VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Engine paint colors

Am I correct to paint side motor mount, oil filler/breather and dipstick black? 33 Master.

The factory picture I have shows the left side motor mount bracket as black.
The dip sticks were not painted.
The picture also shows the breather and filler cap as engine color. Also the fan. Yet I have seen all of those engines (in this area) as having a black fan, breather and cap.
From my experiance either is accepted in VCCA judging.
Any other comments?

Thanks Gene--That helps alot!! I think I`ll paint these items black to give it some contrast. by the way, thank you for the info on the 57 raffel car, that`s really cool that this car ended up back in the VCCA.

hoppy

I have heard that the complete engine was painted blue grey, and all parts added after that assembly, such as distributor, starter, air filter, (may be) water pump were black.

:vcca:

Every thing I have pictures of for the 1933-36 era show the water pump assembled to the engine first then painted the gray color.

The water pump was assembled to the engine before the engine was painted as a complete unit. Therefore, the water pump was painted engine color.

:) :grin:

The "complete" engine parts that are painted gray include the balancer, water pump, intake and exhaust manifolds and bolts and parts that attach manifolds to the head, flywheel housing and its covers, rocker arm cover acorn nuts and all exposed gasket surfaces. All bolts that secure the side cover and oil pan.
When the engine was painted the spark plugs were already installed and the insulators were covered with little paper protectors. The metal base of the spark then got painted. When the car came back into the shop for a tune-up and the base of the plugs were engine color you knew that they were still the originals.

ChevGene:
Your info is incredibly valuable. Presumably the right side engine bracket is painted the same color, right? Any photos of that?
I painted my brackets engine gray as I had already bolted them to the block. Originally these had the metal tabs to keep the bolts from backing out (in place of lock washers) so I thought these were probably installed first, then painted. It would be a lot easier to mount the bracket on the engine and then install the engine in the chassis...but I suppose each factory could do it either way.

Coach,
Now thats a good question. In 1933 and 1934 the left bracket was fastened to the side of the engine (in the center) with studs that went into the block. I have a factory picture of this bracket being black. I can find any pictures (at this time) of the short brackets used from 1935-51.
When a new complete engine was ordered through the parts it was pulled right oof the engine assembly line and came with all the gray parts. Even had the engine number stamped in to the ledge. The holes for the distributor, ect. were plugged up and the plugs had the little covers over them. Just as a seat of the pants guess I would say the brackets were black.....will keep looking.

For what it's worth I have 3 pictures of new 34 Chevrolet engines taken at the GM Proving Grounds in Milford Michigan. The engines still have the gray paint on the exhaust manifolds. In all the pictures the LH engine mount bracket is painted black. These cars were pulled out of the assembly line sent to the PG; photographed and then run on the GM Durability test. The cars were then torn down and displayed for all the GM engineering people. Competitor cars also went through the same process. When I started at Cadillac in 1960, this testing was done every year the same way by all GM Divisions all through the 1970's. I took over all of Cadillac's Durability testing when the GM changed to a durability test based on actual customer driving in the 1980's

Is the blue grey from the 34 the same as the 31 dark blue grey and who sells the color thanks

Purchase your paint from THE FILLING STATION and you will have the correct paint.

Yes, the same dark blue/gray was used from 1929 through 1952 on all US Chevrolet engines, cars and trucks...and continued on some engines from 1953-1962.

Chevgene:
Are you sure the blue/gray is right? I heard about this guy who sells light gray porch paint that he swears is right and won't take no for an answer. Besides, mine came with a light blue engine and I was wondering....

Maybe, just maybe, we can put this issue to bed once and for all! One more posting about engine color and I'm gonna scream!

Wouldn't you say no if you have 101 of 55 gal. drums of the stuff in your inventory??????

This age old question will never die as long as there are new folks getting into the hobby. May be a good thing as then you know the hobby is still growing.
I have belonged to the VCCA for 38 years and was just as common a question in 1970 as it is now.

But, in 1970 just about everyone thought that the Bill Hirsch engine paint was the right stuff. Now, more and more dudes are learning that his paint is incorrect and that the paint would only be correct if you are going to repaint your gas meter!

:o

The Hirsch paint is a great base coat for the correct paint from the Filling Station !!!!!!! For those of us that bought from Bill Hirsch.....

Actually B.H. paint wasn't around in 1970. When I joined there was no engine paint sold as such. I had paint eye-matched using a new old stock timing cover for a sample and was the only one selling the paint in the early '70's. The next was B.H. and when I saw that he was selling the paint I stopped advertising mine. A few years later I saw an engine painted with his "porch floor gray" and could't believe it. :o

Hello, All -

I received a phone call yesterday from Rob Logsdon, co-owner of Chevs of the 40's with Rob Wade.

This thread in Chevy Chatter had been brought to his attention, and the fact that his company was possibly getting bad press as a result of using the incorrect BH paint. He logged on and read through it.

He wanted me to know, and to let all of you know, that as soon as he read this string he went to the his people and had them immediately pull all of the BH 6 Cylinder gray paint off the shelves.

He says he is going to correct this problem, and get The Right Stuff (color) back on his shelves - whatever it takes. He is also going to try and get BH to correct the color they are selling. (Good luck on that one, they have been told by zillions of knowledgeable people for a long time that their color is wrong, but maybe Rob can succeed where no one has before).

So, a couple of lessons - Chevs of the 40's does care, and wants to do things right. And - this Chat site has meaningful power in the hobby world!

Thanks,
Don Williams
Prez

If anyone knows of any other recent threads that should also get this message, please feel free to copy it or post a link - I know this is a common topic.

That's great! If you get a chance thank Rob on behalf of us here on Chevy Chatter II for his indulgence in getting this matter corrected. It is greatly appreciated by all of us!

Sorry for being late to the party, but at least I have the "right" answers.

Since our '33 Eagle is still original and remarkably presentable, it was just a matter of going out and looking at her.

Chevgene's right on the money. I have to admit to being somewhat surprised that the dipstick IS totally devoid of even a hint of paint. I always assumed it was covered in a light layer of grit and oil/ worn off to bare metal, but nope. No trace of paint anywhere.

So, I can't add anything new, but can lend some authentication!

~ Grianainech

Mybe we all aut to get together and find old Bill H ,take him down to the river bank and give him a old fasion whooping !