Help...wanted pics of fresh rebuilt 308's

[Deleted User]

I'm will soon be in the process of rebuilding my 308 in my 55 Hornet. I'm in a spot of bother... My 55 engine bay is currently black which is incorrect. Whilst rebuilding the 308, the engine bay will be stripped and repainted body colour which is red. I think a red engine may look a bit to much for the red engine bay. I thought of gold like the 7X 308's to break up the colour scheme but i'm still undecided.



If I can get a few pics of red engine bays along with a red or gold 308's, it will help me to decide on my decision. A red 308 with plenty of chrome and or black bolts, brackets etc may look ok and help break the colour scheme. What are your thoughts? I want it to look correct yet detailed to show quality.

Unknown

Here is a pic of the, then (1994) fresh, 308 in my '54 Hollywood.

In a Stepdown, the firewall is painted body color while the inner fenders are painted black. So, there's a "built-in" color contrast. I'm not sure how a red block would look in a car that the entire engine bay is the same color.

Bill

[Deleted User]

my 55 had a black bay, ford french blue block with black and raw aluminium accesories and head. the block was green (kinda like a john deere green) under the blue

[Deleted User]

Here's how I did mine, -- but the '53 block was gold, so it was an easy descision.



http://www.hudsoncollector.com/forum_viewtopic.php?3.592



silverone

[Deleted User]

silverone wrote:

Here's how I did mine, -- but the '53 block was gold, so it was an easy descision.



http://www.hudsoncollector.com/forum_viewtopic.php?3.592



silverone

That's the finest looking 308 I've seen. Nice job!



Dave W.

Unknown

How about a black block with a red head?

Unknown

I'll take that red head (preferably with long legs) with or without the black block.

[Deleted User]

Thanks guys, I have now decided on what i'm going to do. I will go for the gold engine in my red engine bay. I think this will look good along with 2 pak black linkages, brackets etc. I will have the head bolts in gold or chrome but i will take it as it comes along. Whilst doing the engine bay i will also be popping out the front screen as it still has the original cracked rubber. I will be expecting some rust in this area as all hashs do so once rust is repaired if any, this area around the windscreen will be painted at the same time as the engine bay. Once all done then new carpet installed along with the door trims. The engine will come out within the next two weeks along with the screen. Next is the hardest job, paint stripping by hand...lol. At least I can get into every gap and miss nothing.



I will keep you hudsonites posted with updates and photos.

[Deleted User]

DaveFury wrote:

That's the finest looking 308 I've seen. Nice job!



Dave W.

Thanks Dave, just for reference the block paint is Cadillac gold engine enamel, the exhaust manifold is done with flat black very high temperature stove paint ( found at the local woodstove and fireplace dealer ), good for something like 1200 degrees or so they tell me, and all the other black accessories are all powder coated. The oil filter canister is also powder coated orange. While there, I left my hood support arms and hinges with them too, and they sand -blasted them clean and powder coated them with clear.



I've discovered powder coating, if you find the right shop, can be quicker, cheaper, and far more durable than stripping and painting, (unless of course you're doing the work yourself).



We had a thread going awhile back about welding cracked manifolds, and this engine has my manifold that was seriously cracked right through the exhaust and intake chamber near the center, and the outside ear broken right off. You can see by the pictures, when this is done by a true professional, you'd never know its had serious surgery. I took another manifold to a so-called professional shop, about a year before I had this one done, who said they could do it no problem, and they literally destroyed it before giving up completely!!



My friend Terry, did this repair in his home shop, using a home-built oven, special rod that costs about a buck an inch, and just plain-old down to earth savey. The man has hand-built, or restored every piece of machinery in his shop, and the place is a wonder to behold. As a millright, and machinist by trade, he travelled far and wide plying his trade, and when he found a piece of machinery in a sawmill, or foundry somewhere that was due to be replaced, he'd pack it home, rebuild it, and put it to work doing custom stuff sometimes for the very mills that sold him the equipment !! On some things he's the only game in town now, and even the mills can't do what he can right at home. Years ago he trained to repair cracked blocks and heads for big diesel engines in heavy equipment, and being able to do this work saved many a very expensive engine from the scrap heap.



Anyway, I'm off track a bit, but if your manifold is cracked, or your "only one left in the world engine block" is cracked, --- do not despair -- there's still a few old timers out there who can fix it, and maybe right in your own back yard, like I discovered.



silverone.

Uncle Josh

Here's Mine

TwinH

Make mine gold too... 49C8