B E A U T I F U L engine SSHomer...but that aint the correct color of the early Mopar reds....way too orange. Part number P4349218 from Mopar Performance is NOT the correct red( sad to say). The closest color out of a rattle can that I have seen Is Krylon Farm & Implement #1818 Int'l Harvester red (( likely the same as the SHERWIN WILLIAMS (Intl. Harvester Red) KS130)) that 68formula told you about. THAT is the closest to original rattle can color you can get. The bad news is ( for whatever reason) that paint does not cure as shiny as you might think. I have been told by the guys at PPG ( painters supply & equip) that almost nothing in a rattle can will ever look as good as a catylized product and after trying both...I have to agree.
The red I had them mix for my 66 CUDA engine cost a wee bit over $115 JUST FOR THE RED. Apparently RED is the second most difficult color to cover ( next to yellow which must be painted white first )...something to do with the amount of pigment in red paints... who knows.
I went about a shade lighter than the harvester color mine is a lil more blood red but no where near the Mopar rattle can color....in fact side by side the mopar paint actually looks ORANGE next to mine. the Harvester red looks almost like Burgundy WINE...there is a lil too much blue in it for my taste. but after running for a few hours they all get a shade or 3 darker.
As far as the pullys go I consulted my resident experts, my two uncles both of whom worked for Chrysler back in the day. One was an inspector at the trenton engine plant 30 years, the other was a finish inspector at the Hamtramic assy plant 34 years. I worked at Mopar Parts for a lil over 10 years. beyond a shadow of doubt I can relate to you that there were color standards and when stock was exhausted they went to MOPAR parts and got whatever worked regardless of color. they also used whatever finishing/touch up gun had paint in it or one that was not being used. HENCE....the pullys were typically black, the dampers were typically the same color as the engine ( as was the bypass hose), the 64 - 66 commando/charger valve covers were wrinkle black. HOWEVER it was not uncommon to see the bottom pully the same color as the engine for an entire run (a run being 1000 cars ).....the paint color on the exhaust manifolds you see in RENDERINGS & drawings is crap, those are "beauty shots" for marketing. the only paint that got on the exhaust manifolds was overspray from the engine and most of it burned off first fire. The exhaust manifolds were cast iron covered with cosmoline, they were never painted that either uncle can recall and by my recollection as well taking us from 1949 thru 1982. they sometimes painted them prior to 1952 to prevent rust but customers and sales people complained so much about the smell & smoke they stopped, cosmoline burned off pretty much while being loaded & unloaded for transport.
Transmissions had any number of colors as long as they were either cast aluminum color or cast iron color depending on the parts, again whatever color got on the trans was considered overspray, trannys were not painted either. the trans pan, dipstick tube and dipstick had some kind of chromate type plating that kind of looked silver like dark galvanized but had a sort of weird green tint to it. On NON commado motors V8's they painted what ever was on the motor the same color as the motor. hoses springs clamps whatever. There was NO masking, they did however have lil carboard forms/plugs that fit into any open holes to prevent paint from getting into the engine. but NO ONE stopped the paint process if the carboard plugs were not present same with the valve covers. if they were off due to damage the valve train got painted, lightly as possible but visible......nonetheless....
NOW for the rub..... there is NO way to PROVE what I have just explained...... purists will say I am full of doo doo and why would Mopar sell paint that isnt the correct color.... I don' t know but they are doing it. I frequently take my uncles to park & shines around detroit, they LOVE early mopars and they can spot stuff - details that are uncanny....they end up talking to the restorer for hours, and they NEVER EVER critisize any restored vehicle. They talk amongst themselves and point out modifications and alterations from "Stock" that most folks would never ever notice...they are kind of becomming the "go to" guys around Detroits east side for this exact kind of trivia...mainly because they are correct a very amazing percentage of the time. This is not meant to be an END ALL KNOW ALL share. just a compilation of interesting information for you to use as you see fit. They are getting kinda OLD ( 80's)and going less & less and remembering less & less.....but they are still pretty sharp and even dulled by age, remember more about early mopars than most.
good luck in your build, I hope to see you at future WOODWARD cruises
66cuda
