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

hi all,
want to repaint my block (zero green left on it)
was wondering the code, or where I could find a close match.
Eastwood has a john deere green, looks too light.
Hope its not too hard to find a high temp match.
Its for my '52 200.
Also, anyone know the correct term for the box with the plunger straight above the brake light sender?
My car starts 8 out of 10 times. not sure if that's a problem causer.
Thanks again!

Believe the 52 engine color should be gray. There are numerous threads on the subject but here is onehttps://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=75960#forumpost75960 You can get it at most of the vendors, Kanterhttp://www.kanter.com/packard/ , Bill Hirschhttp://www.hirschauto.com/ , others. I believe there is an aftermarket tractor color someone has also mentioned as close.

Need to know more about the other item and your car. Standard brake cars, I believe you might be talking about the headlight dimmer switch as that is the only item with something that would have a plunger I can think of over in that area next to frame rail. It would be mounted to the angled area of floor near the kickpanel and visible from underneath. Powerbrake car, the brake switch is at the end of the booster setup and steering column is above it--nothing else close with a plunger. If neither sounds like what you mean, a picture would be helpful.

Your engine should be gray, not green. Bill Hirsch seems to be the one most agree has the correct color Bill Hirsch

Dear Jeremy:

If your Packard motor is green then Bill Hirsch's paint will suffice.

Now let me tell you about this paint because I recently spoke to Bill about it. There was a guy we both knew years ago who knew a lot of Packard dealers and bought them out. He had shelves of brand new genuine Packard paints in the original cans. And all kinds of other stuff.

He had one can of genuine Packard green engine paint. That can was used for the product line. As far as I know nobody has been able to produce for inspection another can of genuine Packard green motor paint.

And yes this guy had lots of NOS Packard parts in different (and darker) shades of green, but the conclusion was that the paint was just old and weathered.

Years ago a car came in from Oklahoma with a motor by EC Last. He was an old time Packard Motor expert. It was restored in the early 1960's. Prior to Bill ever owning any Packards. When we opened the hood the color was a dead ringer for Bill's paint.

Good luck.

"Hope its not too hard to find a high temp match."

It does not have to be high temp paint for a water cooled car engine.

My 56 Packard V8 was painted some 10 years and 25K+ miles ago with Ford RM acylic enamel body paint. NO PRIMER. Paint directly onto VERY CLEAN engine. USed DuPont acylic enamel regular auto body paint on a few other misc water cooled engines.

There is NO paint (hi temp or otherwise) that will not burn off of the exhaust manifold. Or i sure can't find any.

VHT seems to work on exhaust manifolds. It is specifically designed for the exhaust temperature. It does turn color and become dull but does not burn off.

I have found some burning of standard paints on an engine next to the exhaust manifold. There are some engine paints that are rated for a higher temperature than standard paints. I use those engine paints, if available, on cylinder heads and oil pans, wherever the temperature gets over 200F.

I checked my manifold, was at like 400 degrees if i recalled. Any kind of 1200 degree paint should work.

"There is NO paint (hi temp or otherwise) that will not burn off of the exhaust manifold. Or i sure can't find any."

The por15 manifold grey has worked on 4 manifolds for me so far. It's not paint per se i'm sure, but it's liquid and you brush it on and it dries and the manifolds are a different color, so hey, might as well call it paint. If you ask por15, i'm sure they'll call it "engineered ceramic liquid protective coating" or some hogwash.

Won't be engine colored though.

Your engine should be gray. I used Massey Ferguson high temp.light gray on my '52 Mayfair. It was the correct color and buying it locally saves the shipping.

It is tough to measure maximum temperature of an exhaust manifold. The peak temperature occurs during full power extended operation such as racing or pulling a trailer up a hill. I have seen engines running on a dyno and the exhaust headers glow bright red under power. When you take a measurement at home with the engine idling and the hood open that is not even close to maximum temperature. Exhaust paint should be rated for over 1000 degrees.

Thank you everyone again for the help and info!!!