Engine colors

[joefrazer]

Borg Warner shipped their transmissions in black paint. KF then overpainted to the proper color. I'm not sure how Willys painted them...they may have left them black.

[MarkH]

Borg Warner shipped their transmissions in black paint. KF then overpainted to the proper color. I'm not sure how Willys painted them...they may have left them black.

That makes sense from what I've seen on these transmissions. I didn't solvent wash any other black spots today but thinking about it, couldn't figure out a logical way to paint the cases sans the black top plate without coating the gears.

Still seems odd the stamped bell housing inspection plate is black but I don't see even a trace of gray overspray on it.

Something else that was painted black was the stamped inspection plate in the floor board tunnel. Several underhood stampings are black too. Maybe the assorted small stampings were made in the same dept?

[MarkH]

A few additions to the list.

Engine color: Generator brackets.
Satin Black: Heater core box.
Satin Black/Natural: Heater box mounted hose retainer/guide, 1 satin black, 1 natural (haven't sorted that out)
Gloss Black: Fresh air intake grill bezels & screens, passenger side firewall air intake, hinge adjusting access plates, hinge brackets.

Went with gloss for battery tray, rocker cover & oil filler cap since all seemed to clean up slicker than the NOS heater box.

Still need to resolve radiator brace & horns but first glance looks like gloss.

Radiator, generator, starter might be satin, haven't tackled air cleaner yet.

Front spring retainers were gloss black inside, NOS springs red oxide, NOS trunnions dull satin black, cross tube gloss black, NOS control arms natural. Some traces of black on other steering parts. Used gloss on everything.

[MarkH]

While disassembling & cleaning my original starter I discovered a curiosity.
The mounting flange and part of the main body had engine paint on it, as it it were mounted first then got some over spray on it as the engine was painted.

Also, Rustoleum "Putty Satin" is strikingly close to the '52 valve cover I had color matched. I used that on my crankshaft pulley with clear over it and I don't anyone would notice the difference unless I pointed it out.

[jagarra]

I've never figured that out either My current car is as bone stock as it could be. On it, the block seems to be natural.

My original 1952, purchased new by my grandfather, is natural on the block and head. 

[MarkH]

Anyone know what color the bolt heads should be fastening the throttle bell crank onto a 161 F-head?

Block color or black like the bell crank?

[MarkH]

Wanted to finish the front pulley and harmonic balancer myself rather than the paint shop. Here's a photo of the pulley in Rustoleum #7772 Putty Satin with clear gloss over it. Not a perfect match or quite as glossy as the acrylic enamel with hardener, but pretty close.
I've seen a slightly more gray color on another original engine.

[joefrazer]

About the bell crank bolts, they should be block color.

[MarkH]

One difference my engine had from the list is that when I cleaned the distributor the body was painted black and the hold down tab chromed.

[joefrazer]

I’m almost certain Delco distributor bodies were always painted semi gloss black when installed in a KF or W vehicle. They were installed after the engine was painted.

[MarkH]

I’m almost certain Delco distributor bodies were always painted semi gloss black when installed in a KF or W vehicle. They were installed after the engine was painted.

Mine is an AutoLite, also semi gloss without any overspray.

[joefrazer]

Right! I had Darrin on the brain...they used Delco electrics.