Flathead Engine Color
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Flathead Engine Color
I brought 'Ol Henry to the shop today to begin the process of getting his 1952 flatty re-built. The mechanic asked me what color engine I wanted (it's red now). On the following web link, it says (on the bottom of the page) that '48 flathead engines were red but then the color changed to green in '52. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_specs-90to125late.htm I have heard other people say the engine should be blue. To be authentic, what should the proper color be? The engine is a '52, but the truck is a '48; To be technically correct should I stick with the '48 color (red) or the '52 color (green?). But then there's that blue color...........
Help!!!!!!
Help!!!!!!
Last edited by jreilly57; Sep 15, 2006 at 09:05 PM. Reason: spelling correction
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,283
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From: NM
A more available color/paint that is very near correct is available at tractor stores and auto paint stores: Detroit Diesel Alpine Green, Dupli-Color part number DE1618.
Haven't used it myself. Old Ford Blue matched my body paint, so I went with that.
Haven't used it myself. Old Ford Blue matched my body paint, so I went with that.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Kalispell, MT
Odd question actually, as the 48's and 52's used the same engine. So... both colors are "engine correct". As I see it the only question is: yom correct or paint it like you want to?
Sounds like Joe likes the Ford blue which would contrast nicely with all that red paint on the rest of the truck. Green could also be a good color. Paint it red and it practically disappears when the hood is popped. I like my flatty to stand out a bit. Mine's red in a blue truck.
Sounds like Joe likes the Ford blue which would contrast nicely with all that red paint on the rest of the truck. Green could also be a good color. Paint it red and it practically disappears when the hood is popped. I like my flatty to stand out a bit. Mine's red in a blue truck.
Last edited by mtflat; Sep 16, 2006 at 02:02 PM.
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There are pictures of my engine in my gallery and I painted my engine detroit alpine green. It matched pretty damn close to the color that ws on the engine when I got the truck which I also have pictures of. Now keep in mind it probly faded some by hte time I got the truck, but it still matched close. According to a book I bought at books-a-million "Classic Ford F-Series Pickup Trucks 1948-1956" by Don Bunn '48-'51 engines were painted dark red and '52-'53 engines were painted medium green with the exception being some late '51 models being painted green. for those wondering the book states that '54 engines were painted Red while '55-'56 engines were painted yellow. I hope this helps, but I agree with what was stated earlier, paint it whatever color you like.
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From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Thanks to everybody for the info. I think I decided to go with the green, as that seems to be the color of the year in 1952. Besides as Mtflat mentioned, with a red truck, a engine color other than red would just stand out a little more. Thanks again.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 808
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From: east central Illinois
I went to great lengths to figure out the correct color for '52-'53 F-100 engines. They were indeed green. The Krylon Ford Green is incorrect. I'll have to doublecheck the Hirsch paint. I have a can of it but haven't opened it for a while. I seem to recall it isn't quite right either. I got a paint chip from a fellow board member who had scanned an inspection cover with original paint at his local paint shop. It was nearly a perfect match to a bellhousing I had off a '53. I took the paint chip to my local Lowes and had them mix up some Valspar oil based industrial enamel. Check out my paint saga page. Send me your address and I'll mail you a paint chip if you want to have some mixed up.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Last edited by Fat Fendered Ford; Sep 18, 2006 at 02:46 PM.
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