P15 Sp. Del. engine color

[slatgrille]

From looking at pics online, am I correct in assuming that a 1948 P15 Special Deluxe would have the engine painted silver (argent) regardless of the body color? I pulled the head to replace a blown head gasket and want to paint it after planing. Right now, the faded paint seems to be a teal (bluish) color. I don't believe the engine has ever been apart, at least not in the past 40 years I've been associated with the car. (Belonged to a close friend in that time.)

Thanks to all you specialists out there in 'Moparland'.

 

Craig

[joecoozie]

The color is aluminum for the head and block.

We can get into the other parts attached to the engine - if you want to.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Rustoleum aluminum paint is IMO spot on....color 7715  they have what is supposed to be an enhanced performance same color preceded by the letter V  so if you find V7715 supposed to be the better stuff for this application.

[Bob Riding]

I wouldn't use POR 15 silver, as it turns a bit green with time and heat...

[slatgrille]

Thank you 'joe' and 'plymouthy', I will pick up that aluminum paint pronto. I'm just fixing the blown head gasket for now, so that's all I'm painting. Further 'down the road' when I have more time, I'll paint other engine bay components.

 

I just had the car 'buffed' by a body shop around the corner. I painted it 3 years ago, and left a bunch of overspray...not happy with my work. With other antiques to finish up, I had him do it last week. Glad I did! It shines now. I never could have done such a nice job

[slatgrille]

Thanks also Bob...I'll stay away from POR 15!

[FarmerJon]

I used the VHT engine paint, in Aluminum color. Second picture is after a year or so.

[slatgrille]

I'll check that paint out too! Oh, as that 60's song 'standard' says...'Farmer John.....I'm in love with your daughter, the one, with the Champagne eyes.......'?

[D35 Torpedo]

I second VHT! It's designed for this kind of application. Very High Temp.

Edited July 15, 2023 by D35 Torpedo

[Dan Hiebert]

I'll third VHT.  Although the wrong color for our engines, I used VHT Chrysler Blue on my engine 30 years ago.  It has held its color, and when I repainted the fan last year, was a bear to remove, even with a sandblaster.   And ditto yes, the engine color was silver from the factory regardless of the car's color.  Not quite as bright as aluminum, but no one makes "silver".  The POR-15 is supposed to be the closest, but you've seen how that ages.  "P15 Reference" information under "Resources" in the header above has a list of what's painted what. 

[Young Ed]

Interesting I used the por silver on my coupe years back. Doesn't look greenish to me. I bought it so I could  brush it on while engine was still in the car 

[Sniper]

The paint made 10 20 30 years ago is not the same paint you're buying today. Lots of changes that happened.

[slatgrille]

You're right 'Sniper'. When I painted the car and tried to match the original numbers for Kenwood Green, nothing came up, anywhere. I took an original screw from inside of the door hinge to NAPA to get a gal of paint. It matched up to 'British Racing Green'. I'm sure also that the old paint had lead in it. When painting my WWII jeep in 1990, I was able to get Olive Drab that had the warning it contained lead.

[Los_Control]

I think lead paint gets a bad name that is not deserved.  Is true it is harmful & can cause brain damage if you eat it.

Trick is, do not eat it or digest it ..... so wear dust mask when sanding on it.

 

I once had to go to a class in New Mexico to become a certified  lead paint removal expert.

As a foreman carpenter in a home remodeling company this qualified me to teach my workers how to properly remove lead paint from homes.

 

A whole lot of nonsense when doing demolition, all the lead contaminated debris was to be put in a garbage bag with the bag tied in a specific knot to indicate it was hazardous waste. Then we were required to tell the drivers who were hauling the dumpsters of garbage away that they were hauling hazardous waste & pay a premium fee for hauling it away.

 

As a actual worker doing the demolition, we were required to wear safety glasses & paper mask ..... That is enough to stop the dust particles of lead paint.

 

Lead paint is still used today in industrial applications. The more lead they can add the longer the paint will last.

Back in the day they could add the most lead to red paint & not affect the color.  ..... This is why all those great old barns were painted red .... it lasted longer.

Today they still use lead paint in industrial applications, like a elevator or the golden grate bridge .... probably a million different places it is still used.

