Engine Fuel & Vacum Line Finish

[Guest proxie35]

How was the Engine Fuel & Vacuum lines finished on Cars of the 50s, Natural or Painted? Sherrel

Edited November 29, 2011 by proxie35 (see edit history)

[Restorer32]

Depends on the car. Some were cad plated, some plain steel.

[msmazcol]

Great question. I'm curious to see how the Judges will respond. When I watch old films of assembly lines it always seems like the frame appears painted and then the "stuff" gets added on. This is how we prefer to do our chassis. I have had pros tell me paint everything to make it blend and disappear. May fall into to a preference thing?

[Guest proxie35]

msmmazcol, I was referring to the lines on the engine. Back when I was attending judging schools, the rule was that all lines on an engine were natural (Not Painted). I proved that incorrect. Beganing with the 1953 V8 Buick, the engine was assembled with everything to start & test the engine before the engine was painted. This included the water pump, fuel pump & brackets. Wonder if anyone here has ever judged a Buick with the fuel pump painted engine color. My Buick Research pictures by proxie35 - Photobucket

[Restorer32]

I have been judging for 20 years or so and don't remember ever being told that engine lines were ALWAYS plain.

[MCHinson]

msmazcol,

The easy answer is to document how any vehicle came from the factory and restore it to that condition and you will have no trouble. On some obscure early vehicles it is possible that a restorer would not be able to document the original finish on some small chassis part. In that case, I would always say, "If in doubt, paint it black." is a good rule of thumb. It does not necessarily make it wrong or right, but it would tend to draw less attention to that part. If a part draws no attention, it is not going to draw a deduction.

[Guest proxie35]

Well, in the 70s & 80s we were told this at every school, untill I gave the info. to the judging committee. In 58 Buick began to use some rubber fuel lines & in the 60s everything began to change. Nobody knows how the engines of all makes cars of the 70s & 80s were finished.