David Wilson
New Member
Why would a 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger with 340 engine be painted Blue? Its numbers correct on Vin for H code and 4 speed tranny. It was upraded with six pack but everything else is original. Shouldn't it be orange?
Engine Color
- Thread starter David Wilson
- Start date
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Previous owner??? If it's not correct?
dano
Evil Handy Man
Got a picture? There is Corporate blue then there is Turquoise for the 69 340 motors. Its difficult to say if its original paint, could have been an early built car for 70 and got a 69 motor that was still Turquoise.
David Wilson
New Member
I'm new to this forum and will have to figure out how to post a pic. Not techy at all. Old Fart
David Wilson
New Member
Will do my best to figure out how to post a pic. Not techy at all. Old fart
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
supposed to be orange. if its a real early 70 then i guess its possible it could be Turquoise
Should see "Upload photo" in the below your reply text box. If you're on your phone select "Camera" take the picture and wait for it to load (there's a progress bar) then post the reply. Otherwise you just navigate to your photos folder and select the picture.
Attaching photos works in the forums but unless you are a Gold Member, you can't attach photos in Private Messages.
Good luck.
P.S. If you get a security error message when the photo tries to upload it then the photo is too large so if you crop the photo it should resolve that issue.
ir3333
Well-Known Member
how do you know that is correct?
This is from Motor Trend
I'm rolling a /6 so don't have a dog in the fight just figure Motor Trend did some research
How to Paint Your Mopar Engine, and Which Color Is Correct?
Engine Color Chart, '64-'74*
Turquoise
1964-68 361/383 with Carter
1966-68 440 with Carter
1968-69 383 with Holley
1967-69 440 with Holley
Red
1965-68 273/318/340
Race Hemi Orange
1964-65 426 2x4bbl
Hemi Orange
1966-68 426 2x4bbl
1969 383 with Carter
1969-71 426/440
1970-71 383 with Holley
Orange
1970-71 340
Street Hemi Orange
1969-71 426 2x4bbl
Blue
1969, 1972-74 318/340/ 360
1970-74 383/400 with Carter
1970-74 440 with Holley
1972-74 440 with Carter
*Note: There may be variations in production and/or final options.
I'm rolling a /6 so don't have a dog in the fight just figure Motor Trend did some research
How to Paint Your Mopar Engine, and Which Color Is Correct?
Engine Color Chart, '64-'74*
Turquoise
1964-68 361/383 with Carter
1966-68 440 with Carter
1968-69 383 with Holley
1967-69 440 with Holley
Red
1965-68 273/318/340
Race Hemi Orange
1964-65 426 2x4bbl
Hemi Orange
1966-68 426 2x4bbl
1969 383 with Carter
1969-71 426/440
1970-71 383 with Holley
Orange
1970-71 340
Street Hemi Orange
1969-71 426 2x4bbl
Blue
1969, 1972-74 318/340/ 360
1970-74 383/400 with Carter
1970-74 440 with Holley
1972-74 440 with Carter
*Note: There may be variations in production and/or final options.
HemiSSDart
Dartus Interuptus
And that chart is not 100% right. As said above, 69 340's were Turquoise, 68 Red, 70-71 orange until mid 71 then went to corporate blue.
I do a bit of historical research and the goal is to reach a "primary source" created at the time under study. It serves as an original source of information about the topic.... Haven't seen a Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth document that lays our engine color... just derived references. Be cool to see a corporate document.
HemiSSDart
Dartus Interuptus
Well I have been a national Mopar show judge for 25 years and an expert on 67-71 A-Body's and that is what I know. Have a TSB for 69 engines saying all 340's are turquoise after 9-19-1968. Don't have a TSB for 70 engines, but might find it on the Hamtramck Historical...The 1970 Hamtramck Registry Home Page
Exactly!!!
TSB
And I buy no means meant to disparage your knowledge... it's about how "I saw it on the internet therfore it's true" becomes the default.
Appreciate the link
David Wilson
New Member
Thank you to everyone that has given me some direction and I will send pics soon but did verify that mine is an early 70 with a 69 motor from factory so the color is correct. Everything on it is as far as I can tell and documentation correct so that was the only thing that didn’t match up to me. I am sure I will be a regular going forward as I grew up in mopar world but first one I’ve had since late 60’s. Thanks again and I appreciate it.
I dont think a 340 was ever turquoise....could be wrong.
Googled this up...
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/download/Number/232004/filename/engcolor.JPG
Seems to be an ongoing debate on this for the 69 year 340.
68 were red, 70-71 street hemi orange, 72-73 blue.
Someone mentioned mid 71 went to blue. Thats interesting because I pulled a blue 340 that was factory original and when I cleaned the block it had orange paint under it. It was numbers matching to a 72 challenger but the block was cast Jan 71 and I think it was factory oversize .020 bore.
Googled this up...
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/download/Number/232004/filename/engcolor.JPG
Seems to be an ongoing debate on this for the 69 year 340.
68 were red, 70-71 street hemi orange, 72-73 blue.
Someone mentioned mid 71 went to blue. Thats interesting because I pulled a blue 340 that was factory original and when I cleaned the block it had orange paint under it. It was numbers matching to a 72 challenger but the block was cast Jan 71 and I think it was factory oversize .020 bore.
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HemiSSDart
Dartus Interuptus
Well here is an original owner 69 340 Swinger, top radiator hose and master cylinder were replaced due to sitting and low mileage...
My 69 340 Dart Swinger was turquoise. It was all original back then.
HemiSSDart
Dartus Interuptus
Another original 69 340 in turquoise, has a 70-up water pump on it. I could post 18 more if you like...
Oh my, another color debate lol....
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
if you talk to frank Frank Badalson he will say that the 340 had its own orange and that it wasn't the same orange as the street hemi..
I will fart in your general direction!
ir3333
Well-Known Member
69 340's were turquoise.
It's pointless to look at any 50 year old engine today and argue the current color is correct.
It's pointless to look at any 50 year old engine today and argue the current color is correct.
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