For powder coating purposes. Has anyone found a good match for PC media? I tried the search function but nothing came up.
What is the factory color called?
Here is a link to some oranges. IDK which looks closest though. I'm thinking that Chevy orange is closest as far as I can tell. 3 pages of orange colors here. https://www.powderbuythepou...ranges-c-360/?page=2
Well, it is a Chevrolet engine, so that color must be pretty close. People have used a Chrysler red and a Ford paint also, with good results. It's tough to say what is right, because after 25 years the original paint must be faded, so there is no direct comparison with the 'factory color' any more.
Aren't they red? I wouldn't use the Chevy Orange color.
The VHT High Temp Red Brake Caliper spray paint looks pretty close to the intake/valve cover red on my Fiero at least.
IDK. Lol maybe I have some color blindness but I thought they were more of an orange. Hmm. Interesting you say red.
I will be powder coating them so paints are out of the question. The plenum is cast aluminum correct? And the valve covers are stamped? Cast aluminum parts must be degassed prior to PC'ing them is why I ask.
Originally posted by Gall757: Valve covers are cast aluminum.
red/orange orange/red....they all sort of run together at times...I bet the Chevy color is right...the 2 small circles are the same color...
But the two small circles are not the color of the parts on my car. They are definitely red.
Now, if it was the paint color for the block in a 69' Vette or something, I'd totally agree with that Chevy Red-orange color. But while the Fiero 2.8 is technically a "Chevy" engine, it didn't get the Chevy branding in the Pontiacs (I don't think any part of was even the Chevy red-orange color in the Chevys).
If you're totally stripping the parts down to bare metal and getting them powdercoated, I'd just go with the standard red that powdercoaters use.
[This message has been edited by dobey (edited 02-02-2014).]
But the two small circles are not the color of the parts on my car. They are definitely red.
Now, if it was the paint color for the block in a 69' Vette or something, I'd totally agree with that Chevy Red-orange color. But while the Fiero 2.8 is technically a "Chevy" engine, it didn't get the Chevy branding in the Pontiacs (I don't think any part of was even the Chevy red-orange color in the Chevys).
If you're totally stripping the parts down to bare metal and getting them powdercoated, I'd just go with the standard red that powdercoaters use.
I'd say 3002 Carmine Red maybe, from that color chart. But that chart is also fairly low quality in terms of color matching, so it's a little hard to tell what exactly is different between those red colors.
Both my Fieros are the original factory coating on the intake and valve covers, and it is far from being any amount of orange. It is definitely a red color.
If the color on your car looks orange-ish or pink-ish then it's definitely faded. The original color is red. I'd say just pick the matte red color that you like best. It might just be hard for you to find matte powder though.
Well, let's just throw in another color. I've used Ford Engine High Temp Red as a spray color. The reason for that is that it's very very close to what I saw on a very well-preserved low mileage engine. I didn't compare the Chrysler red to see what was closer, but to the untrained eye or without the piece being layed beside an original new piece, how ya gonna tell?
Now, if it was the paint color for the block in a 69' Vette or something, I'd totally agree with that Chevy Red-orange color. But while the Fiero 2.8 is technically a "Chevy" engine, it didn't get the Chevy branding in the Pontiacs (I don't think any part of was even the Chevy red-orange color in the Chevys).
I agree. And actually, GM had probably phased out the Chevy orange entirely by the time the Fiero came along. The "corporate" blue had taken its place.
I went with Chevy orange on my valve covers because that's what I was told was right, it wasn't! Upper intake was fine and didn't require repaint and boy can you tell the difference. I didn't have the time required for a repaint so on they went but it doesn't look bad and I may repaint the upper intake to match. Given the chance to do it all again I would have went with the correct red color because it is a red car.
I agree. And actually, GM had probably phased out the Chevy orange entirely by the time the Fiero came along. The "corporate" blue had taken its place.
1976 was the last year for Chevy orange if I recall correctly. The engines went to blue and then in the mid 80's to black.
Again the Pontiac color here is in no way even close to Chevy Orange.
Trust me many of the members of the Cleveland Fiero's have restored their cars and the Chrysler Red is the closest color to my original powered coat you will find. Their engines look great.
I overlayed the 2. Your color is pretty close when the light is hitting it. See the throttle body side in the bright light compared to the color of your blower pipes. Pretty close. I'd just stick to the powder you already used.
[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 02-04-2014).]
The valve covers and middle and upper intake would look good polished too!
Yeah I am planning on doing the valve covers as well, same color as what ever color I end up using. Very interesting though that you mention the middle intake. I honestly hadn't though of PC'ing that part. Now you have me wondering what that might look like! And maybe (not to complicate things) if I could use a different color to accentuate the upper and valve covers.
I overlayed the 2. Your color is pretty close when the light is hitting it. See the throttle body side in the bright light compared to the color of your blower pipes. Pretty close. I'd just stick to the powder you already used.
Awesome IMSA! TY for your time! You make a very good point! And if I did this at least they would match!
Summit Racing signal red is what I used on those blower tubes.
GAH! I honestly had no idea finding just the right color would be such a to do. TYVM everyone for chiming in and your time!
I touched up my 88's plenum with the Ford engine red, got it at NAPA I believe. I sprayed the can into the lid and then used a brush. It matches so well you cant see where I touched up.
