The gray is really not bad if kept clean, kinda nice. One of the best engine colors I ever saw was a 302 swapped into a Ranger, the block had apparently been bead blasted clean at some point, not allowed to rust and sprayed with a clear hi-temp sealant....SHARP looking, with all the chrome and aluminum accessories and SS headers.

 

They were that grey color. You can paint it any color you want. I like auto paint and it doesn't have to be high temp. A good auto paint holds up well. I did my 429 in yellow. Had some extra laying around.

 

Your 429 in yellow looks good! I've had some back in the day...I painted red-orange, and mandarin red (very dark) with chrome accessories like your engine. They had a lot of "Pop" at first look. Nothing like a high school shop project of pulling an engine to paint it...

 

That's what I used on my oil pan and it matches perfectly!

I agree on the Ford blue part...except I picture a rebuilt FE when I see that color. Dark Ford blue looks better, but it still belongs on a 351M/400 or anything early 80's. Our EFI's look best in New Ford Gray or Black, but that's just my opinion.

 

My neighbor just bought a 1997 F250 HD and the 351W in it is black and the freeze plugs all look like new. Is this a Ford remanufactured replacement engine?

 

My 1997 5.8I is black also. I was told it was a Jasper rebuild.

 

my 96 460 is black and 100% original

IIRC my buddies 97F250hd 5.8 (that he bought new) has also black

 

I believe most of these trucks had the medium gray color after around 86. I remember our 85 had black paint on the valve covers but I think the block was bare.

I'm going to be using New Ford Gray DE1611 from Duplicolor as well as their appropriate primer on my 5.8 project for my 94. Several members of this site have used it with a nice result.

 

Duplicolor engine paint, "New Ford Grey" with ceramicote... WEAR A MASK WHEN USING THIS!!! Otherwise you will coat the inside of your nostrils for a few days, and all the hairs inside become sharp little ceramic coated *******s- You bump your nose, and it is painful!

Scott

 

The Ford reman in mine is black.

 

How well has your Ceramicote aged on the engine?