Most authentic Ford Blue for a 1973 engine

[kevken1959]

Hi all. I am working on an original "shed find" all original 07,912 mile '73 convertible. My goal is to clean the car up and get it running and driving well. I had to pull the heads and rebuild them because the valves were frozen as the car had not been run in 45 years. The inside of the motor is in great shape. My question is, "what is the most accurate formulation of Ford Blue paint for a 73?" There are dozens of paints out there, but only a few are readily available at Autozone or O'Reillys. I'm leaning toward "Duplicolor Old Ford Blue." I think this car deserves the most attention to original details I can give it. Thanks! Kevin.

 

[Sheriff41]

No help but that's a cool find!

 

[Stanglover]

Dupilcolor is what I chose. I thought the Plasticote Old Ford Blue was a tad too light.
BUY a can of the same batch extra!! Even these paints can vary from batch to batch. Ask me how I know.
I'll get the number later and update.

EDIT: Dupli-color 1606 Ford Dark Blue engine enamel.

 

[PoFoMoCo]

Holy smokes Kev!

 

[Austin Vert]

Hi Kev,

Sorry i can't be of help here, as we too have a small variety of so called Ford factory blue colors. I chose one that was close to my '73 Vert engine rebuild, but being sold here in Oz, would mean that the American brands or varieties would differ from the Aussie ones available more than likely.

On the other hand, if you happen to be in possession of an engine part in the genuine factory blue corp color, you could approach a decent paint / panel shop to get an exact color made up to exactly match that part.(can be either spectroed or made up by eye matching).

By the way, what's going on with the forward/backward hood alignment to the passenger's fender nose?

Best of luck,
Greg.

 

[rackerm]

I have used Duplicolor and Plasti-kote, I think they matched best to the original Ford blue used in 1973. Plasti-kote was my choice for my 73 vert, but they stopped making it a few years ago, and then NPD stepped in and reproduced the same Plasti-kote Ford Blue color.

 

[Hemikiller]

I'd take the air cleaner to a paint store that can scan it and mix off that. That'll allow you to spray around the ink stamp on the snorkel. If not, then I'd try the NPD paint on a test piece.

PPG DAR 13358 Ford Corporate Blue is the supposed paint that's in the NPD cans.

 

[Spike Morelli]

I have used the Krylon Dark Ford Blue, back when everybody carried that, then Dupi-Color Dark Ford Blue, which seem to both be accurate in color. I believe the Krylon brand was absorbed into the now Dupli-Color offering. Ford started painting their engines blue in '66, the same shade of blue as is used in their Blue Ford oval, going way back. There has been a long standing conversation as to whether or not that lighter blue color, that you see some people use, and that some re-builders use, is appropriate. I don't think the light blue is correct, or even looks as good as the dark blue. I'm not sure if Ford really even used a light blue ever. To me, as long as the blue used is the dark blue, regardless of any slight differences in shading between brands, it will look factory. I don't think any body needs to split hairs over the dark shade, unless you are competing at Pebble Beach, or some such Concours event. If you're building a Cadillac, the Ford dark blue is super close to Cadillac's blue, and can be used for that as well. Dupli-Color makes a black engine color, that is dead-on correct for '65 V8s, Hi-Po 289s and 427s, which is a heat resistant Semi-Gloss Black DE1635, that is ALSO so right for all of those under hood black components, bracketry, and suspension stuff. Kinda off-topic, but there is a spectacular metallic turquoise engine color that was used on some AMC engines, and a metallic medium blue used on big block Oldses, that sadly,.... Dupli-Color doesn't offer,however, a company called Seymore has those colors in a spray-can format and can be sourced from the internet. Some Pontiac years used a light silver-blue metallic engine paint that not everyone carries anymore. Some Fords with 4 barrel carbs had gold painted valve covers, and the "engine gold" spray paint sold in auto parts stores is too dark. There is a "champagne gold" engine spray paint that is correct for those, again, over the internet ( possibly a Ford parts house too), that should be used. As , over the years, i've been tasked to build or restore many different makes of engines , I've had to search for the correct colors to paint them as well.

