Pristine engine bay in '66 Chevy C10 with 327 & factory A/C

[LILRED66]

Here are a few pictures of a '66 Chevy C10 swb fleetside with a factory 327 and A/C. The firewall was painted black and the battery cable clamps and radiator cap have been upgraded, but the rest is very close to the original look of a '66 Chevy engine bay, including the factory power brake booster, air cleaner, Harrison 4-core Desert Cooler radiator and wire and hose routing.

Maybe these photos will help others with the underhood details, if you are looking to redo your engine bay to near factory looks.

[joe231]

that looks very nice!!
for some reason, I really like the stock look under the hood, now the exterior that is a different story

[jchav62]

That's awesome. Did trucks with 327's originally come with those concave style valve covers? I thought those were used only on cars and trucks came with the 'Chevrolet' script.

[cortcomp]

I know this is an old thread, but i'm curious about the valvecovers too, mine are the chevrolet script. I do see lmc, etc. selling the valve cover decals as for'66 (mine.is'66)
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[LT1 Burb]

That motor is not correct , the scripted valve covers were right and the color is wrong.Could be a 67-68 327 truck motor.

[theastronaut]

Yep, there's a lot wrong under that hood. A '66 327 would have been slightly darker than the commonly available Alpine Green with script covers and 'High Torque" decals on the side of the valve covers, not the air filter. Firewall should be body color or fawn depending on what plant it was assembled at. 283's were usually gray.




Yelmer's truck is correct.

[spudder]

That engine bay looks great but there are several things that are not 100% "correct" in a truck. The truck engines were not orange, they were a blueish green. The valve covers should be the Chevrolet script. The upper radiator "hose" should have a steel tube connected at each end with short rubber hose. The AC compressor brackets aren't the correct truck items. Truck brackets were all stamped steel. The brackets used on this engine are the type used on '64-'68 Chevrolet cars and '68-'72 trucks.
I really like the "327" valve covers and the orange paint. Seems a Chevy engine should be orange. I'd do same thing plus a few other changes using all OEM Chevrolet items to spice up the engine bay. Factory chrome air cleaners and Corvette valve covers look at home on most any small block Chevy!
1967 was the last year for the script valve covers. In 1968, engine castings were changed. The PCV vent hole at the back of the block was eliminated. The PCV system was changed and was vented out of the valve cover and air cleaner. This change made it difficult to use earlier non-vented valve covers on post '67 engines.

[theastronaut]

A lot of info on what was correct in these three threads:


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=488680

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=538621

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=439322

[chevyrestoguy]

Although the engine in the initial post looks nice, it's not even close to being factory correct. Mike's (Yelmer) engine compartment is as good as you're ever going to find. The rest of the truck is equally as nice.

I like orange engines too, but in a truck, it's gotta be the color it was born with, either gray or green depending on the year and engine size. The trucks had some unique truck-only stuff, and that's where a lot of restorations get it wrong.

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Although the engine in the initial post looks nice, it's not even close to being factory correct. Mike's (Yelmer) engine compartment is as good as you're ever going to find. The rest of the truck is equally as nice.

I like orange engines too, but in a truck, it's gotta be the color it was born with, either gray or green depending on the year and engine size. The trucks had some unique truck-only stuff, and that's where a lot of restorations get it wrong.

I can't wait to get my '66 done and take it to shows just to see how many "experts" tell me that the green engine paint is wrong.

[john]

I wonder if the assembly plant had to do with eng. paint color? I bought a new 1966 C-20 custom camper with a 327- th400 and it had the grey engine paint. It was built at the fremont ca. plant. I've seen alot of posts on eng. colors with different answers.

[dracko]

In 1968, engine castings were changed. The PCV vent hole at the back of the block was eliminated. The PCV system was changed and was vented out of the valve cover and air cleaner. This change made it difficult to use earlier non-vented valve covers on post '67 engines.

They did get rid of the PCV vent hole at the back of the block, but I think all the venting was then through the air cleaner/oil fill tube for 1968. My stock '68 327 had the same valve covers as that orange engine, without vent holes. I agree about the finned Vette covers, they look killer!

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by john

I wonder if the assembly plant had to do with eng. paint color? I bought a new 1966 C-20 custom camper with a 327- th400 and it had the grey engine paint. It was built at the fremont ca. plant. I've seen alot of posts on eng. colors with different answers.

Just to clarify if you will... You bought a '66 Custom Camper brand new in 1966, and it came with a grey 327?

[john]

Originally Posted by oem4me

Just to clarify if you will... You bought a '66 Custom Camper brand new in 1966, and it came with a grey 327?

Correct.

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

I can't wait to get my '66 done and take it to shows just to see how many "experts" tell me that the green engine paint is wrong.

