Topic: HiPo Engine Markings

[evantugby]

Gents,
Engine/transmission media blasted, disassembled, cleaned, replaced seals gaskets, resurfaced the heads, torque specific bolts, resealed engine, painted it.

Now that I'm at this point I wanted to find out what markings this engine would have had. 

The only markings I am aware of is the "OK" on the backside of the engine behind the bellhousing and the number "3 or 4" on freeze plug on dirvers side head in white grease pencil.

Thanks for your input! 

[carlite65]

did you read that blog i pm'd you?? if shows those details.

I have not yet. But I thought you mentioned it was for a different year kar. I'll go check it out right now. 

[MustangAndFairlane1867]

Evan:  My '65 K car has the car's VIN # stamped on the engine block on a boss that's below the #1 cylinder, and the same stamp on the front, bottom-side, of the car's top loader 4-speed trans.  Ron

[CharlesTurner]

On those valve covers, a sanding block with 80 grit will leave a nice machined surface.  Keep the block moving lengthwise so the 'lines' are consistent.  The spark plug clip bracket was originally zinc plated, you can simulate that with some chrome/silver paint.

There's parts missing off the motor that should have painted the same time as the engine assembly.

Most of the detailing in an engine is proper finishes, I have only ever seen a couple markings.  Most of the hi-po markings are covered by engine paint or concealed after assembly.

[evantugby]

Evan:  My '65 K car has the car's VIN # stamped on the engine block on a boss that's below the #1 cylinder, and the same stamp on the front, bottom-side, of the car's top loader 4-speed trans.  Ron

I have vin stamps on block and transmission as well.  I was more referring to the paint daubs and markings that would have been found on the engine. 

[evantugby]

On those valve covers, a sanding block with 80 grit will leave a nice machined surface.  Keep the block moving lengthwise so the 'lines' are consistent.  The spark plug clip bracket was originally zinc plated, you can simulate that with some chrome/silver paint.

There's parts missing off the motor that should have painted the same time as the engine assembly.

Most of the detailing in an engine is proper finishes, I have only ever seen a couple markings.  Most of the hi-po markings are covered by engine paint or concealed after assembly.

Spent the last 30+ minutes scanning over your 2 year blog.  You did an amazing job.  I got very wide-eyed when I saw how you separated out all the bolts/nuts/washers/screws.  Wow!  Your attention to detail is phenomenal.  Well done on that 65 convertible Kar you did.  I will use your blog as I move along!  Thank you for pushing that my way. 

Copy on the spark plug bracket.  And, which parts specifically am I missing from the engine that should have been on there when I painted it?

Evan

[CharlesTurner]

On the K convertible blog are several pictures of the engine assembly before and after paint, which show which components were attached.

[Bob Gaines]

On those valve covers, a sanding block with 80 grit will leave a nice machined surface.  Keep the block moving lengthwise so the 'lines' are consistent.  The spark plug clip bracket was originally zinc plated, you can simulate that with some chrome/silver paint.

There's parts missing off the motor that should have painted the same time as the engine assembly.

Most of the detailing in an engine is proper finishes, I have only ever seen a couple markings.  Most of the hi-po markings are covered by engine paint or concealed after assembly.

To add on the fins I start off with the 85 grit but finish with 150 grit which duplicates the brush on the valve covers from the factory. The oil filler/breather neck was zinc plated also. FYI the valve covers were black wrinkle paint from the factory. I don't know if this has been covered with you but Ford didn't use exhaust gaskets . It was metal to metal. I have the manifolds surfaced flat and then smear a thin amount of high temp silicone around the exhaust port before bolting on. Others use graphite I've heard.  Regardless the exhaust gaskets on a hipo (or any Mustang V8) look a little weird to most hipo enthusiasts.

[J_Speegle]

The only markings I am aware of is the "OK" on the backside of the engine behind the bellhousing ..............

Are you reporting that you found this mark or that you read about it on the internet somewhere?

[evantugby]

Are you reporting that you found this mark or that you read about it on the internet somewhere?

I've read about it reported on many HiPo engines.  Some even with an orange splash of paint next to it. 
 

[J_Speegle]

I've read about it reported on many HiPo engines.  Some even with an orange splash of paint next to it. 
 

That's one of the issues with the internet lots of stories and reports of "mine had this or that"  I've found over the years. Even at shows I've asked many times about markings and many will report that that is the way they found it while a few will tell me in a soft voice that they made it up or saw it in a picture some where and it looked neat so they put it on their car. Only to find out they have no idea of when or where the make came from.

For the others with their claims that it was original to the car and they had pictures I've never had one single person send me a photo afterwards.  Even had one that claimed that the mark was original to the car and reproduced until I mentioned I thought that was odd since that worker didn't work at the plant the car was built at.


To the idea that OK was on the rear of the block originally many may just be confused or have a poor memory and we're seeing "paint mark migration" since it is often found on the bell housing of a manual transmission.  I've only seen and have pictures of the HP and large orange daub in 40 years of looking

I would not recommend anyone add these unless they could show that their car was built that way.

Here is one of the neater and more legible examples from a 65 someone else shared long ago

[sgl66]

To the idea that OK was on the rear of the block originally many may just be confused

This should clear up the internet confusion/myth http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=8517.0

A few years ago I was looking at my bellhousing and saw a big K on it. For a second I thought it was "K" as in Hipo then remembered these pictures from the Cleveland plant and realized it was nothing special

[evantugby]

another example of an unrestored HiPo engine with HP and orange splash. 

http://blog.virginiaclassicmustang.com/2014/02/just-details1966-shelby-mustang-gt350.html

[CharlesTurner]

another example of an unrestored HiPo engine with HP and orange splash. 

http://blog.virginiaclassicmustang.com/2014/02/just-details1966-shelby-mustang-gt350.html

The point Jeff was trying to make is that while there are examples, it is not known that every engine had it.  It might have been a quality control issue for a short while or started to be used after a certain date.  If you're not sure your engine had the marking, then just leave it off. 

I understood his point.  I'm just trying to throw examples up here when I run across them.  Rich at the Mustang Ranch in Golden Colorado (or what was the Mustang Ranch) has ran across these markings as well.  I'm sure there aren't to many unrestored HiPo engines left to ever figure this one out though. 

[sgl66]

Is “OK” or “HP” in question?

HP and orange paint would make sense on the block to tell whoever down the line that is putting on heads, carb, exhaust manifolds etc that a K crank, caps, rods and cam are installed.