The Ford Barn

meric42 · 08-08-2012, 07:58 PM

Can someone tell me what the correct engine block colour should be for the 292 in my '61 Mercury Meteor 800 2D/HT?

Thanks,

Meric.

blucar · 08-11-2012, 09:56 AM

As a general rule the 292's were painted red with black valve covers.. The earlier 272's were generally yellow with black valve covers. The red/black is also typical on the Thunderbird Special engines which can be 292's and/or 312's...
To my knowledge Ford never painted the Y blocks green or blue, however, re-builders generally used Ford blue on rebuilt engines.
In years gone bye I've had several '58-64 Fords, with Y block engines, some of which were bought new...

meric42 · 08-12-2012, 09:33 PM

Thanks Bill for the above info, but my Mercury (55k original miles) has Cream coloured valve covers and air cleaner and this seems to be factory as per the attached photo. I think I will just go with black unless someone can correct me

raceron1120 · 08-13-2012, 07:18 PM

I bought a 292 out of a '55 Mercury with 17K miles on it - the car had been wrecked, the driver killed many years ago and his widow put the car in a barn until when she passed away about 7 years ago. So I believe the engine color is/was stock when I got it. Here are 'before' and 'after' pics, the after being about as close I we figured it would have been when new in '55:

Here it is in my '56 Fairlane:

paul2748 · 08-13-2012, 09:46 PM

Intakes were usually the same color as the block.

Some Merc's had green engines. Not sure what years.

Call Bill Hirsch in NJ and ask them if they can help you. They sell engine paint and other supplies.

raceron1120 · 08-14-2012, 07:31 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The intake on mine is a 57 (ECZ-B). I tried to keep the colors all period correct. I think the original one was same color as the engine but it's for an earlier "top-hat" style carb (ECZ-A) and I wanted to use the 4100 carb (big base).

blucar · 08-14-2012, 10:12 AM

The pix of the '55 Merc Y block kind of shook my memory.. A friend of mine bought a brand new '55 Merc Y engine to put in his '40 Ford coupe.. The engine did have cream colored valve covers, can't remember the block color..
As a general rule Ford never used multiple colors on their engines.... The valve covers on the Y blocks being the general exception. Engine accessories, starter, generator, mounting brackets, etc., are usually semi gloss black..
I think I might have been wrong about the color combination on some of the 292's, namely the engines used in the '59/64 trucks. All of the F-100's/F-350, '59 through '64 that I have had, all had black blocks with red valve covers.
Still the same color combo just reversed, probably because of the slight difference between a car and a truck engine...

raceron1120 · 08-14-2012, 11:33 AM

When I was researching for engine colors I found several different paint schemes, and some unconfirmed stories that sort-of explained why the differences. Apparently the Yblocks were built in at least 3 different locations - Winsdor Ontario, Dearborn MI, and Cleveland Ohio foundries (maybe more?), and the plants supposedly painted them differently.

But I'm not so sure about that. Maybe someone else knows.

I found Merc engines that were touted to be "original factory colors" - some were - IMO - pukey green, bright yellow, cream, goldish/green (like mine was), black, and blue and with red, white or yellow MERCURY script on the rockers.

I have 3 Y's in my barn, I think they all came out of Fords vice Mercs. One is a 272, red with black rocker covers, another 292 is all black, and the 3rd 272 has a gunky/rusty hue to it . The toasted ECZ-cast #d 312 that was in my '56 was red.

48 fordor · 03-23-2016, 09:54 AM

Need help. I just bought a 55 Fairlane with a blue engine. I know it is not the original but any clues on why it is blue?

dmsfrr · 03-23-2016, 12:12 PM

The smart a _ _ answer
'Because the person who painted it didn't know any better.'
Or... maybe they thought blue went better with the color of the car?

In a '55 Ford it should be 'Ford red/orange'.
This one isn't 'correct' either but it's close, the photo looks a bit redder than it actually is.
.

