1968 Engine painting - Items to be Ford Corporate Blue

[admin]

I'm getting ready to paint my 289-2v after getting it back from the machine shop. I just want to confirm that everything currently installed in these photos is supposed to be painted Ford Corporate Blue.

I know the valve cover bolts should be cadmium plated, so I'll remove those before painting.

And I have the thermostat housing and air cleaner set aside to also be painted blue.

Anything I'm missing or shouldn't be painted blue in these photos? I'm not doing a concours restoration by any means, but as long as I'm painting it, I might as well get it as accurate as I can.

Thanks... and Happy New Year everyone!!!

 

[Mosesatm]

I thought the engine was painted with the valve covers installed. Aren’t they blue?

 

[admin]

I thought the engine was painted with the valve covers installed. Aren’t they blue?

The valve cover bolts? I could be wrong, but I thought I saw a post by @J_Speegle about those bolts not being installed when painting, so not blue. I'll check my notes and see if I can find the source.

I don't see anything in the MCA rules about them one way or the other, but I think I have an abbreviated PDF of the rules.

The only personal photos I've taken of cars I truly trust to be concours correct (Bob Teets & Mike Jewell) are big block cars with chrome valve covers, so obviously those bolts aren't blue.

This site lists the valve cover bolts as cadmium plated, but it's also specific to Shelbys. https://www.nvsaac.com/Details/shelby_detail_main.htm

 

[Mosesatm]

Here's a photo of one of Marty's cars.

 

[Ruppstang]

It looks like you still need to have the T-stat housing and bypass hose and clamps on before painting Also carb spacer.

 

[admin]

Thanks Marty. I knew about the t-stat housing and will paint it separately. I left it off the engine so I can spray more easily behind it.

But are you saying the short bypass hose and clamps also get painted blue?

And thanks for confirming the carb spacer is blue. I couldn't find anything saying one way or the other.

 

[Ruppstang]

The T stat housing and Bypass hose with claps are assembled on the engine and then painted. The exhaust manifolds were also installed prepainting but I would paint the engine then put a light spray of blue across the top of them then install them. Do not use exhaust gaskets, Ford did not use them.

 

[Russ]

Herre is another engine in my lime gold GT/CS. I hope this helps, Russ Furstnow

 

[Ruppstang]

Hi Russ, it has been a while.
Do you have a 68 non-GT J code? I am looking for the drive shaft stripe colors on one.

Marty

 

[Russ]

Hi Marty, Yes, I haven't been too involved with the MCA for a while. My GT/CS is a non-GT J code car. The strips are white, pink, and green (white being toward the front of the car) with a crayon X behind the green stripe. The stripes are generally in the middle of the driveshaft. I hope these photos help. Let me know if you need anything else. You have judged this car, and it has won numerous Concourse Gold Trailered awards. I hope to see you in the future. Russ

 

[Mosesatm]

What is the correct color for a fan clutch?

 

[Ruppstang]

The fan clutch is natural fins. front face is zinc dichromate and hub is phosphate and oil.

 

[admin]

Like this? https://www.deadnutson.com/radiator-fan-clutch-c7zx-a-1968-shelby-gt350/

 

[Mosesatm]

Great!! I wasn’t excited about trying to sand, prime, and paint it.

 

[Mosesatm]

Removed the oil pressure sensor to scrub down the engine. Now what do I do?

 

[Ruppstang]

Go buy an easy out and be very careful not to break it off.

 

[Mosesatm]

The extension is aluminum and the Ezy-out just tears at it. I'd drill it out but that may spread shavings through the engine. Is there any way to get behind the extension by pulling the pan?

 

[Mosesatm]

For those running a Vintage Air system, where did you place the expansion valve?

 

[Ruppstang]

The extension is aluminum and the Ezy-out just tears at it. I'd drill it out but that may spread shavings through the engine. Is there any way to get behind the extension by pulling the pan?

I would drill it out then tap it out. Then vacuum what you can get, then turn the oil pump with a drill to flush out any metal. No, you cannot get to anything from the inside of the pan. The aluminum shavings should not hurt anything, but I would try to get all you can out.

 

[Mosesatm]

Thanks, Marty. I'll give it a shot.
By the way, what color is the distributor hold-down?