1958 Ford F100 Engine Color
 

What was the color of a 1958 Ford F100 Engine? It appears to have been orange.

Does anyone know where I can find this orignal color of paint?

I remember seeing it one time online but now cannot find the link.

Concoursparts.com part number P1, $7.00 for a 12 oz spray can. Claims to be "correct shade of red/orange paint for Ford engines. They also list P2Q, in a quart, and it claims to be correct shade of red for 272, 292, and 312 engines. I didn't look at the price though.

Thanks for your response. I will check it out.

Uuuummmm, you should do a search on the y-block forum. The 'correct' color might be black. Or yellow.

I am pretty sure it is a orange/red color as the original colors are visible on my engine and I have pictures of other 1958 fords that had the orange/red color.

I just did not know where to find some.

I will still do a search though. Thanks for the suggestion.

How do you know those are the original colors on your engine?
Are you sure that's even the original engine that came in your truck?
I've seen several unrestored 57-58 F100's .
Engines were yellow with silver valve covers and everything else black, unless yours is an oddball? Could be!

The truck has been in my family since it was purchased. My grandfather bought it new, died shortly after, my father purchased it from him and later put some blue on the engine. This was the only engine ever in the truck and the only paint ever put on it. So when I see the red/orange paint underneath the blue I beleive it was the original.

Thats my line of reasoning.

Did you go past the orange/red paint?
I'm not saying you're wrong, is it a 272 or 292 engine?
Early 58's came with 272's and then midyear switch to 292.

Engine color is an argument that has been going on for a while. Ford used several colors on their engines through the years, and it is difficult to say what the exact color for a specific engine in a specific truck is supposed to be. The 239 in my dads 55 is red, it's the original motor, and color to that truck, but others have found their original engine color to be yellow, or even the green like on the earlier flatheads. Most of the motors before the 60's are a color, and not black, some industrial applications may be black. If he says his original color is the orange red common to a lot of Y-blocks, then it is very likely that it is the original color.

So true!
The only red y block I ever saw that I know for sure was factory red I found sitting in a 57 ranch wagon and it was a 312.
It's sitting in my 58 rolling chassis now.
I kept it the original red.
The engine I'm building now for the 60 originally came out of a 58 F100.
It's a 272 was painted blue by the previous owner & after tanked at the machine shop took off most of the blue and had original yellow underneath.
I guess it's whatever they had on the assembly line that particular day seems to be the rule of thumb.

Yellow was the most common color on the 272 truck motors. There is also the fact that a car motor of the same vintage may be a different color than a truck motor. A 239 car engine is not the same as a 239 truck motor (they are, but there are differences). So, for whatever reason, you have to consider 1: is it actually a truck motor 2: what is the correct year and size of the motor. It is very difficult to just look at a small truck Y-block, and say what it is. You can put a 312 and a 292 side by side, and can't see a difference. You can put a 239, and a 256 side by side, and they look identical. You also have to think about was the 256 out of a F-500 or an F-600, or maybe an F-700. (these are for the 54/5 trucks) Different carbs for different sizes, different colors can be found on either. The only almost constant, is the valve covers, and accessories. Most V/C's were the argent (until later years), and the accessories were black (until later years). If you look under the hood of most 56/57 F-100 Y-8 trucks, you will find a 272 LD 2bbl carbed truck. It should be yellow, with argent V/C's and black accessories (this was most common). It's impossible to say for sure. after about '56. Pretty well known for the 56 and earlier motors, and I think 57 is pretty close to the same constant as 56.

Also remember, the y-block was transplated between so many vehicles through the last decades, that the oe application is misunderstood. Early 58 may have a 272, late 58 will likely be a 292, no 272's in 59. 57;s were 272, not 292's, the 312 was never used in a truck (originally). The 239 Y was a truck motor in 54 and 55 only, nothing earlier or newer, same as the 256. The 279 and 317 were 52-55 Big Job only. The 292 came out in 56, I believe, but it was a car motor only. The 56 used a 272 upto the F-700 then it was a 302 and 332. The 292 was the most common y-block motor, as it saw the longest production run. So, check the y-block site, and verify your casting numbers before assuming that the old farmer down the street sold you a 312, that is actually a 272 or 292. Knowing for sure, will help with your color search. Also, it is helpful to consult an actual Ford parts catalog printing, rather than aftermarket information. I have found many errors in non Ford literature. The aftermarket has a tendincy to let rumors and unproven info to be passed as fact.

J Engine Code 223ci 6 Cyl 1BC
 

It is a 233 built in the Kansas City Assemby Plant. Maybe that is the difference. I went out and looked it over. It is definitely an orange color. Beyond the orange is metal. The blue my Dad put on it has peeled back and it is very visible on the oil pan and the bottom of the block.

I wish I could post a picture. I don't think I have enough posts yet.

I think I will order the paint from Concoursparts.com and see how it looks.

Thanks for all the input.

Jeepers, I was thinking y-block. Yes, a 223 could be Ford Red. I buy cans of Ford Red at WalMart and the local Schucks/Checker/Kragen stores. I think the brand it DupliColor.

I should have given the engine size. I had no idea there was such a variation in colors. Learned a lot.