Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Can anyone out there please tell me what was the original colour of the head and block for my 1930, model 733, sedan/limo? Does the entire block, down to the aluminium coloured base, get painted in this colour or does the colour stop at the bottom of the water jacket cover? Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated.

I'll let folks with more exact knowledge say specifically, but generally the aluminum crankcase would be left natural. The cast iron portions would be Packard green. Packadrd green was used on all engines until the late 40s.

The entire engine block casting, including below the water jacket, should be Packard engine green, as should also be the cylinder head. As Kev said, the aluminum crankcase casting should be natural aluminum as cast. Water pump black. If you can obtain a copy you can reference Packard International's guide to engine compartment painting for other details.

Thank you guys for your excellent information! Just one question remains, anybody know where I can get hold of some Packard Green?

Bill Hirsch was the supplier for many years. Not sure if that was part of their line that was recently bought out by Max Merritt.


Hirsch still has it listed on their website:

hirschauto.com/mobile/ENGINE-ENAMEL/productinfo/EE-QUART/PAC%20GREEN/

Also, this is listed as a paint cross reference:

Dupont 546A (Bell green)

Right. Back in the '70s, Packard owners were using Bell Telephone green, saying it a dead match.

Wanting to touch up my '47 Packard's engine, my old can of Bill Hirsch Packard green nearly empty and dried, a friend lent me a can of Bill Hirsch engine paint for his '41 Cad conv.
It was a perfect match. Wondered why Cadillac and Packard didn't sue one another. Assuming Packard first to use the color, perhaps they shrugged off Clark Street's copying as free advertising, as when '29 Buick and others before and after mimicked Packard's radiator shape. Off subject, but wonder about Aston Martin's grille shape.

That murky sea green. What a depressing color. You wonder why Packard and Cadillac didn't use something more upbeat, like the apple green both Duesenberg and Hudson engines shared,
or the machine gray used on 1950-on Packard straight eights.

Green was chosen as it makes discoloration from oil leaks less apparent. Studebakers through '54 used green. Nuff sed.

Quote:

Now I understand why Jaguar painted the engine blocks black!

Thank you, Ross. Live and learn. Another mystery solved. Good one, Big Kev. Also explains why Rolls-Royce engines black.