Block and components colors

[Beantown]

Hi All,

 

I got my block back from the shop today and was very happy with the color.  I had plans on painting it black but they did some kind of coating that is gunmetal color.  I was wondering if anyone knew what color the block and components came from the factory?  Also wondering what everyone else is doing?  I am thinking of keeping the block this color and then all the aluminum parts painted and aluminum color,  then painting the valve cover this gunmetal color too.  Thoughts?

 

Thanks

Edited October 30, 2019 by Beantown

[Conserv]

The factory finish on the block was black. All aluminum components, e.g., head, valve cover, etc., had a natural finish (no finishes applied).

 

Do whatever you like!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[JsnPpp]

Totally agree with Steve, totally your call.

 

That finish is pretty sexy however.

 

Jason

['76mintgrün'02]

Yup.  Do it the way you'll like it.

 

"Thoughts?"

I like the black block.  I also like bare aluminum intake manifold and valve covers.  Let metal be metal, I say.  It looks honest, that way.

A lot of people prefer powder coating aloominum color (AKA plastic coating), or clear coating the aluminum.  Both are attempts at keeping it looking newer-than-new.  Newness is overrated, in my opinionionion. 

 

Those people are all doing it wrong.  Don't be one of those people...

unless you want to... in which case, you should do that.

 

Vapor honing is all the rage now; replacing Krinkle-Koat-Black on the fashion charts.

 

Once in a while I rub a little oil on the valve cover, so it doesn't dry out and turn chalky.

 

Tom

 

[Son of Marty]

That looks good I use light gray on the block because IMHO it will show oil and coolant leaks the best and will allow you to trace them back to the source easily. 

[rover1]

 is the block bored out to 89.9mm and do you know how much the shaved off of the deck?

[Beantown]

They took off the minimum,  and the bore is 89.5mm.  I also like the aluminum,  but I think I will use the gunmetal with the aluminum accessories..

 

Thanks all!

[Bibm5]

Wow! It's hard to believe that's the same engine I sold on Craigslist for $100!
It looks awesome and I'm glad It went to a good home.
Looking forward to seeing it come together!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[rcf925]

I like the grey, Also easier to see any leaks if you have any

[PaulTWinterton]

14 hours ago, Beantown said:

Also wondering what everyone else is doing?

 

I'm in the black block and clearcoat aluminum camp.  But that grey is pretty darn cool.

 

 

 

[Beantown]

Hi Bibm5,

 

Its actually not the same block.  Because I decided to bore it out to use 89.47 piano top pistons,  I decided to use the block that came with the car.  But, I am using the 2.0 crank that came in the block that I bought from you,  which will make my 1.8 block a 2.0!  I honed the bore in the block I got from you and it looks great, but didn't want to bore it if it wasn't need.  I guess I will CL that one or make a turbo back up engine!  ha!  Did you end up buying that 320i from Asheville?

[Beantown]

Y'all got me looking closely at the two blocks I have and I noticed the coolant channels are smaller on the machined block than on the non-machined block. Is this an earlier casting or later?

[Son of Marty]

Look at both blocks they will have casting dates on them. As to the size of the water openings in the block it makes no difference the water flow is controlled by the  size of the connecting holes in the head gasket

[Conserv]

10 hours ago, Beantown said:

Y'all got me looking closely at the two blocks I have and I noticed the coolant channels are smaller on the machined block than on the non-machined block. Is this an earlier casting or later?

Look at the blocks’ casting dates and engine numbers!

 

The casting dates are on the right side, in the vicinity of the number one and two freeze plugs.

 

Here’s a thread telling more about locating and reading casting dates:

 

 

The engine numbers are on the engine’s left side, at the very rear of the block, stamped into a flat machined boss, as shown below on my ‘76.

 

Regards,
 

Steve

 

Edited October 31, 2019 by Conserv

[Conserv]

27 minutes ago, Son of Marty said:

Look at both blocks they will have casting dates on them. As to the size of the water openings in the block it makes no difference the water flow is controlled by the  size of the connecting holes in the head gasket

Sorry. I didn’t see that you had answered this already!

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited October 30, 2019 by Conserv