I used semi gloss red and black so far but cant get a definite answer on what gloss the Argentine silver was on the oil bath filter. I might go get some mixed up unless i can find an very close match off the shelf.

Does anyone here know the correct gloss level or a close match for the Argentine silver for the oil bath filter for a 1956 292 Y8?

1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan - 292 Y8 - Ford-O-Matic - 155,000 mi

It is called Argent which I think is French for silver. I believe from the factory it was a matte finish. I have used rattle can paint for GM rallye wheels and am happy with the results.

Used Argent from Eastwood and their Diamond Clear Coat... It's not as shiny as the high solids UV Resistant from the paint store I use. Expensive but really good in the sun..Good Luck

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Thanks for the response.  I didn't think it would be a gloss, but wasn't sure if it should be a semi gloss to match the rest of the engine or a matte finish.  The Eastwood GM Rallye paint they say it has the proper 50% to 60% gloss.  I thought of using this, but then I saw that VHT offers a rim paint and their website says "Ford Argent Silver" but I don't know if that would have the same 50% to 60% gloss, if it did I would probably just go with the VHT brand for the lower cost and the fact that I like VHT brand when it comes to under hood uses.




Thanks for the response, I haven't bought any yet but I was looking at the Argent Silver ralley paint but then I saw that VHT sells a rim paint that their website says "Ford Argent Silver".  I am seriously thinking of purchasing this and maybe the argent silver from Eastwood and compare the two.

As far as painting goes, I was going to mask off the inside of the filter housing and use gray primer sealer to prime the exterior then apply the Argent Silver.  I don't have the decal yet as Dennis Carpenter ran out of them after I placed my order.  But I did get the gasket set and I will be reusing my original rope seal for the lid to base seal as the cork is too thick in my opinion.

1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan - 292 Y8 - Ford-O-Matic - 155,000 mi

The TBird suppliers have the correct argent paint.  Try CASCO, Larry's or Hill's.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Larry's Tbirds?  I been meaning to buy some stuff from them that no one else had I never thought to check with him on the Argent paint.

1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan - 292 Y8 - Ford-O-Matic - 155,000 mi

The engine paint I use from Hirsch is gloss. The black is also gloss per the T-Bird Club authenticity  rules. I use the Argent from Larry's.

So the valve covers are supposed to be gloss back and not semi gloss black?

If so then I just made a major mistake on my end as I used semi gloss on the engine red and semi gloss on the black for the valve covers.  I just felt gloss black wouldn't have been historically correct from the factory.

1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan - 292 Y8 - Ford-O-Matic - 155,000 mi

I am going by the T-Bird Club's judging rules and my past experience. They call for gloss black on the valve covers and the '58 Ford 292 I had back in '63 had gloss black valve covers with the Thunderbird decals. The engine paint is also gloss red. Don't feel bad. Been messing with my T-Bird since 1965 and still have to do a lot of research to get the nut and bolt details right. Many of the details on the T-Birds are the same as the passenger cars but not necessarily all.

The CTCI Thunderbird Restoration Manual suggests Seymour EN44 as the closest match to original engine color.

Jim
Norfolk, VA

"MABLE"
1956 Thunderbird Green / Brown Interior (ZE-XG)

"MEAN GREEN"
1956 Mainline (FG-BE)