1985 engine color

[02Z06]

What is the correct color for block/heads/oil pan on an '85 HO motor? Thanks in advance.

[darko]

gray

[negusm]

+1

natural gray

[02Z06]

Would duplicolor "new ford gray" be good stuff?

[darko]

thats fine

[PetesPonies]

the oil pam is gray, the cast iron parts are natural.

[white351merc]

so............ which one is correct? block bare-painted pan? or all paint?

[negusm]

so............ which one is correct? block bare-painted pan? or all paint?

bare block, painted pan

The blocks on the 5.0s were left bare because they helped in cooling. I am not sure when this started but am pretty sure at least by 85. My car's block was originally bare (it is now painted cause I don't like rust).

[slow84lx]

I think that '84 was the first year for the natural look.

[86GT2r]

My 82 GT didn't have the block painted.

[Streetmonkey]

On my 78 FAIRMONT Wagon that I had in high school, I bought cast finish paint. It looks just like fresh cast iron. And the color is called cast finish. The cast paint held up great and looked like it had no paint at all.

[machm1969]

Be careful, if you get the duplicolor paint that says it has ceramic in it is crap! I painted my 428CJ with it, first coat went on fine, second coat completely wrinkled. I figured I had a bad can, stripped it down, same thing. Turns out you can't put a second coat on until the engine has been running and heated up! I don't know about you guys, but if I'm going to go to all the trouble to rebuild an engine, I want all the paint work done BEFORE it's running! I always use VHT IMO it's the best stuff in a can.

Matt

[stormy69]

my 83, 84, 86, 89, 90, and 92 blocks all hhave paint on them. the 92 is a 62k mile original car. they werent painted well, but they were painted. mine are also all from dry areas of the country so the paint was able to last vs you rustbelt guys.

[stormy69]

oh, and the duplicolor new ford gray was a very close match.

[samickguy15]

That's funny, because I've always had good luck with it. You have to shoot the coats per the instructions with either the ten minute wait between or several days I think is what it calls for for long term wait. The ceramic stuff lays better IMO than the regular stuff. Could be just me though...

Be careful, if you get the duplicolor paint that says it has ceramic in it is crap! I painted my 428CJ with it, first coat went on fine, second coat completely wrinkled. I figured I had a bad can, stripped it down, same thing. Turns out you can't put a second coat on until the engine has been running and heated up! I don't know about you guys, but if I'm going to go to all the trouble to rebuild an engine, I want all the paint work done BEFORE it's running! I always use VHT IMO it's the best stuff in a can.

Matt

[Anlushac11]

Be careful, if you get the duplicolor paint that says it has ceramic in it is crap! I painted my 428CJ with it, first coat went on fine, second coat completely wrinkled. I figured I had a bad can, stripped it down, same thing. Turns out you can't put a second coat on until the engine has been running and heated up! I don't know about you guys, but if I'm going to go to all the trouble to rebuild an engine, I want all the paint work done BEFORE it's running! I always use VHT IMO it's the best stuff in a can.

Matt

When we painted the factory shorty's for my 85 LX we threw them in the oven for about an hour. His wife wasnt happy to come home and find headers in the oven.

[86GT2go]

^^^That's why you have a second oven in the garage!^^^