Engine Compartment Colors

The Silver Dome Era

Information is from [Buton n.d.] with major corrections and updates by [Curtis 2000], [Benj 2000], [Buton 2008a] and [Buton 2008b]. Decal information from [Buton 2008a]. For 1933 confirmation of details is by [Motor 1933] and [Butler 1978 58] and in some cases by original paint on author's car.

Component	Model
	Q, U	30-U	PA	PB	PC, PCXX, PD	PE, PF, PG	PJ	P1, P2	P3 to P14
Firewall	Black (see photo below)							?	Body color
Builders Plate on Firewall	Early cars use a black on aluminum color scheme. Later cars use a red on aluminum scheme. See note 2 below
Hydraulic Brake Resevoir Decal	DD0624 from Jim Osborn Reproductions		Not Applicable
Head	Silver				Standard: Silver. Optional high compression: Red (cast iron) or "as cast" (unpainted) aluminum		Silver
Block	Black				Black with possible exception of dark green on PC	Black			Silver
Intake manifold	Black
Exhaust manifold	Natural or silver						Natural or black
	Model
	Q, U	30-U	PA	PB	PC, PCXX, PD	PE, PF, PG	PJ	P1, P2	P3 to P14
Water pump	Not Applicable	?	Black						Silver
Thermostat housing	Not Applicable	Head color (silver)
Lower radiator hose elbow	?	Black
Generator, Starter and Distributor	Black, manufactured by Delco-Remy. The Delco-Remy manufacturer tags on early cars were black and silver (bare metal) later units were red and silver. See note 1 below.						Black, manufactured by Auto-Lite
Spark Plugs	AC Plugs with black metal bases							Early P1 and P2 used AC, late P1 and P2 used Champion	P3, P4, P5 and P9 used Champion, P6, P8, P10, P11, and P12 used Auto-Lite
Vacuum advance unit and fuel pump	Natural cadmium plate color
Flexible fuel and oil lines	Dark rubber and cloth braid
Steel fuel, oil and vacuum lines	Natural color with possible exception of black						Natural color
Oil Filter	Black
Oil Filter Decal	DD0572 from Jim Osborn Reproductions.
Oil Filler Cap	?	Black
Oil Filler Cap Decal	?		DD0363 from Jim Osborn Reproductions.
	Model
	Q, U	30-U	PA	PB	PC, PCXX, PD	PE, PF, PG	PJ	P1, P2	P3 to P14
Carburetor	Cast iron parts were black, pot metal parts were natural "as cast" color
Carburetor Tag (See note 3 below)	Heavy Cardboard		Triangular Brass	Rectangular Brass				Not Applicable
Air Filter Decal	?		DD0592 from Jim Osborn Reproductions		DD0328 from Jim Osborn Reproductions (1933 Air filter shown) Note: There is some evidence that early production PC and PD may have used the rectangular decal as the PA and PB.
Horn and horn bracket on engine	Not Applicable	Black
Clutch housing	Black								Silver

This 1933 PD being disassembled for restoration shows the color break between the original Limousine Blue paint and the black firewall.

Note 1: Delco-Remy Identification Tags

It is unclear when the change from black to red plates took place. There is some suggestion that all Plymouth Delco-Remy units originally had black tags and any red tags are because of components being replaced. However some, but not all, 1933 cars (and at least some 1934 cars) have been found with what appears to be original electrical components with red and silver Delco-Remy tags. This is an area that in this author's opinion requires further research.

Note 2: Builder Plates

Some sources indicate that the red plates came into use in the late 1930s however the author's 1933 PD had what appeared to be an original plate that was red.

Note 3: Carburetor Tags

Carburetor tags are being reproduced by James Carmine. He will need to know your carburetor model number to provide the correct tag.