30's - 40's ..."Ford engine green"?

[ZIL 111V]

Any fine MC Forum members could tell me what brand of paint they use when painting a factory stock Ford V8 "flathead" from 1932 to the 40's (that match the closest Ford green shade of early V8 engines)???

Same question goes for Lincoln's V12 engine of the 30's-40's.

...Any spay cans available of that "Ford Green" for 1/1 car restorers .....did not expect Duplicolor can for this one!

Thanks.

[Jairus]

I asked this very question to a member of the local Vintage Ford club back in 1985 when I was working on a 1936 Ford Woody. Some of you may remember it....

...no?

Well, anyway that club member told me something that stuck with me to this day. Ford in the late 30's would go LOW BID on engine paint. Any green would do as long as it was sort of close and they would buy pallets of the stuff even mid year during production. The reason is that Ford didn't like his engines sprouting rust on the show room floor with fresh cast iron engine blocks, so the green paint was for nothing more than rust prevention until the car rolled out the door and into the customers hands.

Most restorers have simply adopted this attitude when restoring, by simply looking for a touch of green on the block or heads and matching that color as close as possible. As for what color for which year... it can vary greatly even mid year. I have seen deep forest greens and light grey greens on cars of the same year.

Rule of thumb is to use what looks best for you.

[charlie8575]

Interesting story, Jairus, and it doesn't surprise me to a great degree.

If, however, you want absolute consistency, MCW does offer Ford engine green 1 oz. bottles, or 3/4 oz. bottles for $5 on clearance, if they still have any.

Charlie Larkin