73 455 engine paint

[stews73ho]

I was wondering what the correct engine color was for the 73 455? Also, what brand of paint are people using and having success with?

[ragz442]

Pretty sure it should be metallic blue, like 442MUCH's car:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/vttedrm/Image086.jpg

As for where to buy, I've heard supercars unlimited or fusicks, but havn't bought any myself. I usually just get engine paint from the local parts/paint store, but havn't shopped for the metallic blue lately.

[stews73ho]

My engine looks to be GM blue. Must not be correct. Tamraz's has some painton ebay. Heard anything on their paint?

[stews73ho]

Thanks Todd.

Eric

[442MUCH]

Hey! That engine looks familiar! :D That is the correct colour for 455's from 1970 to 76. The 455's from 68/69 are red (or a variation of).

[texxas8902]

As for where to buy, I've heard supercars unlimited or fusicks, but havn't bought any myself. I usually just get engine paint from the local parts/paint store, but havn't shopped for the metallic blue lately.

I've used supercars unlimited in the past for engine paint and parts. I have no problem recommending them.

[damaged442]

Is the 77 350 blue the same as 70-76 455 blue?

[77-442]

The correct color Oldsmobile blue engine paint is from Supercars Unlimited, Portland, Oregon. there has been a lot of talk regarding this topic on other websites, and from personal experence, it matched exact to the orig color.

Jim

[442MUCH]

The correct color Oldsmobile blue engine paint is from Supercars Unlimited, Portland, Oregon. there has been a lot of talk regarding this topic on other websites, and from personal experence, it matched exact to the orig color.

Jim

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/vttedrm/Smilies/thumbsup.gif

[bigredddaddy]

The brand I get is Plasti-kote from Autozone, it's called GM Corporate Blue no. 221. But I'm not going to Pebble Beach so I don't know how correct it is.

[442MUCH]

The brand I get is Plasti-kote from Autozone, it's called GM Corporate Blue no. 221. But I'm not going to Pebble Beach so I don't know how correct it is.

GM Corporate blue is not the right colour for the 455's if you want it to look original.

[stews73ho]

Thanks everyone. I'll look into Supercars Unlimited.

[77-442]

On the 73 H/O without A/C the engine color is light blue like GM corp blue, not the 70-76 455 blue. My friend in high school had a 10k mile 73 H/O (in 1974) with the L77 motor(no A/C) and we wondered why it was not the usual 455 blue color. I don't know if 73 H/Os with A/C are this light blue also,maybe someone on this board can clarify this.

Jim

[stews73ho]

The engine in my car has been out, but it just does not look repainted to me. I have had the car since 1982. It looks like corperate blue and has ac. I have had other people tell me corperate blue is correct also for the 73 HO.

[442MUCH]

The 403 is like corporate blue isn't it? Didn't know about the 73 H/O. What about the 74 & 75 H/O, what colour were they?

403

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/vttedrm/403-1.jpg

[ragz442]

Well there is 1 guy that's a walking encyclopedia on '73 H/O's, and a member of this site [W451973] maybe he'll chime in.

All the '77 350's I've seen were the corporate blue, like the 403's.

Here's a pic off the registry, Jeff S. Brighton, MI. Does look a little different than the usual 455 blue?
I believe I saw this car at Bakers in Milford [local car show] a couple years ago, it is a VERY nice, original example.

http://v8cars.hu/7377images/468a77ff9a700.jpg

[442MUCH]

Todd, that's not corporate blue. That looks like the 455 paint that some places sell that say it's the 455 blue. As Jim says, Supercar Unlimited has the correct blue. Some other companies have close variations. This looks like one to me. It could also be the colour of the film or the camera setting. (Of course I could be wrong :D )

[W451973]

On the 73 H/O without A/C the engine color is light blue like GM corp blue, not the 70-76 455 blue. My friend in high school had a 10k mile 73 H/O (in 1974) with the L77 motor(no A/C) and we wondered why it was not the usual 455 blue color. I don't know if 73 H/Os with A/C are this light blue also,maybe someone on this board can clarify this.

Jim


Sorry, but that is incorrect. ALL 70-76 455 Olds motors are the exact same metalic blue. Regardless of it`s application.

Dennis

[W451973]

Well there is 1 guy that's a walking encyclopedia on '73 H/O's, and a member of this site [W451973] maybe he'll chime in.

All the '77 350's I've seen were the corporate blue, like the 403's.

Here's a pic off the registry, Jeff S. Brighton, MI. Does look a little different than the usual 455 blue?
I believe I saw this car at Bakers in Milford [local car show] a couple years ago, it is a VERY nice, original example.

http://v8cars.hu/7377images/468a77ff9a700.jpg


Who me ? :D I don`t know anything, just ask my daughter. Jeff`s car is perfect. If you need an example to compare to, thats it.

