Flathead Paint Color
 

I know that the early flatheads were painted green
and the last two years (52-53) they were painted orange.

What is the correct engine block color for:

1937-38-39 Ford Flathead?

1940-41-42?

1946-47-48?

1949-50-51?

According to the paints available in one of the Early Ford V-8 parts catalogs, it seems that green was the color until 1942. Is this correct?

I have the The Early Ford V-8 - As Henry Built It - The Production Facts Book 1932-1938 by DeAngelis and Francis, but the book does not go into detail about this aspect of the engine block color. They do say this: Cast pieces are engine block color; Stamped pieces are painted black; Aluminum pieces were left unpainted.

Mostly interested in the engine block color for 1937 and 1939 Ford Flathead.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
TonyM.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Went to the Van Pelts site but there is no engine color listed for 1937 type block.

Did find all the other colors for the all of the later years for both Merc and Ford: Blue, Bronze, Tangerine, and Green.

I am thinking that the 1937 Ford engine block is green. Is this correct?

TonyM.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Green is correct for 37 and through 42.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Red for hot rods , black for racing.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Green up to 41 and blue 42-48 i believe. ken ct.:)

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

there was a engine rebuilder here in Santa Rosa ca that would paint them
metallic green

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Thanks to all for the help.

TonyM

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Here's another list - but I really like Ron's reasoning.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/bb...olour_list.htm

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Yep, I agree, Ron's advice is good.

TM

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

I have green on my 42 and all the other original 42's I have seen have been green.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

the motor in my avitar is the one out of my 39 2 ton tanker fire-engine I was told it is a 100 hp merc motor ,it is blue . has the raised lip under the intake and you can rest a pencil on top of the timing plate. There are numbers on the bell housing B1351 with a D to the left at an angle Idon,t have a distributer but it is a 2 hole with a 3rd small one. 29A on the heads. I would really like to know what it REALLY is thanks barners mike p

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Roy Nacewicz has some very good engine paint

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Went back and carefully re-read the DeAngelis and Francis book--the 1932-1941 engine block paint info is in there. Sorry for the error.

TonyM.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

1949 Ford - Blue, 1950-51 Copper (some call it bronze, Ford called it copper). As for engine parts, get a copy of the 49-50-51 Ford book published by the Early Ford V-8 Club.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

I have the exact same motor out of a fire truck. The 29A heads are '42 Mercury, 239 cubic inch.

Bob

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

THANKS BOB ! I can feel the wind on my arm allready ! I,m sending it out to the machine shop for the ounce over ,by a pro. I have one sticky valve ,and I busted two head bolt s getting them off . Idon,t have the tools the drill it out and re-thread it. i painted everything that was blue,, the "darker" shade of the two ford blues that they had.I hope I got it right 42 merc motor 239 NOW I KNOW ! mike p

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

I like ford blue. So thats what I'm going with found the paint at Rual King.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

So what were Ford's M-#'s for engine colors? Anybody know? Anybody?

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

46 - 48 is a blue green color....

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

I believe the last few years of pickup engines, maybe not '53, were painted green also but is was a much lighter green, almost blueish. Extrememly close to the color Detroit Diesel used.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

I've read "somewhere" that mid 41 started the blue color and my mid 41 is blue. Also, the heads have an "A" on them. I can't find any info about that "A".Can anyone give me some information? Thanks Bill

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

My daughter tthought the '36 drab green was not cool so she picked purple, & she always get's her way.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

I seem to remember a discusion about colors for the 95 hp engines (early pre-war 239cid engines) for the big Ford trucks in 39 through 41 and several folks found some dark blue under the bolts and a few other hidden places. I don't remeber if it covered the Mercury models with the 95 hp engine or not.

Kerby

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

The "A" heads were introduced early in the 39 model year and continued in use through 1942.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

My '42 Merc 239 had dark blue paint under the crud.

Bob

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

Does anyone know of a vendor that carries this color in the quart? Mac's only shows it in a spray can, and my local guy wants too much for his product.

Thanks

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

On a related note. Do we know if the transmission was black or engine color

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

I have a couple of the '39-'41 blocks which are of the "99" series, keystone water passage, thicker cylinder walls, "raised deck" etc. which were painted the '46 era dark blue. I've heard Ford painted these 95 Hp engines blue to distinguish them from the 85 Hp green painted engines when installed in Fords.

Just information, only partially related to this thread. Paul J.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

I think that the transmissions were engine color up to the point that they stopped stamping the VIN numbers on there but I could be wrong. The Early Ford V8 model specific books cover details like this.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

The engine was copper or bronze on the 53 woody wagon I had.

Re: Flathead Paint Color
 

I like that selection too. Having a 8BA engine built for 47 and couldn't decide on which color would be right. What's a good red color for engine ? Will have Offy heads and intake.