Early TC engine color & firewall

[Robert Kampas]

O.K. - I guess I'll just have to jump in with both feet. I am new to the list (this is actually my first message). I promise that I won't upload any long picture files or purposely do anything that gets a lot of people upset. But since I am restoring a 1947 TC I can see the value of the list and am pleased that such a resource exists at all. Now - this is my first (and might be my only) endeavor at restoring a vehicle so I want to do it right the first time. Despite the controversy as to whether one should be overly concerned about the correct placement of lift the dots or other such things like perhaps the color of an engine block or firewall (Mr. Badger's comment), I for one would like to know and have a use for such information. Now that I've got that off my chest, I really am trying to pin down the color that the engine block of a 47 TC should be. So far I have had two respectable sources give me two different answers. Mike Sherrells' book TCs Forever quotes a "British Std 638, Dark Sea Grey". A respected restorer in my area has directed me to an "MG Green" available from Hirsch Automotive. My engine is currently being rebuilt, and it will eventually be painted. Since I am anly going to do it once it may as well be painted as close to what it had been in 1947. Does anybody have any further information on this? I may as well ask about the color of my firewall (skuttle) while I'm at it. Hope this wasn't too long. Thanks, Bob K-

[Paul Camp]

My 1947 TC was restored in 1990 by Steve Baker and the engine and Firewall! are both painted Light Grey I am still trying to match the exact colour for touching up etc.it is a very pale grey with a faint green tinge. Regards Paul TC 3348

----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Kampas" kampas@seanet.com> To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2001 3:37 AM Subject: [mg-tabc] Early TC engine color & firewall > O.K. - I guess I'll just have to jump in with both feet. I am new to the > list (this is actually my first message). I promise that I won't upload any > long picture files or purposely do anything that gets a lot of people upset. > But since I am restoring a 1947 TC I can see the value of the list and am > pleased that such a resource exists at all. Now - this is my first (and > might be my only) endeavor at restoring a vehicle so I want to do it right > the first time. Despite the controversy as to whether one should be overly > concerned about the correct placement of lift the dots or other such things > like perhaps the color of an engine block or firewall (Mr. Badger's > comment), I for one would like to know and have a use for such information. > > Now that I've got that off my chest, I really am trying to pin down the > color that the engine block of a 47 TC should be. So far I have had two > respectable sources give me two different answers. Mike Sherrells' book TCs > Forever quotes a "British Std 638, Dark Sea Grey". A respected restorer in > my area has directed me to an "MG Green" available from Hirsch Automotive. > My engine is currently being rebuilt, and it will eventually be painted. > Since I am anly going to do it once it may as well be painted as close to > what it had been in 1947. Does anybody have any further information on > this? I may as well ask about the color of my firewall (skuttle) while I'm > at it. Hope this wasn't too long. > > Thanks, > > Bob K- > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

[CVMGA@aol.com]

WOW! We've really intimidated the new folks to a point where they have to apologize for asking a question. . . .Some caretakers for the next generation we are! ! ! Bob, The paint offered by Bill Hirsch is a good quality paint and the color will suffice, but when compared to the original paint on the inside of my firewall, Hirsch's paint is a few shades more green. Now having said that, the general opinion of the list will indicate there was no one shade of gray/green engine paint. It varied depending on how the paint was mixed that morning! ! ! Keep asking those questions! Bruce Woodson Richmond, VA

[CFritz7001@aol.com]

Bruce, AMEN TO YOU on all counts!! Carl Fritz

[LuckyFloridaLin@aol.com]

Lord - Your so right and so well put Bob! Tally Ho! Thom Collins

[avanparys@viperlink.net]

Bob, Check past threads on this subject. I tried the Hirsch green on my 47 TC engine and found it way off from the small spot of original paint that I had. My engine was actually a blue-gray color and the firewall a light gray. Someone on the list once wrote that they had met an individual who claimed that they mixed the paint at the factory and that when the paint ran low in the paint pots, they just dumped war-surplus paint together until the approximate colour was obtained and began painting again - probably the reason there is so much controversy on colours and shades whenever this subject comes up. VR Terry Van Parys Charleston S.C.

--- In mg-tabc@y..., "Robert Kampas" wrote: > O.K. - I guess I'll just have to jump in with both feet. I am new to the > list (this is actually my first message). I promise that I won't upload any > long picture files or purposely do anything that gets a lot of people upset. > But since I am restoring a 1947 TC I can see the value of the list and am > pleased that such a resource exists at all. Now - this is my first (and > might be my only) endeavor at restoring a vehicle so I want to do it right > the first time. Despite the controversy as to whether one should be overly > concerned about the correct placement of lift the dots or other such things > like perhaps the color of an engine block or firewall (Mr. Badger's > comment), I for one would like to know and have a use for such information. > > Now that I've got that off my chest, I really am trying to pin down the > color that the engine block of a 47 TC should be. So far I have had two > respectable sources give me two different answers. Mike Sherrells' book TCs > Forever quotes a "British Std 638, Dark Sea Grey". A respected restorer in > my area has directed me to an "MG Green" available from Hirsch Automotive. > My engine is currently being rebuilt, and it will eventually be painted. > Since I am anly going to do it once it may as well be painted as close to > what it had been in 1947. Does anybody have any further information on > this? I may as well ask about the color of my firewall (skuttle) while I'm > at it. Hope this wasn't too long. > > Thanks, > > Bob K-

