned in a recent post as being painted black is the generator brace. the memo regarding the brace did not come out till several months after the 55 corvette was in production. (braces could be bent while shipping) it is possible that some very early cars could have had the generator support painted the engine color.

Last edited by scopeli; Sep 7, 2013 at 11:09 AM.
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Old Sep 7, 2013 | 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by TheDuder
Maybe this is common knowledge to some, but was the small block in a C1 ALL orange, or was it just the block, heads and intake? Did they build the whole engine and paint it before installing it, or did they paint before building?
Also, what color was the motor mount originally- black or orange? I've seen both ways.
Just one of those laying in bed mind wandering questions, figured you guys would know!
The engine was painted after hot-test, then shipped (at 300 per hour). Photo below shows '55 engines leaving the shipping dock at Flint V-8; they're passenger car engines - remove the generator brace and add the front motormount sandwiched between the water pump and the block, and that's what the Corvette engine would look like.
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