1968 383 2 barrel original engine color

[BrokenHero]

Happy Thanksgiving!

I've read as much as I can and the consensus seems to be the 383 2bbl engines were turquoise in 1968.
I have a 1968 PP1 red/black vinyl top 383 car with which I am fairly sure is the original engine and this is the intake manifold. Also the engine has since been rebuilt and was painted a similar light-medium blue.

Is there any chance the light medium blue is correct or was my original engine repainted the wrong color by a previous owner?

Thanks

[BSB67]

Is there any chance the light medium blue is correct..........

No

[birdsandbees]

"Light medium Blue" didn't come along until '70 or '71 in the A body small block world anyhow. You engine should be Turquoise.

[Alaskan_TA]

The 1969 model year was the last year for turquoise and the first model year for blue was 1970.

That said..... your blue looks a lot like Ford engine blue. (my brother and two pals liked Mustangs)

[Pete in NH]

Hi,

My 71 383 2bbl is turquoise. I'm the original owner so i know it came from the factory in this color.

[Alaskan_TA]

With age, the original blue starts to look more like turquoise. 

[BrokenHero]

Got it, thanks all! Perhaps it's not the original engine or the original engine was repainted.

[Alaskan_TA]

-If- a 1968 model year engine does have a partial VIN, it will be near the top center of the transmission mounting flange at the back of the block.

If it is a later engine, the full or partial VIN would be on the passenger side of the block, down low, right above the oil pan rail.

[metallicareload99]

Got it, thanks all! Perhaps it's not the original engine or the original engine was repainted.

When we refreshed my 440, I couldn't find the proper turquoise, so I grabbed the closest I could find. A Ford blue like that

[Nacho-RT74]

Phord blue is close if not the same to the Chrysler corporated blue used on all engines since 72. BTDT for my 74. I got once ( just once on my life ) a Chrysler corporated blue spray can which I used, but couldn't find anymore another can ( in Vzla ) so had to use Phord Blue available anywhere to make some touchs on my valve covers and couldn't find any noticeable difference.

[Nacho-RT74]

[birdsandbees]

Don't take that ^^^ list as totally correct.  While 1968 340's were Red and some EARLY '69's. '69 x 340's were generally Turquoise.

[Alaskan_TA]

Yes, that MP list is wrong.

See the 1969 383 & 440 listings on the 1969 TSB page at https://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/TSBs/1969/D69-25-1%20page5.jpg

Also see the 1970 listings at https://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/TSBs/1970/D70-25-1%20page5.jpg

1969 - Turquoise & 1970 - Blue. ;-)

[Alaskan_TA]

The original poster's question was about a 1968 model, so here is a link to that TSB page - https://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/TSBs/1968/D68-25-1%20page6.jpg

[Nacho-RT74]

I know there are some other charts around which I have saved at my PC but was posting from my iPad and couldn't find those ones on line to post the image link.

[triple_green]

GG book says in 1968, any big block regardless of carb is painted turquoise, except 426 hemi