69 Water Pump and Paint question

j69302 · Dec 25, 2008

I have a 69 with a 302. Im pulling it out to do a TKO swap and while its out Im going to clean it up and try to repaint the engine.

First question is what color of blue is the engine supposed to be? I am pretty certain I need the Dark Ford blue which I understand is the same as "Ford Corporate Blue"?

My other questions are about the water pump and timing cover.

My timing cover is aluminum. My water pump which is a autozone replacement if cast iron. I ordered a ARP waterpump/timing cover bolt kit and they list 2 kits, one with aluminum cover and pump, the other for cast iron cover and pump.

I ordered the kit for the aluminum cover since to the best of my knowledge its the original cover and I was just wondering what the differences are between the iron and aluminum pumps and covers.

Is it correct to leave the aluminum covers and pumps un painted and only paint the iron ones or were they all painted?

My last question is for head bolts. I was thinking about taking the heads off and I ordered some headbolts from ARP. It looks like I might have ordered the wrong ones, so I was wondering if it would be OK to reuse the ones I have now, which are the Edelbrock/ARP head bolt kit that I got when I put edelbrock heads on a couple years ago.

bnickel · Dec 27, 2008

dark ford blue and corporate ford blue are not the same color, they are both dark blue but i believe the corporate blue is slightly darker. the pump and the timing cover should be painted the same color as the engine.

ford used an iron timing cover with an aluminum pump on early 65-66 cars but later changed to the aluminum cover and iron pump which is what your 69 would have, so you need the bolt kit for that combo.

you can re-use the head bolts you have already there is really no need to change them unless the heads have been off multiple times and the bolts re-used every time. in general you should be able to re-use the stock head bolts 3 or 4 times before they need replacing and the ARP's that came with your e'brock head kit should be able to be re-used almost infinitely

D.Hearne · Dec 27, 2008

The early Aluminum pump also had an aluminum timing cover, but it was a different design than the 69 cover. Dark Ford Blue and Corporate blue sometimes are the same, sometimes different with the paint that's out there now. Doesn't really matter, use the color that you like best. Buy a can of each and use the one you like. I favor "Duplicolor" brand Ford dark blue. (Part # DE1606) This is the correct Ford blue paint for the late 60's to mid 70's engines.

j69302 · Dec 27, 2008

Thanks for the info.

Almost got it pulled today but did too much running around trying to find hardware to hook up my hoist to the engine...but I got that all sorted out.. should be able to get it out tomorrow.

I plan on pulling the timing cover and heads off.. but before I strip the block down I was thinking about getting some of the engine gunk remover and just spray it on the block and then carefully hose it off...

Is this a good idea as long as I am careful about not getting it down the intake or inside any of the ports?

D.Hearne · Dec 27, 2008

If you're taking the engine apart, don't worry about getting water in anything. If you're not, then plug the holes with old rags. Also hope those longer waterpump bolts aren't rusted in their threads. They will break real easy if they are. The longest are about 6" long.

Skymarshal · Dec 29, 2008

The power steering pump is actually a shade of blue that is a bit different than either Corporate or Dark Blue, and is found nowhere else on the car. Some restoration shops actually sell "Ford Power Steering Pump Blue" in a can, but I found a nearly identical match in the local parts store. It's a GM truck color (gasp!) and one small can will be more than enough to do the pump.

Look at detailed pictures of a restoration that is done all the way and you'll see the different blue. It's more of a metallic teal blue than the engine.

69 Water Pump and Paint question

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