The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Making a 1955 2nd series 235 engine costmetically "correct"

Well, there are not too many folks left who still have a correct, unrestored or restored fully detailed original 235 in their 55 2nd series 1/2 ton truck, but I am hoping someone reading this at least knows someone who knows their stuff about how these engines looked when new. I am in process of learning what is and is not correct when detailing a "correct" 235 engine restoration so I need to know if anyone knows the following or can send me pictures of your engine, etc?
1) first, was the engine Grey or Blue? (I've heard of and seen both)
2)what is the correct 55 2nd series valve cover decal (several are reproduced and all say they are correct for 1955, but only one can be right for a 3100 series truck)
3) Did a truck 235 valve cover in 55 have a black oil breather cap w/ embedded filter element that says "AC" and "OIL" stamped in the top similar to a V8 engine's oil cap or did it come from the factory with only a simple stamped steel flat type cap?
4) need to see a picture of the correct oil bath air cleaner for a 1955 235 and if any one reading this has one for sale I'd sure like to buy it - mine's missing

Please post pics or PM me your email address so I can send you mine to see your restored 235 pics or any 100% correct 55 restorations...thank you guys!

Where are you in Alabama? I can take you to look at a 1955.2 235 engine that probably didn't get touched after the late 1960's.
(Once it cools off & Rickey the Rattlesnake and Charlie the Cottonmouth are not a concern... it is in a truck DEEP in some brush, near water/swampy area)

Grey in most 235 trucks (most were covered in dark oil/grease by the time a digital photo was taken).
There wasn't a sticker type decal; the stamped "Chevrolet" was same color as valve cover.
Breather cap color is up in the air
oil bath air cleaner (Also, nevermind the blue engine color- my Uncle repainted it that color in the early 90's; it was "black", or darkened grey prior to that)

None of the above is concrete, absolute, or 100% verified by myself except for the history of my engine color- there's a huge amount of info on here if you want to search some.

Brad

edit- post you a wanted add in the swap meet forum for the air cleaner; you can link to my picture for a description

I am about 20 miles South of you in Arab AL. Would love to ride up one day and see the truck you are describing as it might help - who knows. I am self employed so I can come up most any day - will PM my contact number

Forgot to ask one other question if anyone knows - was the 235 intake manifold painted engine color or was it Black or unpainted like the exhaust in 1955?

Manifold same as engine color; in the factory. (car pictures)

Tim's website with color listings.

I'm here; that particular truck is about 180 miles south of here, where I'm from. Either way- sure we can make it happen. Once it cools off. edit- Looks like I need to be coming to see your collection...cool

Brad

The '55 engine paint color is a bit lighter in color than the typical dirty oil usually coating an original engine.
An AD engine paint color is spot on the same color as the typical dirty oil coating.
Carl

I'm sure the manifolds were on it when painted. I don't think the breather cap was painted, so it would be semi gloss black. krylon is very close, unless you think you need a 2 part paint.
I say using krylon with good prep and primer is 10 or more times better than what the factory used.
235's in trucks were mostly grey, maybe a different plant used blue don't know. They were build all over the us so it could be a use what you have deal I don't know. I don't think all the bellhousings on V8's were painted. I do think the 6's were.
If you had a truck that had a dealer replaced engine for some reason, it could be built up from part off the original or with new off the shelf parts, then you would have a mix match of parts colors, like black oil pan, damper etc. I don't think its too far off stock doing that sort of thing it looks nice too.

I really appreciate everyone's feedback - its does help some. I guess I thought this kind of info was more common knowledge than its turning out to be; the 235 is so prevalent compared to the much rarer seen 265 or 283 in light duty Task Force series trucks, I assumed there were probably some nit-picky restorers on here who might have went through the pain of researching all this already. So now I know the engine was Grey in 55, but there is a dark bluish Gray and a lighter creamy grey so wondering which one its supposed to be. Someone out there should have one not restored to look at....need to find that guy or maybe the Cameo forum guys who are typically pickier will know.

