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I've several threads on here posing the question of NP 435 paint scheme but cannot find a definitive answer. My trans in untouched and is out of a '73 F350 chassis cab. Zero paint on the main cast body but all bolt heads are red and there is a splash of red on the rear of the shifter tower. Also a bit of light green also on the shifter tower.
What is the correct paint scheme for a 1973 NP 435?
When I rebuilt mine it was filthy dirty oil soaked. I saw a trace of the yellow letters and traces of red like that too..i believe it was originally painted red oxide primer. But I'm not sure.
Thats what I did but I left the alum covers, the pto covers, and the bolts un finished
Thanks. I may take that path as well. I just think that if I can still see the yellow so well with no red that the body on mine was not painted. My red bolts make no sense.
When trying to google that for my build a few weeks ago I found most people said they were painted red oxide primered. I too had the yellow numbers on the side and green paint/yellow paint on top. Mine was so covered in oil and grime that I never really saw any paint as the angle grinder with a wire wheel went to town. While I wanted to keep mine bare metal with a clear coat. I opted for the red oxide primer and clear coat. Leaks should be easy to find and I like the way it turned out. Plus my bare metal wasnt perfectly clean so the paint helps hide some dirt lol. (https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...thread-53.html somewhere around here you can see pictures of mine painted)
Rear axles drop outs for Mustangs were often red oxide, so was the bottom of the car often. but the 435 was a contract part and I know for a fact most were not painted I have a few that were bought new by my dad.
This may be dependent of where the vehicle was produced, mine are all San Jose built. remember paint costs money and Ford didn't waste paint, I question how many were painted but I can't say.
Rear axles drop outs for Mustangs were often red oxide, so was the bottom of the car often. but the 435 was a contract part and I know for a fact most were not painted I have a few that were bought new by my dad.
This may be dependent of where the vehicle was produced, mine are all San Jose built. remember paint costs money and Ford didn't waste paint, I question how many were painted but I can't say.
Interesting, yeah I wonder if the midwest/ snowy states got a primer at the dealerships back then maybe? I also think I remember reading somewhere a lot of garages would paint them after rebuilds. Ive slept a few times since I researched so I dont recall anything for certain plus Im no expert on their history... Still a bit before my time when they were new lol. For me, i dont if my paint isnt OEM (altho im trying to stay close to OEM on my build) cz my steel was never shiny clean anyway; I have thought about going back and painting the drivetrain the same color as the engine when I get around to it. But for now mine will wear red oxide primer.
My bellhousing had traces of ford blue same as the engine did.
When doing my build I was toying with a red white and blue theme with bellhousing /trans/transfercase but was worried about the white. They were all primed and waiting on my decision. At this time I removed the rear diff 3rd member (unknown if original) and upon cleaning also found traces of red on the outside. The inside still covered in red primer. See pic below. At that time I decided all the (gear boxes) diffs will be primer and clear.
Personally I think it will look awesome if cleared bare metal. I think it may yellow a little over time. (Everything bare I clear does). Red inside Painted but original red on the inside of the pinion carrier
The drop outs in the 9 inch were ford products, and probably red primer was the cheapest option. since the spicer axles were contracted spicer painted them black. the transfer cases were never painted and I suspect most transmissions weren't either. you couldn't see rust on them before they left the dealers lot so why bother.
Where they were made might have had something to do with many things. little things that don't matter but interesting nevertheless.
