The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 1939 1-1/2 ton GMC Engine Color

Can anyone tell me the correct color for a 1939 GMC 1-1/2 ton straight 6 engine? I would love to see some photos of a correct paint job and also some useable paint codes. Thanks

Dave

Dave, I saw an unrestored 3/4 ton and the engine was olive. Not sure if you could call it olive drab, but olive green in color.

As far as paint codes I know of none.

I have a 39 GMC also, and bought a quart of engine paint from Jim Carter. However, it turned out to be more green and not so olive. I used it anyway and grown to like it.

Unless you'r restoring it all the way to orginal, paint it a color you think looks best with the overall paint scheme.

Jim

I am restoring a 1946 bigbolt fire engine pumper. The motoer in my truck was I thought a 216, however when I did some repair work on it found it to be an early 235. The information I found was that most at least up to 1946 were painted battle ship grey durning the war yrs. However to engine in my truck is black which was confusing to me. I did some spot sanding and found it to be black down to the bare metal.
Bottom line is I repainted it black. I would agree with Jim, paint it the color you feel confortable with.

Chevy and GMC had different paint schemes for their motors. I have a 1940 GMC that I am putting a 302 in. My 302 is painted to match the original gmc orange red (crimson red) that would have been on the 302. Not the olive green color that should be on the 228, but that is my preference.