The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 1953 Chevy 3100 Rebuild Paint and Body questions

I haven't ordered parts in a very long time from our vendors. I am working on my web site and will soon be trying to assemble a list of vendors. Running a business and also doing these restorations, I haven't had the time to join any groups yet, but looking forward to it. These trucks are all over the place in this state. Good luck on your project!

Ok. I got the parts ordered through LMC, and I am not happy. oh well, at least the parts are here in Italy, held up in customs. Maybe I will see them sometime in the next few week.

Paint.

I have a sample of the thistle gray that the dash should be painted, but I can't seem to find what color is DuPont 8540, that I seem to understand the steering column and misc should be painted.

I have been to the DuPont website, but can't seem to find a sample of the color.

Anyone have a sample?

Thanks

Interior color samples (on original chip sheets) are scarce and would be discolored by time.

In 1953, I think there were four shades of gray:

246-70811: gray (only used interior in Suburban & Panel wagon/delivery?)
202-81406: Sheen Gray Metallic (instrument panel in standard cabs in 1953)
93-55322: gray (bumper facings - Anvil Gray)
93-70397: Thistle Gray (grill bars and hub caps)

What was the color of the mast jacket and gear shift color on standard cab trucks in 1953?

I obtained Anvil Gray and Thistle Gray from PPG Color Library over 10 years ago. They most likely still have a formula? Contact information is given at the bottom of this Tech Tip.

Engine color,

I am finding some different information for the engine color on the '53.

Ok, coz I can't paste a pic, it is a solid gray color:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Duplicolor/318/DE1611/10002/-1

this agrees with some photos that I have seen.

BUT

I also find this restoration, that has another color:

http://www.agtmotors.com/53chevtruck.php

which seems more of a blue.

Any ideas????

The second link is to an engine painted something like GMC 6 cylinder reddish color.

A shade of gray is correct for a 1953 truck engine. The exact shade is under dispute by different experts who studied different original 216/235 truck engines.

I think a low pressure truck engine is a shade of gray like the one in your first post (some think it had a little blue in it). I think a high pressure truck engine has a lighter shade of gray, much like this older Ford engine gray.

Paint it whatever shade of gray suits your tastes/beliefs - no one has a formula nor knows for sure what shades of gray were used.

tclederman,

thanks. That's what I needed.

approximately how many liters of paint can I expect to buy to repaint my truck?