VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Engine colors AGAIN

I enjoy reading all the posts here in these forums. I can't help but wonder if any of the color issues will ever be settled. In the post I put up earlier about engine colors, it seemed to rehash alot of old topics that I didn't know had so much discussion. Every time I read another post about color, it always ends up with " until we find a perpetual time capsule that hasn't been disturbed" we will never know. I am sorry but haven't we actually already found one? A '28 with only 15 miles surely sounds like one to me. If Walt has owned this "time capsule" ,so to speak. Were there any pictures taken of the engine bay? What's Walts input in this matter of how this car was? Where does this issue actually stand now? I REALIZE I AM NEW HERE, but can't pictures of this car be taken to document everything about it? Are we just going to stand where we are now and not know? I am just starting to understand just how serious restorations are taken in the VCCA. It's great to do things this way. TA's are paid big money to be the final say as to what is right. But when they might differ from a 15 mile car, why not change what's considered right? It seems that radiator hoses aren't an issue with what's right or wrong. In the post that Ray had us go back to, is this where things are at the moment? I take it that they are or Ray wouldn't send us back to look at it.
I have spent many hours going back through previous posts and reading. That is what I should have done before I started asking so many questions. There is a wealth of info on this site. I know now that my restoration is going to take me much more time than I originally anticipated. And here I thought I would have it done by springtime. I want to do it right the first time around, so extra time I will find. If any part of this has been settled already let me know. I still have a great deal more reading to go. All thoughts greatly appreciated.

It is noble to try to get things right. I also try to do that when ever practical. Note that I did not write possible.

Also consider that many people assembled these vehicles in several plants. Even though the specifications and training were supposed make each one the same as the last, it did not happen. Individual workers did different things, two or more suppliers made parts, interpretation of the specifications or instructions differed. I am also sure that the Gremlins were alive and active back then too. So like people no two Chevrolets are identical. That includes "identical" twins (just ask their mothers).

Chipper.... I have identical twins...and yes they are different...LOL I guess once I get my membership I can just go from there on "what is expected". Ray seems to have it all together, So with his help and others like you it won't be to bad to get straight. I guess the thing that has been the most difficult to understand is how point deductions can be made when you never know what is truly accurate. I personally have never been to a VCCA show. Let alone one where the judging happens. So this is all new to me. But sounds like something I will enjoy. I guess the only problem as it sounds, will be time. I'm only 46 and therefor not retired yet. It sounds like there is a great deal of travel involved to be in this sort of function, if your going to show at the bigger shows.

I learned a long time ago it isn't worth the headache of making every nut and bolt correct. Just look at the corvette guys and all the hastle they go through to make total perfection and then see if they are having a good time at judging. One year I took my 24 Olds to the Olds national meet with the intention of just having fun and not worrying about winning anything. Took the car out of the barn with soybean dust from the previous harvest all over it plus a nice collection of bird poop on the hood and top and stuck it in the show field, popped open a cold barley pop and enjoyed the day. Right before the judges showed up someone said why don't you clean it up a bit before they get here so I got out my greasy oily rag wiped down the car to make the paint shine, used cooler water to get the poop off and ended up getting a third place! Car had and still does have peeling paint and the top tore some on the way to the show from the wind and most of the original gauges are gone. I drove it around the show area with a load of people and just had a blast! Not one person said you don't have the correct this or that, they were just happy to see one that old and get a ride in it. I am not going to restore my 28 truck, I am going to leave it with the barn fresh look if I ever get the engine fixed. I wish it wasn't stuck as I would have left all the dirt and crud on it but I will most likely go ahead and paint the engine since it has no rust at all on it.

Reminds me of the first 261 engine I built from a brand new 54 261 short block and a tired and worn out 52 powerglide 235, all the 235 parts had to go into the 261 (except the short block)including the hydraulic lifters, push rods and head, I ground the valves, matched up the 235 pan with new gaskets, spent a lot of time balanceing the rods and pistons rebuilt the starter to 261 requirements with a new armature and bendix, rebrushed and rebushed the generator, rebilt the 235 Rochester model BC (new larger jet,) and added a manual choke kit, drilled the steam holes in the head oiled everything up and bolted it together with the truck clutch and the 54 3speed colume shift thansmission connected it up added water and squirted a little gas into the airhorn (on the homemade engine stand) and she started on the second or third rev. I mashed the hydraulic lifters down so that they acted like solids and was so proud of my work that I did a new paint job. I painted the valve cover and the tappet cover kelly green the head firetruck red the block Chevrolet blue and the pan black. She ran like a champ and as paydays came along I added another Rochester on a Dual carb manifold and split the exhaust and a Mallory dual point distributor. Then had a body paint man clean out the pings and paint job. I always was asked about why the different engine paint scheme, ...answer was...."I just like it." I loved that old Chevy....

Bob I couldn't agree more with you. The car doesn't have to be perfect to be enjoyed by most of the public.I took my model 'K' to one car show. I couldn't believe how many people liked it. Almost all of them said "so this is what a real one looked like." Most of them only saw one that was made into a street rod with a big V-8 and tricked out paint & wheels. As far as vetts go; I'd love a '65 coupe with a 396 engine. Any condition. Their just out of my price range.

I guess what is funny is if you have something different, people will trip over themselves to come over and get a look at it and walk right past the nicest Model A you ever saw to look at my old paint peeler. I even had a former Indy 500 driver want to buy it at Newport last year. The Olds truck was really a crowd draw at the Newport Hill climb this year. Most of the guys who run the thing never have seen one or even heard they made them. There are 2 or 3 old Chevy trucks there, a 27 1 ton unrestored and had junk piled in the back and where ever they can hang things on , they do it. Those people really have a good time with that truck and the crowd LOVES it! There was another 28 unrestored there and good ol truck but I didn't get to talk to the owner. Now don't get me wrong, when I do fix one up I do like to get it as right as possible, but I won't lose sleep if I don't have the right lug nuts. I will just run with what I have until the right ones cross my path. When I paint the engine on my 28 truck, I will do it back like the factory did it, even if it means brushing the paint on.