Engine Color

[wi0v]

Looking for the correct engine color for a 56 Merc 312. There must be someone out there than has an original car.

Gary

[Ole Don]

I had a 56 Merc 312 in a hot rod in 1959. I have a 312 now in my 55. The best I can do is called "Universal Gold", its a high heat engine enamel in a rattle can. Used on many Oldsmobile and Mercs. I get the assembled engine on a stand, wipe it down with a rag soaked in acetone. Prime the sheet metal with a light coat of red oxide, then coat it all with four light coats of the gold. I have found nothing that will cover and stay on the exhaust manifoild's for more than a few months.

[raceron1120]

I have seen both yellow and gold in the '56s. Mine is gold, very close to the original color it was when I got it. It's a '55 Mercury 292 engine.

[wi0v]

Thanks for the information, I've seen some gold on line but also every color in the book. So gold it will be, now how about valve covers?

[Ole Don]

My 56 rocker covers and air cleaner were orange. My current rockers are white like Raceron has. It looks very good when you open the hood at cruise night. The chrome aftermarket covers are OK, but wax them well inside and out to keep the chrome from peeling.

[wi0v]

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Don: I like the white but if there is no standard maybe I'll go with the yellow to match the cars original color. However, still would like to find the original color. I'm kind of that way, goes back to my Model A restoring days.

Gary

[Blue Futura]

I was a teenager when the 56 Merc came out and a uncle of mine bought a new one. I remember noticing the engine was yellow not the same as my dads 55 ford.

[Daves55Sedan]

Originally Posted by Ole Don

I have found nothing that will cover and stay on the exhaust manifoild's for more than a few months.

Don, back in 1984, I coated my freshly sandblasted exhaust manifolds with a ceramic coating called "HOT STUFF". I purchased it from JC Whitney & Co. It comes in a small plastic container. You paint the maniofolds using a artists paint brush. Now all these years later, there is barely a blemish in them and my engine has turned over a few times since then.
Theres one catch. You must get the manifolds very hot immediately after painting them to "cure" the coating on the cast iron. If you don't do that, the ceramic will flake off prematurely.
Don't know if they still sell it, but its worth looking into.

[raceron1120]

Originally Posted by Ole Don

My 56 rocker covers and air cleaner were orange. My current rockers are white like Raceron has. It looks very good when you open the hood at cruise night. The chrome aftermarket covers are OK, but wax them well inside and out to keep the chrome from peeling.

Originally Posted by wi0v

Thanks for the information, I've seen some gold on line but also every color in the book. So gold it will be, now how about valve covers?

Actually, the valve covers kind of an off white, maybe antique white? I can't remember what it is called but it was a very close match to others I've seen.

Here are a few pictures I found online - except the last one is of my engine when I got it: