Engine Paint

[Maine Pilot]

The engine for my '66 Caliente has just returned from a local engine rebuild shop. Thought I had a 289, but the shop showed me the serial numbers which indicates it's a 302. Rather than trying to find a replacement 289, I decided to keep the 302 since 1) I just put a bunch of money to bring it up to snuff; 2) the shop gave me a warranty on their work; and 3) until it started burning more oil than gas, I was satisfied with it; (why bother with something untried when you've got a proven product?)

Anyway, I'd like to paint the engine. It appears it had been painted blue and I thought that's how it came from the factory--but then again, it's not the original engine. Did 289's,( or 302's for that matter), come from the factory in a blue paint?

Any recommendations as to what kind of paint I should use? The rebuild shop stripped all the remaining old paint off, so do I need to use a primer of any sort?

Also, I thought I'd paint the exhaust manifolds too. Can I use the same engine paint or do I need to use a special high-heat type? Any color choices, assuming I go with the blue engine?

Since the carb will be essentially covered by the stock air filter, that shouldn't need any paint--right?

The rest of the engine compartment is pretty clean. It appears it had been re-painted black at some point; (maybe when the engine was replaced?) I'm thinking it wouldn't hurt to paint the engine compartment/firewall again in black. Is there anything that should or should not be painted; e.g., accessories, brake cylinders, etc?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I realize this car will never be shown in a "stock" category as it has chrome Cragar wheels, a modified exhaust, and now a non-standard engine; it will not be raced, but probably something closer to a daily driver; but I'd like to have something to show it's special.

[Groover]

1966 was the first year of all ford, all blue. Any engine. Exhaust manifolds would also have been blue. High heat paint for those. Carb is neutral.

[comethead]

If the manifolds got blue paint it would have burned off in the first few minutes of operation anyhow.
I don't paint manifolds anymore. Most the stuff out there just burns off after a while.
Sand blast them and install them. When they get ugly sandblast them again.
Like Groover said a specialty high heat Ford blue engine paint will do the trick. I believe it was called Ford Corporate Blue.
Good luck!

Joe

[65clevorcyclone]

Eastwood has a brush on or spray on cast iron grey manifold paint that looks like fresh cast iron. Stands up to high temps. Did a set of hi po manifolds with them.