Engine Bay Color Scheme

DanS · Post by **DanS** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 1:17 pm

I've looked, but can't find a listing of the color for the parts under the hood for an M38. In looking at the members photos there seems to be some variety.

Engine = OD
Starter = Black
Generator = Black
Fan Blade = Black
Regulator = Black or wrinkle finish?
Oil Filter = Black
Oil Filter Mount = Black or OD?
Carb = Natural
Carb throttle body = Black?
Dist = Black
Radiator = Black?
Air Cleaner = Black
Air Cleaner pre cleaner, the little dome shaped deal at the end = OD?
Air cleaner brackets = OD?
Air cleaner to carb C/O tube = OD?
Engine Lift bracket = OD
Intake manifold = OD?
Horn = OD?

Any help would be appreciated. Anything I didn't think of?

Dan

jeepers52 · Post by **jeepers52** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 3:58 pm

I would like to add the under hood battery box. OD or Black?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 12:44 am

Here's a good place to start:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... pic&t=3293

Then use the search function and ask about the word paint!

DanS · Post by **DanS** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:14 am

I do have the book. It doesn't talk about color schemes other than the overall OD discussion. And the search function yields little about the under hood paint scheme. Bits and pieces, but no overall listing. Any other ideas?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:48 am

Send Ryan an email. He has a list he developed for the M38 engine compartment. The list on Scott's M38A1 web site is garnered from the many Mjeeps & G503 posts on the topic. Here's a copy of that list:

Note: Ryan's list calls for semi-gloss black where Scott has listed simply black.

Scott's List for the M38A1 from www.m38a1.com site.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT MARKINGS
A lot of people inquire about how the engine compartment should be painted. I haven't been able to pin that information down in print at this time. HOWEVER, the following has been obtained from a lot of heated discussions on the mil-veh@skylee.com site. If anyone can provide a documented copy of what these are supposed to be, please send one to me!

Engine Block Olive Drab
Engine Head Olive Drab
Top Valve Cover Black "Hurricane Four" decal
Engine Lift Hook Olive Drab
Water Pump Olive Drab
Water Pump Pulleys Olive Drab
Radiator Black
Radiator Shroud Olive Drab (Ryan's list said semi-gloss black.)
Fan Blades Olive Drab
Oil Filter Canister Black w/Decal
Oil Filter Bracket Black
Oil Filler Neck Olive Drab
Air Filter Canister Black
Air Filter Bracket Black
Air Filter Intake Olive Drab w/Decal
Generator Black
Generator Bracket Black
Voltage Regulator Box Black
Starter Black

Here is one of Ryan's posts from way back:

Ryan Miller
G-First Lieutenant
Joined: 04 Aug 2003
Posts: 657
Location: Kansas/ Texas

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:11 am Post subject:
Maybe someday we will be able to get some factory info on this as it has come up often. There are differing opinions and I am not sure what the general consensus is.

While I am no expert here is what I have found and have discussed with others:

OD:
engine, accelerator pedal bracket, bell housing, transmission/transfer case, axles, fenders, firewall, hood, oil dipstick tube, intake manifold, pulleys (except generator), battery box, frame, air intake crossover tube, headlight buckets, grill, air cleaner precleaner cap. Horn also, but have heard it might have been black.

Black:
starter, generator, voltage regulator (with red lettering), air cleaner (with yellow lettering), starter, fan blade, radiator and support rods, oil filter and bracket, horn bracket

Flat yellow oxide:
Steering box and brake master cylinder

Natural finish:
fuel/vacuum pump, carburator, bolts and oil dipstick (cad, zinc), exhaust manifold

Copper plated:
fuel lines, brake lines, vent lines
_________________
Ryan Miller
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jeepers52 · Post by **jeepers52** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:53 am

Thank you Wes. As always you are a wealth of information. This site is the best.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 1:18 pm

The inside of the battery boxes and the entire trays had an acid proof coating.

DanS · Post by **DanS** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:46 pm

Just what I needed. Thanks again Wes!

MattRobinson · Post by **MattRobinson** » Mon Jun 15, 2015 4:10 pm

I have a new old stock horn bracket, OSN. G758-8329851 WO-806675, in the original box from the Willys Overland Mtrs. Inc., Toledo O; packaged Feb. 1953. The seal on the box was secured and under the label. I opened it my self and it is OD green. I would have to submit it is very likely that the horn bracket is to be OD green. I hope this helps.

Post by **wesk** » Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:17 am

Careful on assumptions. Many contracts were let for spare parts over the years and you would need to read that specific contract to determine what color was specified on that particular contract. The jeeps themselves were order under contract and each of those contracts had their own color specifications. The Willys factory blue prints were often updated during production with paint spec changes. We have many of these blueprints with the changes to paint specs available to us thru Keith Buckley.

Hence what you find in a NOS cosmoline wrapper produced on a 1955 spare parts contract is not the final answer on what color was used when during production.