What colour should a 5-bearing petrol engine be?

Old Seadog · Dec 16, 2018

I have a cracking 1984 ex-military 109 canvas top which someone retro-fitted with a 3-bearing diesel. I am changing the old lady back to petrol and have found a correct 5-bearing engine in apparently (fingers crossed!) good condition. Going to get it converted to unleaded and while we're at it I want to clean it up and paint it the correct colour. Do you guys know if military 5-bearing engines were painted the same red as civilian ones?

jamesmartin · Dec 16, 2018

5 bearings are red lead unless theyve been over hauled when the whole lump is painted duck egg blue

Old Seadog · Dec 18, 2018

jamesmartin said:
5 bearings are red lead unless theyve been over hauled when the whole lump is painted duck egg blue

Thanks, James. I had seen the duck egg blue for military in-house rebuilds but nothing specific on original colour. Looks like red, then - or terracotta as some sources quote. Is it really red lead? We used gallons of the stuff in my seafaring days for covering bare steel but it always had undercoat and gloss on top to protect it. On the other hand, we are going to check everything and convert the head for unleaded, so duck egg might be appropriate.

fv1620 · Dec 18, 2018

I bought a military 5-bearing take out. The block was a sort of terracota & the sump black. "Preserved" military engines, irrespective of whether it was rebuilt, would be painted BSC381C No.101 Sky Blue.

gstuart · Dec 18, 2018

Hi

On the 5 bearing block wasn’t there some ribbing on the side of the block and 3 bearings were smooth., trying to remember on my old 109

jamesmartin · Dec 18, 2018

Old Seadog said:
Thanks, James. I had seen the duck egg blue for military in-house rebuilds but nothing specific on original colour. Looks like red, then - or terracotta as some sources quote. Is it really red lead? We used gallons of the stuff in my seafaring days for covering bare steel but it always had undercoat and gloss on top to protect it. On the other hand, we are going to check everything and convert the head for unleaded, so duck egg might be appropriate.

i dont know if it was really red lead it was what was used at the rebuilders as it was the same colour and had the satin finish

jamesmartin · Dec 18, 2018

gstuart said:
Hi

On the 5 bearing block wasn’t there some ribbing on the side of the block and 3 bearings were smooth., trying to remember on my old 109

yes just along the bottom edge

Old Seadog · Dec 18, 2018

jamesmartin said:
yes just along the bottom edge

For strengthening purposes, I believe.

What colour should a 5-bearing petrol engine be?

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