Well the engine is degreased, derusted and it looks like fresh cast. I started the painting of it, but because of the paint snafu, that is on hold for the moment.

I installed the NOS Delco breaker plate in the distibutor, and also finished the holddown clamp, and greasecup in Silver Cadium paint. I also used the same paint on the fuel pump to keep it looking clean and bright. The throttle linkage will get the same treatment.

I did get the manifolds stripped down to bare cast iron. So those are ready for paint.

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Your wasting your time and money dealing with the vendor. Go to a DD store with a sample of the color of grey that u want and let them match it. Use the DD Centari enamel. JUST like used on car bodies. NO PRIMER. Just thin the Centari and shoot it. U do NOT need hi temp paint for water cooled engines.
IS this your first time at painting an engine??

Hirsch probably has MISlabeled cans. It is probably Ag paint which (as i understand it) tends to have wide variations in hue.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I thought it was way too dark. The pics of other engines I have seen are much lighter. So either they put the wrong label on the can, or they had a bad batch of paint.

I'll give them a call on Monday and hopefully they will straighten it out on the quick. It the mean time, I guess I will strip that wrong paint off the head.



Anyways, here is the can that they sent me:

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Kev, It looks wrong to me. It should be lighter. I am not familiar with the 54 359 Grey if it was different from the 48 and on. This is a photo of a 327 engine in a 48 Super Eight. This is the colour that I am familiar with. I'm sorry that I recommended Hirsch but I was very satisfied with the colour and quality of the engine paint he send me 4 years ago. Your head looks like a manifold paint.

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Greys I have seen are bit lighter but is hard to tell on pict just how dark this is compared to others. Have seen some, obviously wrong, that were almost white. Here is Hirsch bronze which is for the 54 and 56 senior engines.

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Ok guys I need you help with something. I think that Hirsch sent me the wrong engine paint. Even the stick on label on the can says:

Packard Gray 1948-54
NOT 54 359 CI

I think it is indeed the bronze paint or soemthing else. I thought it looked a little dark in the can, but I figured it maybe dries lighter. So I painted the head on my motor and waited. It didnt get any lighter. So you guys tell me, if this Packard Gray, Packard Bronze, or just something else all together?!

I always thought the Packard Gray was a Light-Med Gray.

If this is indeed the wrong paint, I bet they are going to make me send the wrong paint back (again) before I get what I ordered. Grrrrr

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Just confirming Randy's friend's observation about the inner control arm bushings; at about 90,000 miles on my 56 Caribbean, the upper inner bushings were badly in need of replacement, but the lowers which I believe to still be the originals did not require replacement.

Good friend Chris, who is a 56 Caribbean owner, has said he never saw bad bushings on the lower control arm. Although the external appearance may be a little ratty, the rubber inside was always in good shape.

PackardV8,

I did not find a replacement bushing for the lower control arms. After cleaning and close inspection determined that mine appear to be in reasoanably good condition with 56,000 miles on the clock.

Robert.

I have already posted this picture of a car in the salvage yard, it may be of interest to someone here. It is a 1950 Olds. the car is decked out with options that include an aftermarket trunk mounted air conditioner, wouldn't that be a nice touch to an old Packard out there, a period correct air conditioner.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j281/petritl/Ponderosa/PICT0203.jpg
** note the chrome air intake ports on the upper qtr panels**

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j281/petritl/MVC-029S-1.jpg

My friends shed, the black sedan on the right is a 1935 Dodge 4dr sedan, he bought it from the original owner in the mid fifties, it has been sitting since the mid sixties.He never registered the car; it has the original 1935 title and paperwork from the state of Illinois. rust free dent free car

The 52 chevy to the left was a daily driver until 1971 when Tony got a company car, this car was recently removed from the barn and is at a body shop as we speak. when it was put up on the trailer I was amazed, no holes in the floorboards, heck they were still painted green.

The car without a clip is a 1935 Olds, 4dr sedan (all doors suicide)the rest of the car is out of the picture, he removed it years ago to repair the engine. This car has been sitting since the late sixties. rust free dent free car

To the left of the Olds is a 1951 Ford F3 pickup truck( no duals), some rust but not bad at all.