48 fordor · 03-23-2016, 02:48 PM

it a not S A answer at all. I receive the car this weekend and then I can find out if it is a 272 or 292. I already bought VHT® SP152 High Temperature Engine Enamel; Ford Red; and then Black for the valve covers. I tried to attach a picture but?

scicala · 03-23-2016, 02:55 PM

This thread is getting out of control as far as answering Meric42's question. I apologize that I cannot answer the original question either, but wanted to add about the '55 Mercury engine colors. In '55, the Mercury Montclair 292 (198 HP) was all the same color (Yellow). The 188 HP 292 that came in other models was the same, except had cream valve colors. Both engines had red letters on the valve covers.
The engine in Raceron1120's '56 Fairlane has colors from different years and makes. Gold block and heads is '56 Mercury 312, cream valve covers are '55 Mercury 188 HP 292 and red intake is '55 thru '57 Ford and Thunderbird 272, 292 and 312.

Sal

dmsfrr · 03-23-2016, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scicala

This thread is getting out of control as far as answering Meric42's question. I apologize that I cannot answer the original question either, but wanted to add about the '55 Mercury engine colors. In '55, the Mercury Montclair 292 (198 HP) was all the same color (Yellow). The 188 HP 292 that came in other models was the same, except had cream valve colors. Both engines had red letters on the valve covers.
The engine in Raceron1120's '56 Fairlane has colors from different years and makes. Gold block and heads is '56 Mercury 312, cream valve covers are '55 Mercury 188 HP 292 and red intake is '55 thru '57 Ford and Thunderbird 272, 292 and 312.

Sal

Meric42's question probably got answered about 4 years ago. This is an old thread from Aug. of 2012.
I suspect 48 fordor did a topic search for '292 (or) 55 engine color' and just added on his question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48 fordor

I receive the car this weekend and then I can find out if it is a 272 or 292.

Here's a link to a chart with the block casting numbers listed by year.
http://www.ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm
.

packrat5 · 03-23-2016, 06:23 PM

There were actually several different color combos on y-block engines. Mercurys and trucks were at times painted different colors than Fords. I don't know all of them, but do the research before you just grab the spray bombs, and paint it red and black. Plus, if your car was a real export model as well, you may have a color (s) that is totally unknown to the majority of us who frequent this site.

Ford Freak · 03-24-2016, 02:28 PM

So , would a '59 292 be red/orange with black or cream air cleaner & valve covers ?

08-08-2012, 07:58 PM	#1
meric42 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Blenheim, New Zealand Posts: 879	292 engine colour Can someone tell me what the correct engine block colour should be for the 292 in my '61 Mercury Meteor 800 2D/HT? Thanks, Meric. __________________ I need an 01A 1453 Brkt Spare wheel hold down for my sedan delivery - PLEASE HELP Gotta love my '42 Sedan Delivery's - Now that I own the only two in New Zealand http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/album.php?albumid=580

08-11-2012, 09:56 AM	#2
blucar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 2,464	Re: 292 engine colour As a general rule the 292's were painted red with black valve covers.. The earlier 272's were generally yellow with black valve covers. The red/black is also typical on the Thunderbird Special engines which can be 292's and/or 312's... To my knowledge Ford never painted the Y blocks green or blue, however, re-builders generally used Ford blue on rebuilt engines. In years gone bye I've had several '58-64 Fords, with Y block engines, some of which were bought new... __________________ Bill.... 36 5 win cpe

08-13-2012, 07:18 PM	#4
raceron1120 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ellsworth Michigan Posts: 1,807	Re: 292 engine colour I bought a 292 out of a '55 Mercury with 17K miles on it - the car had been wrecked, the driver killed many years ago and his widow put the car in a barn until when she passed away about 7 years ago. So I believe the engine color is/was stock when I got it. Here are 'before' and 'after' pics, the after being about as close I we figured it would have been when new in '55: Here it is in my '56 Fairlane:

08-13-2012, 09:46 PM	#5
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: 292 engine colour Intakes were usually the same color as the block. Some Merc's had green engines. Not sure what years. Call Bill Hirsch in NJ and ask them if they can help you. They sell engine paint and other supplies.

