willysmjeeps.com

'evening all,

I have gotten my engine back from the shop, and they returned it "in the white" (sandblasted, unprimed). The block has obviously started surface rusting, and I'm sure the rest won't be far behind. As such, I want to get it at least primed asap.

I will begin the next part by saying that I am not a paint person and often find myself more frustrated than anything else when it comes to paint... (The latest example being rust appearing through the primer on my recently blasted and primed frame...)

My engine came out of the jeep a battleship gray, and I would like to go with that colour again as opposed to the olive. From what I have found so far, none of the spray can high-temp engine paints come in that same colour.

Has anyone else crossed this bridge, and what route did you end up taking?

Engine now:


Engine before:


Thanks in advance!

I just brush painted mine, and was pleased with the results. Never used high temperature paint on the engine; just the exhaust manifold, which I did black.

I didn't get the full engine blasted, just the head; they put a coat of etch primer on the exposed areas which held up well. At any rate, I gave the engine a good coating of red oxide primer, before applying my choice of top color.

As far as I'm aware, Willys used the same OD paint on the engine as they used on the body which is not high temperature paint. The exhaust manifold is the only place where HT paint should be needed.

Owen.

Go to the local hardware store, buy the color gray you want and paint the engine... these motors do not get hot enough to require HIGH temp paints...

Exception is I painted my exhaust manifold with flat Black high tem tp keep the rust down...

I used a Light Gray Spray from ACE and it is still going strong today, 7 years after I painted it... I will admit needs a touch up due to chipping and what not due to rocks and tools, but heat has not caused it to change...

Hope this helps...

I believe the CDN's came from Ford, Canada with gray finish. Spray bombs are ok but even they need a proper layer of primer. If the block is spotless and rust free use an appropriate primer. If it has light rust already use a rusty metal primer.

Thank you for the replies! The engine looks the same as the top picture, it is only a few days old. Should I shoot a rust or high temp primer?

You should follow the directions on the paint product you decide to use. The best chance for success is to follow the manufacturer's suggestions and use that manufacturer's products with each other. Any advice from us concerning mix & matching of products are only experimental in nature and may or may not work in your case.

So first step is to choose a finish paint product in the color you like and review it's label instructions to determine what additional steps and products must be taken and used for a successful finish.

Hello Hawkshadow,

The engine and bell housing colour on M38CDNs is "Ford Gray 9N". You can easily find a VHT paint with this code in any local parts supplier.

Cheers

The 9-N Ford tractors are popular among collectors and color match
paints are available off the shelf at most New Holland implement
dealers here in the US.

I think I used the same paint as OKCM38CDN on my engine. I was planning on painting the whole jeep navy grey but haven't got to that step yet. The rattle can finish seems to be holding up well after a year on the road. This is the engine ready to install. The photo makes the paint look kind of blue but the gray paint matched sections of the bellhousing and other parts that had been painted grey by a PO, perhaps the military, long ago. The old paint was mostly oil and rust stained but sections that had been covered matched the new paint well.