Topic: Paint Color ? 428 CJ Manual Trans Bellhousing

[Brian Conway]

The trans bell housing and engine were what color for a September 19, 1968 Metuchen 428 Mach 1 ?  Thanks  Brian

[Bob Gaines]

The trans bell housing and engine were what color for a September 19, 1968 Metuchen 428 Mach 1 ?  Thanks  Brian

FYI regardless of assembly plant the FE engines were painted at the Dearborn engine plant. With that said the bare cast iron bellhousing was bolted to the engine block before painting of the engine block. There is typically about a inch of heavy paint fading out to nothing after about 5 or 6 inches . It varied .There could be a little more or a little less depending on the person that was holding the gun. I have not observed any paint on the clutch inspection cover which seems to indicate it was added after.

[Brian Conway]

OK so Ford Blue on the block.  Bell housing Ford Blue along the mounting perimeter.  Inspection cover natural.  The transmission ?

[Bob Gaines]

OK so Ford Blue on the block.  Bell housing Ford Blue along the mounting perimeter.  Inspection cover natural.  The transmission ?

Brian, the transmission wasn't painted . It would be bare natural metal finishes.

[J_Speegle]

Changed the title so it reflected the engine and transmission the OP was discussing

[Brian Conway]

Great.  Thanks for sharing.  Brian

[Raven R Code]

Hey Brian,
My 4 spd is bare cast with some yellow numbers stamped on the casing. The numbers in yellow appear to be a fancy script font style.  11k on the car and rustfree.

[J_Speegle]

Hey Brian,
My 4 spd is bare cast with some yellow numbers stamped on the casing. The numbers in yellow appear to be a fancy script font style.  11k on the car and rustfree.

Would help if we knew where and when your car was built.

Have never found stamped numbers on a bellhousing - would be interesting in hearing the details and a picture

[Bob Gaines]

Would help if we knew where and when your car was built.

Have never found stamped numbers on a bellhousing - would be interesting in hearing the details and a picture

Jeff, I believe he is referring to the 4 sp transmission case. I have never seen stamped numbers on bellhousing ether.

[J_Speegle]

Jeff, I believe he is referring to the 4 sp transmission case. I have never seen stamped numbers on bellhousing ether.

Thought cross my mind but got to taken them as their written     Sure he will clarify - didn't want to assume but would not surprise me for someone to decode the transmission stamp as numbers rather than letters

[Raven R Code]

Thought cross my mind but got to taken them as their written     Sure he will clarify - didn't want to assume but would not surprise me for someone to decode the transmission stamp as numbers rather than letters

The yellows markings are on there tranny case, not the bell housing.

Will get pictures.

[J_Speegle]

The yellows markings are on there tranny case, not the bell housing.

Will get pictures.

Understood.  Would expect the identifier stamp, assembler stamp a bunch of different color hand written codes a locator for the speedo cable attachment point and others

[69390IPSHAKER]

I just finished the rebuild of my original 390. I would agree with the statements above. I presume most all the details on the BB engine would be similar.

Mine had over spray on the bell housing on both sides pretty heavy and drips running down it.
Also did not have the inspection cover at bottom on it when painted, Mine had blue paint all over the flywheel and part of the pressure plate.

Also the partial Vin is stamped into the trans case at the top. Same number stamped on the LH back cylinder head of engine.  I have not seen one stamped in the bell housing as of yet.

[Bob Gaines]

I just finished the rebuild of my original 390. I would agree with the statements above. I presume most all the details on the BB engine would be similar.

Mine had over spray on the bell housing on both sides pretty heavy and drips running down it.
Also did not have the inspection cover at bottom on it when painted, Mine had blue paint all over the flywheel and part of the pressure plate.

Also the partial Vin is stamped into the trans case at the top. Same number stamped on the LH back cylinder head of engine.  I have not seen one stamped in the bell housing as of yet.

Curious if you have any indication that the exhaust manifolds on your engine were oversprayed painted originally . The reason why I am asking because unlike the small block where we have evidence of the exhaust being on when engine was painted and Ford written instructions to do so,the FE engine seems to be different. The survivor cars (trucks ,passenger cars ) and picture evidence seems to give a strong indication that the FE exhaust manifolds were added later.

[J_Speegle]

Also the partial Vin is stamped into the trans case at the top. Same number stamped on the LH back cylinder head of engine.  I have not seen one stamped in the bell housing as of yet.

Interested in knowing where the car was built and the month. Thanks