Engine paint ?

[MadMC63]

I know there are general rules that definitely apply. I also know that the different colors age a certain way. I was surprised by the color of my engine enough so that I made a mental note of it. I have observed four colors on my engine to include Ford Blue. The one thing that stands out most to me is the oldest paint beneath it all, greenish, baked on turquoise, the first coat. Newer paints don't age the same way which leads me to believe , at the least, it has been there for a very, very long time.

[abodyjoe]

1970 was the first HP 340 and believe they were the first orange LA motor.

All 340's were hp. They came out in what 68?

[swptln]

1970 was the first HP 340 and believe they were the first orange LA motor.

All 340's were hp. They came out in what 68?

Yes, it was 68 and they were all HP motors, but the 70 was the first painted orange, sorry should have worded it differently.
I'm not sure if it was only the 6-packs that were orange, because I've seen some of the later 340's painted blue.
So, 68 and 69 might have been the only year painted red and the rest all blue for 4-bbl motors?

[swptln]

I know there are general rules that definitely apply. I also know that the different colors age a certain way. I was surprised by the color of my engine enough so that I made a mental note of it. I have observed four colors on my engine to include Ford Blue. The one thing that stands out most to me is the oldest paint beneath it all, greenish, baked on turquoise, the first coat. Newer paints don't age the same way which leads me to believe , at the least, it has been there for a very, very long time.

One thing I know for sure is that LA engines were never painted turquoise from the factory, that I do know.
They were either red, blue, orange and then black.
The only engines painted turquoise were the A, B and RB engines.

[chilort]

Is there a current engine paint code for the turquoise color used on the 318s of the early 60's?

If you are looking for an actual paint, I've used VHT-SP126.

I also use Rustoleum rusty metal primer. And, on small parts that fit in the oven, I have a habit of baking the parts for a few hours at 200* to help set the paint (generally when my wife isn't home! ).

[abodyjoe]

1970 was the first HP 340 and believe they were the first orange LA motor.

All 340's were hp. They came out in what 68?

Yes, it was 68 and they were all HP motors, but the 70 was the first painted orange, sorry should have worded it differently.
I'm not sure if it was only the 6-packs that were orange, because I've seen some of the later 340's painted blue.
So, 68 and 69 might have been the only year painted red and the rest all blue for 4-bbl motors?

Early ones were red. Then turquoise (though some red squeezed out) then 70 went orange and I believe it was 72 or 73 when the 340 went blue.

[66patrick]

The 340 has been red, blue, or orange, depending on year. In 1970, it could've been any of the three. In1972 and 1973, the 340 was Corporate Blue.

[abodyjoe]

The 340 has been red, blue, or orange, depending on year. In 1970, it could've been any of the three. In1972 and 1973, the 340 was Corporate Blue.

was also turquoise, so depending on year it could be any of 4 colors.

68-red
69 turquoise or red. guys still debate this one
70-71 340 orange
73-73 blue.

[RussRoth]

The 340 has been red, blue, or orange, depending on year. In 1970, it could've been any of the three. In1972 and 1973, the 340 was Corporate Blue.

was also turquoise, so depending on year it could be any of 4 colors.

68-red
69 turquoise or red. guys still debate this one
70-71 340 orange
73-73 blue.

I have owned 2 '69 340 swingers and both engines were turquoise. My brother also owned one with turquoise engine.

[abodyjoe]

The 340 has been red, blue, or orange, depending on year. In 1970, it could've been any of the three. In1972 and 1973, the 340 was Corporate Blue.

was also turquoise, so depending on year it could be any of 4 colors.

68-red
69 turquoise or red. guys still debate this one
70-71 340 orange
73-73 blue.

I have owned 2 '69 340 swingers and both engines were turquoise. My brother also owned one with turquoise engine.

i agree. most 69 seem to be turquoise. but theres always a couple that swear that their 69 had a red 340. maybe it was a real early 69 who knows.. just never know when it comes to chrysler..

[66patrick]

My '69 340 4-speed Dart GTS had a red engine from the start.

[abodyjoe]

My '69 340 4-speed Dart GTS had a red engine from the start.

what was the production date? was it a early 69 car?

