Strange one, any ideas?

[John M.]

I bought a 493 waterpump a few weeks ago and found some strange things when I took it apart today. The waterpump was a flint 493 casting and when I took it apart I found all the mating surfaces to be like new with original factory machining marks intact and no corroison on the neck or the internals of the pump. This matched up with the story of this pump sitting in a cabinet for over 30 years. When I started bead blasting it, as I cut through the grease, I found that the pump was painted a pale yellow color and I found no evidence of any other color as I cleaned the pump to it's bare cast state. Did any GM division paint any of their engines this color or was the small block used in any marine applications tht anybody knows of that used this light yellow color? all of the internals were original parts, so it is unlikely that this pump was used on anything other than a brand-new engine, but the color is a real puzzle!

Regards, John McGraw

[Joe L.]

Re: Strange one, any ideas?

John------

I think that GMC truck may have used that color on engines of the period.

[John M.]

Re: Strange one, any ideas?

Thanks Joe,
That would make sense since Flint produced truck engines as well as Corvette engines! I never realized that GMC used such a color on their engines. I guess that I just never paid any attention, and since Flint did not date code their 493 castings like Towanda did, I could not verify it's age for sure.

Regards, John McGraw

[G B.]

'57 Chevy 265?

I believe that the passenger car 265 V-8's were painted yellow in 1957.

I had one once. What a stone.

[John M.]

Re: '57 Chevy 265?

Amazing what you learn here! I never knew that any Chevrolet passenger engines were that color. It was a real treat finding a pump in such perfect condition.

Regards, John McGraw

[Bill W.]

Re: '57 Chevy 265?

in 57, chevy used up their left over 265s in cheapo models .power co, water co, and sedan deliverys etc. a friend of mine has a complete one.they called it chartreuse. they are rare. unfortunately not many people restore 55/57 chevys.

[Tom Parsons]

Re: '57 Chevy 265?

In 57 Pass cars, the 265 was NOT a left over engine. The 57 265 was a regular option, 2bl only, and available in several models.

[Calvin M.]

Re: '57 Chevy 265?

Bill -
Tom is right. I owned an original 57 Bel Air with the 265. Three-on-the-tree
and s-l-o-w.
Cal Milans