Paint colors??

[skyjeep50]

When I got my 1951 Army M38 it had a civilian block that was cracked and not rebuildable but most of the rest of the jeep was in original condition. I found a MCxxxxx replacement block but the curious thing is that some of the engine parts attached to the old civvy block that came with the jeep were painted a gray color rather than OD - bellhousing, bellhousing plate, generator support arm, cuno oil filter bracket, throttle arm, PCV and fording valve, dipstick tube, water pump. I belive the gray paint was the original paint for the parts as it was very old, thin and oil stained. Does anyone recognize the color and the origin of that color for a M38 or M38 parts? I know that M38's left the factory in OD but I have also learned that Navy jeeps were totally repainted gray and I belive Canadian jeeps had gray engines. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks!

[Boze]

Dude,

I have a similar situation with my '50. It had most of the parts bolted onto a civilian block. I bought an RMC motor and am assembling it after machining. On the motor that came with the Jeep, I found a script F on the manifold after sandblasting, on some of the connecting rods and on some other parts. Once Jeeps are rebuilt by former owners (or the military) there no telling what you will find bolted together. Makes it kind of like a treasure hunt!

[wesk]

CJ engines were originally black. Gray is a very common paint color used by civilian and military overhaulers. We like the lighter color because it helps you see problems better on the engine.

[skyjeep50]

Ah Ha! I'm guessing the old girl had a military gray-painted rebuild engine at some time then a civvy PO put in civvy block (that failed) but kept the military parts that went with the block. It belonged to a fire dept. in Maine for a while. I'm doing the same thing and I plan on keeping the gray paint scheme.
Thanks for the insight!