is there -- or was there -- any evidence of the engine's original colour ?
every untouched 1969 model year 340 I've seen ( not too may ) were all Chrysler Engine Blue .
1968 = Chrysler Engine Red
1969 = Chrysler Engine Blue
1970 & 1971 = Chrysler Engine Orange
1972 & 1973 = Chrysler Engine Blue , with an "Air Cleaner Orange" orange air cleaner .
Assembly plant variations could definitely be a factor , as well as build date . All of the '69 340-powered Darts & Barracudas I've seen were built at the Los Angeles facility .
However , all 340's were built in one facility . Not certain whether or not the Mound Road Plant painted the assemblies , or if that was left to the individual plants
( Windsor , Ont ; Los Angeles ; Hamtramck ) .