Dennis

[77-442]

Dennis, thanks for info regarding this topic.

Jim

[ragz442]

Todd, that's not corporate blue. That looks like the 455 paint that some places sell that say it's the 455 blue. As Jim says, Supercar Unlimited has the correct blue. Some other companies have close variations. This looks like one to me. It could also be the colour of the film or the camera setting. (Of course I could be wrong :D )

Ken, I knew it wasn't corp. blue, just thought it looked a little greener than most metallic blues I've seen. But like you said, could be a variation in paint or the pic itself.

[stews73ho]

Does the 73 HO in the new issue of Hemmings Muscle Machine revive this topic? I have spoke with people who claim that Pontiac Blue was also original 455 color. People also claim a Pontiac dark blue over light blue was original. Calvin Badgley told me at HO nationals last year that corperate blue was the correct engine color. The below page describes a paint change or color coding for new emissions on Pontiac cars in 1973. Was this coding done on Olds engines also? If the color coding was done it may explain 2 or 3 different engine colors for the 73 455. http://fiedlerh.home.att.net/enginecolor.htm

[ragz442]

Does the 73 HO in the new issue of Hemmings Muscle Machine revive this topic? I have spoke with people who claim that Pontiac Blue was also original 455 color. People also claim a Pontiac dark blue over light blue was original. Calvin Badgley told me at HO nationals last year that corperate blue was the correct engine color. The below page describes a paint change or color coding for new emissions on Pontiac cars in 1973. Was this coding done on Olds engines also? If the color coding was done it may explain 2 or 3 different engine colors for the 73 455. http://fiedlerh.home.att.net/enginecolor.htm

Either they're being painted incorrectly when restored, or there is more to it than that. I'm no '73 H/O expert, but sounds like you know more than most. From what I can tell, there must be more than one "correct" color.

[stews73ho]

I don't mean to beat a dead horse. Thanks for your input.

[zodiacblue442]

I used 455 metallic blue in spray cans from Super Cars Unlimited. It's the deep metallic blue that's being discussed in this thread. My friend Paul used 455 metallic blue in spray cans from Year One, Inc. It's lighter and has more green in it than the paint from Super Cars Unlimited. Strange that the paint would be off that much from the two suppliers when it's supposed to be the same color? :confused: I think the Super Cars Unlimited paint is correct. I've seen a bunch of 455's and they're all that deeper metallic blue.

[76HOProposal]

erased

[texxas8902]

Corporate Blue came along in 1977 if my memory serves me right.



My Arlington built 1976 442 has a corporate blue 350 in it from new. From what I've had people tell me Arlington and maybe Doraville started using the corporate blue engines before the other factories.

[W451973]

:D Does the 73 HO in the new issue of Hemmings Muscle Machine revive this topic? I have spoke with people who claim that Pontiac Blue was also original 455 color. People also claim a Pontiac dark blue over light blue was original. Calvin Badgley told me at HO nationals last year that corperate blue was the correct engine color. The below page describes a paint change or color coding for new emissions on Pontiac cars in 1973. Was this coding done on Olds engines also? If the color coding was done it may explain 2 or 3 different engine colors for the 73 455. http://fiedlerh.home.att.net/enginecolor.htm


I have`nt seen that new HMM yet. Calvin Badgley is full of didley doo. And anyone else who thinks they changed the color for any reason. The Badgleys are not 73 H/O experts. They don`t like me much since I pointed out all the things they did wrong when they restored their white 73 H/O. They can hand out critosism (sp?) but they don`t take it very well. LOL.

Anyway, it is possible for some slight color SHADE differences due to mass production and how the paint may have been mixed that shift but there is no way in heck that Olds used corperate or Pontiac blue on ANY of their 455`s.

Now, let it be said -I have spoken, it is done. :D JUST KIDDING.:D

[W451973]

Eric, I think we have talked about the 455 eng color before. I'm positive that my 73 H/O (with A/C) was original metallic blue. Remember our build dates are within a week apart.
I've kept a pair of original paint valve covers hanging in my garage to match any future paintwork also.
I haven't used any eng paint in a long time, but when I decided to detail my eng in the late eighties I did buy a can from every Olds supplier out there and decided to use the paint from Brothers Automotive.
I found that NAPA #7959 Olds Blue (Martin Senour Paints) seems to be an exact match also if they still make it?. (have two cans from 1987 and they still spray good!)

