The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 51 paint color under hood

Does anyone know what color the firewall is on a 51 Chevy pickup? Is it body color or black? I am painting the inner fenders black but should I use gloss or satin finish? Satin looks best to me but I don't know how it was done from factory. Also, I found a color for the engine that I think was close to the original 235 color but am wondering if someone knows the name of an exact match that you can buy off the shelf. The original color looked to be a light blue/green. Should I go with the color that the 216 would have been for this 51 truck or go with the color for the 61 235 engine? thanks!!!

Oh Boy!

The first question is fairly easy: Firewall is body color for all Chevy trucks. Period.

Inner fenders should be "semi-gloss" chassis black.

Engine? 'Sup to you; 261s were green, I beleive. Are you doing the "two-stud valve cover conversion trick" and trying to make it look like the stock 216?
If you're trying to disguise it, then paint it "Stovebolt" gray.
If you're proud to have that 261, then I'd suggest painting it a "correct" 261 color.

Personally, I have two 1954-55 1st series truck that have Black engines (probably re-builds), and I think I'll probably repaint 'em that way... it's not "correct", but the one truck was my Grandad's, and I'm going to keep it the way it looked when G'dad had it.

Have fun; it's only paint!

Slowgoer,

Most likely, you'll get a few conflicting opinions on engine paint colors. Gray was the color for 235 (and I think 216) truck engines (car engines might have had different colors - 235 Blue Flame 6's were blue). The 261 engines were green. Jim Carter has engine paints (gray by the pint or green by the spray can). Chevy Duty sells a blue paint for truck engines (and did not offer to take it back) - I'll give you a pint can as a Christmas gift if you pay the postage.

What engine color did you find?

Here is a brief reference on a website (I think the BOB is Bob Adler - he is an expert on Advance Design trucks):
http://www.chevytrucks.org/tech/paint-colors.htm

I have heard some people say that whatever paint was around was what was used on original engines.

The firewall is part of the exterior cab and is painted exterior body color. Inner front fender "walls" are black (as is the radiator and radiator frame) - a satin or flattened black is most likely correct (Eastwoods sells an underhood black but I think an epoxy would be more durable).

I do not know the color for the little filler panels that screw on the firewall to close the gaps between the firewall and the fenders.

Tim

The 216 in my 52 (original, unrebuilt) was flame blue, the 54 model 235 out of a passenger car was the same color. The closest match out of a rattle can is the Plasti-kote Chevy blue #201 engine enamel. Gussets from the firewall to the fender liners are black.

I found this article when searching out the colors for my CE. hope this helps. ........g
http://www.danroy.com/tech01.html