Paint/Plating finishes 1962 etype

[richard btype]

I am indebted to those who have posted up the photos of early 3.8 cars under the section of 'Factory Fit' because I have been trying to research this for some time and most UK cars that I've seen are either too rusty and have lost the information or if recently restored usually appear 'too bright' possibly because the plated items have been 'bright zinc' plated rather than the softer 'cadmium'. I'm hoping someone will be able to confirm/dispel the following:

1) With the blue low mileage car (in section 'Factory Fit') it would appear that most of the components making up the front suspension are and this is my question - cadmium rather than painted silver? i.e. upper wishbone, the upright mounting, the lower wishbones and tie rod.

2) I have read elsewhere that a grey/green finish is found on the top of radiator to expansion tank tie plates and also the servo mounting bracket - is this a paint finish and does anyone have the paint code? - can this finish be found elsewhere in the engine bay?

3) Was it the practise to fit black bolts and cadmium nuts together for example attaching the expansion tank to its mounting bracket?

4) I may have found a plater who can replicate the finish of cadmium and wonder if anyone else has been down this route?

Thanks in advance

Richard

[Heuer]

Richard

The suspension was cadmium plated but it is difficult to find anyone who will do it nowadays. I thought the only part painted hammer green was the oil filter cannister, all other parts are hammer finish silver but I am prepared to be corrected. Can't answer your other questions for definite but no doubt Angus can! In the meantime have a look through this guide: http://www.jcna.com/library/tech/e-type1.pdf

[richard btype]

Thank you David.

I rather suspect that the bolt/nut plating finishes might have changed between the batches purchased by the factory dependant on availability at any given time. I will discuss the Cadmium finish with the company I use for plating, funnily enough when I tried to plate a bright zinc finish (on a hobby kit) I used to get frustrated by it mostly ending up a dull colour - so inadvertantly may have found the finish. Doubt I could replicate however...

Richard

[christopher storey]

There are two aerospace suppliers who will do cadmium plating ( one in S.Wales and one in , I think, the West Country ) but they are ferociously expensive ( when I got my front suspension etc priced up it was over ?500 and that was 3 years ago ) . Sorry, I can't remember the names but try a Google

[PaulColeman]

I thought cadmium plating was now illegal in the UK?

Paul.

[richard btype]

Paul

I believe the aircraft industry are still able to plate with Cadmium because of the standards required, if they are interested in extending the service to outside the industry I guess that is their call, but the price is rather eye watering but then again is it if price is not an issue and the wish is to achieve authenticity? The company I am talking with are able to plate with other chemicals but crucially replicate the Cadmium look, I have asked for samples - Cadmium finish just looks so right to me.

Richard

[Dave K]

Richard,

It depends on the year of manufacture as well. Although later 3.8 and 4.2 cars may have been plated the early cars like mine has black front suspension parts. Easy to replicate :D People always say that the diff was painted red oxide but mine wasn't and neither was another car that I know of.

Dave

[richard btype]

David

Most interesting because It appeared to me that my e's front suspension was possibly black but 51 years in the UK it is difficult to be sure. I have been studying the blue fixed head down at Tonbridge but that is a later build car to mine (mine being April 1962 Chassis 860403). If true are you thinking the wishbones were black? and what do you consider with the fixings? What are the build dates and chassis no's of the cars you mention?

Richard

[Heuer]

According to Haddock "The A-arms came in two colours - silver and black. It seems that both types were intermixed, at least on early cars"

Here is FHC 860051 which I went to look at yesterday:

[richard btype]

David

As a matter of interest is 860051 FHC or DHC - is the colour Gunmetal?

Noticed that the airbox fitted is later fluted type.

Richard

[Heuer]

RHD FHC's start with 86xxxx and OTS's with 85xxxx so the clue is there :D . Yes it is gunmetal: http://www.nickwhalesportscarsdirect.co ... -floor-301

Nice sound original early car retaining quite a lot of features but they decided the paintwork was not good enough as it had micro-blisters so they treated it to a ?14,000 repaint, on the outside only! A real curate's egg as the chrome is badly pitted, original well worn wheels and the engine bay mostly untouched apart from routine maintenance. The CTB Ltd steering wheel is with the car, the hardura and vinyl is mostly original, the HT organiser is original etc etc. Had it been left alone it would have made an excellent scruffy driver but now it just feels and looks odd. I would worry about the frames though as they have not been checked and there is evidence of painted over surface corrosion. It was at auction a couple of weeks ago and failed to make reserve http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=860051 (ignore references to 850051 as it should not be there, it is an OTS)

As regards the plenum the first couple of years production had the non fluted version. Jaguar changed it to fluted to strengthen it because so many were getting cracked, mostly because people were using it to rest their hand and body weight on when leaning into the engine bay. So many early cars have the fluted version as a maintenance replacement. If you want the original look it is quite simple to fill the grooves and paint it over which is what most early restored cars have according to Harry. I was talking to him about this very subject earlier in the week.

[osgii]

Front brakes shouldn't be silver?

[richard btype]

David

Please excuse the disengaged brain re 86 and 85! It is like a twin to my own but I guess the gunmetal/red interior was quite a classic combination back then.Quite unusual I would say that there is only one owner (in the log book) whatever that means! I can see what you are saying re the new paint job/verses the more or less original interior - not sure but looks like the seats have been recovered and re foamed. I think that for a 14k respray its a shame they have not toned down the finish to a more cellulose look - but that's what seems to be done these days.