 

The real issue why it was banned to the average person. If you had a window trim painted with lead. Then a young child picks off a flaking piece of paint .... it taste sweet.

So they sit there & literally dig at the paint & eat it ..... they continue it over time & eventually it causes bodily damage.

 

People work with lead base paint all the time, just be cautious & not eat it .... wear a mask when removing .... you will be fine.

 

 

[FarmerJon]

2 hours ago, Los_Control said:

 If you had a window trim painted with lead. Then a young child picks off a flaking piece of paint .... it taste sweet.

 

I didn't know that. I will have to try it next time someone asks if their old house has lead paint.

 

 

[D35 Torpedo]

2 hours ago, Los_Control said:

I think lead paint gets a bad name that is not deserved.  Is true it is harmful & can cause brain damage if you eat it.

Trick is, do not eat it or digest it ..... so wear dust mask when sanding on it.

 

I once had to go to a class in New Mexico to become a certified  lead paint removal expert.

As a foreman carpenter in a home remodeling company this qualified me to teach my workers how to properly remove lead paint from homes.

 

A whole lot of nonsense when doing demolition, all the lead contaminated debris was to be put in a garbage bag with the bag tied in a specific knot to indicate it was hazardous waste. Then we were required to tell the drivers who were hauling the dumpsters of garbage away that they were hauling hazardous waste & pay a premium fee for hauling it away.

 

As a actual worker doing the demolition, we were required to wear safety glasses & paper mask ..... That is enough to stop the dust particles of lead paint.

 

Lead paint is still used today in industrial applications. The more lead they can add the longer the paint will last.

Back in the day they could add the most lead to red paint & not affect the color.  ..... This is why all those great old barns were painted red .... it lasted longer.

Today they still use lead paint in industrial applications, like a elevator or the golden grate bridge .... probably a million different places it is still used.

 

The real issue why it was banned to the average person. If you had a window trim painted with lead. Then a young child picks off a flaking piece of paint .... it taste sweet.

So they sit there & literally dig at the paint & eat it ..... they continue it over time & eventually it causes bodily damage.

 

People work with lead base paint all the time, just be cautious & not eat it .... wear a mask when removing .... you will be fine.

 

 

 My theory behind the ban was to make it easier for the gov to spy on you through your walls....

[Los_Control]

Just now, D35 Torpedo said:

My theory behind the ban was to make it easier for the gov to spy on you through your walls....

You may be the most correct  

The real problem is that it tasted like candy to children .... they would eat it or lick the walls. ..... So it was banned by the government ..... the most long lasting paint ever made. ...... Maybe they could have added hot sauce to it so kids would not lick it?

 

To handle it safely all we needed was a paper mask when we were doing demolition to break it into small dust particles.

 

Good chance in my mind, the paint industry lobbied the government to disqualify this paint because it lasted too long & they could not sell enough paint to stay in business.

 

Same time real painters like bridge painters. They would start on a bridge & take a full year to get across it .... 2 painters 1 on each side. Took  a full year to get across the bridge. Then they will start at the beginning again & spend the next year getting across ..... Just such harsh conditions with the salt water & weather .... The job never ended & they use the best paint available ..... includes lead.

 

No problem applying it ..... just do not eat it when it dries.

Edited July 17, 2023 by Los_Control

[Booger]

So what are the accurate colors? Year to year? I guess the orange will be associated with a rebuild. I gor no problem with that. Often my best runners had a nice rusty color

.Ok I like the clean look better

[Plymouthy Adams]

I had it from a good authority that these kids grew up to become lawyers and politicians...but I do like the spying comment also....you'll never get my tin foil hat...!

[slatgrille]

My topic sure diverged real fast...lol From cylinder head color to lead in paint....similar to a family tree; branching out everywhere. ?

[Dan Hiebert]

8 hours ago, slatgrille said:

My topic sure diverged real fast...lol From cylinder head color to lead in paint....similar to a family tree; branching out everywhere. ?

Yup, that happens here "occasionally".  Actually makes for some interesting threads...as long as the OP's question gets answered.

[Booger]

OK silver it is Aliens seem to like silver