• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

New member two questions: Engine/Frame

Ted19428

Freshman Member
Offline
Wow, what a great website. I hate to trouble all of you but I need some expertise. Finally got my 1976 TR6 out of my Mom's garage after four years of neglect. The car was just inspected and is up and running very well. I have owned it for about 14 years. The car is all original and has 35,000 miles on it.

Anyway, two questions. Let me apologize as I am no mechanic. First, the engine looks great except for two cosmetic items. The part of the engine that I believe covers the cylinders and the air filter cover are covered in orange paint - it looks to this untrained eye like primer. What is the proper color - I know it is grey, but is there a more specific shade? Where can you get that paint?

Second, the shop that serviced the car said the only sign of rust is a bit of surface rust on the frame. I want to get this taken care of as soon as possible. Is this something that could be sandblasted or grinded off? And if so, what sort of protective coating should be applied afterwards?

Many thanks for your advice. I just ordered one of those restoration books - so I promise to keep my novice questions to a minimum - just thought I would ask these two questions while I am waiting for Amazon to mail me the book!

Ted in Philadelphia
 

Mark_Gibson

Jedi Trainee
Offline
Hi Ted,

Call the Roadster Factory, 1-800-234-1104. They can tell you the correct shade of silver that the valve cover and air cleaner should be. As for the frame, I would use a good semi flat black paint that can be applied to less than perfectly clean (i.e. light rust) surfaces. I have used a product called Chassis Saver in Antique Satin Black and it works great. You can pick up a can at any automotive paint supply stores. I would just either pressure wash your frame or have the underside of the car steam cleaned and then apply this with a brush. It's time consuming but it will protect the frame from any further deterioration and it looks alot better than rust also! Best of luck,

Mark
1970 Frame Off Restoration Project
(Almost done)
 

Ab Crevoiserat

Jedi Hopeful
Offline
Try Por 15, This is a rust preventitive and works great. I have used it on my CJ7 and it covered the rust and prevented it from getting worse. For more info you can Google Por15 and there will be plenty of info for you. Good Luck
 

Alan_Myers

Luke Skywalker
Offline
Hi and welcome Ted,

Yes, I agree that POR15 is a durable paint and can be applied pretty successfully with a brush. It's supposed to be able to stop rust via "encapsulation" (seals it from oxygen" so that minimal surface prep is needed. I'd not recommend trying to sand blast or grind the frame unless the body is lifted off the car.

A couple caveats regarding POR15 (www.por15.com)...

Handle with care. Don't get it on *anything* you don't want permanently painted, including your hands and face. It's a bugger to get off once it dries. You basically have to let it wear off of skin... which can take weeks.

I'd consider their new line of "Hardnose" paints for their UV resistance. I've had experience with traditional POR15 yellowing and looking pretty ugly after awhile, due to UV exposure, even indirectly on the underside of motorcycle fenders.

Another thing, you won't be able to get to the top side of the frame to paint it, between the body and the frame. You might want to have a protectant like Waxoyl sprayed on. This is a waxy coating that is used to protect undercarriages and more. It needs to be reapplied every year or two or three, depending upon how the car is used. It also serves to lubricate parts, while protecting them. An example is the parking brake mechanism. This is *not* the heavy, black pitch-like undercoating that most restorers hate to see (hard to remove and doesn't protect that well.)

Also, TR frames tend to rust from the inside out. So, Waxoyl and some other similar products can be "injected" into the frame rails and other enclosed areas of the car (rocker panels, for example.)

One key problem area is the angled strut that comes from the front spring tower down to the frame rail. It's not got a drain hole. Because of this, condensation and water get trapped and rust it from the inside out. It's possible to drill a nearly invisible 1/4" drain hole on the inside, right where it meets the large frame rail. When this is done, almost always some powdery rust comes flowing out! Left without a drain, it's often one of the first parts of the frame to fail due to rust.

I believe the valve cover and air cleaner cover were originally painted "Argent Silver". But, confirm this, I don't have a TR6 personally. This is a pretty widely available color and can be bought from Eastwood (eastwoodco.com) if you can't find it locally. It's a slightly warm silver that was used for wheels and many other parts on British cars.

Hope this helps!

Enjoy your new/old car!

Alan
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
D new member with wire wheel questions Jaguar 6
D new member with wire wheel questions Austin Healey 7
D neww member with wire wheel questions MG 11
D new member with spoke wire wheel questions Triumph 12
C New Member and some questions... Spridgets 18
B TR2/3/3A New member: TR3- A few questions Triumph 21
B New member has some questions Austin Healey 10
G New member questions MG 17
M New Member with an HD8 Carb Question Austin Healey 1
J Member Search? FORUM Navigation Questions 4
S MGB Transmission cross member re-install MG 14
S MGB Mgb with nissan cylinder head. I am a new member, introduction and help MG 1
NutmegCT Member near Portland Maine? Other British Cars 46
NutmegCT General Tech BCF member in Maine? Triumph 0
Madflyer TR6 I am now a member of the TR Backlight cars Triumph 7
P New member TR2 carpets Triumph 7
O For Sale New Member from NJ 1960 TR3 Triumph Classifieds 1
NutmegCT New member tweak? FORUM Navigation Questions 0
M MGB New Member MG 1
B TR6 New [Old] Member Triumph 2
B TR6 New Member, first post Triumph 1
A Hello from new member, and car identification help request Other British Cars 9
M MGB New member trying to help a friend with his 1980 MGB LE. MG 4
G 100/6 Radiator cross member Austin Healey 6
S New Member 1967 Austin Healey 3000 Austin Healey 5
R TR2/3/3A Tie Member for TR-2 Triumph 2
S TR6 Steve new member Triumph 3
F TR2/3/3A Tie member[front apron support tube] Triumph 11
J New member Austin Healey 11
Basil Volvo and BCF member! Spotted 17
doc50 New old member. Spridgets 43
doc50 New Old Member...sort of. Spridgets 7
A TR2/3/3A New member here, Happy New Year Everyne :-] Triumph 7
J front cross member height from bottom to floor on BJ8 Austin Healey 5
D new member needing help with buying a 3000. Austin Healey 39
H Third Member - Differential - Carrier Housing - Center Section - Gear Set Cleaning Spridgets 4
B New member in Illinois Spridgets 11
B New member in Illinois Austin Healey 4
rays653000 New member and looking for some paint help Austin Healey 14
J New Member, Year of Manufacture/Title Question Austin Healey 9
Basil Lost a member - Blueghost Spridgets 9
Italia 227 Post-War Other 1961 Triumph Italia 2000 GT – new member Triumph 19
C Austin FX3D wiring diagram needed, New member here Other British Cars 3
Lukens TR2/3/3A Thanks to the forum and specifically a member. Triumph 4
A TR4/4A New member w crazy TR4a Triumph 43
R new member with a 57 Austin Healey 49
Boggsy64 MGB Front Cross member pads MG 4
pan Family member visiting Australia Austin Healey 3
PatGalvin TR5/TR250 New Family Member Triumph 15
TRspitfirefan Spitfire New member. Triumph 16

Similar threads

Top