What colors do I paint an engine for a 1965 F100 352?
#32
I've seen dozens of 1965 289 2V's that had gold valve covers, but I doubt any 352 installed in a 1965 Passenger Car would have had gold valve covers.
From 1952 thru 1965, Ford painted valve covers myriad different colors because...this was their method for garages/body shops to be able to ID what sizes the engines were!
Having gold valve covers on two different 1965 Passenger Car engines makes absolutely no sense.
The 1965 352 Galaxie my sister drove in high school had blue valve covers. The car, with 14K on the clock was bought from the original "little old lady from Westwood" owner in 1967.
From 1952 thru 1965, Ford painted valve covers myriad different colors because...this was their method for garages/body shops to be able to ID what sizes the engines were!
Having gold valve covers on two different 1965 Passenger Car engines makes absolutely no sense.
The 1965 352 Galaxie my sister drove in high school had blue valve covers. The car, with 14K on the clock was bought from the original "little old lady from Westwood" owner in 1967.
#33
1958/64 FE Passenger Cars: The valve covers are rounded with no holes for an oil cap or smog valve.
The smog valve threads into the intake manifold (1961/64) and there was a separate oil fill tube on the right front side of the engine.
1963/64 Galaxie/Custom/500 XL/Thunderbird 390: Valve covers reverse embossed T H U N D E R B I R D, were painted gold.
1963/64 Galaxie/Custom/500 XL 352: Valve covers reverse embossed F O R D, were painted blue.
1963/64 Mercury 390: Valve covers reverse embossed M E R C U R Y, cannot recall their color.
1963/64 406/427: Valve covers were not marked, cannot recall the colors.
Ford also offered chrome valve covers for these 1963/64 engines as part of the 'engine dress-up' kit. All styles were available.
FE w/a 4V not available in any F100/350 until 1974, and then only as an option. 1974/76 F100/350: VIN engine code M = 390 4V
The smog valve threads into the intake manifold (1961/64) and there was a separate oil fill tube on the right front side of the engine.
1963/64 Galaxie/Custom/500 XL/Thunderbird 390: Valve covers reverse embossed T H U N D E R B I R D, were painted gold.
1963/64 Galaxie/Custom/500 XL 352: Valve covers reverse embossed F O R D, were painted blue.
1963/64 Mercury 390: Valve covers reverse embossed M E R C U R Y, cannot recall their color.
1963/64 406/427: Valve covers were not marked, cannot recall the colors.
Ford also offered chrome valve covers for these 1963/64 engines as part of the 'engine dress-up' kit. All styles were available.
FE w/a 4V not available in any F100/350 until 1974, and then only as an option. 1974/76 F100/350: VIN engine code M = 390 4V
#35
Original color
Ive got a 1965 F250 LWB Flareside with a 352. The motor has never been rebuildt or repainted. The valve covers are NOT what I would call Gold. They are more of a beige color. There is no metallic content to the color what so ever. Perhaps it was just a run where they ran short of the usual color, and this was available. I may have to color match it with the computer, just for the hell of it, before I blast it off and repaint it gold. While I did go back black with the block/head color, I have to agree that the blue is a MUCH BETTER color for leak recognition. ( And to me more attractive) But then again theres a big difference between restoring a vehicle and rebuilding one. I restore...... perhaps I will paint the beige after all.....hmmmm
#36
Your truck is 46+ years old. Engine heat and other factors like grease, road scum have caused the original valve cover paint to fade.
This isn't the first time I've heard of this, because this is what my '65 valve covers looked like in 1981, when I built the 352 into a 390 adding a 4V carb/manifold from a '66 T-Bird 428.
The engine paint was the original, since the truck was a "one owner." After the rebuild, I installed NOS Cobra LeMans oval air cleaner and valve covers, which today are worth a pretty penny.
This isn't the first time I've heard of this, because this is what my '65 valve covers looked like in 1981, when I built the 352 into a 390 adding a 4V carb/manifold from a '66 T-Bird 428.
The engine paint was the original, since the truck was a "one owner." After the rebuild, I installed NOS Cobra LeMans oval air cleaner and valve covers, which today are worth a pretty penny.
#37
#38
I am a new guy to the forum and just bought a '65 swb. The truck is a mismash of parts. The original box was replaced with a 73-79 step side and the "A" code transmission was replaces with a truck 4 speed. I though it had the original 352 engine but it is painted Ford blue. I am guessing the the engine and trans were replaced as a unit. Is there a number on the engine that I can find that can IDS this engine?
Thanks.
Thanks.
#40
#41
#44
I have the Ranger and my F100 running headers this runs fine without.
#45
Gauge is a vacuum gauge original owner installed when truck was new for tuning purposes, i decided to leave it for same reason. He also had one inside he used for economy.
Whats neat about the engine compartment gauge is he made a special tool for adjusting carb and just hung it on wiring harness in front of core support. A very clever device.