Engine Rebuild - Color Scheme

[GeoffInCarlsbad]

Hi Folks:

finally got around to doing my engine tear-down and rebuild. Freeze plugs were leaking, as well as rear seal, intake manifolds, and a few other various leaks are being fixed up.

I want to paint some of the covers and parts of the motor. Does anyone have a good picture of what these motors looked like upon build? Is there a certain color-scheme to follow?

If you have rebuild your motor, or not, but have a good pic of what you are proud of, let's see it. I'd love to see how to pretty this up even more.

~g

[Alan H. Tast]

Hi Folks:

finally got around to doing my engine tear-down and rebuild. Freeze plugs were leaking, as well as rear seal, intake manifolds, and a few other various leaks are being fixed up.

I want to paint some of the covers and parts of the motor. Does anyone have a good picture of what these motors looked like upon build? Is there a certain color-scheme to follow?

If you have rebuild your motor, or not, but have a good pic of what you are proud of, let's see it. I'd love to see how to pretty this up even more.

~g

Color info is in VTCI's 1961-1963 Original Factory Specifications (OFS) manual in the Engine section.

See these threads for paint information:

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=10463
viewtopic.php?p=30566&hilit=engine+pain ... +63#p30566
viewtopic.php?p=112803&hilit=engine+pai ... 63#p112803

Long story short - semi-gloss black for cylinder heads and crankcase/block, intake manifold, water pump, pulleys, front timing cover, oil pan, accessory brackets, radiator fan, generator ('61-'62), starter.

Argent Silver was used on valve covers/air cleaner for '61-62, while '63 used Castillian Gold for valve covers/air cleaner. Note in the links above there are differences in the color shades for Argent Silver and several 'wrong' shades for gold in comparison to the originals used in '63-'64. In fact, recently I've been informed that there is a 1984 Hyundai color that's supposedly a very close match to Castillian Gold, name Platinum, code GT: I have not seen a sample of this nor have I compared one against an original to know if this is correct.

Fuel pump, A/C clutch, PS pump, '63 alternator - no paint (natural);

Power steering reservoir for non-AC cars - Argent Silver

The OFS manual goes into much deeper detail on colors/finishes of numerous individual items. If you don't have a copy yet, it can be ordered through VTCI's Country Store by dues-paying VTCI members, but right now (late Nov 2023) the Country Store has been taken off-line until a new person can be found to handle/ship orders. You can order through the pullout in the Nov-Dec 2023 Thunderbird Scoop, though filling of orders is on hiatus until the replacement person thing is sorted out, which hopefully will be before we get into mid-December 2023.

[GeoffInCarlsbad]

thank you Alan! You're always a pro!

[Jim Wulf]

Just to give you some visuals, here's some photos of an engine compartment from a '62 Roadster that I restored. It should be nearly the same as your '61. It is, to my knowledge 100% correct. Well, maybe 99% anyway. The stampings on the radiator hoses should be light blue, although everything I've seen from vendors is white or yellow.

[ICON 1956]

Here's a picture of my 61 engine compartment.

[RAVEN]

Jim W, nice to see the FAN decal has the correct White lettering. (Never questioned you.) I know that is correct. Sad to see on repop decals that the fonts and colours are incorrect
In regard to the Castilian Gold colour, the Hyundi formula is the most correct available (Thanks Alan) I did a major review when I restored my car and the 84 Hyundi colour was the most accurate,
And yes Alan you saw my car in Tulsa OK with the Hyundi Castilian gold. You just may not of realized it

W

[Alan H. Tast]

Jim W, nice to see the FAN decal has the correct White lettering. (Never questioned you.) I know that is correct. Sad to see on repop decals that the fonts and colours are incorrect
In regard to the Castilian Gold colour, the Hyundai formula is the most correct available (Thanks Alan) I did a major review when I restored my car and the 84 Hyundai colour was the most accurate,
And yes Alan you saw my car in Tulsa OK with the Hyundai Castilian gold. You just may not of realized it

W

Raven: You probably mentioned it to me at the time, but "the fog of battle" must have kept me from remembering that.

Raven's '64 Landau at the VTCI 2018 International - Tulsa, OK

Good to know I've seen a first-hand example now, albeit 5-1/2 years ago! Which means getting to Grand Rapids in early August for the 2024 VTCI International to see how many others follow suit in using it will be something for me to look forward to.

[GeoffInCarlsbad]

Wow! Great work! I opted to add some color. Ford Blue valve covers, timing chain cover and fan. Why not.