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TR2/3/3A Starting from scratch what color

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Jayplum

Jayplum

Jedi Hopeful
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Have my 57 TR3 torn down. Getting ready to get into engine.
seeing light green paint on some parts, oil sump, front plate, etc.
any suggestions on getting back to OE? Is there a site addressing this?
Car is signal red; will repaint engine compartment in same.
 
Best way to find out the original color is o order a build certificate from British Heritage. I did that on my second round on my 1960 TR3A. Bought it from the original family in 1976 in primer and they said it was off white. Didn't do a lot of research back then and the cars weren't worth much then so I had it painted Layland White. After driving it for almost 30 years took it's tole on the finish and original rust was starting to come through. Plus the fact the cars were significantly increasing in value, it was time to redo it correctly.

Anyway my point is going to be that I did just that and found out it was Sebering White. Not a color that can be duplicated with modern paints. Many paint codes out there but none of the paint companies could come up with a formula. I waited too long to find all that out and delayed my project. Got lucky after Googling and after months of reading Google pages (I thing I was on page 300 +) I found a discussion on a defunct forum where two guys were discussing the color. Not an actual formula but I was able to get a great match from that search. Good luck!
 
Yeah, folks don't know how hard white is to match and the number of variations there are. My TR6 was painted by PO and the closest I could come was Chrysler's artic white. I painted the engine compartment with a factory pack based on Triumph's chart and it was very different. Had to paint the upper cowl and underside of bonnet just to minimize any difference.
 
Two white TR3s. The colour difference is slight but was discernible. Mine the closer one has a more yellow tone to the white. It was taken from the GM code for Dover White.

David
TR3s at Columbus show.jpg
 
The white on my 6 was so far off, standing by the door and looking at the engine compartment it was very obvious difference with under the side. Almost takes the touch and feel of the old time painters; knew this father and son pair who painted so many gas doors or let down panels even on newer cars just to get a match. But I could trust them completely to get a great job.
 
Yes, modern paints really do look different than the old stuff, so if you really want it to look original a lot of work is involved. A single stage will get you closer to an original look, but basecoat/clearcoat is sort of the expectation for gloss and depth of shine these days. Get the original Triumph TR book by Piggot for more information on what color various things were painted. https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...jEm9IjblCzIdfcjf-M0mqZQymog,cdl:1,prmr:1,cs:1
 
My car has 2 stage on her but I believe a good buffing and a couple chip repairs is all I am doing on the exterior.
engine bay will be single stage.
 
Jayplum said:
My car has 2 stage on her but I believe a good buffing and a couple chip repairs is all I am doing on the exterior.
engine bay will be single stage.
Click to expand...

So this with the original post questions is a bit confusing (to me). Are you asking what color to paint the car, the engine components, the engine compartment?
 
All undersides and the nooks and crannies show the same what I think is Signal Red. Exterior is clear coated. She was professionally repainted a couple years ago by PO.
 
Yes. Tried to up load earlier. But obviously not successful.
 

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Originally asked about engine components, ie front plate, timing cover, sump, oil filter canister, etc.
I got off topic talking paint. I am painting the engine bay I body color.
 
Front plate was black, timing cover black with a grey noise deadener, sump black, oil filter a sort of aqua blue/green, oil filter head natural, water pump black, pulley and extension black, valve cover likely chrome on your year...black for earlier cars, fuel pump natural, dizzy natural with a black pedastal.

I think that covers most of it. The black was a semi-glosss by today's standards.
 
Thermostat housing natural. Engine block was black I think. Have seen a few photos of blocks with what was said to be the factory original vehicle designation in red pant done by hand.

David
 
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