Topic: Two colors coated 390 Engine

[ChrisMATH]

Hi

First I wanna thanks all contributors for the knowledge they share about Mustang's history. I've learned so many interesting history facts and details !
Second I apololgize about my spelling and grammar 

 Currently restoring my Mach 1 I want to repaint engine, but I wonder about the two colors I've found. First layer is a clear blue,hard coating, and there was a second layer dark blue, 69 corporate looking, that I can remove more easily.

Any info on a twice painting engine ? Should I follow same process when repainting ?
My bloc is a service one (casted september 69) with only one corporate blue hard coat, intake manifold, heads, timing cover aso are all casting and date correct (9D/9C).

Thanks,
Chris

[carlite65]

welcome. hope you find all the answers you need. your block appears to have been repainted by a previous owner. the dark corporate blue would be correct. i would strip it all off and refinish in that color.

[J_Speegle]

First welcome to the site. Hope you find it and the information contained within helpful and useful in your concours related endeavors

As for your engine it was most likely touched up or repainted at some time in the past by a previous owner or shop when a repair or replacement took place. No reason to have to paint an engine over again on the line and if so the color would have matched better than you describe since it would be basically the same color used the second time.  For your purposes here just plan on stripping it down to metal and paint it as a unit with the right parts installed and others not installed as of yet. You will find that process described in other threads found on this site.

Again welcome

[ChrisMATH]

Thanks for your welcomes and answers

You confirm what I suspected, that engine was repainted due to some paint on some wires, but as the original paint seems  to be clear I wish to respect the out of factory color

Is there any information of a Dearborn car with a clear blue painted engine in 69 ?

On this pics you can see the two colors, and 69 four dots date on the timing cover

Chris

[Bob Gaines]

Light Ford blue was a 6cyl color from past years not used on V8's. That may be what you are calling clear blue. The very light color blue is not what was painted on your 69 . It is still a very common mistake to paint engines the lighter color.  Ford Corporate Blue is the typical way the correct color is described. It did varied over of thousands/millions of engines from one batch to another. Basically the darker Ford blue was the correct color for all V8's starting in 1966 from corporate memos and advertising in Ford publications.

[J_Speegle]

Is there any information of a Dearborn car with a clear blue painted engine in 69 ?

Not sure what your referring to as "clear blue" but all the engines as far as paint and allot of other details were all the same since they all came from the same engine assembly plant then out to the three (really many more) car assembly plants

There are a number of unrestored 69 FE examples in the Unrestored Picture thread section of the site that should provide examples of original, yet old and worn, examples

On this pics you can see the two colors, and 69 four dots date on the timing cover

Yes that would be the month and year in which the part was made. Know your new to the site which "unlocks" a number of sections you could not see or have access to before. Might want to check out dating of parts details in an article you will find in the Library.

[ChrisMATH]

Yes ! I misused the term "light blue" !

I had read the various topics about corporate blue, but wasn't advise the range of variation the corporate blue can have. thank you !

[J_Speegle]

Believe you will find that originally the variations of tint or tone of Corporate Blue was slight if your comparing engines built at the same engine plant since the supplier was in general consistent. Where I think there might have been more is when you compare (for example) engines built at Windsor and Lima for example.

Also consider that they would not want any great amount of variation since then there would be a noticeable  difference between things added later (air cleaner for example) and the engine. Just a consideration

[ChrisMATH]

Thank you Jeff !

reading here and there on the forum I found Svenk post here :
https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=21954.15
His engine seems to have the same two variations of blue than mine, and have been "touched" too, think I should go on the clearest one. Any advise from specialist are welcome !

Looking smarter my engine should have been repaint late enough after block change, I found a spark plug with paint, NGK, so not factory ones iirc.



 

[J_Speegle]

Have plenty of examples were engines were fully or partially repainted so finding those examples is easy but not original

Suggest you read the threads where the Ditzler/PPG paint is discussed and suggested. Its the best option for the closest match (likely original supplier) and a paint that will hold up to heat, chemicals and age

Quality does not always come cheaply or easily

Just some of the threads that discusses the PPG and other products

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=24079.msg149982#msg149982

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=16138.msg101165#msg101165

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=20032.msg142754#msg142754