5 replies to this topic

[caterham2]

I am about to freshen up my LJ Xu1 engine. As per photo it is painted what I think is Chev Orange. Should this be Rocket Red like 6 cylinders of standard spec are painted?

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[yel327]

Others here should be able to confirm for you, but I think it is simply HK engine red or rocket red. I think it goes like this:

 

EH to HR (except X2 and 186S) - Engine red.

HK to HZ (except 186S and SBC and SBC design engines up to about the end of manual 350 in HQ) - HK engine red or HK rocket red.

HD-HG X2, 186S, 307, 327, 350 plus HQ 350 up to approx. the end of 1972 - X2 engine red.

 

Not sure if LC GTR or LC-LJ XU1 used a different colour for the engine like 186S did, or if they are the same HK rocket red as other 6cyl of the era. This is where you need an XU1 guru.

 

The bigger issue is variation along the way. We've seen original 186S's look very different to each other, but neither in HK rocket red. Obviously to achieve the different paint on the 186S and X2 engines GMH must have had a different paint gun in the Fisherman's bend engine plant to do it. Possibly there were mixups and an S engine got painted normal red and then whilst wet got sprayed over with X2 engine red, or guns and paint tins got mixed causing the colour variations. 

[71xu1]

Yep Rocket Red. Do yourself a favour and spray it first with a heat proof primer I used the white heatproof VHT primer on mine came up a treat.

 

Cheers Dave

[caterham2]

Thanks guys, rocket red it is then.

[yel327]

Try a few samples first and compare against original engine parts that don't get too hot, like side covers as Dane says or the sump. It isn't easy to get the colour exact today as it is red.