Black engine color? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BIGDOGTRUCKER · 10-25-2013, 02:10 PM

My "70 C10 has the correct engine I checked the suffix codes.Engine is black and looks to be untouched?Did they ever paint them this color or were they all orange?

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 10-25-2013, 03:27 PM

Pretty sure they were all Chevy Engine Orange in '70 [even L6s]. Black paint could indicate a rebuild. Rebuilder did not mill off engine dress codes. Some do and some rebuilders even stamp over their own numbers there.
Other possibility is that some PO repainted the truck and decided he wanted the engine to get a fresh coat of black. Can't know that w/o pulling the head(s) and mic-ing the bores.

BIGDOGTRUCKER · 10-25-2013, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Pretty sure they were all Chevy Engine Orange in '70 [even L6s]. Black paint could indicate a rebuild. Rebuilder did not mill off engine dress codes. Some do and some rebuilders even stamp over their own numbers there.
Other possibility is that some PO repainted the truck and decided he wanted the engine to get a fresh coat of black. Can't know that w/o pulling the head(s) and mic-ing the bores.

Truck has original paint,only a few owners.I'm thinking maybe a rebuild at one point on the original engine.

geezer#99 · 10-25-2013, 05:28 PM

What is the suffix code and casting number?

BIGDOGTRUCKER · 10-25-2013, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geezer#99

What is the suffix code and casting number?

Suffix is TAX,i'd have to check on the casting numbers again.

geezer#99 · 10-25-2013, 06:52 PM

I found TAX is a 72 350 4 bolt c10 m/t.
THe only black painted ones I remember were the targetmaster rebuilts from gm. Built in Mexico.

Steve Hafner · 10-26-2013, 05:19 AM

. . . .

According to the chart below, the TAX code was used on 70 and 72 engines.

The valve cover TAX sticker was still on that 70 with 80 miles on it that was for sale a few years ago.

My 70's original engine has the TAX code stamped on the block's pad.

. . . .

Daner · 10-27-2013, 02:44 PM

Black will help with heat dissipation.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 10-28-2013, 02:22 AM

One more possibility -- your engine was painted on a Friday afternoon, and the paint crew [ after a couple of pitchers at lunch] -- ran out of Chevy Engine Orange, so they sprayed the whole frame and engine in Low Gloss Black until some body got back with the correct Orange paint. They could not stop the production line for anything but a safety issue. Just a theory, of course.

Keith Seymore · 10-28-2013, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

One more possibility -- your engine was painted on a Friday afternoon, and the paint crew [ after a couple of pitchers at lunch] -- ran out of Chevy Engine Orange, so they sprayed the whole frame and engine in Low Gloss Black until some body got back with the correct Orange paint. They could not stop the production line for anything but a safety issue. Just a theory, of course.

No.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceman1968

They were all orange (1970 SB). The engines were painted at the engine assembly plant, then shipped to the vehicle assembly plant. If there's no orange on the motor anywhere then it was most likely hot tanked and repainted during a rebuild. If the block was decked, the machinist either left the engine ID code intact, or re stamped it. Any chance of a pic of the engine ID stamp?

Yes.

K

MARKDTN · 10-28-2013, 07:40 AM

Factory black engine paint started in the '80s.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 10-28-2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

No.

Yes.

K

OK, Kieth. You were there, maybe not then, but close enough to the source that your say has weight. I respect that. My theory is officially shot down.

Keith Seymore · 10-28-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

OK, Kieth. You were there, maybe not then, but close enough to the source that your say has weight. I respect that. My theory is officially shot down.

Lol.

I tried a couple different posts to make sure it didn't sound too harsh...

K

bruceman1968 · 10-28-2013, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGDOGTRUCKER

My "70 C10 has the correct engine I checked the suffix codes.Engine is black and looks to be untouched?Did they ever paint them this color or were they all orange?

They were all orange (1970 SB). The engines were painted at the engine assembly plant, then shipped to the vehicle assembly plant. If there's no orange on the motor anywhere then it was most likely hot tanked and repainted during a rebuild. If the block was decked, the machinist either left the engine ID code intact, or re stamped it. Any chance of a pic of the engine ID stamp?

Tinkermc · 10-28-2013, 08:14 PM

Only black engines I know of are GM target engines.

10-25-2013, 02:10 PM	#1
BIGDOGTRUCKER Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Northeast GA Posts: 41	Black engine color? My "70 C10 has the correct engine I checked the suffix codes.Engine is black and looks to be untouched?Did they ever paint them this color or were they all orange?

10-25-2013, 03:27 PM	#2
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,536	Re: Black engine color? Pretty sure they were all Chevy Engine Orange in '70 [even L6s]. Black paint could indicate a rebuild. Rebuilder did not mill off engine dress codes. Some do and some rebuilders even stamp over their own numbers there. Other possibility is that some PO repainted the truck and decided he wanted the engine to get a fresh coat of black. Can't know that w/o pulling the head(s) and mic-ing the bores. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

10-25-2013, 05:28 PM	#4
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,749	Re: Black engine color? What is the suffix code and casting number?

10-25-2013, 06:52 PM	#6
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,749	Re: Black engine color? I found TAX is a 72 350 4 bolt c10 m/t. THe only black painted ones I remember were the targetmaster rebuilts from gm. Built in Mexico.

10-26-2013, 05:19 AM	#7
Steve Hafner Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Northport, Alabama Posts: 1,353	Re: Black engine color? . . . . According to the chart below, the TAX code was used on 70 and 72 engines. The valve cover TAX sticker was still on that 70 with 80 miles on it that was for sale a few years ago. My 70's original engine has the TAX code stamped on the block's pad. . . . . Attached Images

10-27-2013, 02:44 PM	#8
Daner Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wildrose, North Dakota Posts: 300	Re: Black engine color? Black will help with heat dissipation. __________________ Dane 67 Chevy Fleet 250/4 speed 1/2 ton 68 Chevy 250/4 speed 1/2 ton for parts 49 GMC Grain truck 235 1 1/2 ton 76 Chevy 350/4 speed 1/2 ton

10-28-2013, 02:22 AM	#9
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,536	Re: Black engine color? One more possibility -- your engine was painted on a Friday afternoon, and the paint crew [ after a couple of pitchers at lunch] -- ran out of Chevy Engine Orange, so they sprayed the whole frame and engine in Low Gloss Black until some body got back with the correct Orange paint. They could not stop the production line for anything but a safety issue. Just a theory, of course. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

10-28-2013, 07:40 AM	#11
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,171	Re: Black engine color? Factory black engine paint started in the '80s. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

10-28-2013, 08:14 PM	#15
Tinkermc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Farmville, Va Posts: 3,026	Re: Black engine color? Only black engines I know of are GM target engines.



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