440 Engine Color

[Offblue]

Whats up guys, my 440 is finally heading off to the specialist to be touched up (i.e cam bearings and the whole shebang), optionally i have the chance to change the engine color while she's there, just wanted your opinions on what would look good in a all black car, as it sits i'm thinking of keeping it factory orange but i've been torn on the decision. Let me know what you think.

[BLK 68 R/T]

Orange and black go very well together IMO. What year car is it? I see lots of 68 440 cars with Orange motors, not factory correct.

[Offblue]

Ahh yes i did forget to mention the year, it is a 68 R/T, 440HP block. Originally factory orange with black vinyl top, painted black by the guy i bought it from, not the matching engine but it's period correct and factory orange as well, don't think it's ever been painted.

[69CoronetRT]

Ahh yes i did forget to mention the year, it is a 68 R/T, 440HP block. Originally factory orange with black vinyl top, painted black by the guy i bought it from, not the matching engine but it's period correct and factory orange as well, don't think it's ever been painted.

Orange will look good but be incorrect.

[BLK 68 R/T]

Ahh yes i did forget to mention the year, it is a 68 R/T, 440HP block. Originally factory orange with black vinyl top, painted black by the guy i bought it from, not the matching engine but it's period correct and factory orange as well, don't think it's ever been painted.

Orange will look good but be incorrect.

Turquoise would be factory correct. That said, ultimately it's your car, paint the motor whatever color you want if you are not going for the factory stock look.

[Offblue]

Hmm im not sure you guys are right, the regular factory 440 was turquoise same with the 426, the 440HP "high performance" was H-Orange. Or so i keep reading.

[timmycharger]

You may want to keep reading, 68 HP 440s were turquoise 

[Offblue]

My engine block stamping are correct, it reads (D440-229-HP2) sorry for the doubt guys, or i may yet find blue soon enough. We'll see.

[B5 Charger]

My vote would be turquoise.  All 68 440's were turquoise but I'm kind of an OE nut.

[c00nhunterjoe]

I painted mine black....

[c00nhunterjoe]

With all the aluminum,  you can barely see the block color.

[Troy]

Ahh yes i did forget to mention the year, it is a 68 R/T, 440HP block. Originally factory orange with black vinyl top, painted black by the guy i bought it from, not the matching engine but it's period correct and factory orange as well, don't think it's ever been painted.

I guess "period correct" needs defined. As mentioned, the 1968 model year 440s are turquoise from the factory. If yours is orange it could very well be a later engine (model year production actually starts fairly early so a mid year 1968 engine was likely for a 1969 model year car for example). Turquoise looks nice in a black engine bay. So does orange. If you're wanting the stock/sleeper look I'd stick with turquoise but the orange may be sexier for people who don't know all these minute details.

Troy

[Offblue]

Been a while since i did any updates.

Engine went to the shop the other day, my mechanic knew at first glance that the orange on it wasn't right. It was actually a Chevy Orange. Also after a day he said it was manufactured in 67, 19th April. So orange is the right color after all, i feel better about painting it now haha.

[BLK 68 R/T]

If the car is a 68, it doesn't matter what the date code is on the engine. Turquoise is the only factory correct color for a 440.

[RECHRGD]

If the car is a 68, it doesn't matter what the date code is on the engine. Turquoise is the only factory correct color for a 440.

Same for '67.....  Orange wasn't used on HP 440's until '69.

[Offblue]

Geez how do i keep getting this wrong,    ----> blame this guy http://www.turbinecar.com/misc/enginecolor.htm ...

[RECHRGD]

 I've seen that list in the past.  Others have pointed out several mistakes on it.  I don't need a list however.  I still have enough memory left to know that the 440 R/T I bought new in '68 had a turquoise engine.....

[timmycharger]

In the end its your car and you should put whatever you prefer on there.

My car is an original 318 car with a 1969 440 in it. I like how the orange looks so I went with it, personal preference.  

[alfaitalia]

I'm going with silver, black and chrome. I like my motors to look machined and mechanical rather than a pretty colour. But as others say if you don't worry about being "correct" than do whatever lights you fire.

[69CoronetRT]

Geez how do i keep getting this wrong,    ----> blame this guy http://www.turbinecar.com/misc/enginecolor.htm ...

That particular chart has caused more grief. I do wish people would stop posting it and it was taken off the web......

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Ahh yes i did forget to mention the year, it is a 68 R/T, 440HP block. Originally factory orange with black vinyl top, painted black by the guy i bought it from, not the matching engine but it's period correct and factory orange as well, don't think it's ever been painted.

I'd like to hear more about the factory orange body color on the car...could it be a Bengal Charger?

[Offblue]

That question I'll never know the answer to. From what I've been told, i'm the third owner, the gentleman i purchased it from having had it over 15 years. As for whether it's truly factory orange , i can only take his word for it. My personal tell is based on the fact that there are signs of orange in key places all around the car, also mentioning that the black paint job was cheaply done. Recently took some time to scrub all the grease and built up dirt out of the engine bay to prep it for repaint. More signs of orange under all the old chipped paint (cross-member, fender wall, underside of hood). Almost considering going back to orange after a few more years of wearing out the black.

[cdr]

no fender tag or build sheet ?

[Offblue]

Nope, i do have the screws that held the plate in place though haha. As for the build sheet i doubt it exists anymore, i haven't looked under the back or front seats yet but judging from who i bought it from i bet he lost it.

[maxwellwedge]

Have a look inside the doors and up under the dash to see the color.

[Offblue]

Behind door panels and under dash are metallic green.

[RECHRGD]

Behind door panels and under dash are metallic green.

That would pretty much tell me that the car was green from the factory..........

[aerolith]

Hi Folks,

Street-Hemi Orange was always the color of choice when building a HiPo 440, but as time has gone on the early Turquoise blue (pre 69) does grow on you!

But there are many shades of orange and I prefer the early hemi-orange which is more tangerine.
Can't find anyone who makes that shade now, but back the day it was very common resto mistake to see hemi-orange 440's.

My 71 GTX Canadian built car has a factory mistake, the 440 hipo engine was painted late Chrysler blue, a sort of Ford color...

Against the Sassy-grass body color is was downright AWFUL, so its now Street-hemi ORANGE!!!  

[72Charger72]

painted mine turquoise 

[Sixtyeight]

Hi,

Like the turqoise very much, also for my '69!!

Here are mine:







Jeroen.