How to Paint Your Engine and Choose the Correct Color

Proper vintage-Mustang engine color seems to be a matter of opinion. Butthere is only one right answer for each situation. Too many of us aregetting our engine colors wrong during otherwise outstandingrestorations. Engine color is a lot more important than most know--andwhen it's wrong, it's apparent to those who understand what properengine color is, most importantly show judges, who decide whether or notyou drive home with a trophy.

Seasoned show judges and restorers know the proper shade of Ford Bluefor a given model year. How many of you have seen the '641/2 Mustang's260-2V V-8 in dark Ford Corporate Blue? And how many of you have seen a'69 302 in the light blue common to the earlier 260 V-8? Few things aremore out of character than a '70-'73 351 Cleveland in '641/2 light blue.It just doesn't work because our Ford engines need to be painted theright color for the model year.

We're going to show you the correct engine colors for '65-'73 Mustangs.Plus, we're going to show you how to achieve a perfect paint finish whenit's time to lay down the proper color. When you're finished, you canfeel good about a job well done.

1964 1/2

Confusion abounds from the start with Mustang engine color because thefirst model year--1965--was more involved than the rest. Think of the '65model year as two model years in one--19641/2 and 1965. We call '65Mustangs from the first five months of production '641/2 Mustangs. Thesewere the Mustangs fitted with a generator charging system and a choiceof four engines--170ci six, 260-2V V-8, 289-4V Regular Fuel V-8, and the289 High Performance. Each of these engines had black blocks, cylinderheads, and oil pans. Most of these engines had natural metal colorhardware (nuts, bolts, and screws). Valve covers and air cleaners(except 289 High Performance) were specific colors that helped identifyengines at a glance.

The 101-horse 170ci six had a bright red valve cover and air cleaner.The optional base V-8, the 260-2V with 164 hp, had a Light Ford Blue aircleaner and valve covers. The 210hp 289-4V was a low-compressionsmall-block with a gold air cleaner and valve covers. Like the 170ci sixand the 260ci V-8, the 289-4V had a black block, oil pan, timing cover,water pump, and cylinder heads. The 289 High Performance with 271 hpsported a black block, oil pan, timing cover, water pump, and cylinderheads, with the chrome dress-up kit that included valve covers and anopen-element air cleaner.

One important issue to consider with air-cleaner color is the intakesnorkel. Instead of being blue or gold, the snorkel is gloss black for1965.

1965

Beginning in August 1964, the Mustang's engine lineup changed. Gone wasthe generator charging system; in its place was an improved alternatorsystem. Standard power was the 200ci six with seven main bearings. Likethe previous 170ci six with four main bearings, the 200ci six was fittedwith a red valve cover and air cleaner. And like the 170ci six, the200ci six had a black cylinder head and block castings. Everything belowthe valve cover was black.