correct engine paint color?

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What is the correct engine paint color for a 1926 Series 80 Runabout? Looked at Bill Hirsch, but didn’t see anything specific listed. I am not restoring, just preventative maintenance. Surface rust below the water jacket cover, looking to slow down any trouble.

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Andrew,

The recently rebuilt engine (cylinder block & head) on my Series 80 is gloss black, which I believe is correct, otherwise the twenty PAS guys who chimed in on the correct paint color for that engine were incorrect.

I also believe that a very dark green is acceptable and / or correct.

Peter

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The engine on my ’26 appears to have never been repainted. The crankcase is bare aluminum and the cast iron cylinders are gloss black (what is left of the paint)

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Thanks guys… my crankcase is also bare aluminum. I have seen both green and black on the cylinder block and head. Do either of you have a favorite source for the engine paint?

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Andrew,

Of course as Jim pointed out, the crankcase, oil pan and attached pieces are either bare aluminum or painted with aluminum paint (flat).

I believe that the aluminum pint is called Aluma-Blast or some silly name like that.

However, with the most recent rebuild, I stripped off the exterior aluminum paint and had the interior of the aluminum pieces (oil pan, chain cover & crankcase) painted with Glyptal, which is a RED sealing paint that one applies to the inside of the aluminum oil pan / chain cover / crankcase to keep the engine oil from permeating the aluminum and showing as a stain on the outside of the oil pan, chain cover or crankcase. Glyptal also allows the oil to flow more freely in the pan and is used in race engines for that purpose.

As far as the cylinder block and the cylinder head are concerned, a good high temperature gloss engine block paint will do the job.

Of course again, all of these products are available at Eastwood and lots of other places.

On a related matter for Series 80 guys, please note that a few years ago, I worked with Olsen Gasket to create a “proper” valve cover gasket for the Series 80 cars. It is not that dumb and ineffective “perimeter” gasket, but a full-sheet gasket that covers the entire valve train opening on the Series 80. Using the full-sheet type of valve cover gasket substantially reduces the potential for oil leaks out of the valve covers as long as you seal in properly to the cylinder block.

If you have questions on the gasket either check with Olsen Gaskets or with me.

I hope that this info is useful, especially to you New Series 80 Boys.

Peter

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Andrew, again,

I like BLACK, but you get to choose what you like.

My second choice would be a nice deep dark green.

Have fun with designing your Series 80 motorcar.

It is a blast to recreate a Pierce-Arrow in your own style.

Remember, Fatty Arbuckle owned a PURPLE Pierce-Arrow!

Peter

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Peter – the one pice gasket works well. My kit came with both styles. I also worked with Olsen on improving the oil pan and water jacket gaskets. They were off a little bit and the new ones were spot on. They were great to work with on making the changes.

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Service Bulletin 73-3 page 1 gives the standard schedule of engine colors for Series 80 and 81. The engine block color is dark gray enamel. That is the engine block color on the Series 80 I owned. Check SB 73-3 for all the colors for the engine and accessories.

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Paul,

I was waiting for you to come in with a definitive statement on the matter.

I was confident that you were out of town, otherwise we would have heard from you sooner.

The 73-3 SB, first indicates that the standard engine color for a Series 80 – 81 is dark grey, as in, Rustoleum #975 Navy Grey.

That Service Bulletin also points out colors for the other various engine parts, so it is worth checking, that is unless you own a BLING Series 80 like mine that has a ton of nickel plated engine parts.

Andrew, most importantly, have fun with your Pierce-Arrow and remember that the PAMCC would paint your car whatever color you desired, and that also likely applied to the engine compartment and its components.

Always and in every way remember: De gustibus non disputandum est.

Peter

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