Ford V8 Engine Color? Ford Gearbox Color?

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Note that when period references are made to "a dark blue colour for Ford V8 engines", they are referring to the 221ci engine fitted to Ford Cars and Trucks up to 1946. The 239ci engine was referred to as the "Mercury engine", as this was fitted to Mercury Cars and Trucks (incl CMPs) from '39 onwards, and was painted dark green.

From Van Pelt Sales website USA

"As for original paint colors, the Ford and Mercury engines through 1940 were a dark green. Ford cars continued the color until 1942. Mercury engine had a dark blue color from 1941 thru 1948. Postwar Ford engines were dark blue thru 1948. Ford truck engines were generally the same as Ford cars during the years of this group".

So just another US take on engine colours from another respected source.

looking at my transmission more closely there could be a greenish tint to the grey colour. Once I remove it from the truck and give it a cleanup I will have a closer look to see if there is any Mercury Green anywhere. If it is, I will just have to believe green can leach out to a grey colour with time.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Good Day,

I finally removed and cleaned up the transmission from the Ford F15-A parts truck. Surprisingly there was a lot of original paint under all the grease and mud.

I am now almost certain it is the Ford Dark Green as Chris mentioned allowing for fading and paint deterioration over the years. My apologies to all for my skepticism.

On that basis I started searching for a supplier of it here in Australia. While searching I came upon photos of restored A Model Ford engines painted in a very close colour and depending on the supplier it is called Antique Ford Green or Vintage Ford Green. I contacted Henry's T, A and Rod Parts here in Victoria and they have it. Locally made and $35 for 500 ml.

As per the photo with a chip of it at the rear of the transmission it looks pretty close after making the allowances as mentioned.

I think I was getting confused with the Mercury Green nomenclature. The '49 to '53 Mercury engines were a light green and not the dark green of pre war Ford and Mercury engines. I remember those post war engines from my childhood.

So that's the colour it will be painted. It is nice to have some provenance from its serial number that it is a confirmed 1943 transmission from a F15-A and it appears to have only original paint on it.

Cheers,

[Ken Smith]

Good day Jacques,
Just as a matter of interest, what happens if you give a small patch of the green a hit with some cutting polish?
I think it will come up even closer to your chip.
Ken

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Ken,

Will give it a go. Will put the bite on my neighbor for some cutting compound. He is restoring a '69 Camaro so should have some.

In my restoration I don't use it. Just happy if I can spray paint without getting sags or runs. Although I have seen a few original factory runs so maybe I shouldn't care!

Will post results.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Ken,

Well I gave it a cut as shown in the area above the chip.

Not any appreciable change in colour. A fair bit of green and brownish colour came out in the rag.

The patch I cut with cutting compound was pretty sparsely painted to begin with too.

The new paint is definitely darker.

I would still say the original colour has just changed a bit with age, heat, grease, mud, and cleaning with kero.
Cheers,

[Ken Smith]

Thanks for going to the trouble of doing the polish thing.

It certainly is close and you would be correct with the colour degradation due to the factors you list.
Ken

[m606paz]

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