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Hot Rods I would like a paint opinion on my Willys coupe

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by drumyn29, Feb 23, 2026.

  1. drumyn29
    Joined: Feb 16, 2006
    Posts: 2,300

    drumyn29
    Member

    Car is yellow with black interior, I dug this 303 Olds from under a work bench that was sitting for at least 40 years. I'm not sure what color I should paint the engine to go with a 60's hot rod racer coupe. VW seats, Hydro transmission, dana rear with magnesium halbrand quick change.


    IMG_0478.jpeg IMG_1282 2.jpeg IMG_1283.jpeg IMG_1278.jpeg IMG_1279.jpeg IMG_1284 2.jpeg IMG_1285.jpeg IMG_7640 2.jpeg
     
  2. fastcar1953
    Joined: Oct 23, 2009
    Posts: 4,281

    fastcar1953
    Member

  3. rod1
    Joined: Jan 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,601

    rod1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Olds, Black and Gold!
     
    chryslerfan55 and Tow Truck Tom like this.
  4. Oneball
    Joined: Jul 30, 2023
    Posts: 1,690

    Oneball
    Member

    I’d go with the stock Rocket 88 green, yellow lettering on stock valve covers.
     
  5. HEMI32
    Joined: Sep 6, 2006
    Posts: 8,686

    HEMI32
    Member

    If you're going for a '60s Hot Rod look, I'd paint the engine block black and run some finned aluminum valve covers (with gold paint between the fins) . . . something similar to this:

    oldmobile-v8-engine.jpg
    . . . but if you want to keep the 303 looking like it may have been "transplanted" into your Willys from a 1949-1953 Oldsmobile p***enger car, then perhaps you go with the factory engine block & valve cover colors:

    Oldsmobile_Rocket_V-8_303ci.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2026
  6. Happydaze
    Joined: Aug 21, 2009
    Posts: 2,442

    Happydaze
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Lots of lovely interesting stuff going on in the background. While you're thinking of paint color, can we have a look around?

    Chris
     
    slowmotion and Tow Truck Tom like this.
  7. Tow Truck Tom
    Joined: Jul 3, 2018
    Posts: 3,561

    Tow Truck Tom
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Clayton DE

    Times Two
     
    Moriarity likes this.
  8. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,704

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

    I think gold would clash with the yellow. I say black.
     
    2devilles likes this.
  9. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,118

    catdad49
    Member

    Some think that yellow/orange and blue go together (yuck), but I think bronze would look great with the black frame and finned valve covers, black details. Maybe black tuck 'n roll on the seats and interior panels.
     
    hotrodjack33 and rod1 like this.
  10. CSPIDY
    Joined: Nov 15, 2020
    Posts: 1,086

    CSPIDY
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Boy, you have plenty of cool old jalopys there
    With a black engine compartment
    A Gold engine may not clash so bad with the yeller
     
    AHotRod likes this.
  11. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,418

    AHotRod
    Member

    In my opinion, the engine color depends on how you're going to dress it. If you don't care if its a factory color, consider a gloss maroon.
     
  12. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 9,707

    RodStRace
    Member

    1960s race car with full black undersides? Race car first, not a show 'n go. Either stocker colors or just Black with speed parts bolted on. The look isn't trying to be flash, just a person wanting to go kick some ****. They aren't looking at color charts or prepping and painting the body and engine the same paint. They are spending more time on the internals than presentation.
     
  13. I don't have a photo of it and because this was back in the early 80's, and I know you weren't asking about the trans, but the B&M Hydro in my '54 Olds was painted red (front 1/3), white (mid) and blue (tail) and had a polished br*** B&M Racing Transmissions plaque on the side (it was like that when I purchased the car). I always thought that was kinda cool.
     
