Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

When I get home I will consult the PI engine judging guide. I know that engine color painted filler tube is correct for my '54. But it may differ on other years.

Kev, we'll be interested in what you find. Note that my comment pertained to the painted LINES to and from the filter, not the paint on the filler tube.

From the PI Engine Judging Guide:

Oil Fill Pipe

1940-1956 (ALL) - Engine Color
1935-1939 Junior - Engine Color
1932-1939 Super Eights - Gloss Black
1932 - 1939 Twelves - Engine Green
Models 126 -> 533 - Gloss Black
Model with round pipes prior to 1932 (640, 645, 740, 745) - Aluminum Gloss

As far as the Oil Filter Sticker location goes:

1940-42 Oli Filter Lid
1946-1950 Oil Filter Mounting Band
1951-1954 Filter Case right below the lid


There is no mention in the judging guide of the color or finish of any of the oil, fuel or supplemental hard lines. But I believe you are correct in that all the engine hard lines should be unpainted/natural finish for post war.

Hope this helps.

somewhere in my stash of parts I have 2 oil filter kits. One has the decal on the lid one is on the body. When I run across them I will post a picture. I doubt if the person at Fram or Purolater paid much attention where the decal was placed. They were building the cars for sale not for show

Rather odd, but in parting out many 48-54 I've noticed that the oil filter lines were also painted engine color. I took particular note of this on a 54 359 that was a relatively low mileage never been screwed with car. It seems that the engines were nearly fully assembled before they were hosed down with that incredibly thin layer of paint. On page 80 of "OK For Drive-away" there is a picture of a 51 engine on a test stand with grey overspray on the bottom of the starter. I have seen that there, and also around the flange of the fuel pump.

One more piece of minutae: Before the engine was painted, the area around the stamped engine # was given a swipe of white paint, probably with a brush. Then before the engine was painted, a piece of tape was placed over the number to keep the color off. So all these postwar cars should show their engine #s in white. You can see this in the above mentioned book, and in the shop manual.

Ross, shall we conclude that mass-production doesn't necessarily mean mass-consistency?

I can confirm from a couple of very original cars,both 1954s, the white background to the engine number.

For what it's worth all the lines on '54 were natural(ly rusty). Also there was no trace of paint on the brass fittings. I guess a look through the factory manuals and service letters would be helpful to determine this.

Since filters were an optional on some till the end, would think painted or not would also depend on when/where filter was installed. I can't recall anything ever standing out other than natural steel.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but since we are talking about authenticity, I still want to pursue the oil filler paint question. I am by no means an expert, but I think the judging guide might be wrong. My car has a black filler pipe. I have seen others on ebay, including this one that are also black. I am prepared to be proven wrong! LOL!

EDIT: Here is also pic of a 51 with gray on the filler tube.

EDIT: Here is another pic of what appears to be an original engine with a black filler tube. The plot thickens...

Attach file:

---

  (21.63 KB)


  (81.02 KB)


  (69.74 KB)

The photo of the engine on the test stand shows a grey fill tube, for what that's worth. I know back when I worked for Black & Decker small changes were made all the time in the name of production efficency, ie cost reduction. But I'm sticking with engine-color-painted tubes because---I've not seen a black one on any undiddled engine, and it makes more sense from a mass-production standpoint. Oh, and I just looked in the shop manual, page 5 in the engine section, figure 15--its grey.