What color to repaint engine....

[1bad340]

Hey Guys,
Since I'm selling this, I need to repaint the block and get it a little closer to factory.
Did small blocks come in both blue and orange? I do not know what color my engine came in.
I'm thinking of going with Hemi Orange.  I do not like the light blue small blocks had. I'll probably change out the wheels for Magnums as well.   
Your thoughts?
Thanks,
rick

[js29no]

Orange! 

[burdar]

Well, I replied to your post in the engine compartment thread before you deleted it.

What is the car's SPD?  Early 71s had orange engines.  The change to blue was March/April.  Orange may be correct.(for a 340)

318's were painted blue starting in 69 I think.  They were blue all the way into the 80s.  340's were orange starting in 1970.(some 69 340's might have been orange) The engine plant where the 340s were built changed in the spring of 71.  The new engine plant painted the 340s blue instead of orange.

You have a lot of other non stock components in the engine compartment.  Paint the engine what ever color you think looks best.  Personally, I'd also paint the brake booster black while you're at it.    

[1bad340]

Thanks for the input Burdar! Greatly appreciated.
Built date is 11-70.  Orange it is.  I agree, I'll repaint the wiper & booster.
Not sure when, but on the list.

[Sleepychallenger]

Is that a purple air filter

[1bad340]

It's blue.

[anlauto]

Orange

Although you haven't really asked anybody's opinion on the whole car, I'm going to offer mine because I'm a huge 1971 Cuda fan, I've owned several, sold several and restored even more. I'm constantly watching the market on these cars.

A fully OE restored 340 4spd with all documentation, tags, etc...with the options and colors yours has would be worth $65K-$75K tops. YES people are asking more, but I doubt very much they're selling for anything more.

Your car being "fully restored" with several personal changes being made along the way, makes for a very awesome looking car HOWEVER...you've scared away any big time potential "investment collector" , the type of person who has that kind of disposable income to buy a top dollar 340 Cuda. Most simply wouldn't be interested because the original numbers matching 340 is gone and a 360 takes it place.

What you created is more of a modified car or "resto-mod" WHICH there is a huge market for these days.  When viewing the car with that in mind, most people will quickly realize you couldn't build a car of your quality at the asking price you're at. However in my opinion most potential buyers for a car in that category aren't looking to spend that much with the limited mods you have done....they're more in the $45K-$50K range.

So to sum up MY OPINION and it's only an opinion, like arseholes, everybody has one.....
Changing a few things back to "stock" (engine color, wheels, etc...) will not get you the OE resto prices you want, in fact if you brought it back 100% to OE stock, it still wouldn't bring top dollar because of the numbers not matching.

I think you continue to modify the car to suit your own taste, drive and enjoy it, or leave it as is and continue to try and sell it. A couple of times on EBay (with a high reserve) will give you an excellent indication of what the world's buying public is willing to spend

[1bad340]

Hello Anlauto,
I appreciate the input. This is info I definitely welcome. I have been on the fence on the engine color and wheels and if it would even help to go factory.  You confirm what I was thinking.
Since I don't have to sell it, I was shooting the high mark.    
I'll take your advice and pop it on again in the near future and do the auction with reserve.  In the meantime, I'll keep on enjoying.
Thanks again,
rick

[rUNCHARGER]

I'm always hesitant to respond to these threads because sometimes it hurts feelings. IMHO the wheels are fine and easily replaced by stock, little donuts if a future buyer desired. The gold engine looks bad even on a modded car. A blue engine would wash out against the blue paint, I would paint it Hemi orange. The brake booster and wiper motor look like they were cleaned and spray painted gold to cheaply mimic the factory coatings. There, I said it, no hurt feelings intended. If it was my car I would get the wiper motor restored and correctly coat the brake booster, but that's just me. I can't remember if a 71 Cuda booster is supposed to be black or cad but I would make it stock.
The aftermarket engine dressup pieces don't necessarily deter from the car. A lot of current buyers will accept those mods rather than the stock tin and not bat an eye especially if the engine isn't matching #'s anyway. My own opinion is these potential buyers came over from the GM camp and expect minor dressup mods, these converted GM guys generally gravitate to 71 Cudas and 69 Chargers in my experience. Again no hurt feelings intended to anyone.

Sheldon

[anlauto]

If you want to make it more "stock" looking. I would start by putting the belt moldings back on the tops of the doors along with the rocker moldings and rocker black out. Any 71 Cuda missing those items just looks like a poor attempt at a "Cuda clone"

[1bad340]

rUNCHARGER, No worries on giving you opinion. There is a big difference in giving opinions verses hammering on the car.  I appreciate the advice.

anlauto,  Good points on the moldings. I did not know this. I'll check into it.

Thanks guys.  I look at it as these are all good problems. I could be driving a Pinto!