  14. drumyn29
    Joined: Feb 16, 2006
    Posts: 2,300

    drumyn29
    Member

    When I first picked it up, it was white, which I like a lot, but I think that color might look strange. I like the stock green color, or maybe black. This is a built on a farm striped down race car, no finned valve covers, these aluminum covers are probably 60 years old.

    IMG_0027.jpeg
     
  15. drumyn29
    Joined: Feb 16, 2006
    Posts: 2,300

    drumyn29
    Member

    Next, I need to figure out which air cleaners. I have one oddball.

    IMG_0028.jpeg
     
    warbird1, CSPIDY, 2devilles and 5 others like this.
  16. willys36
    Joined: May 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,303

    willys36
    Member

    I did mine Chevy orange to highlight it. A bit hard to see under all the chrome!!

    IMG_1592.JPG IMG_1716.JPG IMG_1856.JPG P7280001.JPG
     
    1940Willys, osage orange and clem like this.
  17. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 39,005

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Candy Pagan Gold

    006.JPG 40ford331.jpg 331cad.jpg 403.jpg
     
  18. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 6,216

    gene-koning
    Member

    That motor needs to have the block and heads painted black (or the Olds gold might look OK in the black engine compartment), with the aluminum parts cleaned up a bit, but not polished dramatically.
    The car looks old school, don't try to confuse the image with an out of the time frame motor finish.
     
    Fordors and guthriesmith like this.
  19. willys36
    Joined: May 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,303

    willys36
    Member

  20. ClayMart
    Joined: Oct 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,906

    ClayMart
    Member

    Those valve covers would have to stay if it were mine. I like the purely functional look. For the block and heads I'd go with a darker industrial green or grey, or maybe that blueish-green that Jasper used on their rebuilt engines.
     
  21. swade41
    Joined: Apr 6, 2004
    Posts: 14,632

    swade41
    Member
    from Buffalo,NY

    I'm not a fan of the green with performance goodies

    20190408_135855.jpg
     
  22. 210superair
    Joined: Jun 23, 2020
    Posts: 2,287

    210superair
    Member
    from Michigan

    I think that factory rocket setup looks pretty cherry actually, for a yellow car....
     
    osage orange likes this.
  23. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 9,941

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    Olds weren't black and gold back then. I'd paint it the engine color Olds used back then. Sort of a light blue metallic color.
     
    osage orange likes this.
  24. lilCowboy
    Joined: Nov 21, 2022
    Posts: 171

    lilCowboy

  25. Dooley
    Joined: May 29, 2002
    Posts: 3,117

    Dooley
    Member
    from Buffalo NY

    I like gold 20250511_170000.jpg
     
    rod1 likes this.
  26. slowmotion
    Joined: Nov 21, 2011
    Posts: 3,774

    slowmotion
    Member

    White block & heads. Gold trimmed, finned VC's. Cl***y but fasty. Plus easy to catch any pesky leaks before they get to outa hand. Lotta cool **** in the backyard BTW, nice!
     
    mad mikey likes this.
  27. 2devilles
    Joined: Jul 16, 2021
    Posts: 882

    2devilles
    Member

    I LOVE Olds engines in gold (and a lot of others, too), but I think if you go gold with the yellow paint it will look like you tried to match it and it didn't work out....I think black with aluminum or the Olds green (or similar) will look good and period correct. Silver wouldn't be a bad choice with yellow, either. Some really cool stuff in your collection.
     
    210superair likes this.
  28. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 3,711

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    Opinions are free so here's mine if i owned it.

    Under hood would be body color, engine would be the old dark Chrysler red/maroon.

    Paint the metal in the interior body color with door panels, seats etc an off white/cream color....

    ...
     
    210superair likes this.
  29. drumyn29
    Joined: Feb 16, 2006
    Posts: 2,300

    drumyn29
    Member

    I agree, black or Olds Green.
     
  30. drumyn29
    Joined: Feb 16, 2006
    Posts: 2,300

    drumyn29
    Member

    yellow and cream? hmmmm
     

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