I'm replacing the manifolds on my I-6. While they were off the truck I took the opportunity to clean behind them on the block with the thought of maybe touching up the paint on that side while it was apart. Now, I thought the block was supposed to be black like the valve cover, air cleaner, starter, and intake manifold (most paint was off, but the brackets for choke cable and throttle cable were both black). But as I started cleaning, what I thought was algea growing on the layer of grease and dirt, turned out to be a mossy green color painted on the block.

Is green the right color? I know Ford used this, but I didn't think for a 65 240. Let me try to include a picture.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...pictureid=2597

 

I was going to let somebody who actually knew the answer respond, but I'm going to go out on a limb and agree with you that black is the right color. I think all the Ford motors were black in the early sixties, then blue or gray or something after that. Not sure about this either but I think the valve cover is supposed to be blue.

 

Thanks for the reply. A friend saw the picture and suggested it might be a primer showing through. I'm inclined to believe it, there's so little paint left. I'd love to get a confirmation on that.

Valve cover on a '65 240 is correct at black...the whole engine was black from I've been able to find.

Have a great trip.

 

ALL FoMoCo engines, car and truck, 6 or V8, were black from 1960 thru 1965.

The valve covers were painted specific colors to ID what size the engine was. Ford did this from 1952 thru 1965 on everything.

No valve cover was painted black. I'm not sure if the 240 valve cover was blue or red...I believe it was blue.

1966 was the first year engines including the valve covers were painted Ford Corporate Blue.

 

I don't have a true document to back up my comment; but I wrote down awhile back that the 65 series six cylinders where Blue block and black valve covers. As I mention I can't 100% vouch for this, and all my originial dealers adds show the 352 & 289 motors in proper color format and has the 170, 240 & 300's in a shade of gold (block) and black valves. I know this isn't right!

Number Dummy would know more than me; but I just wanted to post this side note I have.

Mitch

 

Mitch, considering that I was at the parts counter beginning in 1962, when I say the 1960/65 engines were all painted black, I ain't just a whistlin' Dixie.

Being a car show judge for over 40 years is another reason I know all this jazz.

You cannot go by sales brochures, either. Ford made the engines look "real pretty" in those brochures, but in reality...you won't find those colors under the hood.

No Ford engine, regardless of the size, or what it was installed in, was painted Ford Corporate Blue until 1966.

The valve covers were painted specific colors to ID what size the engine was from 1952 thru 1965.

Ford confusion:

You cannot go by a engine installed in a car to know what proper color was used on F100/350 valve covers. They are not the same.

Examples:

1965 F100/350 352: Black engine, gold valve covers.

1965 Galaxie 352: Black engine, blue valve covers.

1965 Mustang/Falcon/Fairlane 289 2V: Black engine, gold valve covers.

Ford sent the dealers color charts from 1952 thru 1965 with all the myriad valve color covers.

Then the dealers would pass out these out to garages, body shops.

Ford made the same basic L head engines for many years, then in 1952, introduced a new OHV 215 cid I-6, and a new Y Block (317 cid used in Lincolns).

More OHV engines quickly followed these two. Mechanics were versed in the L heads, but were overwhelmed by all these new OHV engines, so Ford used the valve cover colors to ID what sizes the engines were.

Many people today (especially newbie's to the hobby), have no idea this occured.

Their engine paint went away years ago, so they look at the 1966 and later BLUE engines, then paint their 1952/65 engines the same color.

 

I'm with ya Bill; just though I throw the above mention side note, I'm understand that all V-8's block's where black to include the heads and they painted the valve covers a variety of colors to help id engine's.
Just came across this side note and though I post it.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Bill; I'm surprise you remember the 60's. Just kidding lol

Also your comment on this is true but not I. If you ever look at my 65 model you'll see the block is black. I admit the (Ford diehard) mechanic that rebuilt my engine was crying when I told him to paint it black not Ford blue.
(" Number Dummy's comment") Many people today have no idea this occured, their engine paint went away years ago, so they look at the 1966 and later BLUE engines, then paint their 1952/65 engines the same color.


Mitch

 

Mitch, I was born in 1944, so I do remember the 1960's.

I'm a car buff..and have been....since grandma was a girl.

Since 1956, I have owned at least 330 cars & trucks, including 84 FoMoCo products.

 

Hmmmm, my 1963 292 is all red ( block-heads-valve covers and intake) is this correct of should it have a black block?

 

A 292 Y block painted RED is correct...in 1955/57.

But the valve covers would not have been painted red.

The valve covers will not match the color of the block from 1952 thru 1965.

 

what color should the valve covers, heads and intake be on a 292 in 1963?

 

There is a picture of a 240 here that looks like it's from a 1965 ford brochure:

LOVEfords - 1965 Fords - Features

It has a black block and manifolds and what looks to me like a very dark grayish blue (almost black) valve cover and a red air cleaner.

 

That brochure is for 1965 Galaxies/LTD's, not F100/350's.

The only thing that is correct is the black block and head, the manifolds and accessories.

The trucks valve color will not be the same color as the Galaxies, and the last time I saw a red aircleaner was on 1960/65 Falcons/Fairlanes/Mustangs with the 170 I-6.

F series trucks had black aircleaners from 1960 thru 1965, and they were OIL BATHS, not the dry paper element type shown on this Galaxie engine.