Everything I've read points to this 350 being the wrong color since it's not gold, even though the stamp on the flat near the #1 cylinder matches the VIN...

I realize it might have been painted, but I honestly don't know why. Have any of you smarter-than-me guys heard of such a thing as a blue engine from the Lansing plant?

 

Easiest way to tell a 350 from a 455 is to look at the block casting number just behind the water pump and next to the oil fill tube. A 350 will have 395558 and a 455 will have 396021. 455s were painted blue from the factory in '68-'76 (except the '68/'69 H/Os which were red). I'm pretty sure that a 455 was an option on '71 C/S 'verts.

 

68-69 455's were red. Blue started in '70 except for Toro's which were a different silver/blue I think starting in '66 through _____?

 

Tumblindice, I take it you are a hardcore "nothing really matters but 64-72" guy, as many of us are.

And you are appalled that someone would paint a born gold engine, malaise era blue.

Somewhere along the line someone didn't bother to confirm the right color for a 71, and thought Olds 350s were blue ...

But you are not the first to be perplexed, post #25 of https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...vs-blue-57483/. Or disappointed, post #30 of same thread.

 

It's worth pointing out there was the Toronado silver blue, the 70-76 Big Block Blue, and then GM corporate blue. Olds got ridiculous with the colors, my 3 each have their own engine color, and I could easily get 5 more colors.

 

Thanks 69CSHC! Great link. At this point I can only assume that someone decided that blue was the way to go...

I have work to do.