Original Chevy 400 block color?

[HardcoreZ28]

Anyone know for sure what the original block color on the small block 400 was? No particular car....it's going into an 80's Monte so it's not original to the vehicle.

[BonzoHansen]

changes in engine color were based on model year, not the engine. Paint it what you like.

[WildBillyT]

I think it varied, like the 350. The 400 ran from 1970 to 1980 so I'm guessing it was chevy orange until the switchover to corporate blue. I think that happened around '74 or '75?

[BonzoHansen]

blue strarted around 77 I think

[HardcoreZ28]

I had a feeling it could have been either color....thanks guys.

[BonzoHansen]

paint it pink lol. Go by the year of the car or just go off chart. GM changed to black at some point, maybe 82

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

With purple polka dots

[HardcoreZ28]

Pink with purple flames it is!

Customer decided to go with Corporate Blue since Chevy Orange is so common.

[WildBillyT]

Pink with purple flames it is!

Customer decided to go with Corporate Blue since Chevy Orange is so common.

I think that will look awesome. IMHO, Chevy Orange just looks odd in most cars since the smogger era.

[greenformula92]

match it to the paint scheme on the car.....silver with blue stripes for example haha :lol: j/k

[91zconvert]

chevy orange is more common,but i think it looks better than blue.i have a 1971 400 in my 88 SS and i think that the chevy orange is the best color for it.

[TAdan]

Corporate blue was used until 1982. Black was used from 83-onward.

[BonzoHansen]

Corporate blue was used until 1982. Black was used from 83-onward.

IIRC the stock 305 in my 82 TA was black. But maybe I don't remember. Perhaps that was model specific too?

81s F-Bodys were corporate blue, no doubt.

[zraffz]

Topic is pretty old.
I had two 400 blocks, both were blue.