400 Bronze block color

[gman]

I have a 67 cutlass I'm turning into a 442 clone. I'm using a 455 / th400 but wanted the power plant to look at home in this engine bay. I've read some post about matching the factory color of 1967 400 blocks with the proper bronze color. It seems that Fusick is about the only one to have something close. Well I wanted to get this thing painted and could wait so I went to the hardware store and found some I thought would work. Since I don't have a factory 400 I don't have any reference to the color but let me know what you experienced Olds guys think.

[Yellowstatue]

I painted my wife's engine with '77 Porche bronze...took her oil fill pipe with original paint on it to a body shop with a paint chip catalogue and went through the whole book till I found a match...went to Canadian Tire and bought a spray can and voila...400 bronze...that was about 25 years ago, needs to be freshened up now of course... I didn't realize there were pics coming at me...the colour looks to be pretty close, when the hood is closed you can't tell anyway...;-)

[442scotty]

Cant see any pics...just a couple of boxes with x's in them

[Wireman134]

Looks a little lighter than the bronze I've seen. I little browner bronze is closer, it will surely darken up when heated.

[gman]

The paint is a RustOleum product called Aged Copper and is part of their High Heat Ultra paint. The Lowes down the street sells it for $4.49. Sure beats $16.50 plus shipping.
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=108

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by gman

The paint is a RustOleum product called Aged Copper and is part of their High Heat Ultra paint. The Lowes down the street sells it for $4.49. Sure beats $16.50 plus shipping.
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=108

Of course color reproduction on monitors can vary, but it sure looks good from here. Now, about that crusty frame and suspension...

[gman]

Yes the frontend is a problem I have only set the engine and trans in for mock fiting of the headers and brake lines etc. It will come back out again. As you can see the firewall and frontend need complete rework. Now the question is do i spend countless hours with a wire brush, or just pull the body off and bla$$t it.

[68Tom]

Here's my engine with the Fusick paint. (note: the valve covers have been properly reinstalled since the pic. for some reason, the engine builder didn't know which way to put 'em)

[442scotty]

Looks pretty close to me

[z11375ss]

If I can find the pic I'll post it but mine was a different shade. Not better but different.

[Jamesbo]

Originally Posted by gman

The paint is a RustOleum product called Aged Copper and is part of their High Heat Ultra paint. The Lowes down the street sells it for $4.49. Sure beats $16.50 plus shipping.
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=108

The engnine color looks good to go from where I sit.

[citcapp]

I think we are all in agreement, Looks good

[wmachine]

Originally Posted by citcapp

I think we are all in agreement, Looks good

I don't know what we're in agreement about here, as there are a couple shown.

As Joe said, pics/monitors can make an appreciable difference. I've heard that the paint Fusicks has is very close. But what I see on 68Tom's pic is too bright and too orange. The RustOleum looks very good. A little bit light, but a good shade and closer than the vast majority I've seen. And I do have examples of the original to compare. I'm also certain that there is *some* variation to the original colors.

That's my take, but i can't stress enough the difference that pics and montors can make!

[68Tom]

Well, mine is definitely from Fusick's, and from what I've seen with my bare eye, it seems a bit too orange. But, it's painted, and in the car, so it is what it is. I'm a little perplexed by people supplying these paint. If you're going to charge $18 a can, it kind of seems like you should maybe test it until you get the proper hue. It's not THAT difficult to do. I just don't get it. It's different than some of the crappy repro parts. Getting the correct color is simply mixing the paint properly. No more ,no less. Jeez.

[wmachine]

Originally Posted by 68Tom

Well, mine is definitely from Fusick's, and from what I've seen with my bare eye, it seems a bit too orange. But, it's painted, and in the car, so it is what it is. I'm a little perplexed by people supplying these paint. If you're going to charge $18 a can, it kind of seems like you should maybe test it until you get the proper hue. It's not THAT difficult to do. I just don't get it. It's different than some of the crappy repro parts. Getting the correct color is simply mixing the paint properly. No more ,no less. Jeez.

Tom, I think the problem is 2-fold:
1. Hard to get an accurate original. Original variations and various aging qualities of the paint makes it a bit of a moving target. Add to that someone who *thinks* they know the right color influencing paint decisions.
2. The metallic nature of the color makes it more difficult.

They've been at it for over 20 years now, it would be nice to get a standard.

[88 coupe]

Originally Posted by wmachine

........ I'm also certain that there is *some* variation to the original colors ........

There was. It was common knowledge that pigment and mixtures varied with each "batch" that was mixed.

Originally Posted by wmachine

........ i can't stress enough the difference that pics and monitors can make!

No one can stress it enough.

Originally Posted by 68Tom

........ Getting the correct color is simply mixing the paint properly .........

If you were to supply a sample from your original engine I'm sure that, with today's techniques, your local paint supplier could make up an exact match.

This guy seems to understand the concept.

Norm

[68Tom]

Originally Posted by 88 coupe

This guy seems to understand the concept.

Norm

Haha!

I liked this one:

Some folks think using the 'correct' fasteners is good enough. Ha! I made sure to cross-thread the left rear upper transmission crossmember bolt, just as the (sometimes inebriated) factory worker was known to.

[jeffreyalman]

I went to Bill Hirsch, advertizes in JWO

http://www.hirschauto.com/

matched perfectly (76 aqua)

[wmachine]

Originally Posted by jeffreyalman

I went to Bill Hirsch, advertizes in JWO

http://www.hirschauto.com/
matched perfectly (76 aqua)

Not nearly the troubles with the blues as with the bronze. With all due respect, Hirsch is close with bronze, but still off in my opinion.

[Nilsson]

Originally Posted by wmachine

Not nearly the troubles with the blues as with the bronze. With all due respect, Hirsch is close with bronze, but still off in my opinion.

Hirsch is what is on my engine I painted this winter. It in my opinion needs a touch of orange.

[z11375ss]

Nilsson has the same color as mine did. There's less orange in it for sure. A very odd color, but I think it is the right one.

[Yellowstatue]

Highly modified flat six...'77 Porche bronze

[59-59-59]

I am not into the whole color matching thing but answer me this.. when did Oldsmobile ever have quality control inspectors looking for the 'correct' color for an engine???

[wmachine]

Originally Posted by 59-59-59

I am not into the whole color matching thing but answer me this.. when did Oldsmobile ever have quality control inspectors looking for the 'correct' color for an engine???

Oh, you're quite right. As I previously said, there was some variation to color.

I know there are plenty of guys that are bored to tears with the quest to for factory original. To each their own. But there are huge numbers of us that not only find this interesting, but have enough interest to have quite a financial impact. Car values and the reproduction parts business make this quite clear.