'66 HiPo engine detail info.

65shelby_old · November 4, 2006 at 10:00 AM

Hello all,

I need some info. on detailing my '66 engine after re-assembly.

My car is an un-restored original with one repaint so I'm not looking for perfect-perfect concourse correct. I also freshened the engine bay while it was empty.

I've studied numerous engine pics and all are slightly different.

My basic question is what bolt-ons were on the long block when it was painted originally at the factory. My long-block is now together on the stand ready for finish assembly and paint. I'm unsure what was painted on the block and what was pre-painted and then bolted on showing unpainted bolts and gaskets.

Parts in question:

- Intake, Oil Pan, Timing Cover, Water Pump, and balancer.

Most of the balancers I've seen have been black but I've also seen them blue as well.

Any help would be appreciated and I can post pics if interested of the build-up and end result for the other novices like myself.<img src=images/icon_smile_shy.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - SixT5HiPo on 11/15/2006 12:15:59

66KGT_old · November 4, 2006 at 10:16 AM

Everything above except the balancer...

Beagle1_old · November 5, 2006 at 9:04 PM

By pass hose & clamps from the intake to the water pump too if you want real correctness.

And pics are always welcome <img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

round2K_old · November 6, 2006 at 9:50 AM

If you belong to MCA you can download the judging rules which have detailed descriptions for both regular cars and Shelbys.

65shelby_old · November 13, 2006 at 5:52 PM

Thanks for everyone's help.

I am an MCA member so I'll look there as well.

I did discover something that contradicts what I've read/seen thus far. In doing the final cleaning of my balancer, it had old Ford Blue paint in areas that was basically impervious to everything including hot tanking and mild sand blasting. The rest of the balancer had a goldish treatment on most of it, but absolutely no black anywhere.

My Dad restores NCRS grade Corvettes and swears that the balancer was on the motor when painted (that's how Corvette's are) and this blue paint finding leads me to believe that.

In conclusion, I believe assembly line balancers were metal prepped/etched and painted after assembly, and the over the counter units were indeed semi-gloss black. Possibly a Detroit trait??

I'll leave this open to further discussion but my motor was basically untouched, including an original Ford C2 178deg. thermostat. Any further opinions????

I'll be painting it later this week.........

Thanks for your time,

Mark

Murf_old · November 13, 2006 at 6:02 PM

Mark: I an convinced that the harmonic balancers on early 289s were indeed attatched to the crankshaft when the engine was painted and are therefore corporate blue. There has been much discussion about this over the years but I worked on these when they were new cars, and do not remember EVER seeing one that was not painted engine color. I was employed by a large fleet and worked on many of these engines in sedans, I remember that we purchased over 600 in 1966 and kept them for several years. We tore many apart to replace timing chains at about 80,00 or 90,00 miles, so I got to see first hand what these harmonic balancers looked like up close.

65shelby_old · November 13, 2006 at 9:48 PM

That's the info. I was looking for - Thank You!!

With any luck it'll be blue tomorrow night. My goal is to have it back in and running by the end of Thanksgiving weekend.

Wish me luck........

I'll try and post some pics next week.

Regards,

Mark

noelfisher_old · November 16, 2006 at 8:00 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

Wish me luck........

GOOD LUCK, MARK.

garymcgowan_old · November 16, 2006 at 8:42 PM

Mark,

I for one would greatly appreciate before and after pictures to include your engine bay. I will be doing my engine and bay soon and any pointers would be appreciated.

Gary

Beagle1_old · November 17, 2006 at 9:45 PM

The production dampers were assembled in Litchfield, Michigan by Simpson Industries. The print which I saw with my own two eyes this past summer, if I recall correctly, called for black paint, with the seal surface protected.

Now, being painted over with corporate blue after being installed wouldn't surprise me. But for Simpson to ship them bare would surprise me. But at the rate Mustangs were being built, anything was possible.

FWIW, the C8 service part dampers were assembled in Canada by the RJ Simpson plant. Those were indeed black.

J_Speegle_old · November 18, 2006 at 3:00 AM

I would offer that I have never seen an original engine with a balancer (Ford small block) that had anything but a black (or rusty) balancer.

Can't find any pictures of original engines that were installed in cars (not display or advertisements) that had blue ones

Been in hundreds

Believe you will find that is also what MCA and SAAC are requiring

Just one person's experiance.

Edited by - J_Speegle on 11/18/2006 03:02:00

SixT5HiPo · November 19, 2006 at 10:14 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

I would offer that I have never seen an original engine with a balancer (Ford small block) that had anything but a black (or rusty) balancer.

Can't find any pictures of original engines that were installed in cars (not display or advertisements) that had blue ones.

Been in hundreds. <img src=images/icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Believe you will find that is also what MCA and SAAC are requiring.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Noted small Block Ford V-8 researcher Bob Mannel also claims that the 289 vibration dampers were always black...

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

With any luck it'll be blue tomorrow night. My goal is to have it back in and running by the end of Thanksgiving weekend.

Regards,

Mark

Here's hoping there isn't a rush to paint it blue.

65shelby_old · November 26, 2006 at 10:00 PM

Hello all,

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.

Well, engine is in and running. I still have one lifter knocking so I must not have set it properly. But it runs, HOORAY!!

My total outlay for the rebuild and restoration was about $2500.

It was about $850 for machine work including balancing and heads.

Mine had never been bored so I only went .020" over.

Another $850 in engine internal parts including forged pistons.

The balance was bolt-ons and engine bay stuff. This included everything necessary to freshen the engine bay (some wiring harnesses, alternator, air cleaner, valve covers, carb. kit, dist. cap, plugs, wires, hoses, clamps, fuel pump, paint, brake lines, etc.

Total time is probably 175-200 hrs. spent over three months to complete it. Every part was sand blasted, primed and painted. I used all my original hardware so each screw, nut and washer got degreased and wire brushed. I assembled the engine myself too, great fun!!

Everything takes twice as long as you think......

For example, I spent 2 hrs. removing the exhaust donuts as they became one with the H-pipe flanges and I had to chisel them out. I should have done it with the engine out but would have thought they'd be difficult. I think they were the originals as the H-pipe has never been changed.

Always allow plenty of time and don't get in a hurry. It'll still be there tomorrow........

I will post some pics once it's complete, I promise. I can also send in process pics by e-mail if anyone's interested.

I still have to fix the lifter knock, mount the hood hinges and align the hood, bleed the brakes (new SS lines), and splice a three prong alternator harness plug into my gauge harness (mine is MIA). With any luck I'll be motoring by next weekend.

Thanks for your time........

Mark

'66 HiPo engine detail info.

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