[mrbadger]

avanparys@viperlink.net wrote: "......... until the approximate colour was obtained and began painting again - probably the reason there is so much controversy on colours and shades whenever this subject comes up." My engine is pale pink for reasons previously explained, and I like it, but any new owner with a strong sense of duty is welcome to correct this unjust travesty, this rude insult, this unholy blot on the sacred color chip. A colorwise politically incorrect Badger

[Skip Kelsey]

Terry: In 1980, I had Henry Stone and his wife as house guests for about two weeks. He worked for the factory for forty three years. He told me that exact story. He said he got a chuckle out of the many restorers who argued over what was the correct color of enines and firewalls. He said that they used whatever they could get, and mixed it to an approximate color. He further said that there is no absolutely "correct" color. And yes they did use up all the surplus military paint that was left over, after WWII. Cheers: Skip.............................. At 06:53 AM 4/3/01, avanparys@viperlink.net wrote:

>Bob, > > Check past threads on this subject. I tried the Hirsch green on my >47 TC engine and found it way off from the small spot of original >paint that I had. My engine was actually a blue-gray color and the >firewall a light gray. Someone on the list once wrote that they had >met an individual who claimed that they mixed the paint at the >factory and that when the paint ran low in the paint pots, they just >dumped war-surplus paint together until the approximate colour was >obtained and began painting again - probably the reason there is so >much controversy on colours and shades whenever this subject comes up. > > VR > Terry Van Parys > Charleston S.C. > >--- In mg-tabc@y..., "Robert Kampas" wrote: > > O.K. - I guess I'll just have to jump in with both feet. I am new >to the > > list (this is actually my first message). I promise that I won't >upload any > > long picture files or purposely do anything that gets a lot of >people upset. > > But since I am restoring a 1947 TC I can see the value of the list >and am > > pleased that such a resource exists at all. Now - this is my first >(and > > might be my only) endeavor at restoring a vehicle so I want to do >it right > > the first time. Despite the controversy as to whether one should >be overly > > concerned about the correct placement of lift the dots or other >such things > > like perhaps the color of an engine block or firewall (Mr. Badger's > > comment), I for one would like to know and have a use for such >information. > > > > Now that I've got that off my chest, I really am trying to pin down >the > > color that the engine block of a 47 TC should be. So far I have >had two > > respectable sources give me two different answers. Mike Sherrells' >book TCs > > Forever quotes a "British Std 638, Dark Sea Grey". A respected >restorer in > > my area has directed me to an "MG Green" available from Hirsch >Automotive. > > My engine is currently being rebuilt, and it will eventually be >painted. > > Since I am anly going to do it once it may as well be painted as >close to > > what it had been in 1947. Does anybody have any further >information on > > this? I may as well ask about the color of my firewall (skuttle) >while I'm > > at it. Hope this wasn't too long. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Bob K- > > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[mrbadger]

Skip Kelsey wrote:

> "In 1980, I had Henry Stone......as house guests.......... He said he got a chuckle out of the many restorers who argued over what was the correct color of engines and firewalls."

YES! Exactly so Skip. And I recall when John Thornley once had a similar chuckle over the exact "original" T-series rear windows. And the assembly line guy who punched the holes around the backs of the bodies for the lift-the-dot studs with a hand held electric drill would have a pretty good laugh too! So, what's this all about anyway? Would anyone care to venture a guess? Curious Badger

[Mark McCombs]

Probably just the concern and fear of drilling thru that finally finished tub in the wrong spot, which that at the time, seemed like a good spot but is now totally 4 inches away from any fabric..... Probably like me thinking I would fill in a couple of de-rusted rust dimples inside my wheelwells with braze and watching the metal fracture.....1 pair new wheel wells, coming right up. Or trying to separate villiers engine cases for two hours and finally realising there was one more nut... It goes on and on. A weaker man would have left the hobby and bought a stamp book. Mark TC8126

----- Original Message ----- From: "mrbadger" mrbadger@home.com> To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 11:32 AM Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Re: Early TC engine color & firewall > Skip Kelsey wrote: > > > "In 1980, I had Henry Stone......as house guests.......... He said he got a chuckle out of the many restorers who argued over what was the correct color of engines and firewalls." > > YES! > Exactly so Skip. > And I recall when John Thornley once had a similar chuckle over the > exact "original" T-series rear windows. > And the assembly line guy who punched the holes around the backs of the > bodies for the lift-the-dot studs with a hand held electric drill would > have a pretty good laugh too! > So, what's this all about anyway? > Would anyone care to venture a guess? > Curious Badger > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >