1950 F1 engine color

[rljacobi]

I am restoring a 1950 F1 with 226 straight 6. Does anyone have info on correct color for block?

[Ken Crans]

The 50 Ford F-1 panel which is so called "commercial", is red for the 226. For the pickup, it's gold for the 226. Ken

[Dick Webber]

Surprise to me. I restored a F-1 226 pickup 10 years ago, painted my engine red after what I thought was pretty careful research. Where does the info on the gold come from?

Thanks,

Dick

[TJ]

I always thought they were red too. Good question, where did you find the info on gold?

[Barlea]

My guess for first Ford engine with factory gold paint would be '63 390... ..B.

[rotorwrench]

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I'm not sure when FoMoCo stopped using the term commercial when refering to pickups in the light weight catagory (F1). I know all through 1947 were considered commercial unless they were 3/4 ton or larger. I guess 1940 was the last time when a passenger type frame was utilized for a "commercial" type pickup but they kept the reference for quite a while longer than that.

Kerby

[Bob C]

I have a 6cyl unmolested never rebuilt engine from an F2 and its red.

[Gary in La.]

I remember the new 1950 F2 my dad bought for the farm prior to getting a 8N and it had a red 6 cyl. engine.

[Ken Crans]

I tried to find the reference to the gold in a book that i have: How to restore a Ford Truck. In the back it has info on the colors that were available for the 48-52 truck. I thought i seen in there, that the correct color was gold for the 6 cyl. But i couldn't find it. You guys are probably right. But i swore that they are gold. I have seen a few Concours Correct at F100 Nationals and they were gold. I seen a few at Dearborn too. Ken

[Capn John]

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/bboogaar/

1950 ENGINE COLORS: (same from 1949 1/2 thru 1951)
Ford, bronze
Mercury, green
Truck, bronze or green
Commercial, deep red

http://www.fordsix.com/

The first generation of inline sixes was introduced in 1941 and utilized a flathead design. The 226ci, known as the Rogue 226 or H Series, was used in full sized cars and light trucks until 1951. While the 254ci, known as the Rogue 254 or M Series, was used in F Series trucks, school buses, and industrial applications from 1948 through 1953 producing 110HP.

The first F-Series truck (known as the Ford Bonus-Built) from Ford was introduced in 1948, replacing the company's previous car-based pickup line. It was a modern-looking truck with a flat, one-piece windshield and integrated headlights. Options were the "See-Clear" windshield washer (operated by foot plunger), passenger side windshield wiper & sun visor, and passenger side taillight. The F-1 truck was also available with additional chrome and two horns as an option. All F-series were available in "Marmon-Herrington All Wheel Drive" until 1959.

Design of the F-Series truck changed little from 1948 to 1952. From 1948-1950, the grill was a series of horizontal bars and the headlights were set into the fenders. For 1951 and 1952, the headlights were connected by a wide aerodynamic cross piece with three similarly aerodynamic supports. The rear window was wider in the later trucks and the dashboard was redesigned.

F-series trucks were built at sixteen different Ford plants. Serial numbers indicate the truck model, engine, year, assembly plant, and unit number. The most common model was the F-1 with a 6 ½-foot bed followed by the F-2 and F-3 Express models with an 8-foot bed.

The models are:

F-1: 1/2 ton (4,700 GVWR max)
F-2: 3/4 ton (5,700 GVWR max)

[rotorwrench]

A lot of information you find out there lacks details. The V8s had a different color than the straight six did. It just leaves a lot of room for misinformation. The 226 L-6 was used in all the lighter vehicles but it is near impossible to find information that has color for both the L-6 and the V8 in any given application. I remember the bronze V8s in the Ford passenged cars and the light green V8s in Mercury cars and Ford trucks. Most of the farmers near where I grew up only wanted the V8 so the 226 L-6 is something I know little or nothing about. If you wanted a 6-banger , you bought a Chevrolet.

Kerby

[DD931]

I have a very original (36K miles) 6 cylinder '48 F-1. The engine is definitely dark red. Not bright red, but a little darker.

DD931

[TJ]

A friend of mine completely restored a 51 F-1 pickup. He is a stickler for detail and wanted to get a Dearborn award for the truck. He researched engine colors as he had the 6 cylinder in his truck. All his reserch showed that the motor should be painted a dark red. Needless to say this truck received the Dearborn award and later the medalion

[Ross F-1]

"Vermillion" is the name for the dark red color. I think DuPont has the mix codes for it, but I can't find it offhand.

[mtflat]

"The first F-Series truck (known as the Ford Bonus-Built) from Ford was introduced in 1948, replacing the company's previous car-based pickup line."

John, I don't know who authored that but Ford trucks left the car-based pickup line in 1942. Separate frames that year along with parallel leaf springs, open driveline, etc. They're very similar to the bonusbuilts and share many parts with them.

[Capn John]

NOTE: It says F-Series and I have to agree with you on the 1942 change over.

By the way look at the current '49 -'51 engine color discussion at the following.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/10...lor-codes.html

[mtflat]

Yeah, I've participated in that thread - same mtflat both places : )

That discussion is typical of Ford's documentation....very sketchy and ambiguous. That's what we're working at: trying to sort thru the overburden looking for gold.

I have one red engine and one blue one, but I painted both of them so somebody someday is going to be confused if they try to make a point based on my heap.

[fordy_nine]

[While the 254ci, known as the Rogue 254 or M Series, was used in F Series trucks, school buses, and industrial applications from 1948 through 1953 producing 110HP.]
I think you will find that was the "Rouge" engine series. The 254 was only available in big trucks, Like F6 or larger.......Bob L

[Ken Crans]

So, I'm not crazy! The 6s were bronze. Ken

[rotorwrench]

If the 226 was a darker red color in the pickup, what color was the same engine when installed in the passenger cars in 48 thru 51? They always mention the bronze for the V8 but never mention the L-6.

My dad bought a 49 F1 at a farm auction one time. A previous owner had liked the Ford bronze engine color so much he painted the entire pickup that color. We never had a problem with identification with that truck. You could tell it was coming from a mile off. Sadly, the block got busted from an extreme winter back in the late 60s. Not for that, my dad would likely still have the damn thing.

Kerby