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The aluminum valve covers had a natural finish. The tin covers were orange. All cast iron intakes were orange as well. Only the aluminum intakes were natural finish. All else you posted is correct.
Engine and engine components were painted in semi-gloss type paint. Do not get Chevy red-orange paint (early 1955-56 V8 paint); get Chevy engine orange color.
My engine in my 73 has never been painted or out of the car then this year I used Por 15 Chevy orange on the top half only and it matches the original bottom half well except it looks much newer that is. Yeah, the red orange is way off anything I ever saw. I replaced the original valve covers that were a little leaky but they were the same orange as the engine.
Thank you for all the photos and information.
The engine I have has a Performer 2021 intake, so I'll keep in aluminum for now.
I have the aluminum valve covers, which I will buff out. Do those get any sealer or just polished?
What are some of your thoughts on the plug wire channels on the side of the block?
They make it a little difficult to change the wires and I can't get the PS (left) side out to clean it (stuck between the block and starter)
Early C3 Engine Colors/Finish?
