Does any one know the correct engine color for a 1979 350ci El Camino?
The color on mine is a sort of aqua green--is that correct?

I can't remember when they switched from Chevy orange to blue, but Chevy did have a blue. It was alittle darker than ford blue. My 78 block was blue but when I swapped engines I painted the new block orange.

The engine in my elky came from a 72 camaro and it is orange.

Mines a 76, and mine came orange.

I think they switched in the 80's, but someone will have to double check me on that. You can even go to advanced auto or autozone and they'll have stock engine paint colors. Just check there.

Im pretty sure gm painted them blue in 1977, i might be wrong but i know that was when they had some metric parts like the flex plate it changed some. i know the older one didn't fit after 1977 because the bolt pattern was a little different . atleast we had that problem here in Canada we call the blue block chevy a metric engine.

My 79 came with a Blue 267cu in engine. When I had the 350 put in, my mechanic said Blue was standard for Chevy in 79. They had been orange up to 77. So the new 350 is Blue...

Pics of the 2 engines are in my album...

my 79's was factory blue.

It should be blue, last time Chevy painted them orange was 1976

that aqua green is what GM's blue paint looks like after 25 years. mine is the same way, but i just re-painted the valve covers when i did the gasket last night, so it is lookin a little shinnier. :cool:

I don't think Chevy ever painted the 350 Blue. The 305 was blue and was partially metric. I had a 78 Pickup and that had a 350 "Original" it was not blue I am pretty sure it was Black. It was a GMC but I figure GM is GM.

My 76 is Painted one of the colors of the truck. Its Toreador Met. Red Pearl. I am just not crazy about Orange. My 80's engine was Blue but it was a 305 not a 350. Its now Ultra Violet Pearl Met. Very nice next to the Chrome and Polished Aluminum.

Anyway FWIW

I know gm painted the 350 blue. because back in 80 i bought a white 78 Z28 from the original owner with 40.000 kms and it was a factory blue 350 small blockwith no mods at all. but they did paint the new gm target master drop in 350 black back then.

Yes I'm pretty sure you're correct. I have the original engine in my '79 and it is a very faded blue.

Come to think of it, The original v8 in my 77 was blue. I think all GM V8s should be chevy orange, that's just me. Besides chevy orange is almost of same color as the rest of my Elky! 8-)

Does any one know the correct engine color for a 1979 350ci El Camino?
The color on mine is a sort of aqua green--is that correct?

Should be blue...of course, an old blue with years of road scrunge, fuel and oil can look kinda aqua.