VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc Factory paint spots on rear end?

I’m hoping someone, possibly Gene, can shed some light on this matter. While cleaning a’54 rear end to prep it for paint before I install it I noticed a small area of blue paint on the upper part of one of the ridges on the differential and possibly some orange near the vent. It is a Powerglide geared rear end. Anyone have any info about this?

Those paint spots are inspection verification applied during the assembly. Later chalk, tags, etc. were used in the assembly process to verify the correct parts were installed.

Thanks Chipper. The rear end is painted and the inspection marks are redone. Although I believe they were done with brush instead of spray can, I do like to make it look reasonably close to original. I found similar marks on my ‘52 Buick steering box and transmission. Both done in yellow.

The older marks were indeed done with a brush out of a paint can or tray. Spray cans were not available. Might have been a spray gun before spray cans were invented. Many parts had inspection marks including electrolock cables. The majority of which I am aware were yellow. Some marks were with a crayon or marker. Over the years chalk was used as well.

Might make a great article for the G&D to help understand and document inspection marks.