elan block paint clour code

[bmcman.ie]

hi there guys, i am rebuilding my sprint engine, and would like to know if there is a paint code for the grey paint, used for the block, or would any grey do? not battleship! thanks ian.

[types26/36]

Not sure if there is a code but a lot of people use this:
http://qedmotorsport.co.uk/qed-shop/lot ... -paint-tin

[pereirac]

Peter Day in the 1980's told me the colour was Massey Ferguson tractor grey...

Carl

[TroonSprint]

I was buying some bits from Paul Matty and asked them. They supplied some grey cellulose enamel which looks fine. I've no idea if it is the "correct" colour. It wouldn't surprise me if there was no "correct" colour. I have a pal with an old "Fergy" tractor and the grey certainly looks similar. Can anyone tell me, is the cylinder head left unpainted?
Mike

[types26/36]

No, Lotus painted the head as well.
Edit. The front cover was also painted.

[trw99]

If you read Miles Wilkin's book he indicates that he gets the block colour just right by mixing some blue in with the Massey Ferg grey.

Graham Arnold in an old Club Lotus News wrote an article on this subject and pretty much indicated that a lad was sent down to the paint suppliers and told to pick up a grey paint for the blocks. So there never was an official paint code for the engine and the correct shade of grey could be whatever takes your fancy! There are, after all, 50 shades of the stuff!

Tim

[oldchieft]

Pictures of an engine seen in Paul Matty's shop

Engine 2

Engine1

Engine 3

Jon the Chief

[S2Jay]

I was going to ask about what others may have used / be using in the States, and the complain about Home Depot having a Krylon light grey that looks a bit too light and then having a dark grey that looks too dark. This seems to becoming a moot point given the variations being used & the apparent lack of an ?official? color.

I am judging partly from pics of what others have posted here, and from the faded original paint left on some components from my S2. Obviously color in pics is affected greatly by lighting, angle, age, etc.

Still, I would be interested in what others are using in the U.S. market & what options are available.

I expect to just use some simple spray can / rattle can stuff, no concours points will be affected here!

[AHM]

I love GA's anecdotes - there is a good video of him on youtube. But this is the crowning glory!

I've no doubt that several lads were sent to the hardware shop, but it would have been for the Tartan paint and a long wait..... just picture it - you want how many gallons?

I used MF tractor grey - Lotus are in Norfolk!

[pharriso]

Given that it's going to be covered with oil pretty soon, does the exact shade matter?

P.s. If you're worried about concours judges & the right shade of grey(gray) you need to get out more

[StressCraxx]

Ace Hardware house brand "Premium Enamel" Light Gray #19717

It was pretty close to what was on my block.

Regards,
Dan

[robertverhey]

I've now painted two Lotus blocks using Dupli-color Ford Gray.....

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/enginePaint/

Looks pretty good I reckon