[dbolterII]

I own a 64 d~100 with a poly that is turquoise I believe it is original....~d

[64Powerwagon]

Late '64 original color. Still available from Mopar parts. I'll post p/n later when I'm near the empty can.

[Wildergarten]

Late '64 original color. Still available from Mopar parts. I'll post p/n later when I'm near the empty can.

Just curious... Is that a shelf you have for what appear to be ammo boxes? Whuzzat?

[Kaegi]

in 61 there was slant six and polys that were gold.

[64Powerwagon]

Ammo boxes for tools and spare parts.

[MadMC63]

This color debate is kind of funny. I found this and thought what the hey.
Mopar Engine Colors Through The Years

Below are the Mopar numbers for the various engine paints used by Chrysler from the 1940s.

Black - Mopar P4120753

1981-up 2.2L engines
1983-up 318 and 360 engines
All production Jeep engines

Race Hemi Orange - Mopar P4120751 (A bright orange color)

1962-1964 Max Wedge engines (413 and 426 Cross Ram)
1964-1965 426 Race Hemis 426 Race Hemis

Street Hemi Orange - Mopar P4349216 (A reddish orange color commonly referred to as "Hemi Orange.")

1966-1971 426 Street Hemis
1969-1971 High performance 383 and 440 engines
1970-1971 340 engines

Turquoise - Mopar P4120752 (Medium blue-green color)

1962-1971 All B/RB big blocks.
1969 LA 340's.

Red - Mopar P4349218 (Bright red color)
This "red" color is NOT THE SAME as the "red" that MP sells, nor does commercially available (Krylon, Plasti-Cote) "Chrysler Red" paint match the original Slant-6 red color. NAPA sells an exact match of the slightly orangish red used on some 1960-1969 Slant 6 engines. It is NAPA Farm equipment spray paint, International-Harvester Red, made by Martin Senour.


Late 1960s Poly 318 engines and Slant 6 engines
1964-1969 All 273 engines
1967-1969 LA 318s
1968 340s

Blue - Mopar P4349217 (Medium blue color)

1972-1983 All production engines except the 2.2
1969-1972 LA 318s
1969 340s

Blue - (No Mopar number) (Color code never appeared in manuals)
Slightly darker than the standard blue used on the 70's LA engines. Paint also turned Turquoise with heat. Even Galen Govier does not have a spec for mixing. This paint was used on a lot of 340' and other LA engines in late 69. Most restorers use Blue Mopar P4349217 (above) to repaint and
the judges agree.

Yellow - Mopar P4529144

Mid 1963 to mid-1969 Slant 6 truck engines ONLY

Aluminum Silver - Mopar P4529148.

Most 1940s to early 1960 engines, including most of the early Hemis and 1950s Poly engines were painted this color. Silver was also used on all the flathead 6's except that the performance option in the 30's included a high compression head that was painted bright red.

Gold Metallic - Mopar P4529149. Used from the late 50s and early 60s

"Golden Lion" engines
"Golden Commando" engines
DeSoto "Adventurer" engines

Your car means it's your choice on engine color. The only one you've got to please is you unless you're doing a concours resto.

[MadMC63]

Blue - (No Mopar number) (Color code never appeared in manuals)
Slightly darker than the standard blue used on the 70's LA engines. Paint also turned Turquoise with heat. Even Galen Govier does not have a spec for mixing. This paint was used on a lot of 340' and other LA engines in late 69. Most restorers use Blue Mopar P4349217 (above) to repaint and
the judges agree.

When I posted this I remembered discussing engine color at an earlier time and arguing that my engine was turquoise originally.

[sh0rtlife]

when it comes to the "correct" red youll find that the 3 main off the shelf brands change the mix constantly and NEVER is the chrysler/mopar red ever correct, typicaly one of them will have a "generic" red that is right, the red your looking for will be BRIGHT true red, not brick or orangish, my standard has become when its time, go grab one of each brands standard red, come home test shoot on a small scrap of steel then return the 2 wrong ones and grab more of the good one

the "brick" red that most companys pass off as mopar red will useualy fade out in a BAD way, and the orange version will fade more orange and look like a chevy red, the true bright red will bake in and look genuine every time