Valve cover and Manifold color differences

[charlie268]

I would like to thank Jimmiee for his response to my question on my 77 pickup. I have one more question, while looking through the pics forum I saw a 76 pickup with a 350 motor that had red valve covers and manifold. It was the original motor and mine is an original 350 in my 77 but the valve covers and manifold are blue. Did they change from 76 to 77 or like Ford does the color mean a different motor?

[Jimmiee]

Hey Charlie,

Chevy used orange paint up until GM started putting Chevy engines in Buick, Pontiac and Olds. Then they changed to blue. A few years later they went to black because it's hard to see oil leaks on blue paint. With black paint and fluorescent dye oil leaks are easier to see.