1968 350 v8 engine and valve color closest red available??

[Guest richcampisi]

hello everyone - just picked up a 1968 Special Deluxe and was redoing the manifold and valve covers and am having a difficult time trying to match the red paint.

Anyone know of a source or a part #?

 

Someone mentioned Duplicolor DH 1608 but its been discontinued.

 

Ant help would be appreciated.

[EmTee]

I have the same question.  Has anyone tried the Duplicolor DC DE1653, DC DE1632 or DC DE1605?

[billorn]

1941 dante red is available from a number of sources. I used it on a '66 Wildcat I had years ago and it looked about right.

[d2_willys]

Try this link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-1974-Buick-Red-Engine-Paint-Spray-Can-EP644S-/182164202183?epid=657985620&hash=item2a69d522c7:g:m2kAAOSwFMZWtfZI&vxp=mtr

[EmTee]

6 hours ago, d2_willys said:

Try this link:

 Are you speaking from experience?  I ask because someone sprayed my valve covers with something that looks more like Chevy Orange than Buick Red.  I wonder how faithful the CARS paint color is to the original...

[JohnD1956]

The 72 Tech specialist told me that the Buick red engine paint from Cars and or other vendors is fine for judging.  The BCA rules do allow for differences in shades of color.  If the BCA accepts that,, then any other venue should also accept it.

[EmTee]

Thanks, John!  Time to order a couple of cans.  I need to get my engine bay cleaned-up before Lake George... 

[NTX5467]

It might well be that the particular color is similar to a normal "car color", but built from a less expensive type of paint (normal enamel rather than acrylic enamel, for example)than what went on the outer surface of the car.  In that orientation, getting into some of the old paint chip charts might help.  When you find something that is a match or "close match", then they can build you a quart of it.  Get some appropriate "thinner/reducer" and a Preval kit (glass jar and a sprayer that screws onto it) and you're in business.  Past that, normal surface prep, degreasing, cleaning, and de-siliconization issues apply.   In some cases, the paint chip charts also had the formula part numbers for engine paint and the various interior paints, too. 

 

The engine paint was there more for protection from rust on the metal, more about "coverage" rather than "show winning finishes", by observation.  Runs and sags did happen, as might 'light spots" in recesses for hold-down bolts.  It all depended upon whom was spraying it.  NOT a license for poor paint when it's redone again, but don't try to make it perfect, either, other than a "reasonable effort" for a nice look.

 

Key thing would be to find an older paint supplier or auto supply that also did automotive paint mixing, which might still have some of the old color chip chart books they might reference.  Absent that, some of the newer facilities that might to color matching using a computerized scanner of a section of the existing paint.  Then a few tweaks can be made for age/heat-fading, and a mixed quart of paint can happen.  Same thing for using the Preval-type sprayer as above.

 

I'm always a bit wary of the pre-packaged spray can paint for these things as unless they are licensed to sell a particular color, it will ALWAYS not be accurate, by observation, even from noted name brands.  Even some of the licensed products seem a little "off" from what we might remember them to have been, back then.

 

Hope this helps,

NTX5467. 

[EmTee]

Thanks NTX, getting a custom mix from my local auto finishing supply was another option I was considering.  They have the color charts and formulas to mix whatever color is needed.  I was going to stop in and get a pint of acrylic enamel mixed for chip touch-up on Goldie anyway.  They can also make rattle cans from the heavy pint.  I need a can of gold spray to touch-up some spots under the hood where the fenders attach to the cowl (part of the under-hood detailing).  I was going to ask them about the Buick engine red while I was there.  I just bought a pint with one spray can for my GP and I thought the price was quite reasonable. 

[dmfconsult]

Apparently there is a Krylon 2114 red paint that looks close to the Buick Red.  Also, I think Bill Hirsch paints carry a Buick red enamel.  Past complaints about the Cars Buick red were that it looked too "pink", but I don't know if they've improved the color.  I did a search on V8Buick, and apparently guys were having trouble finding the Krylon in stores, but it looks like both TA Performance and Summit carry it.   When I heard the duplicolor DH1608 was going to be discontinued, I went and bought every can I could find, so I have 6-7 cans around... I should be good for a while!.