MTFCA Forum

I have seen a post previously that listed every 26-27 exposed engine part by its paint color, but my Google search didn't turn it up. Was the Bendix cover painted gray green or black? Was the hogshead gray green or black? Was the crankcase (oil pan) gray green or black? If painted black, was it a flat black or glossier black? Someone refresh my memory, please.

Frank, Thanks for the post and information, but it still didn't answer at least one part that I asked about; the Bendix cover. If the transmission cover (hogshead) and the crankcase were painted black, was the Bendix cover painted black? Was the black used on the crankcase and the transmission cover, flat black, or more of a 'chassis' black. I'm quite certain Ford wouldn't have used a gloss black.

There may be some hints from this 1927 engine on display in Greenfield Village. I can't imagine why the Bendix cover would be a different color from where it's mounted.

ModelTWoods wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2024 11:25 am

Frank, Thanks for the post and information, but it still didn't answer at least one part that I asked about; the Bendix cover. If the transmission cover (hogshead) and the crankcase were painted black, was the Bendix cover painted black? Was the black used on the crankcase and the transmission cover, flat black, or more of a 'chassis' black. I'm quite certain Ford wouldn't have used a gloss black.

I think its safe to assume that since the transmission cover and starter motor were painted black, the bendix cover would match
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 1227560768
By Dan Treace on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 12:57 am:
The research on body paints usually is on the Ford black, but this info has been researched:
" probably why the new colors were limited to dark shades of green and maroon. The lighter colors such as M-635 Fawn Gray or M-634 Phoenix Brown did not become available until after Ford adopted the used of pyroxylin lacquers for open and closed car body painting in August 1926."

So with Pyroxylin the sheen was most likely low, you can read more on refinishing with Pyroxylin in the Service Bulletin, Aug 1926, intro page reads "...has many advantages over paints and enamels....not readily scratched....can be dusted off without harming finish....rubbing and polishing tend to improve the original luster"

Now in the re-paint section, the final Operation 11 reads: ..."sags may be allowed to dry when they can be cut with a razor blade...sand with 320 oxide....tack off and give a solid coat of Pyroxylin to match....Air dry for 10 minutes" "NOTE- The body thus finished has a matt surface which can be made glossy as follows:"
"(a) Water sand Pyroxylin with 400 oxide sandpaper...to see whether or not all orange peel effect, dirt, etc are eliminated."
" (b) Spray M145 (reducer)on entire surface with a wet coat to level out and leaving same smooth and glossy."
So, there you have the Service method, if the factory branches rubbed out all to glossy finish is unknown at best. The surviving Improved cars in color I have seen don't appear real glossy, but you know, the finish is very old and tired by now!
--
--

Okay, Since no one seems to know what the proper original color was on the Bendix cover on 26-27 engines; for those who have painted their motors, and attempted to do it original, What COLOR did you paint your Bendix cover? BLACK or GRAY-GREEN ? I'll go with the majority opinion.

It's a smaller part attached to a big black thing. Why would it be any other color? Jason works at the village. Why not ask him to look at the Bendix cover on the cutaway engine? Maybe he would even take a picture of it. It's in the Mack Avenue repop.

I vote black.

I have seen NOS bendix covers and they were all black.

Jones in Aiken SC wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 05, 2024 6:20 am

I have seen NOS bendix covers and they were all black.

Thank you very much for responding. I'll take that to the bank.

I was out in the garage this evening looking through my stash and found four, all were black under all the crud plus the one on my roadster makes five all black. Jim