Some "53" Engine Paint Questions

[Rattpac]

All I have are some black and white photo's and I don't get out much to the shows but I do have a couple of questions regarding certain parts of the engine to be painted. I know that the engine is gray and here is the list of parts I need to know if they were black or gray.

1. Intake manifold

2. Valve covers - side of block

3. Water neck

4. Trans Cooler

Thanks, input is appreciated - Photo's would be priceless

[Jay and Pat]

Rattpac: I prettied up my engine a little and brightened up that dark cavern in which it sets for obvious reasons.

Everything you asked about came grey with the exception of the transmission cooler. It was black in the assembly parts bin at the shop and because of model differances and assembly line needs, the thing never did get a finish coat of paint unless it was done at the dealer by customer request.

Hope this helps you. I am The LeRaysville Dude, Jay <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Rattpac]

Thanks! Engine was extreamly rusty with almost no paint left (Runs Great) it will be replacing a very tired 327. One item that thre me a bit was the valve ajustment covers. They still had a lite semi transparent coat of black which could have been under the grey.

[Jay and Pat]

Rattpac: Believe it or not, my Patrician, with 89K on it, had most of the grey paint still on it below the head when I bought it thirteen years ago. These cars were built when there were many labor problems being adjusted in a post-war setting. Any cost cutting proceedure changes that would not affect the quality of a PACKARD were quickly adapted on the production floor. It just seems that they stopped prettying up these cars with the advent of the '48s. From the early '30s until the end of the 1947 production run they were beautiful cars inside and out in every aspect. But, if you wanted to buy a new one, you needed to have a very thick wallet. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The LeRaysville Dude, Jay

[Rattpac]

Thanks again,

Pressure washed it twice, acid washed once and then sand blasted the engine and I have almost a clean enough block to paint! Are you sure those valve adjustment covers weren't black?