engine/trans color codes?
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 82
From: Oregon
Off of the VanPelt website
This is copied from the VanPelt website. It shows the car engines were generally blue at first, then bronze. It shows the truck engines as red, and green. There is a listing for red, in the 48-55 Ford truck parts book, but not blue, or bronze. I've only seen them in red (early ones), and green (later ones). I know that the early Big Jobs were red, and the later ones green. I would go with red personally, as I've never seen a truck engine that was blue for those years.
Engine Colors:
Ford engines were generally dark blue in 1949 and changed to bronze in late '49 production through 1951. For 1952 and 1953 the Ford engine was either tangerine red or green. The Ford truck engines were red from 1948 through 1951, and then changed to green for 1952-53.
<CENTER>Mercury engines were green in color from 1949 through 1951. From 1952 to 1953 they were either green or tangerine.
</CENTER>
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,148
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From: Burbank, WA
There's not a lot I know, but this I do. In earlier Ford days, the vehicles we now know as pickups, or light trucks, as well as panels and sedan deliveries were called commercial cars. They were even built on the same car chassis thru 1941. The letter "C", for commercial, in the service part number to identify parts for those "cars" was used thru the 50's.
Speaking of service parts, I looked in the catalog under paint, and the only thing I found for engines was a copper engine lacquer, p/n M 4J-20-A. I'm not saying anything as to what's right or wrong, just what I found in the catalog. And we all know they aren't always complete.
The 8BA engine is the only one shown as used in 1948 trucks in the US truck parts catalog. Interestingly, in Canada, both the 59A and 8BA was used in 1948. The changeover was at serial H48-20000. What that means as far as a time line, I have no idea.
Speaking of service parts, I looked in the catalog under paint, and the only thing I found for engines was a copper engine lacquer, p/n M 4J-20-A. I'm not saying anything as to what's right or wrong, just what I found in the catalog. And we all know they aren't always complete.
The 8BA engine is the only one shown as used in 1948 trucks in the US truck parts catalog. Interestingly, in Canada, both the 59A and 8BA was used in 1948. The changeover was at serial H48-20000. What that means as far as a time line, I have no idea.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
To my understanding bronze was on cars, not trucks, and truck engines were red through 1951. Then Lincoln Green in 1952. James K. Wagner is the EFV8 Club tech adviser for all trucks, not just the heavy ones. The other pro I have absolute faith in is Chuck Mantiglia (Chuck4850) who has Dearborn Awards on both his Ranger and MH pickup. They have red engines. Stu
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 108
From: Northshore, MN
Nothing wrong with bronze. If any "expert" puts down your restoration, you can come back and say it was a factory replacement engine because your truck worked hard for a living.
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,984
Likes: 444
From: Central Illinois
The other thing that gets in the way of knowing what was "original" is the fact that engines didn't last as long back then and got swapped out frequently. So an 8BA from a car could easily have been dealer installed in a truck to replace an 8RT early in the truck's life time. I actually like the bronze color too, but am personally too **** to go that direction on one of my own. Here's a pic I archived from an ebay truck a few years ago that I think looks good in bronze. It's in a '51 that I think is the Silvertone Grey color that two of my '51s were originally.
Edit - Scott and I were typing on top of each other. Not a lot of arguments here, are there? Where's Julie when we need him? Stu
Edit - Scott and I were typing on top of each other. Not a lot of arguments here, are there? Where's Julie when we need him? Stu
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 82
From: Oregon
When you see photos like that, it lends credibility to some claims. That engine compartment appears to be perfectly detailed. I agree with havi, and stu. It's possible that an engine got replaced early in the trucks life, and what was available was installed. Now, I am under the impression, from previous articles, and information, that many items in the warehouses were color coded. If that were true, it could be why they painted some engines one color, and a different application of the same engine, a different color. Since we all know that the literacy rate back then was no where near what it is today, could color coding have been used, and thus, create the modern discrepancies? Just kind of curious on that idea.
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New User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, TX
Haha. Well, as this is a first project for me, and I haven't done the extensive research, or had the experience you guys have had, I am a bit unsure of what to do. It sounds like there's not really a true consensus, so it could go either way. I'm leaning towards red, though.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 113
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From: Connecticut
Chances are the blue engine could have been a Ford Authorized rebuilt unit. Ford used blue on thier rebuilts for many years. It also could have painted by someone installing a used engine. The lifespan of these engine back then were maybe 50-75,000 miles due to the metals then. So many trucks got rebuilts or used engines during thier hard use. Trucks were trucks then and got used and abused.
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
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From: Crossville, Tn
Well guys I'm almost done with the motor repaint and I did go with the Bronze. I will get some pictures of it after I get the carb and exhaust manifold back on.
It took two of us about three days to completely clean and degrease the engine before painting and while underneath the truck we found red paint on parts of the block and the bell housing, so I guess it was red.
It took two of us about three days to completely clean and degrease the engine before painting and while underneath the truck we found red paint on parts of the block and the bell housing, so I guess it was red.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
Well, I finally got the carb and the exhaust manifold back on and finished most of the 'detail' work under the hood. Still need to get new decals for the air and oil filters. Here are the before and after shots.
In addition, I got the lights installed on the sides and back of the bed
and got the 8th and final coat of Marine Spar Varnish on the floor boards for the bed.
In addition, I got the lights installed on the sides and back of the bed
and got the 8th and final coat of Marine Spar Varnish on the floor boards for the bed.
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1948, 1949, blue, color, de1606, duplicolor, early, engine, flathead, ford, light, paint, transcolor, transmission, truck
