Engine Paint Colour

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bdsmith1969
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Engine Paint Colour

Post by bdsmith1969 »

I am looking for the correct colour of green to paint my dad's engine block.
His car is a 1955 Split Screen with a 1098cc engine.
myoldjalopy
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by myoldjalopy »

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Monty-4
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by Monty-4 »

beware - there are several shades of this green sold and several were used in the original production. Stick to the same supplier and listing when buying multiple tins/cans, and double-check them if looking for absolute originality!
68' 4-door Saloon, another 'Monty'.
Ian46
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by Ian46 »

Sorry to hijack the post a little.
I have a 1953 car with a blue engine and I want to source a paint code for the blue if possible.
Busy collecting parts for my '52 MM Convertible and 1949 Saloon restorations. :o
philthehill
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by philthehill »

If the engine is painted 'duck egg blue' it is available from Frosts Restoration.

https://www.frost.co.uk/classic-transpo ... int-500ml/

Ian46
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by Ian46 »

Thanks Phil, I'll give them a call.
Busy collecting parts for my '52 MM Convertible and 1949 Saloon restorations. :o
firedrake1942
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by firedrake1942 »

One of my friends had this colour on her engine and had the paint matched to a pristine patch found when she took the dynamo out. It looks stunning and is great at rallies when people walk past and comment loudly that that is not the original colour. I will try and find a picture.
myoldjalopy
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by myoldjalopy »

My engine has been painted black - so you can't see the oil leaks 8)
firedrake1942
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by firedrake1942 »

As promised some photos of Michaela Burkenshaw's lovely early Series II called Henry (the eighth minor she has owned). They show the correct blue engine matched from paint from behind the Dynamo / starter motor.
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Ian46
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by Ian46 »

Maybe there were a number of different blues around?

The colour blue I'm trying to replicate is shown here on the blanking plate on the side of my early (very original) Series II engine.

It looks a lot darker.

.
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Busy collecting parts for my '52 MM Convertible and 1949 Saloon restorations. :o
philthehill
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by philthehill »

That blanking plate may not be original.

Are there any other signs of that particular hue of blue paint on the engine?

Some MGs had a darker blue for the engine colour.

The colour may have changed due to being exposed to the heat from the engine.

There are various hues of heat resistant blue paint on 'e' bay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... t&_sacat=0

Ian46
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by Ian46 »

Hi Phil,

I chose the cover plate as that is where the largest area of blue paint is, but there is evidence of the darker blue on my engine block above and to the right of the cover plate (see photo), also on water pump pulley, distributor, back plate, front plate, crank pulley, sump and dipstick.
Busy collecting parts for my '52 MM Convertible and 1949 Saloon restorations. :o
philthehill
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by philthehill »

Ian
Here is another Minor blue engine.
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jagnut66
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by jagnut66 »

Hi,
So why were some engines 'duck egg blue' and others the standard BMC green? Was it a reference to the engine size (eg: 803cc) on some cars?
I think it looks rather fetching and, as stated above, certainly stands out. Plus hopefully, as it is now being discussed on here, people will no longer be walking past loudly criticising its 'non originality'.
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
Ian46
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by Ian46 »

I’ve been reading Ray Newell’s ‘Original Morris Minor’ and in the Series II section he writes -

The 803cc engines were painted green however exceptions to this did occur as light blue engines were also occasionally fitted as standard specification. No particular significance attaches to this alternative choice of colour. Engine ancillaries were also generally painted green or blue to match the rest of the engine.

He confirms there is a ‘grey’ area in terms of originality concerning factory finish.

No pun intended.
Busy collecting parts for my '52 MM Convertible and 1949 Saloon restorations. :o
SteveClem
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by SteveClem »

Bet they were just using spare paint up. It was a different world then. :wink:
jagnut66
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by jagnut66 »

It was a different world then.
And perhaps, in some ways, a better one............
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
Ian46
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by Ian46 »

I have put my now fully restored 'Blue' 803cc engine back in the engine bay for 'safe' storage over the winter months. :D
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Busy collecting parts for my '52 MM Convertible and 1949 Saloon restorations. :o
JOWETTJAVELIN
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by JOWETTJAVELIN »

That is very good and certainly looks the part.
JOWETTJAVELIN
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Re: Engine Paint Colour

Post by JOWETTJAVELIN »

This is how mine turned out, and I was very pleased with it.


Image

Image

Image

Sadly my work bench is not as tidy as it was then. In fact the whole garage wants cleaning up.
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