S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

[Larry E.]

I think we can all agree(In General) that the original "Chevy Orange" engine paint "tint" was
different from the Flint S/B/C compared to the Tonawanda B/B/C. Starting to
refresh my 66 L72 that was in hibernation. At best that I can describe is that the S/B/C
has more Red tint in it then the B/B/C. The B/B/C has what I describe is more of a "Pumpkin"
orange.
At any rate what is the current thinking of the best paint available now for the B/B/C?? Has
anybody researched this lately?? Please Comment and Thanks>Larry P.S. Yes I know the paint
suppliers DID change throughout the years and different results did happen.

[Mark E.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

I think we can all agree(In General) that the original "Chevy Orange" engine paint "tint" was
different from the Flint S/B/C compared to the Tonawanda B/B/C. Starting to
refresh my 66 L72 that was in hibernation. At best that I can describe is that the S/B/C
has more Red tint in it then the B/B/C. The B/B/C has what I describe is more of a "Pumkin"
orange.
At any rate what is the current thinking of the best paint available now for the B/B/C?? Has
anybody researched this lately?? Please Comment and Thanks>Larry P.S. Yes I know the paint
suppliers DID change throughout the years and different results did happen.

No research on my part. But my recollection from back in the day is the opposite of yours- BBC was more reddish than SBC. But this is based on just a few cars and an old memory. Have any documents from Chevy emerged stating a practice to have a deliberate difference between BBC and SBC color shades?

With that said, your comments reflect past discussions here and elsewhere- this paint was bought in bulk over the years with little regard for variation in shades of color. So my thinking is there may be no correlation between plant, engine type and color shade. But the color for a given engine plant may be consistent over the weeks/months they worked through their current batch of paint. I don't know this; just a thought.

[Keith B.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

the thousands of gallons each plant would have gone through a shift I really could not see it staying the same tint all the time.

[Joe R.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

The closest to BBC paint I have found is DUPONT DULUX ENAMEL #73121D H, Doubt it is available as the label says CONTAINS LEAD! Recieved the formula in the 70's from a guy named Mike Hanson!
Not even close to SBC red! Looked good on my 66 BBC.

JR

[Larry E.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

Joe:Thanks for the reply. Yes would be very hard to find let alone in a "rattle can". Anybody else
on this subject? If I am forced to use my S/B/C paint (Quanta Products) which is very good for
my L75 but would be very hard to blend in on my L72. JMHO>Thanks>Larry P.S. Sounds like I am
reaching a dead-end.

[Mark F.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

Larry,

The other forum has a string on this...

Lots of different brands and favorites mentioned

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes/4005467-chevy-orange-engine-painting.html

[Bruce G.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

I think we can all agree(In General) that the original "Chevy Orange" engine paint "tint" was
different from the Flint S/B/C compared to the Tonawanda B/B/C. Starting to
refresh my 66 L72 that was in hibernation. At best that I can describe is that the S/B/C
has more Red tint in it then the B/B/C. The B/B/C has what I describe is more of a "Pumpkin"
orange.
At any rate what is the current thinking of the best paint available now for the B/B/C?? Has
anybody researched this lately?? Please Comment and Thanks>Larry P.S. Yes I know the paint
suppliers DID change throughout the years and different results did happen.

IMG_0821.jpgIMG_1326.jpgIMG_1331.jpg

Larry - Not sure this paint is still available but very satisfied with color shade.............'63 TF SWC.

[Joe L.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]118109[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]118110[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]118111[/ATTACH]

Larry - Not sure this paint is still available but very satisfied with color shade.............'63 TF SWC.

Bruce------


This is very similar to the spray can paint that used to be available from GM under GM #1051393 and 1052437. However, in my opinion. while it has about the right gloss level, it's far too orange for 1962-69 small blocks. The engine paint originally used in PRODUCTION for those years had MUCH more red in it.

I posted a photo of the original valve covers removed from my original owner 1969 in about 1971. The color in the photo very well represents the color as it originally appeared. I recall very well that mid year small blocks, especially 1963-65, were this exact same color. The thread where I posted the pictures is below:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?125280-flatten-agent-compatible-with-Bill-Hirsch-enamel-paint&highlight=chevrolet+orange

[Ronald L.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

Larry, yes it was more yellow, pumpkin is a perfect description.

One way to know this is the few 427 survivor cars....

Now to the spec and making some...

Would love to know who has all of Mike Hanson's GM spec books, etc.

What we do not know is if the spec was for Flint or Tonawanda, or both. If it came out of Chevy Central Engineering, both, need to see that book I know he had.

Also, the concept mentioned above that the paint varied all over the color spectrum, fuggedaboutit. There was a specification and there are still people around that tested this stuff to ensure it met specs, color tint included. Yes there were slight veriations allowed, but Chevy Orange wasn't red.

Now, since I have all the Rally Red...I know a little lot about how these color were assembled.

I don't have the contacts to get the break out of that DuPont # mentioned, but I bet collectively we can get it with a little work.

Also I do know that the Orange component has lead. The bigger issue was the lacquer suppliers were being shut down to make more complicated chemicals we know little about, but ten years from now will be more dangerous than Pb. We are still alive. FWIW... You have had more lead exposure to the paint in your houses built before 1985 than spraying a car with no mask.

[Joe R.]

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/search.php?searchid=245261

[Ronald L.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

Joe, Link goes to a blank page.

THe DuPont paint code cross reference details so far:

Paint Manufacturer Codes
PPG/Ditzler : 60339
Dupont : 73121

[Mark F.]

₄). Lead oxide chromate (Pb₂₄) is orange-red.The difference in the two colors is related to particle size

[James W.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

I used Bill Hursh Chevrolet Orange on a '65 396 and Martin Seymour Chevrolet Orange on my '64 327. Both have went through all level of flight judging with no comments or deducions regarding the paint color or shine. See pictures below.


James

[Joe L.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

Joe, Link goes to a blank page.

THe DuPont paint code cross reference details so far:

Paint Manufacturer Codes
PPG/Ditzler : 60339
Dupont : 73121

Ronald------

It works for me.

[Joe R.]

Re: S/B/C vs. B/B/C Engine Paint (Current Thinking)

Ron,

Here’s another try, the link works if you just paste it into a browser:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/search.php?searchid=245467

If no joy, I suggest just doing the advanced search I suggested in my previous post.

Joe

P.S. I just tried clicking the link in this post and it worked.