Kieran Moulden Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 If this question has been covered previously my apologies! I am looking at a couple of TR's and one has its engine bay covered in what looks like old rust proofing (see attached photo). Can anyone tell me how easy it is to remove the black stuff and does anyone offer a service to remove it? Any idea on cost to remove it? Really appreciate any help. Kieran Quote Link to post Share on other sites
openroad Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 Hi Kieran, this has probably been done to cover something unsightly,sometime in the past when it was ok to do that ! Now everyone wants the engine bay looking pristine. I reckon it would need engine out and the engine bay stripping of ancilaries, taking to bare metal and repainting.So quite time consuming and therefore costly. Good luck in your hunt,if you have Mark on your team, then you will be in good hands, Cheers, Cinrad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlejim Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 DIY. I had stuff like that inside the mudguards. Electric heat gun and paint scraper got most off. Turps, rag, and elbow grease got the rest off. the paint underneath I grit blasted off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 " this has probably been done to cover something unsightly,sometime in the past when it was ok to do that ! " Or, of course, it was simply original rustproofing / soundproofing - nothing unusual about new cars being thus treated underside and underbonnet, either ex-factory, ex-supplying dealer, or as the first specialist task on a new or newly-acquired 'almost new' car . . . . . The assumption that black is always there for pejorative reasons is simply incorrect. As for " everyone wants the engine bay looking pristine " . . . . . many people do, not everyone does, and not everyone prefers a body colour engine bay over a black underbonnet. Cheers Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 Could well have been Zebart or similar rust proofing, if the same is on the underside of the bonnet and in the boot or down the plenum then thats more than likely the explanation and it is probably why the car has survived, white spirit or petrol will normally remove it but its a messy time consuming job. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
openroad Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 That me told then !!, it looks like badly applied underseal or something similar hence the comment, i agree it would be a long and time consuming job..... Have fun Kieran Conrad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisR-4A Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 If you are happy with the look as is and there are no other indicators that it's hiding something. I'd look underneath at seams etc, then fine , but otherwise avoid it. You could be buying a pig in a poke, Walk away and find the car you really want elsewhere. Regards Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ntc Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 That me told then !!, it looks like badly applied underseal or something similar hence the comment, i agree it would be a long and time consuming job..... Have fun Kieran Conrad. +1 Conrad I would run a mile away from anything with a black engine bay . So would most dealers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
roy53 Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 looks like the same on the servo, don't think a dealer would have been that messy .D I Y but why ????? Roy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jean Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 (edited) Seems that the first TR2's had black engine bays from factory... ;) what did they want to hide.. Seems that many Americans also like to paint the engine bay black, have seen quite some import TR's painted like that Edited November 7, 2015 by jean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TRseks Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 (edited) Yes, many american cars has black paint from the factory so thats probably why many american owners choose to paint with black. Of course it could be to hide something, but I think it's unfair to just assume that without further investigation. After 40-50 years these cars has normally had many owners with all sorts of ideas how to do things, I think many owners probably did this to rust proof the car, which is surely not bad at all. Don't think it would stop me from buying a car, specially if the engine needs to be removed anyway. Edited November 7, 2015 by TRseks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 The American idea of painting the engine bay black is to facilitate an easy colour change of the rest of the car. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nowtelse2do Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 (edited) It didn't stop me but it stopped two people before me buying it, because of that the price was dropped a lot. Ok it doesn't look great but I can't see it when I'm driving and neither can anyone else and we (son & myself) did a tour of mainland Europe in June of nearly 3,000ml. (see Avatar, Grossglockner) The TR had a three quarter restoration done over a 18 month period between 2002/4 at a cost of over £12k by a well known restoration company. I'm now thinking of doing the other quarter which would include the engine bay so i'll decide then if the black comes off or stays. If I was selling then it would come off. Dave Edited November 7, 2015 by nowtelse2do Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ragtag Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 There is nothing wrong with a black engine bay per se, it wouldn't put me off but there is a huge difference between satin black paint and spooned on underseal. I would certainly be wary of the reasons for the latter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kieran Moulden Posted November 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 Thanks guys - I decided to walk away. I appreciate the input. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.