VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Engine and components colors

I have seen the grey tanks on the later 30s cars also. But that being said I have seen at least 5 other 47s, ans 48s with the same olive drab green tank, and the same stencil.

I can remember being a little bummed when I got the tank, because I couldnt put that sweet winged decal from Chevs of the 40s on it.....

I just got a new PC, and cant get my digital camera to upload on it yet. So I took a reg. pic of my tank, and will scan it and post it here as soon as I get it back..........

Fleet47...

Well I got another one right! The shifter,emergency brake handle,etc. are or going to be painted dark brown (a coffee brown)
What is the color CADNIUM??? Is it a copper color?Cadium does refer to copper in some applications :confused: ....chef........

hey, chef

Cadium is a silverish color, like nickel.

This is what I came up with on todays research on overflow tank colors.My 1939 accessory shows an overflow tank but only a artists drawing with no decal and in black & white.The 1939 accy. film strip is in black & white with the decal and looks as if the color could be gray. Ditto for 1940, The 1941 film strip is in color and shows the tank mounted on the fire wall of a 41.It is an actual photograph & the tank is grey with the gold & red decal.The next thing I come up with is in the 1953 dealer album.Shown in the accy. page is a gray tank with the red painted letters.

This is what I came up with on todays research on overflow tank colors.My 1939 accessory shows an overflow tank but only a artists drawing with no decal and in black & white.The 1939 accy. film strip is in black & white with the decal and looks as if the color could be gray. Ditto for 1940, The 1941 film strip is in color and shows the tank mounted on the fire wall of a 41.It is an actual photograph & the tank is grey with the gold & red decal.The next thing I come up with is in the 1953 dealer album.Shown in the accy. page is a gray tank with the red painted letters.
Have nothing for the 46-49 period and this is where the color changes must have been.
PS a good silver paint will look much like cad, plating & I see it used on many cars

Evening gents. THe manifilods were painted with the engine and should be the same colour as the engine. That is until the engine has been run for a while. THen they turn basic rust. Although, often a proper burn pattern will allow some of the grey paint to remain intact on the intake side of the manifold.

Hum.....I think that the old mutt mentioned that the manifolds were painted engine color in his June 21st posting. :confused: :confused:

On the issue of the color of the radiator overflow tank, everyone that I have seen, both NOS and good used on 1940 - 1948 Chevrolets have been gray. My NOS one on my 1940 chevy is also gray.

" the toolman "

Gents, there is a Chevrolet overflow tank on ebay now it is item # 1838266966. says it is a NOS 1950, 1953, 1954 ocerflow tank, take a l@@k!

Way to go Mr. Mack!!!!!!!!!!

That is the exact same one I have. Only thing different about mine is the part number on the box. Mine is 985528, The one on ebay is 986282. same exact box though. And see people it is GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will be posting the pic. of mine tomarrow along with the box.............

Thanks Mr. mack.............

My accy. book lists the tanks as the following: 985528- 46-48 pass.& truck
986282-49-52 pass.

DANDYD

I dont doubt that there were green tanks...But just go back to the original qustion.What color was the tank available in 1948.I still say they were gray with the gold decal.My guess would be that the tanks under the 985528 part number may have changed to green in the early 1950s.That part number was discontinued in April of 1952.

I dont doubt that there were green tanks...But just go back to the original qustion.What color was the tank available in 1948.I still say they were gray with the gold decal.My guess would be that the tanks under the 985528 part number may have changed to green in the early 1950s.That part number was discontinued in April of 1952. My thoughts also are that the tanks after 1949 used the painted instructions as shown in my 1950 accessories installation manual.The best way to verify anything would be to check what vechiles are shown in the installation sheets that came with the tanks when new. Well we are having fun and learning too!!!!!

Well there you go Gene, confuseing the troops with documentation and facts! and getting back to the original question, my,my what will this forum come around to?? Gotta Love it!
:confused:

Yes, the center picture on the E
bay tank looks green but the other two look gray on my screen.I am checking with the vendor(he is a VCCA member) to see what he has to say.Rember Kermit the frog said is no fun being green!!!

Well, that is fine with me, Let's have a Red, White and Blue day tomorrow, with stars and stripes everywhere,

Hum......that's interesting, because I checked out the photos on the overflow tank that is on eBay, and on my computer it looks dark brown in all of the photos. Weird! :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Hey Gents,does red,white and blue=Cadnium?I could use a little more info on this color.Is any silver close enough to be correct?If I go to the trouble of pulling the hood hings and throwing off its alignment I want to make sure I have the right color.The auto paint supplier does'nt seem to know.
P.S.my overflow tank will remain grey.When given the option of gray with a hot gold decal :confused: .......chef.....

I vote for brown..chef.. :cool2:

HEY C.Chef, go down to your hardware store or Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware Etc. and look at the bolts, the carriage bolts that aren't Galvanized (Dark Dull Grey) the ones that are shiney and silvery are Cadmium plated!

Mr Mack
Were the pieces painted? Or were they plated polished steel :confused: I hope I'm not starting to sound like a "FORD DUDE" I will admit to be somewhat anile,plus I live spitt'n distance from Donalds auto shop ...chef...

Eastman Company sells cadmium paint in spray cans and it is identical in appearance to the real cadmium plating.

the answer to your question is "Yes they were originally plated , over the years the plateing deteriorated. and you can have them replated, maybe, or like many restorers buff them out and paint with a look like Cadmium paint or use silver paint, the paint Eastwood Company sells looks like original plateing, it can also be clearcoated. They also sell a kit to re-do the gold or yellow cadmimum finish like was originally done on some power brake boosters etc,

Sorry all you green guys I called the vendor that had the tank oneBay.He said the tank was gray.Also just got a copy of the 1948 accessory book .The pictures are not in color but the tank is shown with the gold & red decal.
as that part number was used for so many years it may have had a color change in its last years but then it also had the new emblem.Didnt mean to go so far with this but this info. is seen by many people and they should be aware of the various opinions as they may be preparing a car to be judged in VCCA competition.

Well, I don't think I will worry with the color to paint any overflow tank contraption, since neither of my cars came with one. I just Keep the radiator filled a finger's length below the filler cap with a 50 -50 mixture of distilled water and good old GM extended life (red) anti-freeze, and drain and flush the block and radiator every two years wheather I drive it or not!
YA!