Ford V8 Engine Color? Ford Gearbox Color?

[sth65pac]

Hello all, I am up to painting my engine after eternity cleaning it,

For a Sidevalve Ford V8 1942 CMP. What Color should it be?

Some say The engine should be Black & Some Say Dark Olive Gloss Green for Engines.

My Gearbox is definitely grey (gray).

Can someone Clarify what should be what.

I need a picture as evidence too.

I have your pictures Tony, but any other evidence before I fill the gun and spray would help me... Its a job for Sunday afternoon. I cant wait... (and I will post pictures when its finished...

Ian

[Keith Webb]

That old chestnut again!

Recently the AWM had two Ford CMPs restored, a 1942 F15A and FGT No9 and after research chose to paint them black. I have seen chassis with black under the khaki.

However other engines I've seen in original vehicles have been painted matt khaki as is the rest of the vehicle. Evidence from factory photographs tends to support this too. I painted Chris' F15 engine and gearbox in the vehicle colour. Air cleaners, starter, generator and oil filler pipe are black.

Ultimately of course it's your choice as you're the one who has been through the hard yards of cleaning them.

[sth65pac]

I agree with you Keith,

From looking at some photos of production vehicles, they look Green, not black, cant find paint on either engine (I have) which would give me a clue either way...

But I suppose it really doesn't matter. It will be a few people who will see the dang thing once its back in..

Just trying to appease the gods of criticism.. A pity there are so few colour photos.. I am beginning to appreciate the need for attention to detail.

I do have the feeling that Western Desert Vehicles have had black bits with the Light Stone, whereas the 'Green machines' had green bits.

Makes logical sense. Happy to take votes . ONCE its painted though its painted..!

Ian

[cliff]

Many moons ago when I was doing the old car bit in my teens I was lead to believe that all Ford motors were painted green with starter, generator etc painted black much in the same way that Dodge motors were painted a silver grey colour with black fittings. These were carry overs from civilian production as far as the Dodge motors went so I wonder if it is correct also for the Ford motors?

[sth65pac]

Originally Posted by cliff

Many moons ago when I was doing the old car bit in my teens I was lead to believe that all Ford motors were painted green with starter, generator etc painted black much in the same way that Dodge motors were painted a silver grey colour with black fittings. These were carry overs from civilian production as far as the Dodge motors went so I wonder if it is correct also for the Ford motors?

Cliff
I think you are correct. I have looked at a lot of B&W photos from teh era and all seem to be of that configuration as far as I can tell. Good thing I have painted all the Generator and starter black then.

Everyone thanks... Painting tomorrow hopefully.

Ian

[cletrac (RIP)]

On the second factory pic you can easily see that the motor isn't body colour but it doesn't look black. The black air cleaner stands out in the first one and the 216 in the 3rd pic isn't body colour either. The low mileage original engine in my HUP was grey and the military rebuild in my C8 was khaki. All this leads me to believe that the factory engines were the manufacturer's colours and the military rebuilds were likely whatever military colour they had in the shop at the time. The accessories on the C8 and the HUP were still black.

[Keith Webb]

That Cab 13 has see some serious action!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by sth65pac

I do have the feeling that Western Desert Vehicles have had black bits with the Light Stone, whereas the 'Green machines' had green bits.

Bear in mind they were going through V8 engines in the desert on a very high rate - see quote below. Due to the increased wear because of the sand engines were changed frequently. Possibly "crate" or exchange engines were painted black?

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

From Gregg's "Blueprint for Victory" p.151: "Kuno Stockelbach, a civilian employee of Ford Motor Company of Canada, supervised all vehicle assembly and major overhaul facilities for the British 8th, 9th and 10th Armies in North Africa and the Middle East from the Fall of 1941 until the end of the Sicilian Campaign.
Kuno attempted to keep the inventory list down by putting Canadian 95 h.p. Ford V8 engines in anything that had room under the hood. All Universal Carriers were re-engined, at the first refit, with the larger powerplant, as were English Ford products such as the W.O.T. transport series. Engines did not last long in the North African desert; Universal Carrier engines were changed every 2,000-3,000 miles and transport vehicles after 10,000 miles. The enthusiast should not despair if he finds a British-built Armoured Car equipped with a Canadian Ford V8 engine. This was the standard refitting procedure in North Africa."