What color for 1957 Merc 312 valve covers?

[Buford]

Anyone know the correct color for '57 Merc 312 valve covers?

[Oldmics]

Green


Oldmics

[Buford]

What kind of green? Maybe pastel green or mint green or grass green?

[scicala]

The kind of green in the picture.


Sal

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by Buford

Anyone know the correct color for '57 Merc 312 valve covers?

Originally Posted by scicala

The kind of green in the picture.

Sal

I think the gentleman wants to know if anyone knows the exact color code, not referencing from an artist's depiction of the color.

Usually, the COLOR CODE will be listed in the appropriate year CHASSIS CATALOG under APPEARANCE-LUBRICATION PAGES @ the front of the TEXT.

[Oldmics]

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Then I would guess that the color that best matchs the engine picture in the brochore that I posted would be


drum roll please ********************


Lexington Green / Ditzler Code DQE-41890-DAL


This from the 57 Merc color samples


Full disclosure is that in the 57 Merc color samples, there is also a Sherwood Green Poly (the color my Commuter wagon is) which is too dark in comparison


AND


A Tahitian Green (Blue) along with a Spring Valley Green. Both of those being way too light in comparison.


There you have it. GREEN !


Oldmics

[scicala]

"I think the gentleman wants to know if anyone knows the exact color code, not referencing from an artist's depiction of the color."


When Buford asked if it was more of a pastel, mint or grass green, I didn't think he was looking for an exact match with a paint code.


Sal

[rotorwrench]

Color codes may or may not match anything that is currently in use. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since 1957. I find it hard to get the original paint that was used so you can guess that the formulation and names have changed a lot since then. Just go to an automotive paint supply store and ask them for one of those old color codes and see what kind of reaction you get from the counter person. My guess is a very confused look with a long pause.

[KULTULZ]

"I think the gentleman wants to know if anyone knows the exact color code, not referencing from an artist's depiction of the color."

Originally Posted by scicala

When Buford asked if it was more of a pastel, mint or grass green, I didn't think he was looking for an exact match with a paint code.

Sal

The OP asked what color. The only way to duplicate the color is with a COLOR CODE and/or analysis.

Exterior PAINT CODES differ from ENGINE COLOR CODES, so guessing ain't gonna cut it.

If you take a code into a AUTO PAINT SUPPLY business and the counterman is confused, you ask for an older and more experienced counter person or try an established shop.

[rotorwrench]

Good luck with that. The store I went to for 30-years sold out to a larger chain supply store. All the old guys took their retirement and left. The new suppliers I have to choose from don't even match paint anymore. You have to purchase from their chips. Stuff is more available in the base coat/clear coat category but I'm going to use the single stage stuff as long as I can get away with it. Helicopters need better products than what is available in the current automotive line up. It's just the nature of the beast.

High temp engine enamels are getting harder to source in any colors that are out of the normal Ford blue and Chevy orange. I use Bill Hirsch stuff but I don't know how long they will be around either.

The old FoMoCo codes I've seen list the mixing colors by name so there is no set shade for the colors. Changing over to Dupont or PPG was already done by them but they were using those old names so the problem still exists. The paint has changed, the mixing color names have changed, and with all that the formula is just a wild ass guess. A person needs a good example of a color to reproduce it using new paints and new color names.

[KULTULZ]

Like I said, you need to find another supplier.