Chevy Orange Engine Paint

[Frederick W.]

I decided to do some detailing on both my 68 and 63 engine compartments, where the paint on the valve covers and intakes are a bit tired.
Painted those items with Duplicolor Chevy orange (color 1620), which looked nice, but at first seemed a little too orange. As it dried it matched the existing paint on my 68 intake pretty well, and I plan to paint that intake anyway.
The 63 had aftermarket aluminum finned valve covers, and I ordered the original style steel repops from Long Island Corvette. They came painted, but the color is a "redder" orange.
Duplicolor also has a Chevy orange-red color (color 1607), which may be closer to what came on these valve covers.
Which color is more accurate for Chevy small blocks?

thanks
Fred

[Patrick N.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Fred,

I only use chevy orange from Bill Hirsch in NJ. In my humble opinion it is the best match going. Bill's high temp engine enamel is batch made so pick up a couple cans at a time to ensure same batch. it is good for years 55, 57-75 (not 56)
www.hirschauto.com 800 828 2061

I have it on my 68 engine currently and very happy.

good luck,

Pat
68 427/400
88

[Joe L.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

I decided to do some detailing on both my 68 and 63 engine compartments, where the paint on the valve covers and intakes are a bit tired.
Painted those items with Duplicolor Chevy orange (color 1620), which looked nice, but at first seemed a little too orange. As it dried it matched the existing paint on my 68 intake pretty well, and I plan to paint that intake anyway.
The 63 had aftermarket aluminum finned valve covers, and I ordered the original style steel repops from Long Island Corvette. They came painted, but the color is a "redder" orange.
Duplicolor also has a Chevy orange-red color (color 1607), which may be closer to what came on these valve covers.
Which color is more accurate for Chevy small blocks?

thanks
Fred

Fred-----

"Chevrolet Orange" was never a color that had a "precise formulation". In the world of "military specifications", colors are specified down to a "gnat's ass" by a 5 digit number, but Chevrolet apparently never did that for Chevrolet Orange. It changed over the years. During the mid-year period of 63-67, Chevrolet orange used on small blocks was a lot redder than that used later. After 1967, it seemed to get a little more orange almost by the year.

I have not used the Duplicolor 1607 but I suspect it's closer to the 63-67 color than the 1620.

[Joe L.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Fred,

I only use chevy orange from Bill Hirsch in NJ. In my humble opinion it is the best match going. Bill's high temp engine enamel is batch made so pick up a couple cans at a time to ensure same batch. it is good for years 55, 57-75 (not 56)
www.hirschauto.com 800 828 2061

I have it on my 68 engine currently and very happy.

good luck,

Pat
68 427/400
88

Patrick------


I've used the Bill Hirsch Chevrolet orange and I was VERY disappointed with the color match. It's been awhile since I bought and used it and maybe it's changed by now but the paint I used was a Chevrolet orange that, in my opinion, matched NO color ever used on a Chevrolet engine. It did have some good attributes, though. First, I feel that it's a high quality, durable paint. Second, they have the gloss level just about right which few of the others on the market have right since most are WAY too glossy.

[Frederick W.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

Thanks for the responses.

Are there any judging standards for engine paint?

[Jeff B.]

Re: Chevy Orange Engine Paint

I tried the POR15 chevrolet orange from a spray gun, and I loved the color but it was way too bright orange and shinny to look orignal. Looked great though and I would use it for a restomod. I ended up calling Bill Hirsh and talking with them. They said they had four original Chevrolet valve covers on the table next to them and they were four different shades of orange. And they said Ford and Mopar was the same way. I did decide to use the Bill Hirsh Chevrolet orange and I think it looks very close to original and it's bullit proof. Wait the recommended full two weeks before you heat up the engine though, and even then do it in stages because the Bill Hirsh paint is so elastic it can wrinkle if you dont.