1950s 1958 Fuel Pump should be natural; not painted

[Jon S]

I decided to research why everyone is painting their fuel pumps Cadillac Blue. My research reveals it is based on a dolled up display engine that was presented at the automobile shows; not what was delivered to the end consumer. My Cadillac was purchased brand new by my dad and came with a natural slant back fuel pump. Somehow everyone thinks the fuel pumps were installed and painted with the engine. They were not.

[Clewisiii]

It is a debate through the years. And 58 may be different.

I know soneone else had a photo of the assembly line and the fuel pump was painted on the engine. I know for 61 I bead blasted the paint off the bottom of my fuel pump myself. There was no paint on the top anymore. It did not stick to the cast pot metal. But the bottom covered with dirt and oil was still blue.

[Jon S]

It is a debate through the years. And 58 may be different.

I know soneone else had a photo of the assembly line and the fuel pump was painted on the engine. I know for 61 I bead blasted the paint off the bottom of my fuel pump myself. There was no paint on the top anymore. It did not stick to the cast pot metal. But the bottom covered with dirt and oil was still blue.

I sincerely doubt the Factory spray gun could reach the complete bottom of the fuel pump. If they did, there would be drips or uncovered areas. I know when I visited the local Cadillac Dealer service department and looked in the engine bays none were painted. I know my dad's car since new and he was a fanatic to keep everything original.

[Big Fins]

I'm also looking at the choke heater tube. It must have been moved up to the intake in '59.

[Jon S]

I'm also looking at the choke heater tube. It must have been moved up to the intake in '59.

Believe so. Much more efficient than the long insulated tube of 1958.

[Clewisiii]

I have two engine bay paint questions for my 61.

The first is the power steering pulley. Authenticity manual says it should be blue. Even though all the other bolt on components after engine paint are black or not painted. The engine and trans were painted together. Heck even the heater core rubber lines ended up painted in this set up. But the power steering pulley is put on after. It does not make sense that that supplier and component was the only one painted blue that was not bolted on the engine before paint.



The other is the washer jar bracket. My original was completly rust. My parts car was rust but yellow Cadmium on the back. The only way ai see them painting that part is if it was painted while bolted to the core support. The core supports were painted hanging sideways. I confirmed this with original paint runs on my core support.

I found pictures of a NOS washer jar bracket still in its packaging. And it was yellow Cadmium. If the part arrived like that it only would have been painted after bolting to core support. And from evidence and core support paint under the bracket I do not think that happened.

[Jon S]

I have two engine bay paint questions for my 61.

The first is the power steering pulley. Authenticity manual says it should be blue. Even though all the other bolt on components after engine paint are black or not painted. The engine and trans were painted together. Heck even the heater core rubber lines ended up painted in this set up. But the power steering pulley is put on after. It does not make sense that that supplier and component was the only one painted blue that was not bolted on the engine before paint.



The other is the washer jar bracket. My original was completly rust. My parts car was rust but yellow Cadmium on the back. The only way ai see them painting that part is if it was painted while bolted to the core support. The core supports were painted hanging sideways. I confirmed this with original paint runs on my core support.

I found pictures of a NOS washer jar bracket still in its packaging. And it was yellow Cadmium. If the part arrived like that it only would have been painted after bolting to core support. And from evidence and core support paint under the bracket I do not think that happened.

Can't speak for the WW Bracket, but most 1950's PS Pulleys were blue including the 1958. I have seen many incorrectly painted black. Here's mine: