I have finished cleaning the engine compartment of a customers 50 Pontiac. After hours of pressue washing the block and heads are finally clean enough for painting. The strange part is there appears to have been no paint ever applied to the actual engine . The only signs of paint is a large yellow W hand painted on the rear of the block around the starter location. The steering box is also marked with a white marking. The customer would like the engine painted in a medium grey although I told him the original colour was probably a green. All the accessories starter, generator, oil filter tube appear to have painted a semi gloss black but the inner fender wells are a gloss black. The car was built in Canada and the engine serial number starts with a W. Would the W identify the engine as one built in Windsor Ontario? I sand blasted the thermostat housing and painted the grey colour he wants and it looks really good almost the grey of the Chevys sixes of the era. Maybe if the car was built in Canada the grey could possibly be a correct colour for a flathead six but not a flathead eight US built engine.
There is a picture of a 1953 Flathead in the engine colour thread, its green. BUT I personally think grey is a good choice and do recall seeing early 50's engines painted grey. I also include a 52 Fleetleader feature car with some good engine shots , its a greyish green to my eye.
Most of the replacement motor available for a quick repair in that time was not painted. The car's engine number is not a good references, because those replacement car had not any number, the mechanics, sometimes, punch a number on the side block. Some replacement engine don't have any.
I do think, with the W write on the block, it's propably a replacement block. This identification was usefull for the engine shop shipping to the garage.
To me I would use green has the good color choice. Look at my rebuilt thread as a references if you want.
Just my 2 cents!
Fitz.
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www.FitzbackGarage.com Look for Easy Steering in your vintage Poncho, Look for the EasyDrive Power Steering System in the web site
Thanks for the input. The engine number on the block matches the engine number on the Metal v.i.n. tag on the firewall. I checked that first to make sure it is the original engine. This car still has all original parts including ,carburator ,distributor, generator, starter,water pump , all the bolt on items. I have a parts book and I checked the serial numbers from the id tags and all matched to original parts not replacement parts. I had the generator rebuilt even though I could have bought a rebuilt for around the same cost to keep the original and have the original id tag.All the generator needed was new brushes and new bolts where the wires attach to. There is absolutely no signs of any green paint on this engine and it is down to just the block and head. I removed all attaching parts looking for a paint colour and if it was painted GM used a very poor quality paint and it burned off very quickly. I agree with you about painting it green because when I have seen original unrestored Pontiacs of this era in the US at shows the engine is a green colour.The guy that owns the car likes the grey and he is going to use the car as a summertime cottage driver. I am just trying to preserve this car and make it safe. I have done all the brakes wheel cylinders, shoes etc. I also had the radiator and heater flushed and pressure checked and the shop verified to me the cores were the original honeycomb copper material. They are both very heavy. This is not a body off ground up resto as I convinced the owner it would not be worth his cost to do it to this 4 door because he would have to pay for everything as he does not have the ability to do the work himself. I checked your website you are doing a fantastic job on your Pontiac. I am going to get the owner to check out your website.
