I just got my olds 455 ( short block) back from the machine shop on Friday. Should I paint it before or after I fully assemble it? Do I need to paint it blue ? Or I can paint it gold just to throw people off . Has anybody out there painted there big block a different color than blue? I’m just throwing it thought out there.

 

In 1975, I bought a '68 442 for $350. It was straight and rust-free, but had faded paint and a blown engine. A friend had a 455 out of a jet boat, and we put that engine in my 442. Wanting to be more stealthy, I painted the 455 bronze so it would look like a 400.

 

I too painted my 455 bronze like the 400. Olds blue is very nice though.

I'll ask kindly that you not paint it purple,pink,yellow or orange but thats just my opinion.

 

455 for my 69 442, bronze.

 

I voted other because I would paint it Pontiac Light Blue or Ford Corporate Blue with POR-15. This engine paint will have superior durability vs. ANY other paint available. I painted the 455 in my 71 98 Chrysler Blue years ago because that was the closest blue POR-15 mixed at the time. It can be sprayed or brushed on. I painted my short block and heads separately.

https://www.por15.com/POR-15-Engine-Enamel

 

If you spray POR, make damn sure you wear protective breathing gear.

 

BLUE! IMO if I poped your hood I'd expect to see blue after reading the engine numbers on the deck. But I'm from the purest camp.
Where did Gray come from?
You're free to paint it any color you choose perhaps red to match the body, it's a free country...at the moment.

 

I promise I won’t

 

It's your car...do what you want. Although, I voted for Olds blue...IMO it looks great on an engine.

 

Painted mine to match car yes it’s not correct but who cares ! Certainly not me I have a few car 1 will be factory 1 will be what I want it and the wife’s will be ls doesn’t really matter

 

IF you spray POR15 just spray the valve covers and oil pan only. The rest can be brush painted or foam brush which is my preference.
Besides mask be sure to buy the POR15 solvent also it’s the only thing that will take it off. And wear gloves of course

 

But... the one in my H/O is red!

 

It's your call, but the Olds blue is just so darn beautiful.

 

I went with gold to mimic the 330 that would have been there originally in my 64 Cutlass.

 

agreed!!!

 

Absolutely yes. If you don't, you will be visited by the engine color police in the middle of the night, dragged away in your pjs, and never seen again.

 

Quote of the month right here.

 

Chevrolet orange. (:•》dare to be different. They'll have heart palpitations when they see your engine.

 

Did my 455 gold, to fool all the chevy and new muscle car guys at work, they believe it's the original 350!

 

That is great!!

 

Not with that "W-455" intake manifold they don't.

 

that brings up two more possibilities: paint it gold and tell them the intake is a perfect fit--you don't know why more people don't do it. Second, paint it chittychevy orange and say it is a chubby 350.
I gotta vote for metallic blue unless it is an H/O.

 

MODS please ban kennybill

 

This is supposed to be a corporate blue 403,
It's a rocket gold 350,
I know of no laws governing engine paint.

 

I bought a few cans Chrysler red at a swap meet, I was told it’s pretty close to the 455 red that was used in 68-69. I don’t know if it reacted to something I used to strip off the old paint ( I thought i throughly cleaned it) or it was just a bad batch of paint, but over the summer it faded to orange. It kept fading and getting lighter in color, until it almost looked pink. I’m comfortable enough with my manliness to drive a Olds powered car with chebby orange olds engine, I draw the line at pink!! Last winter I tore down the top half of the engine compartment for a repaint and detail. So far the engine paint I used this time has held up.


Btw, the Olds blue is a gorgeous color.

 

In reality, I'd paint it Olds blue. When I paint an engine for my 1967 98, I used Ford red, close enough for me and readily available.

 

Here's a 71 455' painted poorly, and a nasty shade of blue.
God knows what color blue this is, it looks worse in person. Whoever painted this engine should be arrested!
I am thinking I will go with the metallic blue my 75 350 was , when this finally ends up in my 75 88 conv., because I will likely paint the car in the original dk blue metallic it started out as.

 

That pale blue color is close to the Chrysler Blue on my engine.

 

Close, but I've owned few Chryslers.
This paint is dull, flat. Chrysler blue is not bad.
This must be some cheap off brand paint.

 

Heck, the only reason I bought a 455 was so I could paint it blue! Lol. As others have said, it just looks the best.

 

 

Yea that is the nicest blue that is what I will paint mine when the time comes.
The blue my engine is now is horrid.
That looks real nice by the way!

 

Oooo, I think I just puked a little.....

 

That gold just looks right in that car.

 

Thanks. I appreciate that. This was actually a complete accident/ coincidence.
This motor is from my 75 Delta 88 conv. I had it rebuilt w/some upgrades and decided to paint it gold. It was sitting on a stand for years when the 403 in the T/A siezed. So, in it went.
I just acquired a 455 for the Delta 88.
It will be metallic blue.
Jim

 

lol!

 

Got one that’s out of a jet boat. KA heads. 30 over 2323 speed pros. And a Torker.

That yellow paint looks real good on it. Tempted to buy some more yellow rattle cans for a refresh.

 

Seriously.

 

If your not going for stock look, paint it whatever color you want. I once did a Olds big block in AMC blue for my long ago crushed 73 Cutlass Supreme. I kinda dug it, LOL

 

My attitude is if I'm paying for it and/or doing the work....mine is the only opinion that really counts.

That said, the Olds blue looks great. It would be even better if POR-15 mixed it in cans to brush on....

Cheers,

Troy