I know that on LX/UC, HX/HZ and VB on Commodores, all the suspension components in the 3 VAPs I frequented ( Dandenong, Elizabeth and Acacia ridge)... rear axle arms, front A arms, various suspension links,
control arms, sway bars etc all arrived painted. The only things I recall that were not painted (and were left unpainted) were the sway bar links


HTH

I've found most of the aftermarket spray cans to vary & are never close to the colour of the cap. I think that Motospray in particular have confused the X2 Engine Red with the old EH/HD/HR darker red.

Dr Terry

Edited by user Wednesday, 24 November 2021 9:07:11 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

The confusion with colour names begins at GM-H.

Both the HD & HR factory workshop manuals list the X2 engines as being painted "Rocket Red" which became "X2 Engine Red".

They then named the new (later) colour "HK Rocket Red".

Dr Terry

The unknown is whether HK-HG 186S were actually painted X2. It was only the performance Holden engines that were X2, and by association HQ Statesman 350 as well. Whether or not GMH regarded 186S in HK as a performance engine. Not sure about any Torana stuff, may only be relevant to Holden engines or possibly Torana as well.

Hi Wagon Dan, thanks for the great pictures.

Any chance of doing some paint samples next to your tappet cover i.e. get a can of Duplicolor Chevy Orange and see if its a match? I am in the process of getting some paint samples for what is known as Holden X2 Engine Red and Rocket Red from a reputable paint supplier that is supplying local cars with what is supposed to be correct paint colours. When I get some paint swatches painted up I will send them to you to see if we can get a match.

I have a recollection of HZ or WB chassis arriving by train at Dandenong, coming from SA (Woodville? Elizabeth?)
and they were painted...

I've just checked online and my local Supercheap supposedly has a can of Duplicolor Chevy Orange in stock, which I'll try to pick up in the next day or 2 to get some samples and comparisons done over the weekend.


A good friend of ours also has an original paint X2 engine, in his Melbourne assembled HR Ute 😁


Hopefully I can get some samples against his Ute, along with my Wagon to give abit more assurance one way or the other 👍


This is the detailed engine bay of my Premier Wagon, which I repainted off a sample of an original paint X2 sideplate. Perhaps a different light the pic is taken in, but it's very close to my un-touched Special Wagon's engine.

Sorry, when I had the paint done for my Premier engine it wasnt given a name or code.


Another few pics (both Wagon bums 😊)
My Premier engine from a different angle (pre power steering install)
Another friends HD Premier X2, repainted engine from his own original sample colour match.

I'm going out on a limb here & reckon that Rocket Red, X2 Engine Red & HK Rocket Red don't really differ all that much !!

Dr Terry

Edited by user Thursday, 25 November 2021 8:28:30 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Will help if we 1st of all see that the paint colour names fit with the cars release or chronological order. I.e Chevs pre HK ( Pontiac & Chev), EH Red, HD X2 Red, HR 186s, HK ??? Red, HK Red / Orange or however it went. Meaning X2 Red came before 186s Red, HK V8 Red / Orange. Well the name on a HD would’nt have been called HK…….VB etc.
Red. This discussion started out about a HK Type 1 327 engine colour. Seems to me that there are too many variables to get any consensus.Too many paint names, shades, manufacturers, individuals experiences with the colours over many many years and no one has said anything about the individuals eye sight past and present. Do you think we could go about this the other way around. Can we have enough of those that historically been judges at any event where engine colour is judged. Have them select from a range of commercially available colours or a particular mix that they, NOW AT THIS TIME, can concur to be the colour. THEN give it a name, in this case, relative to the 1st Type HK GTS 327 engine. i.e The Colour “ Standard 2021 MIX “ And let all the discussion of preceding times be about everyones experiences with all those colours but, now we will have a Standard Colour to be judged on. For example some event like the Monaro Nationals “Standard 2021 Mix” could be mentioned as part of the listing of compliance or classification of each Class. OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. or is that something like I’ve read somewhere before.
aKabud.