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I'm swapping my 1979 to a BB (gen 6) and I'm trying to decide what color to paint the engine, black or orange.
I know 1979 never came with a BB and everything by 79 was black, but hey, it's a resto-mod so I can do whatever I want. I'm thinking black but I'd love some other input.
I'm swapping my 1979 to a BB (gen 6) and I'm trying to decide what color to paint the engine, black or orange.
I know 1979 never came with a BB and everything by 79 was black, but hey, it's a resto-mod so I can do whatever I want. I'm thinking black but I'd love some other input.
In 79, the engines were painted GM Corporate Blue, they didn't start painting engines black until late 82. The blue was used from about January 77, until about July 82.
Personally I've always liked the Chevrolet Engine Orange most, but if you're trying to give your big block conversion a "stock" looking appearance, the blue might be the way to go. I've never been a fan of black engines. The black always makes it harder to find leaks, and makes an already dark engine compartment, look even darker.
Honestly, unless you are going to paint the heads and manifold, you will not see much of the block at all. C3 engine compartment is tight with the big block.
I would not do black just for leaks, etc. I did orange to be traditional. I also considered orange valve covers, but I got a good deal on these Ansen powedrcoated black. Most of what you see on my engine is unpainted aluminum (heads, manifold, water pump).
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C7 of the Year Winner -- Modified
2020 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
If it as mine, I would not use any standard engine color. I would use some accent car color that goes with the silver you car is painted say .. metallic grey, deep blue, yellow, purple something like that
If it as mine, I would not use any standard engine color. I would use some accent car color that goes with the silver you car is painted say .. metallic grey, deep blue, yellow, purple something like that
That's a cool idea, I hadn't thought in those terms. I'll give that a look.
^^^^ I like this idea. I've used catalyzed enamel on engines before and it holds up remarkably well if the bare metal is prepped correctly (holds up much better than the rattle can engine enamels - which aren't all that bad). This opens up a whole new set of options - from an exact match to your car, complimentary, contrast, etc. You might consider your caliper color at the same time? BTW, I like the way you're thinking!
I agree with all who mentioned that black makes it harder to work on. I painted the 454 that I swapped into my 77 K10 black (don't remember my reason ) and it seems like the Black color sucks all of the light out of the engine compartment. Harder to see details leaks, missing fasteners etc...
Silver block, heads and intake, set off by black accessories and brackets.
Throw on a few well planned chromed or polished aluminum pieces and it will pop when you open the hood.
I have painted my engines red, orange, corporate blue, Detroit green, and Cummins tan in recent years. I am not a fan of black.
my current 350 in the 80 c3 is cummins tan. Car is red and inside is doe skin. I went with the tan to contrast the red, match the doe skin , be easy to spot leaks, and be different. Looks good with flat black accents.
here is my formula for painting engine blocks...
clean and degrease.
scuff with sand paper and wire wheels
soak down with POR 15 Marieke clean for an acid key and rust nutrilizer
2 coats of POR 15 Aluminum color. You could leave it in this as it looks real cool. I let this soak in and it self levels amazing.
when second coat of the por is tacky I shoot a color coat and then top coat with color as it flashes.
gives a great long lasting finish. And can be done in freaking temps ...
I too coat with the engine spray paint because it makes touch up easer later if I need too.
corp blue on these valve covers and just the por on the intake
I own a black 79, and my engine was black when I got the car. It's the original small block that someone painted black somewhere along the way. I painted it the incorrect chevy orange, as opposed to the correct corporate blue, because to me all small blocks and in your case big blocks should be chevy orange, so you should be able to guess what my vote was.
1979 BBC - Black or Orange
