The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Bellhousing & Transmission Color '50 3600

I haven't had a chance to try finding original paint on the pieces yet but does anyone know what color the bellhousing and 3 speed transmission should be on a '50 pickup? I'm thinking the bellhousing should be the same gray as the 216 engine but I'm not so sure about the transmission.

I'm restoring the pickup to as close to original as possible so I'd really like to know how they did it from the factory.

Thanks,
Shawn

The clutch, flywheel, Bellhousing and inspection pans were on the engines when they
were painted so they were painted the same engine gray.
The transmissions and rear axles were shipped as bare metal.

Not absolutely original, but if you don't like the look of rust most of the vendors and
many FLAPS carry Dupli-Color DE1651 Cast Coat Iron paint that looks pretty natural on
the running gear. There are a few pictures at the top of this page of an SM420 ready to
install that was painted with the DE1651:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/sm420_rebuild
Also the steering gear box was painted with it:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/136174246/original

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Thanks for the info Denny. I would have never guessed they didn't paint the transmissions and, especially, the rear axles. That helps alot.

Shawn

Denny,

Were the enclosed driveshaft rear-ends not painted? I thought I saw a recent post wherein someone said it was painted a semi-gloss black.

I have left the enclosed driveshaft rear-end exterior unpainted on the 1/2 ton 1954 pickup I am restoring; but, I was recently considering painting it semi-gloss black.

If it was unpainted when it left he factory, I can live with that.

Thanks,

Tim as you know, I'm not an "expert" but I've never seen one with any paint on it.
As I said, I'm using the Dupli-Color Cast Coat on anything that was supposed to be bare,
I just feel that old gal has seen enough rust in her life time.

Denny G