VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 proper engine color 1950 216 Chev

Hi .... I would like to know the proper engine color for a 1950 Chev 216 in a 3100 pick up . also which parts were painted black ... or left cast finish . for example , the bell housing , thermostat housings , water pump , crankcase vent , generator , starter . thanks guys .
GaryDean

All 1929-1952 Chevrolet engines were painted the same color. A dark gray with a blue tint. Its available from....www.fillingstation.com....

The engine was all bolted together and then painted. That means the bolt heads and exposed edges of the gaskets were pinted as well as the hardware that holds the manifolds to the head. (paint burnt off the exhaust manifold by the time the car got to the dealership)
The bell housing was attached so it is engine color as is the balancer, water pump and pulley, thermostat housings, and the top brace for adjusting the generator.
The air cleaner, starter and generator,vent pipe, distributor body,fan, was a semi-gloss black. The coil, voltage regulator, and starter switch was gloss black. Guess I covered it all.

thanks so much .... I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my request.
Gary

Chev Nut
What about the horn? Was it semi gloss or gloss black?
Thank you in advance, you are really most helpful
D@C

Sorry - forgot that. Gloss black.

Gene, what color (yellow or white) would you recommend painting the fan tips so when you lifted the hood on a sweet 41 you would know at a glance that it's running or not? This is a safety related question. Thanks in advance, Charlie

Golly Gee!...If you can't hear them tappets a'tapping and them 70 year old pistons...a slappin' you best loosen up and/or get a hearing aid, ....Paint the tips of the fan! ......What in the world are you anyway...a streetrodder?

Hey Charlie, sometimes I wonder about you.

BTW, How about yellow with red pin stripes?

Gene: This was very timely! I was doing a search because I'm painting parts of my engine and this posting popped up. Exactly the information I needed and I didn't have to post a question. Thanks and take care!

Leave the fan blades black.

Put your fingers by the fan, if they come back RED ....well, the engine is running.

Chevgene,
How about the following:

1. The reverse polarity switch?
2. The fan bolts?
3. The carburetor?
4. The cover at the top of the Carburetor (over the needle mechanism and the pump on a Carter W!)?
5. The head of the starter bolt?
6. The fuel pump (all except the bowl, of course)?
7. The dipstick head?
8. The hood brackets?
9, The hood hinges?
10. The hood springs?
11. The underside of the hood?
12. The engine compartment inner fenders?
13. The radiator core?
14. The lower side brackets (holding the dampers, in place?
16. The radiator brace, bolt heads?

I know that you have covered most of these in the past but maybe not all of them. And, yes, this is being rather picky. For instance, the radiator core. I think is was painted but not too much used so as to not severely interfere with heat transfer.

Thanks for your expertise and patience,
Charlie

#1 - natural, including link.
#2 - not painted - cad. plated
#3 - Cast iron body and metering rod cover black gloss on the cover. Do not paint the various plugs, jets, linkage.
#4 - See above
#5 - Not painted.
#6 - Nothing painted on a fuel pump - just pot metal color.
#7 - Dip stick not painted.
#8 - Not sure which or what brackets . They are usually black and some are cad, plated.
#9 - Dull silver cad. plating.
#10 _- Gloss black.
#11 - Semi black.
#12 _ Semi - black but not too dull.
#13 - radiator core paint. Has a bit of gloss to it. Specail heat transfer paint. Was a sloppy paint job.
#14 - Dampers ? not sure what you mean.
#15 - no #15
#16 Unpainted. Could be cad. plated or black oxide.

If anyone disagrees or wishes to ad (or subtract) something please feel free to do so.

No. 14 was about the side cushion supports. I think you have already said that they were engine grey. Thanks, Charlie

Gene... Meg's having me paint the kitchen... any suggestions???

Thanks for a great list, I'm going to print and file this so it's handy later!

Gene, one more thing. How about the starter mechanism that bolts to the clutch housing? I was thinking it was painted engine color but can't seem to recall. I've noticed that some are painted black.
Thanks,
Charlie

The lever is silver (cad. plated), link is black. rod across rear of engine, natural.

Okay, Thanks. I wouldn't have gotten that right in "a hundred years."
Best, Charlie

Just to make sure I understand correctly, is this how it should be?

So the long generator adjustment bracket is same gray as motor?
What about the bottom generator bracket? How about the coil bracket?
3-speed manual transmission? Vacuum fitting on manifold? Slotted screw holding the fuel line to the water neck?

thanks again

Bottom bracket is black. Top is engine color because it was installed behind the water pump bolt thus was installed before engine was painted.
coil bracket is cad. plated.
Transmission case not painted.
Vacuum fitting panted engine color.
Screw and clip not painted. Was installed with the gas line.

So I know this is an old postand is very helpful for me. but what is proper color for the oil filter housing?

If it is the proper AC brand oil filter the cover is orange and the body a fairly bright blue, This is if the filter was installed by the dealer as most were.
If the filter was factory installed it would be the same filter but painted all black.
If it is a Fram or other brand of filter is is incorrect.