Topic: Looking for "Correct" 1966 289 Engine color Using Spray cans?

[1966GTFB]

Ok, I have read so many posts regarding this but I want to make sure once and for all I have the correct color before I do the work. I only have access to Duplicolor product so I need to know what one do I use. Is it DE1621 Old Ford Blue, DE1601 Ford Blue or DE1606 Ford Dark Blue? The notes below are from Mustang Monthly and now I am really confused. 

Thanks for your help......

For many years prior to 1966, Ford engines were color-keyed to specific applications and carlines. For 1966, this practice changed, when all Ford engines were painted Ford Corporate Blue. Instead of color-keyed valve covers and air cleaners, the entire engine would be Ford Blue, like the Ford Blue Oval and the Ford Blue offset dealer signs popping up in 1966. Ford's message for 1966 and beyond was simple-if it is blue, it is power by Ford.

As in 1964-'65, Ford continued to paint the valve covers separate from the engines. Engine long-blocks, which included block, intake manifold, heads, and oil pan, were all painted Ford Blue, a darker blue that covered all hardware except the valve-cover bolts. Valve covers were installed toward the end of engine assembly using natural metal bolts with integral lock washers. We've learned through observation and conversation with restorers that Duplicolor's Dark Ford Blue (1606) is an accepted color for '66 and later Ford engine restorations. An alternative, when Duplicolor isn't available, is Krylon's Dark Ford Blue, which is also the correct shade of dark blue. Plastikote is another paint brand, Royal Blue (1134) an acceptable color for '66 and later

And again from another source......

There are 3 different blues that have been used ...

   Light blue - a.k.a. Old Ford Blue
1963 (some applications) - 1965
Duplicolor DE 1601 (Ford Blue) 
   Corporate Ford Blue
1966-1968
Orig Ford PN: EP-2075-C
Duplicolor DE 1621 (Old Ford Blue)
PPG DAR 13358 
   Ford Blue
1969-1981
Duplicolor DE 1606 (Ford Dark Blue)
TRW #630224
Eastwood's "Dark Ford Blue." 


Thanks, Jeff

[svo2scj]

GREAT FIRST POST !!  Welcome and thank you.   I hope you find this forum to be respectful of our hobby, interest in cars and each other AND "very sharing" (just as you did here) - I HAVE !

My guess is this isn't your first rodeo AND know many here as friends.

Mark
P.S.  We have all battled with this issue - I'm hoping that all the wrong shades I have can be used "by buying other Fords" ! haha

[1966GTFB]

Thanks Mark. I guess the story is do you go with Duplicolor 1621 or 1606 and hope for the best. I would hate to be so far from wrong with one or the other.

Jeff

[jk66gt350]

I used Duplicolor 1606 on my 66 K-code block, several knowledgeable people have seen it and I've never been told it is incorrect, so hopefully it is the right color. 

[J_Speegle]

For rattle can I've always used Plasti-cote on small blocks and Duplicolor for big blocks.  Just what I've found to be the closest in my experience

[1966GTFB]

thanks everyone,I will see how it looks.

Great help and resource once again....

Jeff

[Brant]

We handle the Dupli-Color brand paint.  I did some testing and comparison when first switching to this brand.  First, I think that you will find slight shade variations in original Blue paint on valve covers/air cleaners.

I looked at a lot of them and determined that the Dupli-Color DE 1606 was the closest to the original color and looks really good.  The DE 1621 just seems too purple.

Also, please do not go by the color of the cap on this brand.  It is darker than the actual paint color. 

I have to change the picture, but here is the link:
http://www.virginiaclassicmustang.com/65-73-FORD-CORPORATE-BLUE-ENGINE-PAINT-P3365.aspx

[trucktricksdon]

Just thought I'd share my thoughts and findings on this for future readers. My 66 289 still had a lot of the original paint on it and i have been looking over several posts trying to decide which blue is the same as the original paint on my 66. Unfortunately, there are too many posts that contradict each other and I couldn't really find anything that said one was right or wrong. I have easy access to Duplicolor products in my area and Krylon is a great product, in my opinion. The 3 blues they offer are worlds apart and only one of them could be the correct blue (or at least the closest match) for my 66. First of all I purchased a can of each...

1606 is NOT what is on my car. 1606 is the dark Ford blue used later in the decade and into the early seventies. That was easily ruled out as a match for my 66.

1601 is labeled as Ford blue, but it is way too "blue". Not sure if and when Ford used this color, but is is not an early sixties color, it is not a mid 60's shade, and it is certainly not the darker color used in the late 60's and early seventies.

1621, labeled as "Old Ford Blue," was the perfect match as far as Duplicolor went.

National Parts Depot listed 1606 as the correct blue and when I looked at it, it was obviously way too dark I ruled that it could only be the corporate dark blue used later in the decade. NPD didn't even carry the 1621 and I was not comfortable buying anything else they had listed as correct for fear of getting the wrong color. The correct color, 1621 is labeled as Old Ford Blue and I just assumed before trying it, that it was the lighter blue used early in the 60's and on some of the 260CI valve covers and air cleaners, but that was not the case. It is the perfect match to the medium blue used on my 66.

[J_Speegle]

As often happens we get differing opinions - Have shot and compared 20 different brands to come up with my recommendations when compared to original blues in 66 -71 from the different engine plants. Bottom line is often what the judges will allow with no deductions (think we ding two cars annually in our classes) or some of us have even higher standards

[jameslgleason]

I realize this is an old post, but I'm also on the search for the correct color for my early 1966 Mustang 289 engine. I bought Dupli-Color 1606 and my engine is not that dark blue. I'm having it rebuilt and know for certain that it hasn't been worked on at this level since the factory, so all indicators show a much lighter blue than 1606 (Ford Dark Blue). I'm going to buy a can of 1621, as it looks like the closest to what I have now.
The attached photo shows the cap of 1606 next to three of my engine parts, and the lower right is 1606 painted onto a toploader. It's clearly too dark.

[J_Speegle]

Since you brought the thread back up to the top it gave me an opportunity to add to the title so that it better described the focus. Of course there are at least a half dozen threads that suggest not using the pray/rattle cans but instead produces that reproduce the original color better as well as hold up longer to age, wear and exposure.

One of the issues with dated threads (this one is almost ten years old) and post is that companies go out of business, change formulas or product is not longer legal to apply or purchase.

[Coralsnake]

50 plus of weather and heat cycles certainly has an effect of color as well

8 years has to be contender for longest resurrection?

I might also add the cap is not indicative of the color in the can.

[RoyceP]

Like Pete says, the color tends to fade over the decades so that it fools you into thinking it was lighter originally than it really was. Old Ford Blue is correct for 1964 1/2 260 valve covers / air cleaner. 1966 - through something like 1978 is Ford Dark Corporate Blue.

[CharlesTurner]

Color variants also caused by thin/thick application at the engine plant.

[captg]

Hi, for a 99.99999999999999999999999999999% 1966 Mustang V8 Engine Paint Match, you cannot beat National Parts Depot's Product called "Paint, Engine Enamel, Ford Corporate Blue".  Go to www.npdlink.com and do a search for item # AP-EB.  Be careful in choosing the right product as they carry another item that is a slightly different color and that item has a part number that is AP-EBx where the x is another letter.  Be sure you look at the can that only has 2 letters after the "AP-".

Good luck with your project!

Ron G
captg@cox.net
Las Vegas, NV