I'm getting ready to paint the 455. What to use ??? Fusick ??? Eastwood ??? Single part ??? Two Part ??? Ceramic ??? Rattle can ??? Paint gun ??? Who has a real good stock color match. The paint on the original valve covers is still very good so I have something to compare to.

 

The stock colour for a 455 (70-76) is supposed to be a blue like below. Or are you painting up a 455 for a 68-69 442 to look like a 400? I thought the 400's were bronze and the 350's were gold....can't remember.

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I have a 1969 442 ragtop. The stock Big Block 400 was painted bronze/gold. I'm getting a 455 ready to go in. I understand the 69 455s were red (like the 4V air cleaner). What is the correct 1969 455 color?

 

If it was the stock big block 400, it should have been painted bronze. Gold was used on the 350ci engines.

'68 and '69 Olds 455ci engines were painted red. Per 442much, Olds went to blue for the 455 in '70.

I recommend picking the color you want for your engine, be it blue or red if you want your 455 to be a stock color. A number of vendors offer quality engine paint in a rattle can. I used Fusick (www.fusick.com to see their on-line catalog) and, in my opinion, got quality results (I used 2 cans). Another quality source of supply is Supercars Unlimited (www.supercarsunlimited.com to see their on-line catalog). The bronze paint on my '68 4-4-2 engine has been there for over 5 years and still looks great.

Randy C.

 

If you have a local NAPA store their house brand engine paints are pretty nice. They sell a clear coat for engines that, if prepared with 240 or 400 grit sandpaper, gives a really nice finish.