1969 340 engine paint color.

[cpearce]

Hello everyone,

I know this is a big block site, however I have a question about 340 engine colors for 1969.  I was under the impression that most 1969 340's were blue with later production units having the hemi orange paint.  I just picked up the new Mopar Action mag and a tech article in the mag said ALL 1969 340 mopars were blue.  If you check out this Dart GTS link http://www.andy440.com/69gts_5.htm, it says the 1969 GTS 340 should be turquoise.  What gives?  Does anyone have a definitive answer to this madness?

Regards,
Chris

[west]

no

[Jim_Lusk]

In my opinion the definitve answer belongs to Jim Rhinehart (Rhinodart). He parted out more Darts than any of the rest of us have ever owned. I believe he has said turquoise, which makes some sense since the blue really wasn't used until the 70s. One thing is ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN is that there was more than one color for 69 340s.

[69DartW250]

FWIW
I found trace amounts of factory turquoise paint under brackets etc on my Oct 68 built 69 Swinger 340 car. The engine was orange when I got it, but after further investigation I believe it was turquoise from the factory.

I'm going to paint the motor turquoise when the time comes.

George

[A13Dart]

It does seem as if there was a couple of different colors used.  If you found some turquoise, I'd go with that.

[cpearce]

Great input guys.  If the engine is indeed turquoise then what color would the pie tin be, orange or red?  Sorry to add more confusion.

Chris

[Small Block]

More input:
According to Paul Herd in his restoration book the 69 barracuda 340's were painted Hemi Orange. Beginning in late 71 all 318's and 340's were painted Chrysler blue. Keep in mind this is coming from a Cuda/Challenger restoration guide. Darts and dusters may be different. Good luck.

[Jim_Lusk]

Paul Herd's book has been shown to have LOTS of inaccuracies. Again Rhino is more expert than anybody else on this issue. I know for a fact that 68 pie tins were red........

[PureGTS]

  Just to add to the confusion; in 68 there were definately two colors for 340's and I have yet to find any rhyme or reason as to why. I've seen two reference 68 Darts, both with 340's, one was red and the other turqouise. I guessed it was a mid year thing, you know after January 1 it was turkey-ouise and prior it was red.  Maybe even a plant thing. No clue! I made mine red, and gave up. I had to save the brain cells, both of them, for the important stuff, like, what color hoses to get. 

[CudaSRT8]

My original '68 340S 4 speed cuda (back in the day) engine was red with red pie tin.   My friend's original '69 340 auto. Dart Swinger engine was turqoise with red pie tin.   These were original cars.   I bought the cuda from the original owner (unmodified) and my friend bought his Swinger brand new.

[Jim_Lusk]

Pure, not sure what to make of your car, but it is generally accepted that all 68 340s were red. Not saying that what is generally accepted is absolute, but again Rhino would be the expert. My GTS is not only an early car, it didn't have its original 340 or heads by the time I got it in 1983, but the intake was red.

[Small Block]

Jim: Tell us more about this Rhino guru. How does one contact him with a question? What board does he hang out on? Now that i think of it, the original 318 out of the 68 sattilite i have is red. It's on a stand in the shop.
Thanks
Bill

[cpearce]

Hi everybody,

My car is actually a GT that I'm cloning into a GTS, therefore the original setup was a 273 with a 904.  My 273 was definately red.  I also have it sitting on an engine stand.  Just some more info.

Chris.

[abodyjoe]

Jim: Tell us more about this Rhino guru. How does one contact him with a question? What board does he hang out on? Now that i think of it, the original 318 out of the 68 sattilite i have is red. It's on a stand in the shop.
Thanks
Bill

  he is over at moparts...




  a definatle answer? NO.

  i have seen the question come up on several boards..  seems like most of the books i have seen say turquoise or red. but when it comes up on a place like moparts 99% of the people say turquoise.   never heard the blue though...   but who knows. mopars are a strange breed.

[Jim_Lusk]

Rhino hangs out on Moparts and occassionally pops in here. He's been too busy the last year or so to post much anywhere, though.

[zpsull01]

My YearOne book says that 1969 340's were painted red, but some were turquoise or street hemi orange.

[Jim_Lusk]

And, once again Year One is probably incorrect..........

[PureGTS]

....won't be the last time...

[dart4406]

http://www.turbinecar.com/misc/enginecolor.htm