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Spitfire Spitfire bulkhead

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Dudly

Dudly

Jedi Hopeful
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Not sure if thats the proper term for it but here it go's.

Clutch Master cylinder failed, leaked fluid on the bulk head, I'm ready to repair it with seal kit, but I really want to clean up the spilled fluid so as not to tempt the rust gods. My bulkhead is very rust free and I want to keep it that way. Much of the paint around the clutch master and break master is peeling and failing. This weekends project will be to strip the area clean and repaint it. My question is this:

Are there any pitfalls I need to be aware of through the process.

Thanks,
 
Mine did the same thing after I had restored it of course. I still haven't addressed it as the paint is still in place, just a little bubbled.

You probably need to remove the mounting brackets to clean good enough or the brake fluid may weep out from under the mount. Use a good strong cleaner like Simple Green or Mean Green. Then follow up with a solvent like you would use if painting (if you have some). You could probably get away with mineral spirits or similar.

You can get original colors mixed up in spray cans from Tower Paint. Some local paint stores have the ability to mix up paint and put in spray cans. I got some from Tower for my second Spitfire and its decent stuff. Its not real cheap though at $14 per can. I like epoxy primer (PPG DP-40), but if you don't already have some, you may want to try whatever you can get at the local hardware store.
 
I did the shelf area for my GT6 as it had started rusting from the lack of paint due to leaking brake fluid. I removed the starter relay, Brake pressure valve and brake lines, both master cylinders along with brackets, gas/brake/clutch pedal assemblies.. Cleaned up the rust, primed and painted with paint I got from a local paint shop. Nothing tricky with it, just taped it off at the vertical bulkhead and below the shelf. Looks quite a bit better then it did before.
Dennis
 
Thanks for the advice guys, I was hoping it'd be a fairly moderate job. I'm still debating about the paint. I found a local shop that will mix rattle can for me, looked up the PPG code and all. It would be nice to have it match the rest of the car, but $18 per can is a little dear. Oh what to do ?!?
 
Consider getting the paint a pint at a time and using an air brush to apply the paint. You don't have to have a high-dollar air brush to get decent results. I've used the low-end, single action Badger air brushes for automotive touch ups with very good results. A pint of paint might run you $30 but it will go a lot further than the rattle cans. If you shop around, the inexpensive Badger air brushes will cost about the same. However, I recognize all this is useless if you don't have a compressor or large compressed air storage tank.
 
One rattle can (11-12 ounces?) should take care of the firewall shelf. There is a lot to be said for the convenience of a rattle can - no mixing, no transfer between containers, no air compressor, no paint gun, no cleanup after. If you can get a decent color match as you indicated, the choice is a no brainer.
 
Dudly,

Make sure you get the chemistry right, Lacquer based paints and oil based spirits may react. Ask at the paint supply house what they recommend for a general solvent clean up. A gallon of "clean-up" (aka cheap) lacquer thinner would do the trick, and keep you chemistry on track too boot. Just make sure you have the appropriate respirator on.

When you do get around to squeezing out a few pennies for your rattle can(s). Ask for a recommended primer. One that'll work with the chemistry of the brand of top coat you are applying.

BTW: Go Steelers! I'm no family traitor, just a front runner!

HA
 
Percy

I'm tellin' Dad ! ! !
Mr. Lalumia could have coached a better game, almost ashamed to show my face at the office.

You would have been impressed at the whole shelf area, mostly surface rust some mild pitting near the MC's. Car is all taped up, blue tarp on the back 1/2 even. Spent 3 hrs between wire brush and cleaning, (your right simple green is killer!). Deck is primed 2times and waiting. Now I'm worried about the MC's in general, after I get the area looking so pretty it'd be a shame to have another DOT spill. (not to mention all the bits to be bolted back on are a bit crummy).
 
Thanks Tim, that seems to be the theme of my day so far. GRRRR!

Big Ben has yet to loose a pro game in Ohio. Yesterday made it a perfect 10 in the rivalry. One day I hope to know what it's like to root for a solid winning team.

It also does not help that triumph paint code CML is very close to Browns orange.
 
Oh come on, you might as well said Denver !

Was thinking last night, "should I just give up totally on Pro and NCAA football and start going to High School games?"
 
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