Beating a dead horse - "original" paint scheme

[M-Thrax]

That is one nice picture, M-Thrax!

Thanks Cal

[mikkelborg]

When the engines were painted silver at the factory were the oil pans painted silver too? I ask because my motor has an OD oil pan, silver traces on the intake manifold, gray on the lifting eye and oil fill tube and black ancillaries with absolutely no traces of OD, silver, or any other color on the block and no evidence of depot overhaul tags that I can find either. The transmission is red, it might be primer, I'm not sure. I'm wondering if my motor has ever received an overhaul. I'm guessing not, but the green oil pan is confusing me because the paint is applied too well to be unintentional over spray from painting the chassis.

On a somewhat related note, how often did the army paint these trucks? Did they usually spray or brush paint them? I’m curious because my truck appears to have worn at least three shades of OD and there is evidence that it has had paint applied both ways by the military before it went into civil defense and got painted fire engine red.

Thanks,
Collin

[MSeriesRebuild]

When the engines were painted silver at the factory were the oil pans painted silver too? I ask because my motor has an OD oil pan, silver traces on the intake manifold, gray on the lifting eye and oil fill tube and black ancillaries with absolutely no traces of OD, silver, or any other color on the block and no evidence of depot overhaul tags that I can find either. The transmission is red, it might be primer, I'm not sure. I'm wondering if my motor has ever received an overhaul. I'm guessing not, but the green oil pan is confusing me because the paint is applied too well to be unintentional over spray from painting the chassis.

On a somewhat related note, how often did the army paint these trucks? Did they usually spray or brush paint them? I’m curious because my truck appears to have worn at least three shades of OD and there is evidence that it has had paint applied both ways by the military before it went into civil defense and got painted fire engine red.

Thanks,
Collin

Literally, all of the above could easily apply. When I was in Europe is when the 5-color camo got to be the rage. Free handed the pattern on vehicles with chalk, numbered the areas, painted various colors by number. We did a front end loader with a 2" paint brush, brushed or rolled trucks and larger equipment. I never saw a spray gun that I can recall.

How often did they paint, every time somebody screwed up and got extra duty in my unit, in a word "OFTEN."

Your oil pan has likely been replaced, new ones came from the box painted OD.

[powerwagontim]

Colin,
It sounds like only your lifting eye has been rebuilt! (By Lifers description)
Tim

[mikkelborg]

Thanks Charles, I'm not sure what to make of the overspray, maybe my truck did recieve a depot overhaul at some point. It looks like nailing down any history with these trucks is easier said than done.

Tim, somehow I would not doubt it at all, but what befuddles me is why the airforce did the work! If it had been the army I would expect nothing less than an OD lifting eye. Although my truck was at an army air base for a while... maybe the motor pool boys got confused?

Collin