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Never heard of it being black. I know it was blue and then grey. The old 260's and some of the first 289's were black with gold valve covers and aircleaner. Let's see if we can learn something, someone else may know.
Cant say that they went black but I know 99% of the rebuilders out there spray their rebuilt engines black for some reason. I got into it with one guy when I was trying to get it painted the oem color and he insisted that rebuilt engines need to be black.
I worked in both Windsor Casting and Plant 1. The blocks were never in fact painted, they were powder coated black. We used to air test the blocks in the Foundry and if we found bubbles we would peen the block then re-test it. I Miss the good ol' days. Many funny stories there. Like this one. Some engineers came in to check our pouring process and analyze our formula, their result was this ( Your formulas are off our scales, and for all intents and purposes you guys, shouldn't be running, or producing a higher quality block like these for that matter). They couldn't understand why it worked, then about a month later our guys got sent to Cleveland Casting to improve their process. Our guys found out that Cleveland was using olympic size pools to store the molten metal for longer periods of time, and it was causing the molecules in the metal to align creating a weaker block. Our foundry was a fast pour from the cupula to the ladles without a waiting time. Then Ford decided to implement Windsor Castings into Cleveland Casting.
Last edited by dort; May 6, 2015 at 01:48 AM.
Reason: just adding some fun facts
I believe you are right the engines in the 90s seemed to all be black. Even the Ford 302 was black by then but I think the Ford 302 went black around '90 to '92 because the EFI HO 302 in the '89 E150 my dad has is gray.
For the 1980 - 1981 models, the correct engine color was (dark) Ford Blue. Some call this shade Ford Corporate Blue.
From 1982 - 1986, the correct engine color was Ford Gray.
I don't know what colors were used past 1986, but the 1985 Ford Mustang engine wasn't painted at all. It had a bare block with a raw aluminum intake and valve covers from the factory.
For the 1980 - 1981 models, the correct engine color was (dark) Ford Blue. Some call this shade Ford Corporate Blue.
From 1982 - 1986, the correct engine color was Ford Gray.
I don't know what colors were used past 1986, but the 1985 Ford Mustang engine wasn't painted at all. It had a bare block with a raw aluminum intake and valve covers from the factory.
You sure about that cause my '82 isn't Ford Gray but Dark Ford Blue just like my '78 351W.
You sure about that cause my '82 isn't Ford Gray but Dark Ford Blue just like my '78 351W.
After doing some more research, I think you are indeed correct. 1982 was the last year for the Ford Blue engines. 1983 was the first year Ford went to Ford Gray.
Originally Posted by 81-F-150-Explorer
Now the really confusing bit...
As for the 1982-1983. Some were Ford Blue, and some were gray. I believe this is because the assymbly plants still had a backstock of blue engines to install, even after the switch to gray.
But there is more evidence to suggest color change...
1977-1982 300-6 engines used distributor cap: D7DZ-12106-A / DH-367
Color of Distributor cap is Ford Blue. Matches engine color. the distributor cap adapter was also Ford Blue, the plug wires were originally Ford Blue etc... All to match the engine color.
1983-1984 300-6 engines used distributor cap E3DZ-12106-A / DH-367-B
Color of the Cap is Gray to match the new engine color. E3DZ-12106-A was updated to E5DZ-12106-A in 1985, Still Ford gray.
That suggests the Engine color changed in 1983 to Ford gray. At least on the 300-6.
With 1982-1983 vehicles, I would look at the Distributor cap adapter, if it is original to the truck. If it's Ford Blue, then that suggests that the engine was originally Ford Blue. If the adapter is gray, then it would suggest that it was gray. Either color cap adapter can be swapped for the other, so it's not definitive proof, but it is evidence to suggest a color preference.
For the 1980 - 1981 models, the correct engine color was (dark) Ford Blue. Some call this shade Ford Corporate Blue.
From 1982 - 1986, the correct engine color was Ford Gray.
I don't know what colors were used past 1986, but the 1985 Ford Mustang engine wasn't painted at all. It had a bare block with a raw aluminum intake and valve covers from the factory.
The 86 fuel injected mark vii 5.0 engine I used in my 1980 was grey with black valve covers. I can't remember what color the oil pan was, I want to say it was black but not sure.
1982 - 1985 Ford Mustangs with the 5.0/302 engine did not use steel valve covers. They used finned alumimum valve covers that had "Powered by Ford" embossed on them. And yes, they were left raw aluminum, along with the intake. And a bare (unpainted) engine block!
Here is what they look like. These are on my own truck, and came off of a 1985 Mustang 5.0. I painted them along with the intake so that they would look better, longer.
1982 - 1985 Ford Mustangs with the 5.0/302 engine did not use steel valve covers. They used finned alumimum valve covers that had "Powered by Ford" embossed on them. And yes, they were left raw aluminum, along with the intake. And a bare (unpainted) engine block!
Here is what they look like. These are on my own truck, and came off of a 1985 Mustang 5.0. I painted them along with the intake so that they would look better, longer.
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