Dad and I have been slowly working on getting a 327 ready to swap in place of the tired 283 that's in his 66 C10. The info I've been reading on this site (about factory engine colors and such) has been particularly helpful !! Here's a pic of some of the parts we've got painted/ready so far:



I'm sure he'll be getting some comments from those "experts" at the local car shows on the engine color as well

And a shot of the 3 speed OD trans that'll be replacing the regular 3 speed:


Dad's 66 is an older frame-on restoration that we did about 15 years ago. Seeing these original trucks and factory correct restorations (such as in the three threads theastronaut posted earlier) has inspired us to go back and correct some of the mistakes we made earlier. The engine color is #1 on that list ... a former owner had painted the old 283 blue and not knowing it should be gray we used Chevy orange. This 327 swap (which we've been planning for several years now) will be a good opportunity to get the engine looking a little more factory correct.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

Yep, there's a lot wrong under that hood. A '66 327 would have been slightly darker than the commonly available Alpine Green with script covers and 'High Torque" decals on the side of the valve covers, not the air filter. Firewall should be body color or fawn depending on what plant it was assembled at. 283's were usually gray.

Agreed. Back in '09, this is the way it was. I remember when I first came to the site, this was the common mentality of what a factory job was. This site has really grown up since then.

[yelmer]

just some info the top pulley on a 66 327 ac truck is cast iron unit the 283 used stamped steel . that is the pulley off the water pump . the photo of mine has the 283 pulley at that time, but was changed to the cast pulley . just some info

[MikeS.]

I'm glad I'm not doing a restoration but a refresh to my Burb. I like the Chevy orange and went with that.
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[LT1 Burb]

I am kinda partial to the grey they used, it is different.

[60-66]

Heres some factory paint.

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

Dad and I have been slowly working on getting a 327 ready to swap in place of the tired 283 that's in his 66 C10. The info I've been reading on this site (about factory engine colors and such) has been particularly helpful !! Here's a pic of some of the parts we've got painted/ready so far:

I'm sure he'll be getting some comments from those "experts" at the local car shows on the engine color as well

And a shot of the 3 speed OD trans that'll be replacing the regular 3 speed:

Dad's 66 is an older frame-on restoration that we did about 15 years ago. Seeing these original trucks and factory correct restorations (such as in the three threads theastronaut posted earlier) has inspired us to go back and correct some of the mistakes we made earlier. The engine color is #1 on that list ... a former owner had painted the old 283 blue and not knowing it should be gray we used Chevy orange. This 327 swap (which we've been planning for several years now) will be a good opportunity to get the engine looking a little more factory correct.

Those parts look great! Good to see someone else going back with factory colors.

Originally Posted by 60-66

Heres some factory paint.

NOS paint...

[theastronaut]

That's even more different from Alpine Green than I thought it would be. There are some specs on the stir stick that look blue-er, and around the rim has some dried spots that look blue-er- especially on the right side. It's more like Alpine Green but a tad darker.

60-66, how well is that paint stirred, and could you possibly brush a couple coats on a small test piece to see if the color changes when it dries? Very interesting to see original paint!





Alpine Green:

[60-66]

theastronaut, All I did was a quick stir and sent some pics to yelmer. The only info I have found on this paint by the accessory part number is in a 1963 Chevy parts book. It doesn't list the application though, it just says all ? Its also used for Oldsmobile. I cannot confirm its correct for 66. I need the correct paint for my 66 327 Carryall engine also.

On another note, my 1960 C30 283 engine is green, truck has 502 miles on it. I will post a few pics later. I know the c30 engines were not painted the same as C10s.

Since your a paint guy, I have no problem sending you this can of paint if you want to use it to match ?? Just let me know.

[oem4me]

Ha! Loving the NOS can of engine paint. Just incredible, Jon.

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by 60-66

theastronaut, All I did was a quick stir and sent some pics to yelmer. The only info I have found on this paint by the accessory part number is in a 1963 Chevy parts book. It doesn't list the application though, it just says all ? Its also used for Oldsmobile. I cannot confirm its correct for 66. I need the correct paint for my 66 327 Carryall engine also.

On another note, my 1960 C30 283 engine is green, truck has 502 miles on it. I will post a few pics later. I know the c30 engines were not painted the same as C10s.

Since your a paint guy, I have no problem sending you this can of paint if you want to use it to match ?? Just let me know.

I really appreciate the offer! I do have a shop that I have a great working relationship with, I went to tech with the guy that mixes all the paint there. If you're willing, we could thoroughly shake/mix the paint, spray a small 4"x4" test panel and use that to scan and find a modern paint code that matches.


Comparing the dried edge, they look pretty similar.