The 72 engine appears to be missing the idle solenoid.

I love it when we talk small blocks.

Here are some tidbits from the engine belonging my own 71 340 Cuda convertible. One-owner car, and I am second titled owner. I have conversed with him numerous times. Carb replaced, distributor replaced, radiator hoses replaced, but otherwise never apart. Vehicle build date 3/31/71. To date, in discssions with other owners, the closest I have come to the color changeover date is 3/17/71, at least for Hamtramck cars. All blue engines I have seen have paint on the wire looms (versus no wire loom paint on the orange engines), and also do NOT have the wiring harness trough on the passenger side valve cover. Both of these observations MAY ALSO play into Windsor built engines (GW) versus Mound Road built engines (GM) as stamped on the front of the block.

First up:

Engine color dipstick tube.

V.I.N.

Dipstick handle:

Black

Standard filter attachment (no right angle adapter).

Nice and clean inside!

Notice some original blue paint residue just inboard of the filter gasket mating surface.

Bill your dipstick is black right?


*Edit, I see you said it was, ok.

Wire loom.

Block casting.

Manifold casting.

Valve cover bolts.

Intake manifold bolts.

Bill, looks like you have the later style intake, correct?

Front coil bolt. Original finish yellow zinc.

Rear coil bolt. Original finish black phosphate.

"Lightning strike" style, plus marks at 9, 12 and 3.

Carb bolts.

Thermostat housing.

Heater hose bracket bolt.

Linkage #1

Springs are replacements, but correct colors.

Linkage #2

Exhaust manifold.