Rather than trying to do the color match over the web, might I suggest you purchase a can of Chrysler Red or another color in a spray can. Paint a couple unneeded parts and then take them to a few local powder coaters for a color match. $7 for the spray could save you allot of guess work and you will know exactly how it will turn out. You will also have the spay for any touch up after the install. Powder coating does sometimes chip.
Paint a couple unneeded parts and then take them to a few local powder coaters for a color match.
If you do this take my advice. When you go to the powdercoating shops, go on a sunny day in the middle of the day. Any color chips that look close indoors, take them all outside and see what the color comparison looks like outdoors in the sunlight. Only foolproof method I know of to get a good color match.
Unless they have a 'sun' light. Most paint stores have them. They shine with the same intensity and spectrum of the sun. It still a good idea to look at it outside in the sun.
JFYI, I looked in my GM color book and from 84-88, the only GM engine color listed is blue. It dont have any red or orange listed for any GM car. I even specificly looked under Fiero.... and interior, dash, ground effects and wheel colors are all listed .
Originally posted by rogergarrison: JFYI, I looked in my GM color book and from 84-88, the only GM engine color listed is blue. It dont have any red or orange listed for any GM car. I even specificly looked under Fiero.... and interior, dash, ground effects and wheel colors are all listed .
Makes sense. Though I'd expect black to be there. And I think the Fiero was the only GM car that had a painted intake and valve covers in that era, until the red LT4 intake in '94. No?
TY for the great advice everyone! I am all eyes/ears!
Find the right color in a rattle can, shoot some spare parts, bring them to local PC'er for powder, check the color match in day light. All great tips! TYVM.
quote
Originally posted by rogergarrison:
Unless they have a 'sun' light. Most paint stores have them. They shine with the same intensity and spectrum of the sun. It still a good idea to look at it outside in the sun.
JFYI, I looked in my GM color book and from 84-88, the only GM engine color listed is blue. It dont have any red or orange listed for any GM car. I even specificly looked under Fiero.... and interior, dash, ground effects and wheel colors are all listed .
Sorry Roger but could you explain the second half of the above quoted post a little bit more? Are you saying that the GM color book makes no reference to what ever the color actually is on a 2.8L Fiero intake and valve covers?
Interesting. I would think that there would be someone, somewhere that has a book that tells this information straight from the proverbial horses mouth so to speak. Some GM literature some where must cover this. IDK...
Anyway TY everyone for your advice, tips, and time! Feel free to chime in if anyone has more! Andrew
Originally posted by weloveour86se: Sorry Roger but could you explain the second half of the above quoted post a little bit more? Are you saying that the GM color book makes no reference to what ever the color actually is on a 2.8L Fiero intake and valve covers?
The book Roger mentioned is about engine colors. That would be any paint applied to the iron block/heads, and not intakes or valve covers. Aluminum parts were unpainted. There may be a book somewhere that lists the exact color, but you may never find it. The paint on the intake and valve covers was also not a regular maintenance item, nor an option. Every 2.8 Fiero had the same color. This would also make it more difficult to find information on, as re-painting the intake and valve covers was probably never mentioned in any service manuals either.
Generally engine parts and the block are the same color...that includes block, heads, valve covers and intake manifold. Ive never seen them different colors. When the engine color is listed its supposed to be all the color painted parts. Blacks are a different story, some brands use up to 5 different blacks on one engine, usually by the amount of gloss it has. The paint book shows the color the engine components are supposed to be painted. In the Corvette specific book, every black part is listed by its gloss....gloss, semi gloss, low gloss, matt, and flat. Each has different amounts of flattening agent added. As he said, alloy parts generally are never painted.
The Fiero engine color is not listed in the book. My guess is the engine plant just mixed a bunch of left over paint together and used that. Factories pull that kind of stuff all the time to use up old stock. You used to see it a lot on cars they called 'special editions'. Things like putting 95 graphics or trim on 96 models till they used them up.
[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 02-05-2014).]
Originally posted by rogergarrison: In the Corvette specific book, every black part is listed by its gloss....gloss, semi gloss, low gloss, matt, and flat.
What does it say for the LT4? The block and intake are definitely different colors there.
I highly doubt the Fiero intake/valve cover paint is "left over" stock of paint, given it was consistently used on every V6 Fiero that was produced.
So they had 400 gallons of orange they no longer needed and added some other left overs. They got rid of any waste they did have. Ive seen this type of thing done many times before. Im saying if it was a specific production color, it should be in the book that has all the other engine colors for every other brand. Why would they specificly ONLY leave out Fiero color when they give every other parts color on one. The only answer that seems reasonable to me is it is no manufactured color.
Ill see if my production book has the Corvette colors, but I need the year you want. I gave all my Corvette restoration documents to a friend thats a Bloomington Gold Corvette Judge. It even told me what engine parts had overspray from the factory and where on the body the paint was skimpy, rough, or had runs.
[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 02-05-2014).]
After a career in the auto industry, I have seen more undocumented 'running changes' than I can count. Most go undetected.by the buyer (in this case, the buyer would be Pontiac). It would be interesting to line up a dozen upper plenums at a Fiero flea market and see if they are all the same color.