Jon


The NAPA is good paint. I like it myself. But it does have a tendancy to be a shade off. And I`ve noticed sometimes several shades off. I was buying it by the case just so I could check several different cans. I always used the off shades fr the first coat and the close shades to finish. Still cheaper then buying from year one.

[stews73ho]

I finally saw the 73 HO in HMM. The car looks great, but is not close to original. It is disappointing that they did not use a car that was original or restored to original. Things that were not restored to original, the grille, the vinyl top and lack of padding, the stripes (painted on), and the engine color.

[texxas8902]

I finally saw the 73 HO in HMM. The car looks great, but is not close to original. It is disappointing that they did not use a car that was original or restored to original. Things that were not restored to original, the grille, the vinyl top and lack of padding, the stripes (painted on), and the engine color.

The 1-2-3 bar on the dual gate is broken off and missing too.:(

[W451973]

Well, I have`nt found the magazine yet but let`s just be gratefull for a little coverage. As incorrect as it may be, at least we know the truth. I hate to admit this, but I`m afraid that if we whine and bitch too much, the mags may cut their coverage down from what little we have now. Maybe I`m wrong.

I`ve always said `That sometimes, it`s good to be wrong.'

[brad442]

I noticed many items not original on the '73 H/O as well in HMM, but hey, at least they featured a '73 H/O.

I talk to George, Craig & Terry at Hemmings Muscle Machines on a pretty consistant basis. Those guys have owned cars like ours back in their day and they are HUGE supportors of our years. Yeah, doing an article on a nice original '73 would have been nice, but they have travel budgets, deadlines and things like that to manage as well and sometimes they have to make due. Jeff Koch shot the car in California and I noticed the H/O was in Cali, so they probably won't worried about traveling for that one.

They contact me from time to time looking for feature cars. Sometimes the owners are willing to cooperate, other times they aren't.

It is great for our hobby that they are such big supporters of the Colonnade years.

You can imagine the shock on my face when they called me three years ago to do an article on my car...

[stews73ho]

Did you also notice they claimed some non original items, as original. Painted stripes as original (Decals were original), completely blacked out grille as original (argent with blacked out accents was original). I'll try not to complain too much about this. I understand your points.

[Hurstolds1973]

Eric I can't find the magazine locally do you have to subscribe to get it?

[stews73ho]

I got 1 copy at a convenience store. You should be able to find one around.

[Hurstolds1973]

Cn find the regular mag but not that one... ill keep looking . thanks Joe

[W451973]

Cn find the regular mag but not that one... ill keep looking . thanks Joe

Same here. :mad:

[77-442]

You can view Hemmings Muscle Machines on hemmings.com, but the current issue is usually a month behind.

Jim

[73hurst]

To add just a little to the paint quesitons. For a long time, the Martin Seymour paint from NAPA was the only source for correct Olds 455 metallic blue. As stated, there are now other sources. Also keep in mind that there were differences in the metallic blue that Olds used between paint batches and factories. Now for the important information. I went to my local NAPA to buy a case of Olds 455 metallic blue, about a year to a year and a half ago. According the the folks at NAPA, they were discontinuing the color. They did manage to locate a case in the warehouse down in Houston, I live in the Dallas area, and had it shipped to me. At first though, they tried to sell me the Pontiac Blue. Somehow the Olds paint number got replaced in the parts book with the Pontiac number, so if you use them for a source, be sure you're getting what you think you are.

[GT73]

I remember years ago that stores carried the correct Oldsmobile blue engine paint. Which is not to be confused with GM blue. The 455's from 1970-76 used this specific metallic blue color.

77-442 is correct, Supercars has the right paint. Try not to use the GM blue or heaven forbid - Chevy blue! LOL

[karfever]

I have a original 16K mile 73 HO if you need photos. Note much left of the engine paint, other than the valve covers and metal engine items. The cast parts are pretty much devoid of color. :)

[redchas]

The engine in my '73 H/O, the one appearing in Hemmings Muscle Machines had been out for a rebuild so there is no telling what the original color was. It is now corporate blue. I do plan on detailing the engine better in the future and possibly when I strip the valve covers I will discover metalic blue. I sure like the olds metalic blue better, it is just plain cool. the corporate blue is kinda boring!

[karfever]

Please excuse the holley and air cleaner. They will be long gone when I get the original quadrajet back from Sparky's (restoration). I am really torn about leaving it as is or repainting the engine and some other detailing. As I said earlier, the paint is gone from most of the cast iron surfaces. Interesting note is that it appears the fuel pump, and water pump bypass hose was installed prior to paint. Hope the photo works!

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9343/0000119ew2.th.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000119ew2.jpg)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2457/0000117pg9.th.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000117pg9.jpg)