Here are a couple of shots from a 1958 235. It was unrestored but degreased at the time these images were taken. The sun was strong that day, but you can see glimpses of grey on the casting.

[img]http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/3764/medium/IMG_66681.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/3764/medium/IMG_6658.JPG[/img]

The shade of grey used is a point of great controversy, and one that I would not claim to know the true answer.

Paul

No one knows (and can document) the answer to engine color. Choose whichever of the 50 shades of gray tickles your fancy.

Re: Perception

" Someone out there should have one not restored to look at...."

Which will mean you will then be able to let us know the correct color, right? That's sort of the same thing we've been telling you.

Second Series trucks started showing up exactly 60 years ago this month... that's plenty of time for a multitude of environmental factors to change the shade of a color; life's weathering of one's eyes also comes into play.

I used Ford gray just to spite those "nitpicky" folks.

Brad

Brad has it right.

Also, it is highly unlikely that someone has an "unmolested" truck engine (not rebuilt to some extent). And, as Brad posted, after 60 years, any original paint that might still be on a truck engine would have changed in shade/hue.

Blue (Blue Flame Blue) was a car engine color. It might have made its way into a truck on a special order, or after a Friday birthday-lunch in the engine paint shop?

Engines were painted at the engine assembly plant in Flint or Tanawanda and then shipped to the body/chassis assembly plants, so color variations will be limited to what those two plants put out.

Mike B

Great point Mike B!
I think that a lot of the differing opinions of what is correct is based on what color one's engine has already been repainted, and they are attempting to justify their choice.
In the end, everyone should be tickled pink that they HAVE a classic engine to talk about. Not very many people have that and wished they did. (Just don't paint it pink regardless of your heightened level of tickledness.)
Carl

http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/news/a...o-preserves-history-of-auction-chevrolet


This one should be the "correct" color. Just scroll down. Wish it was a bit cleaner.

I don't think any prep or primer on engines or parts. Likely just a quick lacquer job. That's why I say a bit of prep and primer with Krylon is a way better than factory paint job on parts. 2 part paint is not even close to factory.

Do you think they were using lacquer on engines from the 50s onwards, even though lacquer was no longer used on the exteriors (on GM vehicles)?

The 235 engine in that Cameo is very ratty looking compared to the rest of that Cameo. That is an odd engine to put into a fancy truck?

Someone felt the need to put on a new carb and new fuel/vacuum lines (it seems odder that the lines needed replacing?)

Tim, what do you see that makes you conclude the carb and fuel line was replaced? Not doubting you...just curious .

They just look newer/cleaner than the rest of that engine. I am just making a guess.

It sold for $140,000

I'll bet the lines and carb are original. The engine paint seems to be highly oxidized from age and cheap factory paint. The originals I have seen which have been protected by a heavy layer of oil and dirt have a much more lustrous, shiny appearance once cleaned up.
Even though it is absolutely "original", I would not use the engine in the 1.5 mile truck as a pattern for painting a 55 engine.
Carl

An unmolested/unused engine (1.5 miles?) ! You do not trust its color (I don't either) !

How will we ever know what color to paint our engines?

You're a few months off. The Second Series trucks came out in March of 1955. By late August of '55, the '56s would have been showing up.

I think it's intersting that Rochester carbs leaked from the factory

It is abit dusty. I think the word oxidized is over used when it comes to paint. What messes up paint is sun light and uv rays. This painted item was far from uv light from the sun, as it was under the hood and in a garage or storage building. If the dust and dirt was washed off, which I would have done if I would have got it you would see the best example in modern days of what the color of the engine and other parts should be.

Cool- thanks! I didn't know that- I'd read August somewhere... I shall correct my earlier statement since it makes my point even mo' better:

Second Series trucks started showing up exactly 60 years and 5 months ago this month... that's plenty of time for a multitude of environmental factors to change the shade of a color.

Brad