On popular request, mostly to make record of prior discussions so we don't need to repeat the same questions, this page will record a number of experiences and opinions on the question of proper color for the MGA Twin Cam engine. For summary first, it seems the majority of Twin Cam owners believe the same dark red paint used on pushrod engines is correct for Twin Cams, but there are some people who believe that a lighter color red is appropriate, and may have been standard, at least at some point of production.

On 2/6/2022, Warren Leslie wrote:
"I would like to know the paint color for the engine. I am located in Australia and would like to know the color code and brand for the paint available here in Australia".

On 2/7/2022, Ken Johns wrote:
"I have used a paint from KBS Coatings, it is high temperature Motor Coater Engine Enamel, part number 69326 MG Maroon you can brush it on or spray it as I did, I also used their thinner. They are located in North Wollongong, NSW, and have outlets in all states of Australia. Just google KBS Coatings to see their full range, I am sure you will end up purchasing some of their products".

On 2/8/2022, Dirk Van Ussel wrote:
"Do not forget that the twin Cam's engine color is different (and not maroon). It is lighter and more orange. See earlier discussions".

On 2/8/2022, Christopher Cox wrote:
"Attached photo of my engine rebuilt by Peter Wood and painted MG maroon. When I took the engine to Peter I had already painted some components in this MG Maroon (typically available from Moss etc). Peter stated that this maroon was incorrect for the Twin Cam and asked if I wished him to finish the engine in the correct for Twin Cam "orange red". Preferring the darker MG Maroon he duly painted my engine in that incorrect color and I was very pleased with that (my personal choice, non original). There have been many posts previously that MG Maroon is incorrect for the Twin Cam engine".

On 2/11/2022, Dirk Van Ussel wrote:
"For the original color freaks: a STD twin cam block, unmolested and the same MGA block. I'd think the difference is obvious:


On 2/11/2022, Mark Wellard wrote:
"Interesting, Dirk, -- Both of my unmolested twin cam blocks are the same dark maroon color as your pushrod color, and I have never seen one in the shade you show".

On 2/11/2022, Garry Kemm wrote:
"I agree with Mark Wellard, I have only seen the darker red on about 6 Twin Cam engines including a NOS block and cylinder head. Never seen the lighter color".

On 2/12/2022, Neil Burnside wrote:
"Here's a nos cylinder head".

On 2/12/2022, Mark Hester wrote:
"To my knowledge the lighter color is original and Peter Woods color code is the closest modern equivalent. Having said that, Peters color may well be one way he identifies engines he has build years later".

On 2/12/2022, Adrian Gregory via groups.io wrote:
"This is the color of some paint Peter wood gave me a few years ago".

On 2/12/2022, Mark Wellard wrote:
"My 20k mile original engine (dark red) also had engine paint inside the cam chest as shown in Neil's picture. Does this mean the heads were painted before machining, or is there another reason/explanation"?

On 2/12/2022, Ian Bowen wrote:
"I bought an untouched NOS bare head some years ago. It was painted (in the lighter red) and there was a slight dimple in the manifold face between the ports. This dimple had the red paint in it which leads me to believe that the heads were painted and then were machined (at least as far as the manifold faces were concerned), leaving paint in the dimple".

On 2/12/2022, Richard Rowland wrote:
"I blew the head gasket and in taking the head off and various other bits, the existing paint was Moss maroon, and which I was surprised to see that it had been brushed on rather than spray. Cleaning the head and other various bits, the reddish orange was underneath and seems surely to be the factory color".

On 2/13/2022, Frank Graham wrote:
"I had a NOS AEH Twin Cam replacement engine still in the shipping crate and it was painted the dark maroon color. Also it was definitely painted after assembly with paint on the sump, front cover, hose clamps, hoses etc.

Not sure this next one should be included, but I will for historical purpose.
On 2/13/2022, Peter Todd wrote:
"I had a crate Twin Cam engine in a 1500 TF that I bought with less than 100 miles on it. There was nothing painted on the motor or ancillaries. The guy that did the transplant assured me that the engine had no color application anywhere, when he took it out of the crate. The engine was one of six MGA Twin Cam engines that Castrol Australia bought from MG in the mid to late fifties to study the oil consumption the early Twin Cams were pretty notorious for. When all the testing was finished, Castrol put all the engines up for sale. Mine was one of two never removed from its shipping crate".

On 2/13/2022, Tom Rymes wrote:
"May I suggest that, if one were to order an engine to study oil consumption, one might very well order that engine without paint,as it would be easier to identify any external leaks on bare metal".

On 2/13/2022, Neil Burnside wrote:
Here is an engine previously never removed from the car, and the rebuilt engine that was color matched to a cleaned original piece".


On 2/13/2022, Gaetano di Chiara wrote:
"In the US market mossmotors.com sells two different engine red paints for MGs (see below) --- search MGA Engine Paint
220-510 is MG red for TC,TD,TF
220-240 is for MGA and MGB
I have been looking for a picture of the first paint without success. The question is: how does 220-510 looks like? Is it a bright red like Peter's red or is a maroon red My understanding is that older MGs like TC had a maroon engine paint, but I suspect that the 220-510 is instead a fairly bright red".

On 2/14/2022, Dick Gough wrote:
"Or one could always detail the engine as per the 58 MGA brochure. I finished an engine and ancillaries these colors on an engine many years ago. --- Looking at the the engine publicity photo (black and white) that was in the press envelope at Chobham July 58 it has the extra hose on the back of the water pump to the front of the cylinder head as per this brochure illustration so I am guessing probably was the same unit and these colors. The lighter shade of the oil filter also suggesting this. -- Or what about painting the engine gold if it was a replacement ? No probably getting the right shade of gold would be a problem".

On 2/16/2022, Gaetano di Chiara wrote:
"In my previous mail I asked what mossmotors.com red engine paint 220-510 MG red. This paint is indicated by the dealer as for T-type MG engine. Mossmotors.com sells also paint 220-540 for MGA and MGB engines that is said to be dark red. --- The reason of my question was the following: Is it possible that mossmotors.com has got the lighter red color that many Twin Cam enthusiasts are looking for? --- It turns out that mossmotors MG Red is very much like the light red that some of us would like for our TC engine. --- In the first picture the lower item is the one painted with MG red. There many more pics in the original post below".
https://www.mgexp.com/forum/mgb-and-gt-forum.1/pics-of-moss-red-engine-paint.1635589/


On 2/16/2022, Frank Graham wrote:
"For those wincing over the engine color debate, this post is about paint durability. I had mentioned earlier that the NOS AEH replacement engine I had in the shipping crate had the maroon paint on 'everything' including the hoses. What I failed to mention was that about 50% of the paint on the alloy parts had peeled off over several decades of just sitting in the crate. What was left would fall off as you touched it. I can only imagine how precious little paint would remain on the alloy parts of a running engine in a very short time".