Engine/transmission paint colors...

[Engineer]

What years did GM paint the engine "GM corporate blue"? Last year for orange? First year for black?

Also, does anyone know, or know where I can find what color they painted the cast iron manual transmissions, and what color they painted the 205 transfer cases?

Right now my tranny/transfer case is black, but there is blue paint under the black on the transmission, and the bell housing is GM corporate blue.

[HAULIN IT]

Well since no one else answered, I'll try to help, BUT this is going by pure memory (I remember...having this, that one had...I think, ect.) so I could be off a year or so & also I'm pretty sure not all size engines went to the the same color in the same year in all size trucks (as in a 454 in a 1 ton isn't/doesn't have to be the same as a 305 in a half ton). My GUESS for the average small block in a 1/2 ton, ect. is as follows: '77 first year for Blue...last year '83. I can't claim to have ever seen paint on a transmission itself, but the Blue does not seem right to me, bell housings yes, but not the tranny. I have/have seen a couple T-cases & supports, ect. a Red oxide color, but most are just bare...if they started out painted, most of them seem to shed it   Hope this helps & don't take any of it for gospel. Lorne 

[Captkaos]

I was thinking it was 78 for Blue and 82 for black, but...
As for trans, I have never seen any of them with color on them, they have always been raw.

[Engineer]

Thanks for the replies.

I wondered if the SM465 that I have might have had a "custom" paint job done on it.

Since I will be using my truck for sled pull competitions, I will be required to replace my factory bellhousing with an SFI approved one. ($$$ )

I will probably go back with black on the gear boxes, since rust is not appealing. If it were a true factory restoration I may do the natural metal deal, but it is a custom job, so some level of detail is in order. The red oxide could be a possibilty. Hmmm....... That would be different......

I have been considering painting my 454 GM corporate blue, just because everyone seems to go with Chevrolet orange.......I have to be different, but I still want a factory color.  I just hope no one confuses it with Furd blue.....Talk about a hideous truck fashion faux-pas.