kjohan Posted June 20, 2023 Share Posted June 20, 2023 Need some help with info below: I am building an AMT -49 "shoebox", and have decided the engine color shall be according to a late -49 car, i.e. with a "bronze age motor". What would be the correct color on the transmission / gear box with such an engine ? Black -bronze as the engine - "iron gray" ? Or something else ? Your advices will be most appreciated / have so far found no info on the net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 20, 2023 Share Posted June 20, 2023 I don't know for certain, BUT... Earlier flathead Ford cast-iron transmissions were painted with the engine, bolted to the engine, the same color as the engine. It's probably a safe bet to think Ford maintained the practice through the end of the flathead run. Though hardly definitive, and not the right color, this '49 brochure illustration appears to show the trans the same color as the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 20, 2023 Share Posted June 20, 2023 This one appears to show the engine and gearbox in the late '49 into '50 engine color you're using... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjohan Posted June 20, 2023 Author Share Posted June 20, 2023 Thanks Bill for your input I found the ad you have copied (clever idea to look after ads / missed that), enlarged it and to my eyes it looks like the gear box actually is dark/ black Found now on the net a couple of old engines/transmissions for sale, both with bronze engine, no doubts about that. The gearboxes in both cases were very rusty , really no paint left but PERHAPS once they were black Found an old car with 3 speed manual + overdrive. The bellhousing and presumably the rest (was hidden) bronze, no doubt The overdrive black So it is slightly unclear what was the original practice Your initial idea, that the engine and transmission were painted together after being joined/assembled , hence should have the same color, sounds quite logical. So ... wondering how to proceed ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, kjohan said: Your initial idea, that the engine and transmission were painted together after being joined/assembled , hence should have the same color, sounds quite logical... Maybe not. I found this black & white assembly line shot of a late flathead (1949 and later, identifiable by the separate bellhousing), and the bellhousing is clearly a different color than the engine or the 3-speed manual gearbox. Edited June 21, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy CLARITY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 Can't tell the trans color, but maybe you can blow up a frame... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 Here's another ad shot showing the engine and gearbox the same color... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 (edited) Three restored '49 Fords... 3 speed w/overdrive 3 speed 3 spd w/OD What's correct is anybody's guess. Edited June 21, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 This '49 3 spd w/OD looks like a faded blue where there's still paint... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave G. Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 This thread reminds me of when I ran fleet maintenance for a beverage franchise. I bought rebuilt manual transmissions from a guy up around Revere Ma. Every one of them was painted red oxide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjohan Posted June 22, 2023 Author Share Posted June 22, 2023 Thanks Bill for your help with photos On Youtube I found a couple of commercial films for the launch of the -49 ford There they showed on a rotating podium a L6 ( quite dark blue engine) and a V8 (bronze engine) Both had black bell housings and gearboxe Which seems to be in line with the black-white photo from Bill At least the V8 oil pan was also black, to me a little unexpected Also on the L6 these parts were black but more difficult to judge, could be the dark blue also On the V8 - photo the oil pan seems to be obscured by the assemby jig Have also found a couple of YT films on old cars, certainly not renovated during the last decades They both had black gearboxes and bronze bell housings In the end I think I will go with the commercial film scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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