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TR4/4A TR4 front fenders/engine bay

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Kirk_Fisher

Kirk_Fisher

Jedi Hopeful
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I rescued a 1962 TR4 Surrey top from my neighbors musty and dirty "garage" last November, where it had sat unloved and not started or driven in 6 years. It had a frame off resto about 9-10 years ago, so the car was very very nice. I had it running in acouple of days and mostly just had to rebuild the brakes, fuel system and clutch hydraulics. The body, paint and interior is almost perfect.

The only rust is some small areas behind the front wheels near the bottom of the fenders and around the battery and master cylinders under the bonnet.

I had a body man look at it yesterday and he thinks we will be able to fix the rust in the fenders without much problem. He believes that debris and water has collected in that low area behind the fender and caused the rust.

Question 1:
What is the best way to keep that area cleaned out? How does debris get down in there? It looks pretty sealed to me. I can see water working into it if it was exposed to the elements a lot but leaves etc? We have not pulled the fenders yet, so there may not be any debris in there, but it is an area that looks like needs to be kept clean and dry.

Question 2:
The car is white with red interior. The engine bay is currently white, but very very dirty and discolored from oil, fluids, road dirt etc. I am think it will just look that way again unless I am meticulous about cleaning it and the white is going to stain anyway regardless of my cleaning if I drive it much (which I plan to do). What do you guys and girls think about painting the engine bay black? I prefer the same as the body color, but . . .
 
Hi Kirk;

Personally; I would paint the Bay Body Color, Period! Most People, Icluding Myself, Think that once a Shot of Blk Paint is put into the Bay Area; Its been Hit: Even If it has`nt been Hit; It really "De-Values" the Car: If You just think about It; If Your going to Paint It anyway; Why not make It the Orig. Color? Shooting Black over White will Probably leave a Bunch of White Blemishes Laying around anyway! Is the Engine out of the Bay with All related Parts?

Have Fun & Think "White";

Regards, Russ
 
I agree. It's more effort to clean it and keep it clean, but in the long run, I'm guessing that you will be happier with the look.
Besides, you probably won't use it as a daily driver, so the dirt will be minimalized. Yes, I realize I'm talking about an English oil pumper.
 
Hi Kirk,
I'm with Russ, an engine compartment painted black and not the original color just looks wrong. I know it's done, and can be done nicely but.....
If the engine isn't out you can pull the harness, etc. away from the fenders and still spray in there with good results. It won't be as good as if everything were removed but it can be done.
There are panels held in by four bolts at the rear of the front wheel wells, possibly they're the source for water/debris ingress in that area.
Good luck,
Bob
 
Thanks. White it is. Here she is. I keep thinking of reasons I need to go "out" today - Home Depot, Lowes, grocery etc. I just took these pics.

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Assuming the TR4 is the same as my TR250 in this area, there are rubber tubes that run down from either side of the scuttle. These tubes carry moisture from the vent area and dump it just above the forward portion of the rocker panels. There are drain slots in the fenders to let the water out. This design works fine if the only thing that enters the scuttle is bottled water. Leaf debris, dirt, and bird poop plug the hoses, and the area at the bottom of the fender fills with the muck instead of letting it pass through.

As previously mentioned, the small bolt-on panels behind the front wheels may need to be removed and/or replaced. TRF sells replacement hoses that are a little longer than the original drain tubes, with the idea of carrying the water all the way to the point of exit. If you are going to pull your fenders anyway, it's a perfect time to recondition and improve this part of the car. A garaged car that is only driven in moderate weather conditions would not have a re-occurrence of this problem for a long time.

If the TR4 arrangementis different, never mind what I just said.
 
Kirk,

Your car is beautiful. There is no good reason to stay home today. Get off the computer and drive some more--that's what I'm going to do.

PS Don't paint the engine bay black, at least not on a white car. JMO.
 
WOW; massively good looking!

I agree: Don't paint it black. Body color only.

What color of white is that? Original?

What tires are those? Look sharp.

Drive for any excuse!
 
Super nice Kirk - I wish all the gaps on my TR4 looked as good as yours.

Agree with all of the above - definitely keep it white. For future preventive maintenance, do check those front baffle plates behind the front wheels. If the seals around them are old and cracked you could easily get moisture and the occasional leaf accumulating behind the fenders.

Take more pics please, especially that surrey and interior!

Randy
 
As far as I can tell, white is the orginal color. It is more white than old English white. A cloud came over right after I took the profile picture and it really made it look different.

The tires are Kelly T Metric 600. They were on it when I rescued it and still had air in them. They show no dry rot and little wear. I was going to change them out, but they are actually pretty decent ride and grip.

I'll take more pics and get some interior shots for you.

This is her the day I opened the garage where she sat.

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Kirk,
When I had a TR4A I extended the drain tube and cut a small hole in the seal plate so that the tube exited just above the sill end plate. I then thoroughly Waxoyled the inside of the fender and the inner fender and sill before putting it all together. It seemed to stop any of the new panels rusting. Make sure that the original "dent" in the sill is there under the fender so that any water can drain out.
Personally I would keep your engine bay white. The car looks fantastic and it would be a shame to spoil it. A good quality paint should clean up fine and not stain.
Nick
 
Hi Kirk;

Well Guy; You have Yourself a Nice Looking Ride! It kind of Resembles Mine in that Cloud Cover; Meaning an "Old English White" Color: Remember; Keep It White!!

Regards, Russ
PS: Where in SC do You Live? I visit "Fripp Is" once a yr (Near Beaufort): I`m considering Moving to the "Greenville Area"?? What`s that Like?
 
I am in Greenville. It sucks. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif Well, that is what we tell people in Atlanta so they stay in Atlanta.
 
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