08-14-2012, 07:31 AM	#6
raceron1120 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ellsworth Michigan Posts: 1,807	Re: 292 engine colour Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The intake on mine is a 57 (ECZ-B). I tried to keep the colors all period correct. I think the original one was same color as the engine but it's for an earlier "top-hat" style carb (ECZ-A) and I wanted to use the 4100 carb (big base). Last edited by raceron1120; 08-14-2012 at 11:23 AM.

08-14-2012, 10:12 AM	#7
blucar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 2,464	Re: 292 engine colour The pix of the '55 Merc Y block kind of shook my memory.. A friend of mine bought a brand new '55 Merc Y engine to put in his '40 Ford coupe.. The engine did have cream colored valve covers, can't remember the block color.. As a general rule Ford never used multiple colors on their engines.... The valve covers on the Y blocks being the general exception. Engine accessories, starter, generator, mounting brackets, etc., are usually semi gloss black.. I think I might have been wrong about the color combination on some of the 292's, namely the engines used in the '59/64 trucks. All of the F-100's/F-350, '59 through '64 that I have had, all had black blocks with red valve covers. Still the same color combo just reversed, probably because of the slight difference between a car and a truck engine... __________________ Bill.... 36 5 win cpe

08-14-2012, 11:33 AM	#8
raceron1120 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ellsworth Michigan Posts: 1,807	Re: 292 engine colour When I was researching for engine colors I found several different paint schemes, and some unconfirmed stories that sort-of explained why the differences. Apparently the Yblocks were built in at least 3 different locations - Winsdor Ontario, Dearborn MI, and Cleveland Ohio foundries (maybe more?), and the plants supposedly painted them differently. But I'm not so sure about that. Maybe someone else knows. I found Merc engines that were touted to be "original factory colors" - some were - IMO - pukey green, bright yellow, cream, goldish/green (like mine was), black, and blue and with red, white or yellow MERCURY script on the rockers. I have 3 Y's in my barn, I think they all came out of Fords vice Mercs. One is a 272, red with black rocker covers, another 292 is all black, and the 3rd 272 has a gunky/rusty hue to it . The toasted ECZ-cast #d 312 that was in my '56 was red.

03-23-2016, 09:54 AM	#9
48 fordor Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Heber City, UT Posts: 23	Re: 292 engine colour Need help. I just bought a 55 Fairlane with a blue engine. I know it is not the original but any clues on why it is blue?

03-23-2016, 02:48 PM	#11
48 fordor Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Heber City, UT Posts: 23	Re: 292 engine colour it a not S A answer at all. I receive the car this weekend and then I can find out if it is a 272 or 292. I already bought VHT® SP152 High Temperature Engine Enamel; Ford Red; and then Black for the valve covers. I tried to attach a picture but?

03-23-2016, 02:55 PM	#12
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,706	Re: 292 engine colour This thread is getting out of control as far as answering Meric42's question. I apologize that I cannot answer the original question either, but wanted to add about the '55 Mercury engine colors. In '55, the Mercury Montclair 292 (198 HP) was all the same color (Yellow). The 188 HP 292 that came in other models was the same, except had cream valve colors. Both engines had red letters on the valve covers. The engine in Raceron1120's '56 Fairlane has colors from different years and makes. Gold block and heads is '56 Mercury 312, cream valve covers are '55 Mercury 188 HP 292 and red intake is '55 thru '57 Ford and Thunderbird 272, 292 and 312. Sal

03-23-2016, 06:23 PM	#14
packrat5 BANNED Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 301	Re: 292 engine colour There were actually several different color combos on y-block engines. Mercurys and trucks were at times painted different colors than Fords. I don't know all of them, but do the research before you just grab the spray bombs, and paint it red and black. Plus, if your car was a real export model as well, you may have a color (s) that is totally unknown to the majority of us who frequent this site.

03-24-2016, 02:28 PM	#15
Ford Freak Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Pittsford NY. USA Posts: 1,096	Re: 292 engine colour So , would a '59 292 be red/orange with black or cream air cleaner & valve covers ?