Aren't there two different Ford Blue colors for engines? One a darker blue & one lighter?

 

I agree it makes no sense at all. Was '64 different? I doubt this motor has been apart. It has 83,000 miles on it. It's a 4 barrel (I don't think truck motors ever had 4 barrels). I don't know what to think. You've got books, experience and have seen others. I just have my eyes.

 

1958/64 FE Passenger Cars: The valve covers are rounded with no holes for an oil cap or smog valve.

The smog valve threads into the intake manifold (1961/64) and there was a separate oil fill tube on the right front side of the engine.

1963/64 Galaxie/Custom/500 XL/Thunderbird 390: Valve covers reverse embossed T H U N D E R B I R D, were painted gold.

1963/64 Galaxie/Custom/500 XL 352: Valve covers reverse embossed F O R D, were painted blue.

1963/64 Mercury 390: Valve covers reverse embossed M E R C U R Y, cannot recall their color.

1963/64 406/427: Valve covers were not marked, cannot recall the colors.

Ford also offered chrome valve covers for these 1963/64 engines as part of the 'engine dress-up' kit. All styles were available.

FE w/a 4V not available in any F100/350 until 1974, and then only as an option. 1974/76 F100/350: VIN engine code M = 390 4V

 

My motor has the truck-type valve covers. Does this mean it is a '65?

 

Ive got a 1965 F250 LWB Flareside with a 352. The motor has never been rebuildt or repainted. The valve covers are NOT what I would call Gold. They are more of a beige color. There is no metallic content to the color what so ever. Perhaps it was just a run where they ran short of the usual color, and this was available. I may have to color match it with the computer, just for the hell of it, before I blast it off and repaint it gold. While I did go back black with the block/head color, I have to agree that the blue is a MUCH BETTER color for leak recognition. ( And to me more attractive) But then again theres a big difference between restoring a vehicle and rebuilding one. I restore...... perhaps I will paint the beige after all.....hmmmm

 

Your truck is 46+ years old. Engine heat and other factors like grease, road scum have caused the original valve cover paint to fade.

This isn't the first time I've heard of this, because this is what my '65 valve covers looked like in 1981, when I built the 352 into a 390 adding a 4V carb/manifold from a '66 T-Bird 428.

The engine paint was the original, since the truck was a "one owner." After the rebuild, I installed NOS Cobra LeMans oval air cleaner and valve covers, which today are worth a pretty penny.

 

46 years later you can still see some gold color through all the dirt. The covers were definately fading to a lighter color.



I can see why they might be mistaken for tan or some other color.

 

I am a new guy to the forum and just bought a '65 swb. The truck is a mismash of parts. The original box was replaced with a 73-79 step side and the "A" code transmission was replaces with a truck 4 speed. I though it had the original 352 engine but it is painted Ford blue. I am guessing the the engine and trans were replaced as a unit. Is there a number on the engine that I can find that can IDS this engine?

Thanks.

 

Good Lord, is that a motor under all that yuk?

 

my '65 engine bay

 

Now that sure is purdy. But Boss why no headers when you had her all torn down to the grown. You know that motor is on life support running all restricted that way.

 

That's beautiful Boss9F100

What is the little meter?

If it were mine I would build a nice fan shroud for it and run a clutch fan.

 

Looks like manifold pressure. I'm kind of interesed also. What is the purpose?
AND very clean job. You can tell you put a lot of hrs in it. Not hard to do with old iron.

 

It was far too nice and original for me to want it modified much. Still had the original "Y" pipe. At 208HP the stock manifolds are fine and it runs and drives like a Million bucks. Its made it 46+yrs with the stock manifolds so am sure another 46 will not hurt...

I have the Ranger and my F100 running headers this runs fine without.

 

Still have a few things to do to truck like finish fabrication of aux fuel tank and a few loose ends under hood. Trying to find a stock shroud but in 115deg heat here it does not go over 195deg engine temp. Still need to do some more cleanup, install hoses for windshield washer system and a bunch of odds and ends but at least now I can drive it daily and tinker as time allows.

Gauge is a vacuum gauge original owner installed when truck was new for tuning purposes, i decided to leave it for same reason. He also had one inside he used for economy.

Whats neat about the engine compartment gauge is he made a special tool for adjusting carb and just hung it on wiring harness in front of core support. A very clever device.