 

[secluff]

Hey Kevin,
Ford had a service part number for Corporate Blue engine paint in quart and 16oz spray, but it was discontinued in 1991. This paint was listed for the ‘66-1980 model years, and the part number never changed. The OE blue engine paint will always have shade differences since these are mass-produced vehicles and engines. Paint batch differences and engines painted at different plants add to the variables. So everyone likely has their favorite version of the 66/ Ford blue.
There again, personal preference. I’ve always used Plasti-Kote #224 with great results. I have used this paint brand on many engine projects over the years and in the shop after the Ford paint was discontinued. This color best matched the blue on the engines I pulled out of salvage yards and shop engine projects. I was informed by a friend who runs a paint supply store that Plasti-Kote was absorbed by Dupi-Color, and many of the Plasti-Kote numbers were discontinued. I hated to hear it was no longer available.

NPD (National Parts Depot) has a reproduction version of Plasti-Kote #224, but it shows out of stock. When I checked for someone on the MCA forum who had similar questions about Ford blue paint last June, it was out of stock then. Supply chain issues, out-of-stock, and back order are the new words for the day now! The NPD part number for their version of Plasti-Kote #224 is AP-EBP. Their part# for Dupli-Color 1606 is AP-EBD, and I’ve heard varied opinions about the color match of this one. NPD also offers a version of PPG 13358, which they have formulated into a spray can and is claimed to be the most authentic blue they have in an aerosol can. If you are painting an engine for a concourse-level vehicle or MCA judging or just want close to OE as possible, you may want to use the PPG 13358. The NPD part # is AP-EB.
https://www.npdlink.com/search/products?search_terms=ford+blue+engine+paint&top_parent=200001&year=

 

[rackerm]

I'd take the air cleaner to a paint store that can scan it and mix off that. That'll allow you to spray around the ink stamp on the snorkel. If not, then I'd try the NPD paint on a test piece.

PPG DAR 13358 Ford Corporate Blue is the supposed paint that's in the NPD cans.

Hemikiller makes a good point about preserving those stampings. But if you do decide to paint them over, first take close clear straight overhead picture of every stamp or tag so you can reproduce them, if you decide to later. I have had an online rubber stamp company reproduce the stamps from a digital picture, so I could restamp the part after repainting.

 

[turtle5353]

I always use 1606

 

[Retired2014]

Hi Kev,

Sorry i can't be of help here, as we too have a small variety of so called Ford factory blue colors. I chose one that was close to my '73 Vert engine rebuild, but being sold here in Oz, would mean that the American brands or varieties would differ from the Aussie ones available more than likely.

On the other hand, if you happen to be in possession of an engine part in the genuine factory blue corp color, you could approach a decent paint / panel shop to get an exact color made up to exactly match that part.(can be either spectroed or made up by eye matching).

By the way, what's going on with the forward/backward hood alignment to the passenger's fender nose?

Best of luck,
Greg.

I believe the hood is raised to the lowest setting off latched. It gives the appearance of being off alignment. Note the shadow on the left fender.

 

[kevken1959]

No help but that's a cool find!

Thanks Sheriff! The rodents had a field day with the old girl, unfortunately. It's too bad the car was stored in a shed with those low miles. The car came with some cool paperwork. The owner worked at Ford and insisted that the memo regarding "streaking" be kept with the car. Unfortunately the mice pooped and peed on it and everything else!

 

[kevken1959]

Dupilcolor is what I chose. I thought the Plasticote Old Ford Blue was a tad too light.
BUY a can of the same batch extra!! Even these paints can vary from batch to batch. Ask me how I know.
I'll get the number later and update.

EDIT: Dupli-color 1606 Ford Dark Blue engine enamel.

Thanks Geoff. Your engine bay is spectacular!
Kevin.

Hi Kev,

Sorry i can't be of help here, as we too have a small variety of so called Ford factory blue colors. I chose one that was close to my '73 Vert engine rebuild, but being sold here in Oz, would mean that the American brands or varieties would differ from the Aussie ones available more than likely.

