Engine Color - Or, "Does this make my engine compartment too dark?"
Black seemed to be the general consensus when I was asking the same question about this time last year. I looked at a lot of pictures of engines, and except for the olive-drab military, not much real information except "rust and grease".
I decided on a gloss black since it probably wouldn't show oil and drips badly. But, I didn't consider how it would show dust...
Here is a picture of the engine bay on the '48 2WD pickup.
Grey would'n show dust as badly, and it wouldn't make the engine bay as dark.
My, aren't we being girly about our vehicle colors - and we can't match shirts and pants...
All flathead blocks were painted black, all cylinder heads for use under an elevation of 5,000 feet were black, while those intended to be used at over 5,000 feet were painted blue. The six-cylinder flathead engine had a black block and blue head. 1950 and 1951 F head fours were painted red with a yellow cover.
[QUOTE=Brian-Sacramento;2765]So... My 1949 Station Wagon with a four cylinder F head would be Red with a Yellow cover?
"The Book" says Model 473 -SW (Station Wagons) had an F-head engine. I don't know when "473-SW" Station Wagons were built, but if that's what you have, "red and yellow" would have been the right scheme - at least according to that account.
If your Station Wagon is a '49, it might have had an engine transplant, like my '48 2WD truck, - or - equally likely, it's a '50 titled as a '49. Or, knowing Willys and their dealers - it could be a mixture of all of these!
And, yes, I'd guess the heads were shaved to compensate for "high altitude". What if you drove to the beach? Hmmm .....
From KWAS info page:
Engines for the Willys Station Wagon: (1946-50) L4-134 Go-Devil, (1948-50) L6-148 Lightning, (1950-1965) F 4-134 Hurricane, (1950-1951) L6-161 Lightning, (1952-1954) F6-161 Hurricane, (1954-1962) L6-226 Super Hurricane, (1962-1965) 6-230 Tornado.
4-134 F Head Motor(473)
Years Offered:
1950-1953 - (Station Wagon 4x4 Models)
1950-1955 - (2x4 Models 473 and 475 with Planar Suspension)
Engine Type: 134 CID (2.2L) F4-134 Hurricane 14
Number of Cylinders: 4
Cubic-In. Displacement: 134.2 cu. in. (2199,53 cm 3)
Horsepower: 72@4000 rpm
Torque: 114 lb-ft. (15,7 kg-m.)
Compression Ratio: 6.9 to 1
Valvetrain: F-Head
My 1949 Station Wagon Data Plate lists: Chassis 1949 4x463, the serial is 10938. Is the correct engine a flat head 4 or the F head 4? I have both engines available.
The engine that the 49 wagon came with is the wrong engine, a seized Jeep V6.
You might be interested in looking at a 1950 Willys Station Wagon currently on craigslist? It looks to be all original! Sacramento, Ca craigslist, search willys. 1950 Willys Overland Station Wagon. Some very interesting historical information in the descriptor and lots of pictures.
Engine looks to be light blue with a red valve cover,