Air Force Engine color?

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:23 pm

Anyone here know the color that the engine would be for an Air Force Truck? My hunch is silver, with black accessories, but want to know for sure.
Thanks,
Tim

m15256 · Post by **m15256** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:32 pm

Mine is mostly rust color.

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:08 am

Originally, all M37 engines were Dodge silver when they came from the factory.

According to the Air Force T.O., however, when the time came to repaint them (i.e. after rebuild), they were to be painted gray. I don't know the paint code, but Ford tractor gray is very close. The"bolt-ons" (oil filter housing, dipstick tube, generator, etc.) stayed black.

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:10 am

Lifer wrote:Originally, all M37 engines were Dodge silver when they came from the factory.

According to the Air Force T.O., however, when the time came to repaint them (i.e. after rebuild), they were to be painted gray. I don't know the paint code, but Ford tractor gray is very close. The"bolt-ons" (oil filter housing, dipstick tube, generator, etc.) stayed black.

Wow that's interesting....I wonder if the AF thought that gray was close to silver and a color that was in AF inventory while silver would not be available? Why gray and not silver or S.Blue like the rest of the truck?

cuz · Post by **cuz** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:38 am

Which AFR are you quoting?

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:20 pm

I don't remember the TO number offhand, and I can't get to my hard copy to look at it, but it was the Air Force Technical Order entitled "The Painting and Marking of Air Force Vehicles," dated October 1958. It's available from Portrayal Press for something like 15 bucks.

Edit: Did some digging and found it. It's AFTO 36-1-3.

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:54 pm

Thanks Lifer,
I have never liked the silver Power Wagon engines, and since this is a rebuilt engine, grey it is! When I rebuilt my Power Wagon engine, I also painted it grey, and it looked really nice.
Thanks again,
Tim

cuz · Post by **cuz** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:33 pm

Thanks Lifer.

Since I was an Air Force lifer I would like to think that common sense took the Air Force to gray for the engine. Dark colors absorb heat. Dark colors make repairs and troubleshooting leaks difficult due to visibilty issues.

I agree with Tim that the original silver leaves a lot in aesthetics to be desired. Mine will eventually also go gray in an OD M37.