Silver Engine Paint

[Chris P]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a silver engine paint? I don't want anything that will look too metallic/glossy. Mine is a 1954, and I figure that something more on the grey side will look more period correct.

Thanks

[jim lee]

I found a "cast aluminum" or something like that in the Napa store. Its a toned down silver and I really liked it.



Hope this helps.

-jim lee

[w30bob]

Chris,

The original silver color the engine was painted is still available from MOPAR, just ask for Mopar Performance Engine Enamel P4529148. It's available everywhere (Summit, Jeggs, etc). From what I've seen it's not an overly glossy color.........but if you want to age it a bit you can always hit it with a semi-flat or flat clear afterwards.

regards,
bob

[ZGjethro]

I repainted only my engine's head when I had it out of the truck. I used this paint http://www.eastwood.com/flat-silver.htm ... aQodcR8MZw

[Chris P]

Thanks for all of the replies!
Do people tend to paint the transmission the same silver as the engine, or OD?

[Chris P]

Thanks for the replies!

Jim, that looks like a nice engine stand.

[w30bob]

Hi Chris,

I believe that both the tranny and the motor were painted the same silver/grey color at the factory.........but I've seen folks restore them both ways. It's your truck, do what you think looks best. Not may folks will be poking their heads under your truck to see the tranny color. And those that do will probably find something else to complain about.

regards,
bob

[m-11]

I'll be painting mine black to include tranny and transfer case. It may not be correct but I think it will look good with the contrasting green engine bay. If your going for show quality and plan on getting yours judged at shows you'll probably want to go period correct but if not, it would be a lot easier and cheaper to stick to a few colors. Just my 0.02

[jim lee]

Chris P : Thanks! And, it IS a nice stand! It would have been nicer if I didn't screw up the measurements when I designed it. Still worked fine though. Building the engine on the bench as opposed to the typical engine stand was much more pleasant for me. No worries about it getting too heavy or falling over.

-jim lee

[Chris P]

Chrysler no longer makes the MOPAR silver engine paint that matches what we want. I went with Dupli-Color DE 1615 Aluminum, which is supposedly identical to the MOPAR paint. I liked what one reviewer on Amazon wrote about it; "If you're looking for a really shiny aluminum paint, look elsewhere. This paint is excellent for reproducing the look of new CAST aluminum, NOT polished alum."

I picked it up at my local Advance auto parts. Be careful when you grab it off the self, my local shop had aluminum 1650 mixed in with 1615, and it's easy to get the two mixed up.

I agree with M-11's preference for black engine paint, but I want to go with something close to the original.

[DCook]

I just got done building my engine and was having the same difficulty finding silver high temp engine paint. I had several places I deal with search for it for me, with no stock currently found. I decided to paint it the cast aluminum gray which was the shiniest and closest to the silver engine paint I could find. My engine looks fine, but it is different than the original silver that was still visible in protected areas of my 1954 M43. This was a little disappointing for me, but most people don't know these were originally silver anyway. I am like you, and wanted mine as close to factory as possible.

[choppa]

I like that cast aluminum that Jim Lee did.. nice.

I went black for my M37, however am also building up a 1941 dodge WC12 closed cab truck.

this engine will be like my last WC: gray

I actually used a Ford gray motor paint. see it on other restorations before and like it, so am doing it again. nice conbtract to the black accessiories like starter, oil cannister, wires, generator, etc. as well as the green interior of the engine bay.

[jim lee]

Oh! And I cheated on all the other bits of the engine. Fan, mounts, linkages, pulleys, etc. I had 'em sandblasted and powder coated mat black.

-jim lee

[w30bob]

Jim,

How did they price the powder coating for the small parts? I know they get about $100 to blast and coat a wheel, but I've never inquired about smaller parts. Do they base the cost on anything.......or just throw out a number?

thanks,
bob

[jim lee]

I don't remember how they priced it. It wasn't all that much though. We have a really popular powder-coat shop near here that everyone uses. I dropped of a box of rusty junk and, in a couple days, picked up a box of brand new engine parts. It felt like the deal of the century. I'll take a quick look and see if I find the receipt tomorrow.

-jim lee