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Front wing piping

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Cutlass

Jedi Warrior
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The front wing piping pieces just above and below the signal lamps are supposed to be silver coated plastic. The Moss parts for this application are plain grey plastic, no silver coating. Sooo, anyone know a source for the properly colored piping pieces?
 
On my BN1 they were black , ever considered using a couple of short bits of the chrome piping as used between the guards and the shroud?
 
Have you observed the 'silver coated plastic' on an original car or where did you hear this? Curious because I don't recall hearing this bit of info but that doesn't mean it's not true. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

If it is indeed supposed to be silver coated would a flexible silver paint work? Auto paint stores have spray cans of paint for flexible bumper applications that may work. SEM is a good brand to look for. Usually need a special 'tie coat' adhesion promoter for plastic too.

Cheers,
John
 
Check out the Concours guide. That's where I got the info. Says that on all six cylinder cars, this piping was silver plastic.
 
o.k. my concours guidelines say, "For all 6-cylinder cars a silver vinyl/plastic was used having a round 3/32 inch diameter bead."

I don't see 'silver coated' but agree silver and gray are not the same and silver would look better. Would be interesting to hear what a concours judge would say.

It could be that the original piping had a lighter silver molded-in color. I have seen silver looking plastics some with a fine metallic flake content.
 
Gentlemen:

I took Cutlass's (and all of us :G) problem right to the source because I DO care. I quoted Cutlass's post verbatim!! the reply is direct quote.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]We have been complaining about the color since about 2003.

Funnily enough, we each piece from a different vendor, but I'm laying odds that they both come off the same roll.

AH Spares and SC Parts evidently both have the same color.

Probably a one time production run was made back in 2000 or so and the color is a bit darker than it is supposed to be. Movement on this bead is so small that they are still working off the same incorrect production run and will not scap the material.

If you find any correct sources, let me know.

Kelvin Dodd
Global Sourcing Engineer, Moss Motors, Ltd.
[/QUOTE]

Looks like we are all in the same boat. I will also contact both Rich C. & Gary A. and see if some sort of allowance can be adopted.

Ed
 
Very interesting. Most interesting is how arcane the issue. Who but car nuts would care? It's not world peace, but if our pursuit is restoration of originality, then I guess we need to go down these roads. Looks like a good silver paint might work for a while, or maybe silver leaf.
 
I have been searching for sources for the piping on my XK 120 for a few months now. It's supposed to match the body color on the Jaguar so I'm waiting to find out what color is available before I finalize the paint on the rest of the car. I don't want to have to take the car apart every time I get a nick, peel or scratch in the piping so I'm looking for solid color. So far it's going to be a black car, which is far from my first choice. Since you can find piping on lots of cars from the 30s to the mid 40s this should not be such a big deal.
 
I recently purchased chrome (silver) colored piping for the beading on my recently restored MGA. It was purchased from Whitneys. It looks great!!! If you want silver colored piping, that is the place to go.

Ray
 
Looks like item no. ZX710680T is a 3/16" flexible chrome fender welt. Probably just what is needed. Comes in a 25' roll at $22.99 plus shipping. If I buy a roll, anyone else interested?
 
Cutlass,
Let us know what it looks like (maybe send a photo). If it fits the bill, I will purchase some from you.

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye
 
Hmm interesting Cutlass. On my BN7 the original beading in that location (Or actually "welting" would be correct) was a hard plastic that was light gray in color. Due to the age of the material I surmised two things; one, the hard plastic probably hardened with exposure and should actually be soft and flexible. Two, with exposure to sunlight colors similar to "gray" would lighten considerably in color. So, I went with "Woolies" of England (interior specialists) and ordered a couple of feet of their "fender welting". It is a flexible rubber/vinyl and a beautiful gray in color and the part that fit in between the fender and shroud was exactly the same size as the original.
 
I guess this would be an appropriate question for a lucky person with a for sure "original" big Healey. Johnny, you may be the guy. Come to think of it, I do know one person who has owned his big Healey since new in 1961 or 1962. Next time I see him I'll pose the question. In the meantime, anyone know for sure that they have a truly unrestored, original big Healey?
 
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