On the other hand, if you happen to be in possession of an engine part in the genuine factory blue corp color, you could approach a decent paint / panel shop to get an exact color made up to exactly match that part.(can be either spectroed or made up by eye matching).

By the way, what's going on with the forward/backward hood alignment to the passenger's fender nose?

Best of luck,
Greg.

Thanks Greg. That's good advise! Retire 2014 is correct about the hood. It was not latched all the way down in that picture.

 

[Austin Vert]

Thanks Geoff. Your engine bay is spectacular!
Kevin.

Thanks Greg. That's good advise! Whatever you see in the picture is exactly the way it came from the factory. The fit and alignment on these cars left a lot to be desired, lol!

Thanks Kev,

Cheers,

Greg.

 

[kevken1959]

I have used Duplicolor and Plasti-kote, I think they matched best to the original Ford blue used in 1973. Plasti-kote was my choice for my 73 vert, but they stopped making it a few years ago, and then NPD stepped in and reproduced the same Plasti-kote Ford Blue color.
View attachment 75113

Awesome Rich. Good to know. Thanks!

 

[Austin Vert]

I believe the hood is raised to the lowest setting off latched. It gives the appearance of being off alignment. Note the shadow on the left fender.

Thank you Sir,

Yes, you're quite right, i didn't pay proper attention to Kev's photos, and made a snap observation mistake. Sorry to Kev and all members there.

Greg.

 

[kevken1959]

Thank you Sir,

Yes, you're quite right, i didn't pay proper attention to Kev's photos, and made a snap observation mistake. Sorry to Kev and all members there.

Greg.

No problem Greg!

 

[Ron Tanzi]

Hey Kevin,
Ford had a service part number for Corporate Blue engine paint in quart and 16oz spray, but it was discontinued in 1991. This paint was listed for the ‘66-1980 model years, and the part number never changed. The OE blue engine paint will always have shade differences since these are mass-produced vehicles and engines. Paint batch differences and engines painted at different plants add to the variables. So everyone likely has their favorite version of the 66/ Ford blue.
There again, personal preference. I’ve always used Plasti-Kote #224 with great results. I have used this paint brand on many engine projects over the years and in the shop after the Ford paint was discontinued. This color best matched the blue on the engines I pulled out of salvage yards and shop engine projects. I was informed by a friend who runs a paint supply store that Plasti-Kote was absorbed by Dupi-Color, and many of the Plasti-Kote numbers were discontinued. I hated to hear it was no longer available.

NPD (National Parts Depot) has a reproduction version of Plasti-Kote #224, but it shows out of stock. When I checked for someone on the MCA forum who had similar questions about Ford blue paint last June, it was out of stock then. Supply chain issues, out-of-stock, and back order are the new words for the day now! The NPD part number for their version of Plasti-Kote #224 is AP-EBP. Their part# for Dupli-Color 1606 is AP-EBD, and I’ve heard varied opinions about the color match of this one. NPD also offers a version of PPG 13358, which they have formulated into a spray can and is claimed to be the most authentic blue they have in an aerosol can. If you are painting an engine for a concourse-level vehicle or MCA judging or just want close to OE as possible, you may want to use the PPG 13358. The NPD part # is AP-EB.
https://www.npdlink.com/search/products?search_terms=ford+blue+engine+paint&top_parent=200001&year=

I used the Plast-Kote #224 on my 72 and it matches very well to the factory paint that was on my engine.

 

[Stanglover]

I'm just going to throw this one into the mix.
Some time ago, I was given a quart can of Eastwood 51623ZP Ford Dark Blue paint. It has never been opened, still has the clips on the lid. I'm pretty sure the paint might still be ok as it sounds liquid when shaken. I have no idea exactly what 'shade' of Ford Dark Blue it is. Has anyone seen this version?
I was also given a quart can of Glytol insulating paint in red and likewise, the can has never been opened and probably never will unless I build another engine.
I had forgotten I even had these paints until just now.

https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-ceramic-engine-paint-ford-dark-blue-quart.html