The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop engine color

I know it's been asked multiple times but I can't find it. What color should the engine be in a 41 1/2 ton chevy. I'm not trying to get it perfect because it's a 235 that I'm putting in, but I'd like it close. Dave

take your pick

Bill

Does anyone have a code for the blue/gray listed for 41, I'd like to have something close mixed. Dave

Might want to read this:

Right Dad, sorry bout that, I usually check my links but I was in a hurry today.
You are correct, it was supposed to be to The Filling Station, part number FS-359 and click on “more info” to get the story behind the gray shade. http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~partsort
Your right also about the hype-link, never had one that I couldn't link to. Just copy and past it into your address bar. Well that don't work either!!!!!!! I give up!

I’ve used it exclusively for my 216 engines and I’ve found that many of the Chevrolet purists agree that it is very close, rather close enough since the gray tint did vary slightly from year to year, and assembly plant to assembly plant and batch to batch.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I think that Denny's link is to The Filling Station (their catalog is not easy to link to). They have a dark grey (blue grey?) that many people think is a good match (as Denny posted) at least for pre-54 truck engines.

Engine Enamel Paint - Dark Grey
FS-359 (aerosol)
FS-119P (pint)
FS-119 (quart)

Tim, why can't you make a hyperlink to that web address????
I usually do my composing in MS Word and create my links there while I'm writing. But this particular site is a real stinker.
Denny G

Denny,

I think your link from the Filling Station includes a reference to a cookie (or to a "session number/code") that is only available (for a limited amount of time, usually) on the original viewer's computer.

the problem is with that parts123 site, the item you find with a search doesn't have a page of its own it's a search result that may contain multiple items, like any search result .... you can circumvent that for some items by finding a further link to the specific item, like this for the paint

Bill

I rarely post here but I read all the time as I muddle my way through restoring a '53 truck.

I have seen what I believe to be "original" paint on 3 or 4 engines and valve covers as I have looked for parts in this area (Northern AL) and, as much as I value the research that many on here have done, I am seeing something consistently "in the field" that still has me scratching my head.

To make a long story short, I have YET to see any 216 or 235 in this area w/ what appears to be any original paint, that is grey or dark grey.

EVERY one of them... as in ALL... of them are a LIGHT BLUE of a particular distinctive shade. I have one valve cover w/ paint still on it and I have matched that color to the Nth degree with Plasti-Kote's "Pontiac Blue" (hope ID'ing a product like that isn't forbidden on here, trust me I am NOT a paint rep LOL). If you remember the old Houston Oilers blue, that is just about "it" as well.

I have looked at many charts too and I see no clear references to any 216/235's having that color for '47-53 trucks, cars, etc. But that is what is on these engines!

In short, seeing this "ground truth" as much as I have, is making me really be tempted to use that color (plus I think it looks better and would look great w/ the yellow "Thrift master" stencilled on the valve cover). I am wanting a really 99.999% original "effect" and I have a definite lean at this point to the color I have seen.

Do you all know what color this is, and do you have any info?

all those years were a "blue-gray" that does look more blue than gray, and there were some years that are listed as blue, which is only slightly more blue than the blue-gray .... nobody will be able to tell if you pick a close color you like and go with it

Bill

Well, all I can say gator is you can paint it them any color you want but from all the research that the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America has done along with the experience of vendors like Jim Carter, The Filling Station, Chevs of the 40’s, National Chevy Association, Bill Hirsch, Bob Adler the restoration packs supplied by Chevrolet division of GM, and the list goes on and on of people that are expert in this field and have had years of exposure to “factory original” vehicles with documented provenance. (He takes a breath) they all agree that the Truck engines were painted gray. There may be some slight variation in agreement amongst them as to the tint but they were all gray, and every one that I’ve seen that had any ruminants of paint left on the engine were a dark charcoal gray.
If you have seen blue engines in 1953 Chevrolet trucks then what you have seen is either an engine that was re-painted or an engine that was out of a different vehicle.
The most correct shade of gray that the majority of the experts seem to agree on is supplied by The Filling Station. I’ve only seen the gray shades that a few of the vendors sell but based on all the original painted parts that I’ve seen that comes closest to the dark gray that Chevrolet used.
And Bill I’d have to disagree with you on this one. I would have to say that the paint is more charcoal gray than blue. If you have any photos of original parts with blue/gray that is more blue, I’d really like to see them and add them to my reference file.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL