Stovebolt.com Forums The Shop Area The Engine Shop What color should a 60 261 be

No trace of paint on the block and head but seen some gray on the valve cover and green on the bellhousing,it has a casting date of April 15 1959 but is set up for a hydraulic clutch so early 60? that was assembled in late 59 right after change over.

I've have seen some that are alpine green and others that was yellow . Let's wait and see what the experts say.

Tim

Per the research done by the late Bob Hensel, 1958 and up 261's were "Green" (Alpine Green).

Mike B

My 1960 261 has a yellow engine with an alpine green head. That does not help a bit. I had a conversation with an old GM paint guy about 24 years ago. He told me that up to 1955 there was no color code on Chevy stovebolt engines. He went on to say that the factories would have 55 gal drums come in with the lowest bid. when a drum got too low the paint guys would mix up from another drum by filling it to the rim. Sometimes the gray matched and sometimes it didn't, he went on to tell me the same thing about the blue engines.. I believe you will fine with the alpine green. Something wierd happend between 1958 and 1960 regarding engine colors on 261's.Doc This does not help you a bit does it? Just found out from Jim Carter that my 54-3100 engine should be dove gray, dang! I guess I will mix a slight amount of blue to a large amount of dove grey. Doc

No codes are given - just 1912-1966 Chevrolet engine colors/years. [1954advance-design.com]
(compiled/printed in 1996 by Robert Hensel)

Robert Hensel [books.google.com] - referred-to above by Mike Boteler (Mike B)

He died in 2016. [wieting-funeralhome.com]
"He collected and established one of the largest collections of Chevrolet literature in the United States and shared that wealth of information with Chevrolet people all over the world."
"He will be missed by Chevrolet people all over the United States, Canada, Australia and many countries in Europe."