VHT GM-Chevy Blue

[Rob M.]

How close is the VHT GM-Chevy blue spray can paint compared to the original paint on the 6 in-line engines in our beloved 53/54 (and some 55) models?

thanks,
Rob

[Steven N.]

Re: VHT GM-Chevy Blue

..........not even close...............

[Troy P.]

Re: VHT GM-Chevy Blue

Remember back in the 70's, 80's and 90's when everyone painted their engines a greenish blue and swore it was the right color? Then in 1989 DuPont revealed the formula for the paint they supplied to GM and it was obvious none of the tints would result in a green tinge.

What you are loooking for is Duco file no. 73119 Blue Motor Enamel. The formula for one quart, using Dulux mixing enamels, is:

1 White 457
15 Blue 741
2 Black 880
14H Red 892
VD 5450 additive 928

Hope that helps you get some made locally. Alternatively you can order rattle cans from the various Corvette parts suppliers. I don't know who has the right stuff thought. Also I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't all get their paint from one supplier.

[Rob M.]

Re: VHT GM-Chevy Blue

Hi Troy,

Thanks, I'll do some asking around if the local suppliers can mix this formular (sounds almost like witch craft if you formulate it like this ;-)

Getting spray cans over the big pond is an issue since these days the shippers consider these things to be dangerous goods (little bombs)...

regards,
Rob

[Troy P.]

Re: VHT GM-Chevy Blue

Another option might be to just take your paint supplier one of many good engine photos of superbly restored 6 cyls and have them match the color. Lots of good photos on the web.

I have an engine photo from a '54 with only 77 miles on it that I saved particularly because the engine paint color would not have been effected by years of engine heat. Also what's really interesting to me is that the valve springs have blue paint on them from when the engine was painted. This implies to me the car came with a chrome valve cover as the painted valve covers were already installed when the engines were painted.