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Smoothcase - Paint or no paint

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I have a dilema. I'd really like to leave this as-is because the thought of seeing scratches on it after i install it will just be too much to take. :smile:

I think it loosk pretty good as it is...should I paint or leave as it alone?



DSCN1421.jpg
 
clear coat?
 
The original smoothcase that I replaced had no trace of paint on it, but it may have been stripped by the original owner prior to '69. Horler photo shows matching paint on tranny and engine, but I haven't yet found any text regarding the paint.

After hours (and hours) of cleaning a replacement ribcase I liked the bare metal glow, and saw no reason to paint the aluminum, but mine is not a show car. I like the brass valves and tubing for the same reason.
 
Thanks Ray. I've been painted the starter and generator with rattle cans from Moss and they've come out real nice. I was contemplating using rattle cans on the transmission also. Do you think that is a mistake? I don't have access to the necessary equipment to do a "professional" job.

lbc - I agree with you on the look, and spent hours stripping mine after getting it back from Quantum. I do plan to show the car and maybe - just maybe attempt to enter the concours in Greenwich, CT...so I wonder how much an unpainted trans will hurt me - either in points or even being selected for the show.
 
Seano-

I did my whole engine compartment with rattle cans of the original cherry red color. I wouldn't do it again, but it worked.

By the way, if you think that stripping the smoothcase is rough, wait till your first ribcase. There are a lot of little squares that each need to be cleaned, one at a time.

Let us know how the internal retrofit of the smoothcase works out.

Michael
 
From the factory, smooth case trannys were not painted.
 
The smooth case that came on my 62 Mk2 was painted the same green as the engine.
 
We have had various versions of this discussion before and I think the answer is "it depends" much like, what is the correct shade of engine green. The paint was just added to the vat so there was variation in the colour. I do recall however a discussion a few years back where the conclusion was that the engines were painted with ancillaries "in situ" so, generators were also green - on one side as the engine passed the sprayer. I would not be at all surprised to find that whether painted or not depended on when assembled and whether engine and transmission went past the paint sprayer or just the engine.
 
Concours guys say that the smooth case transmission was painted the engine color. Horler's book has a photo of a Bugeye engine and transmission both painted Morris Green.
 
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