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1972 Correct Block Color?

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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 11:40 AM
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Default 1972 Correct Block Color?

Im just curious.. What is the correct color for a production block on a 1972 small block corvette?
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Kevins77
Im just curious.. What is the correct color for a production block on a 1972 small block corvette?
That would be Chevrolet Orange



Regards
Roy
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 12:30 PM
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Chevrolet Orange.

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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 12:32 PM
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Thats what I thought. I knew they were using a more redish color on the camaro's around then, and in the later 70's they went to the chevy blue color.

Thanks!
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 04:41 PM
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Hi Kevin,
Just to clarify a bit.
Although the color may/does vary over the years it really didn't have anything to do with what car line the engine plant was building engines for. I don't believe there were different 'car line' colors.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Kevins77
Thats what I thought. I knew they were using a more redish color on the camaro's around then,

Thanks!
Nope all three engine plants used the same colour orange subject to minor variations.
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 05:23 PM
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if you buy the orange paint from Quanta, the shade is damn near perfect. The stuff you get from the local parts stores has way to much red in the orange.
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 08:24 AM
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What year did they switch to the blue?
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 08:35 AM
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Originally Posted by 929nitro
What year did they switch to the blue?
Sometime between Aug 23 and Sept 7, 1976. 77 model year.

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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by 72ls5fla
if you buy the orange paint from Quanta, the shade is damn near perfect. The stuff you get from the local parts stores has way to much red in the orange.
Thats probably what I've seen thats throwing me off. People claiming a block is "chevy orange" when it looks way closer to a red tint.
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Kevins77
Thats probably what I've seen thats throwing me off. People claiming a block is "chevy orange" when it looks way closer to a red tint.
Ever see 55-62 blocks? They have a very definite red tint to the orange.

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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 11:57 AM
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55 and 56s were actually painted red, not the GM/Chev orange used in 57-77.
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Ward
55 and 56s were actually painted red, not the GM/Chev orange used in 57-77.

I knew they looked more red than orange.
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Old Aug 20, 2010 | 01:48 PM
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All Corvette engines from 57 to early 77 were painted Chevrolet engine orange. 55 engines were generally orange, but apparently it varied sometimes from orange to red, while 56 engines were painted red. Early 1957 265 motors, in passenger cars and trucks, were painted a lime green color, while 283s were painted orange, as was the Corvette 283. Later in 57, all V8s were painted Chevrolet Engine Orange. After 57, all Chevrolet V8s, small blocks, "W" motors (348-409) and big blocks were painted orange; whether in a Corvette or passenger car.

6 cylinders were painted blue through 62. Chevrolet replaced the old "Stovebolt" 235 six, with the new 230 six in 63, and I think they started painting 6 cylinders Chevy Orange then, too.

Staring in 77, all GM engines across all GM brands, were painted "Corporate Blue", to make it easier to switch engines among the brands.
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