1977 small block oil pan

[Jim A.]

Can anyone weigh in on how to properly restore this oil finish on my 350 small block engine. I am painting the engine with Duplicolor DE1610 called a Pontiac Blue engine paint followed by a Duplicolor Clear gloss engine enamel. I am priming with a Rustoleum engine primer.
Page 209 of judging manual (rev.3) states "In most cases, expect no paint coverage on the bottom of the oil pan and the lower cylinder block area. Oil pan paint runs and sags, frequently seen on the sides, are typical but uniform coverage on the oil pain es considered over-restoration." I assume the pan was painted on the engine for this statement to be true. I want to paint the pan now after removing all the grease and rust before mounting it back on the block later.
Incidently the 3rd edition 1975-1977 manual is excellent. Kudos to those who rewrote this.350 small block oil pan.jpg

[Tom R.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

Can anyone weigh in on how to properly restore this oil finish on my 350 small block engine. I am painting the engine with Duplicolor DE1610 called a Pontiac Blue engine paint followed by a Duplicolor Clear gloss engine enamel. I am priming with a Rustoleum engine primer.
Page 209 of judging manual (rev.3) states "In most cases, expect no paint coverage on the bottom of the oil pan and the lower cylinder block area. Oil pan paint runs and sags, frequently seen on the sides, are typical but uniform coverage on the oil pain es considered over-restoration." I assume the pan was painted on the engine for this statement to be true. I want to paint the pan now after removing all the grease and rust before mounting it back on the block later.

Yes, the entire engine was painted at one time...that includes the oil pan gasket. It sounds like your triple coat will result in over-restoration and may not match the rest of the block. I would suggest dropping the gloss coat.

Incidently the 3rd edition 1975-1977 manual is excellent. Kudos to those who rewrote this.

Thanks...nice to get those compliments on a relatively new revision...team worked diligently to get it as right as possible.

[Jim A.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

Tom, Thank you for that quick response.
I will put it away for now and paint it with the block, heads, and intake manifold. It sound like it is best just to paint the pan from the side and let the paint run down. Do you agree?

[Tom R.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

What is your intent? As I recall the Pontiac blue is darker than the GM Corporate blue. As well, the originality is now gone so are you restoring it to simulate originality? Then how do you protect the bare metal? That's the Catch-22 of restoration; paint the pan and the finish drifts from typical factory finish while...or paint to simulate originality but then the finish may be detected as atypical. Either way, if we are talking deductions, it's a 20% deduction.

Others views may differ but I would paint the pan. Remember, the finish was light, misty and one pan's finish may not be the same as another pan's finish!

[Larry E.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

Jim>When I restored my 1977 Chevy Sport Truck(Now For Sale) with a LS-9 350 CI I could never find the exact paint
that would match the GM Corporate Blue after a complete search for it. NO ONE MAKES THAT COLOR PAINT. The original
GM paint had a "touch of green" in the blue color. The closest I found was with my "powder painter" which had a color number
5012. Not sure what supplier he used. I took a sample of that color to my local paint store and they made me up a spray can
that matched that number. Pictures of my engine(NCRS Specs) below. Hope this helps. Larry P.S. My engine is
a "Heavy
Duty" Emissions engine which had No Air Pump/No Cat/Required Lead in the gas. This was one of the last Chevrolet Engines
that had this designation.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

FYI, in restoring valve covers for a 1977 I found that Seymour's Chevy engine blue was the closest to what was originally on the engine.
You may want to test more than one brand. I keep 4 versions of Chevy orange here to get closest when able.

[Jim A.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

I have included a photo of the Duplicolor DE1610 Pontiac Blue on the thermostat housing next to the accelerator support assemblywhich has original paint on it I am not artistic but I think the color is a good match.
My intent is to leave it better than I found it and as close to original as possible.paint match.jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

I have included a photo of the Duplicolor DE1610 Pontiac Blue on the thermostat housing next to the accelerator support assemblywhich has original paint on it I am not artistic but I think the color is a good match.
My intent is to leave it better than I found it and as close to original as possible.[ATTACH=CONFIG]117161[/ATTACH]

Jim------


The problem I have found with most engine paints is that they are too glossy. Original engine paints, orange or blue, were NOT glossy either when the engines were new or later. I would describe them as a VERY LOW GLOSS.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

Jim------


The problem I have found with most engine paints is that they are too glossy. Original engine paints, orange or blue, were NOT glossy either when the engines were new or later. I would describe them as a VERY LOW GLOSS.

I recently painted a water pump. To get the factory look, I applied VERY thin coats from a distance away. Better yet was using a bit of outdoor breeze to blow the paint onto the pump. Most apply it too thick and too close, resulting in a thick, glossy look.

[Tom R.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

Better yet was using a bit of outdoor breeze to blow the paint onto the pump. Most apply it too thick and too close, resulting in a thick, glossy look.

Now there's a technique not easily forgotten!

Probably ten years ago, I used Eastman's GM Corporate Blue and airbrushed it to get that particular "thin" look. However, they dropped it!

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

Now there's a technique not easily forgotten!

Probably ten years ago, I used Eastman's GM Corporate Blue and airbrushed it to get that particular "thin" look. However, they dropped it!

I have an old stainless table (think deli prep) outside, and it works great for all kinds of work a bit too messy for inside the shop.
Lay a piece of cardboard on it, and it's a nice place to paint.

Think "fogging on" the paint rather than spraying it on.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1977 small block oil pan

Now there's a technique not easily forgotten!

Probably ten years ago, I used Eastman's GM Corporate Blue and airbrushed it to get that particular "thin" look. However, they dropped it!

Tom------


Bill Hirsch paints has the PERFECT gloss level, at least for Chevrolet orange. The problem is they do not have the color right for Chevrolet orange. I don't know about corporate blue.