What was the stock engine color on a '78 351M? And was the air cleaner painted?


Thanks
Jameson

 

Mine is blue and the air cleaner is galvinized.

 

Engine is FORD blue. Make sure its FORD

I painted my trans pan with GM blue when I changed the fluid. I know, it was a cardinal sin, but it's all we had You can see the engine color in this pic:

 

Ford old blue or ford new blue?

 

New. According to Google, the color changed around 66/67

 

Anybody know the story behind that ?

Everything out of my shop get the true blue old school dark paint .

I started fooling with N series Ford tractors (39-52) and they use red back ground in the ovals with the Ford script . Don't know if I can ever get use to that .

 

Maybe NumberDummy will chime in. He could probably write a book about the color change.

 

Huh because I used 2 cans of Duplicolor "Ford Blue" on one of my 460's, and it looked more along the lines of that gm blue

This was what I got


This was the color I wanted. You can see the manifolds from the other engine on this one, and the difference in color



Jameson

 

Well, I don't know about old or new, but as for my 351s, I always saw the darker blue. I always painted my engines the lighter blue, still supposed to be ford blue, but lighter, I like it better. My experience is the 351 and 400s had the darker blue. Not sure if it is old or new.

 

I have always used DupliColor DE 1606 Ford Dark Blue

 

http://cometeastcarclub.org/PDF_Files/enginecolor.pdf

If it is blue, it is power by Ford.
For many years prior to 1966, as we have seen, Ford engines were color-keyed to specific applications and carlines. Starting in 1966, this practice changed. All engine now were painted Ford Corporate Blue. Instead of color-keyed valve covers and air cleaners, the entire engine would be Ford Corporate Blue, like the Ford Blue Oval and the Ford Blue offset dealer signs popping up in 1966 at Ford dealerships. Ford's message for 1966 and beyond was simple--if it is blue, it is power by Ford.
As in earlier years, Ford continued to paint the valve covers separate from the engines. Engine long-blocks, which included block, intake manifold, heads, and oil pan, were all painted Ford Blue. Valve covers were installed toward the end of engine assembly using natural metal bolts with integral lock washers. We've learned through observation and conversation with restorers that Duplicolor's Dark Ford Blue (1606) is an accepted color for '66 and later Ford engine restorations. An alternative, when Duplicolor isn't available, is Krylon's Dark FordBlue, which is also the correct shade of dark blue. Plastikote is another paint brand, Royal Blue (1134) an acceptable color for '66 and later.

 

Interesting to know. Thanks

 

That is interesting to know and thanks for the info. I know that in my garage, I have a can of "old Ford blue", "Dark Ford Blue", and I think just "Ford Blue". I can never get it right of which blue went with what year?