87 GN original engine color

[RossGN]

On '87 GN, were then engines painted gray or black, from the factory?

 

[turboc87gn]

I think they were black

 

[A2000RICH]

On '87 GN, were then engines painted gray or black, from the factory?

they were painted very sloppy-----oil pans seemed to be painted fairly well a satin black------front cover and water pump was painted poorly with what appeared to be a black spray bomb--------there was some black splashed here and there on the block and some of them got a little dab of light blue as well-------but mostly they were "rust".........RC

 

[RossGN]

I'm starting to wonder if this engine is "untouched" as stated by the seller (I bought the car with 78k miles last fall). I have it taken apart for timing chain change, header weld and just general clean-up, but I'm finding some things that seem a little strange. Heavy coat of gray paint on timing cover block, heads etc. Under the valve covers is absolutely spotless....looks brand new...not what I would expect for 80k miles. The intake manifold water passages were sealed with red silicone...the left rear was nearly completely blocked with the stuff.

 

[kh440]

do not recall GM ever painting the engine blocks grey, only one that does come to mind in that time frame was Ford. The blocks should be black, with quite a bit of overspray on the accessories.

 

[A2000RICH]

I'm starting to wonder if this engine is "untouched" as stated by the seller (I bought the car with 78k miles last fall). I have it taken apart for timing chain change, header weld and just general clean-up, but I'm finding some things that seem a little strange. Heavy coat of gray paint on timing cover block, heads etc. Under the valve covers is absolutely spotless....looks brand new...not what I would expect for 80k miles. The intake manifold water passages were sealed with red silicone...the left rear was nearly completely blocked with the stuff.

that engine has definitely had work-------original manifolds were not sealed with silicone from the factory-------they used a dark brown "shellac" like indian head or pematex------when you remove the timing cover if it has never been off it will have a somewhat thicker than normal gasket made of asbestos instead of paper like the GM and aftermarket replacements--------grey paint-------definitely NOT original from GM...........RC

 

[yullose]

They never used a gray engine.

They were all black... and even the GM crate motors were painted black.

I forget what year GM went to black... but I seem to recall it was around '82-'84. Prior to that they were a light blue.

Generally the reman companies will paint motors gray.

Looks to me like you have quite a mess on your hands.

 

[RossGN]

Do the blocks have serial numbers matching it to the car, as this GN was sold to me as "all original". If the numbers don't match then it'll be pretty easy in court.

 

[A2000RICH]

Do the blocks have serial numbers matching it to the car, as this GN was sold to me as "all original". If the numbers don't match then it'll be pretty easy in court.

on the bellhousing flange drivers side the last several numbers of the vin are stamped in the block-------and they are also stamped in the drivers side trans pan rail.............RC

 

[kh440]

Do the blocks have serial numbers matching it to the car, as this GN was sold to me as "all original". If the numbers don't match then it'll be pretty easy in court.

it's either the last 6 or the last 8 of the VIN, I forget which now, but definitely on the drivers side bellhousing.

 

[artrenee10]

Reman.... my Jasper's motor in my 97 Chevy Tahoe is that grey color...and I just bought a parts car that has Buick V8 in it...that too is a reman...

That sucks but double check to see if the numbers match b/c we could be wrong....

 

[novaderrik]

Do the blocks have serial numbers matching it to the car, as this GN was sold to me as "all original". If the numbers don't match then it'll be pretty easy in court.

i don't think that the electric oil pressure gauge sender or the braided line for the oil cooler is original, so if that was on the car when you got it, you might have a hard time proving that you thought it twas "all original" at the time of purchase.

 

[RossGN]

I knew the oil cooler lines were not original...the seller acknowledged that stating the OEM units were no longer available- supposedly replaced due to leaking (I thought). The oil sending unit is not original or correct and has been spliced into the connector. Just got off work and will check VIN. thanks for the help, guys.

 

[kh440]

good luck!