Hi Bill,
Welcome to the fold of T restorers...
I am also immersed in the process of restoring a 53 TD. One and a half years
ago I started with minor touch-ups in a daily driver with very good
cosmetics, and I am still involved in what became practically a ground-up
restoration.
I posted the same question on painting the chassis in the MG enthusiasts BBS
(you must register there - it's free - and you can access to the archives,
with plenty o invaluable information) and also asked some friends here I
Spain who restore classic cars.
After all the useful inputs I got, I would conclude that practically all
types of advertised paints would be ok. The decision would depend on
questions like: the condition of the surface (rusted or sand-blasted), your
preferred final look (gloss, satin, matt, etc.), the availability of the
paints (no problem there in the US, I suppose), if you are going to spray or
to use a brush and roller, how you will retouch the scratches you will
surely make in the assembling, etc. Sprayed two-pack paints give generally a
very nice finish and they use to be hard, but also brittle, and prone to
chips. The recommendation of a Jaguar restorer was to use some kind of plain
synthetic (even oil-based) paint, which is very tough and resistant to small
stones hitting the chassis. It can be easily retouched with brush and
roller, too. I applied this method to my chassis.
With respect to suspension parts, I painted them before assembling. I only
left bare metal in the surfaces that will have some critical coupling or
relative motion. For small parts it is very practical to use rattle-cans, or
again a brush and/or a roller.
If you want, I can send to you some pictures of my painted front and rear
suspension parts (still not assembled). Really, I have been taken hundreds
of pictures of the restoring process, so if you need some graphic details of
something, do not hesitate in asking me.
Regards and goods luck.
Jesus
Jesus Benajes
Valencia, Spain
'53 TD
-----Mensaje original-----
De: owner-mg-t@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-mg-t@autox.team.net] En nombre
de William T Snyder
Enviado el: sabado, 24 de enero de 2004 16:24
Para: mg-t@autox.team.net
Asunto: Frame and suspension part painting
Hello list. I am starting my '53 TD restoration from the ground up. First
preparation of that frame and refurbishing the front and rear suspension.
Do any of you have recommendation about the best paints for frame and
suspension parts? I have an un molested and relatively rust free chassis,
and want to keep it that way. Can the same material be used to paint the
suspension parts? I assume that it would be a good idea to paint the
suspension parts before installing new seals and bushings(?). Does anyone
have strong feelings about regular bushings vs. poly urethane?
Thanks for you input and for your comments and suggestions about wood
floor parts.
Bill Snyder
Waynesville, NC
'53 TD (in boxes)
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