hey guys, can someone please steer me in the right direction, i've had a look through FAQ but either it's not there or i'm typing the wrong reference, i have a few 50's f100's that have 292 engines but the colours range from 3 different shades of red, one blue and one metalic green, all seem to b original paint, i am restoring a couple of trucks and would like the corect colour if i can, one will b in a 56 the other a 60.
is the difference in colour more to do with the size of the vehicle, ie- f100, f800 etc, i noticed a 58 ranch wagon at a local show, his engine was a blue/green colour, the car appeared totaly stock although rebuilt.
with internationals built in 56 that we got in australia, the difference in size/power was reflected in a different colour.
i have a copy of the 56 sales brochure and it shows the engines yellow, although i have never seen a engine this colour ( and i have over 50 trucks!)
cya
gary

 

Well, what you need to do is clear your schedule for today, sit down, take 3 extra strength Tylenol as a preemptive strike, and search for a thread called "how to color a y block" (or something like that).

 

They were never blue in the '50s. At least not the blocks or heads. Rebuilders just usually spray anything Ford all blue.

 

From 1952 thru 1966 on OHV engines, Ford painted the blocks/heads one color, the valve covers another. Painting the valve covers a different color than the blocks/heads, was done so garages/body shop personnel could easily recognize what size engine it was.

When OHV engines came out in 1952, there were several sizes, more sizes were added as the yrs went by. Previous to OHV's, all engines were flatties, and there were only a coupla sizes, so something was needed to be done and quick to ID all these new OHV engines.

Every yr, the dealers would send out a poster that could he hung on a wall and a small paper booklet with all the different colored valve covers, and what they decoded to....to garages and body shops.

While it was a good idea once, as the yrs went by, Ford gummed up the works, because the same sized engine that a car and truck used (say a 292) had different colored valve covers!

It got even worse. One engine might have one colored valve cover in a truck, but the same color was also used in a car for a completely different engine!

Example:

1965/66 F100/350's with a 352 2V = black engine, gold valve covers.

1965/66 289 2V engine in a car = black engine, gold valve covers.

1967: All engines were painted Ford Corporate Blue.

1960/66: all the block and heads for all the engines were painted one color = black. What color were all the valve covers?

QUIEN SABE?! WHO KNOWS?!

 

hey guys, i have struck the tappet covers being a different colour but they were usually signwriten with tbird, my problem is fining the original colour for a 292/312, maybe the aussie engines were a different colour, there must be a reliable colour chart someplace indicating what colour was used in which year.
cya
gary

 

ALL 56 ford truck engines were YELLOW. Like I said ALL 56 engines were yellow from the 223 6 cylinders, 272's (medium and heayd duty) and the lincolon Y's were all Yellow.

Now this only holds true to the truck line as the cars were RED in 56

Did I say YELLOW? Yes what I meant to say was YELLOW.

Kevin Bigwin

 

Bigwin--how do you know that the Aussie ford's were all yellow? If he has never seen any is a reason to maybe look into this more. You are correct in America but are you sure about Australian Ford's. Were the Canadian Merc's all yellow too?

 

I have in my library a picture/brochure from austraila that shows a right hand drive 56 ford truck and it has the yellow engine with that CRAZY right exhaust manifold.

For those who want to know, the pass side 272 exhaust manifold is different than ours here in the states. On an aussie right hand drive the steering box is where our exhaust exits and therefore with the right hand drive they used a different exhaust manifold to clear the steering box.

Walford if you doubt me, drive down and take a look at the brochure. If I wasnt sure I wouldnt have posted it. Oh yes the mercs made in canada were yellow as well. I think I have a brochure to prove that one too.

Kevin Bigwin

 

Ted Eaton's site has a Y pictured with gold block and black covers. Nice looking, even if not original color.

 

Bigwin--I am just asking if all the overseas trucks are the same as USA built trucks--and the rightor left hand drive is a given....Why not drive up here and look at my library. I extended the invitation a while back. I have been down to your place many times,and come on up,especially on nice weekend--your kids will like G-O-T-LAKE. BILL

 

hey guys, more on this colour thing, i have been looking at 56's since the last thread and all have a silver engine with red tappet covers, as most have been farm trucks with only 30k showing i dought they have been rebuilt/repainted, this means the brochure still showed the us domestic market pictures, all my workshop manuals/parts books seam to come from canada, so it's not unusual to use one image world wide.
cya....gary