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MG TD TF 1500 - 1963 Herald engine color?

Anyone know what color the engine should be in a 1963 Herald? Looking for another Brit car fan. PJ
PJ Jennings

Matt black engine and a bronze rocker cover.
Nice engine but tends to wear the crank thrust plates.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

I agree with Ray, except that I think they were actually a more glossy black. But the bronze/copper valve cover was is dead-on for a Herald. And don't forget the fat wad of sound deadener that was slapped onto the front of the timing cover.

As to the thrust washers, yeah, they tended to wear badly, and the symptom was the clutch would fail to release if they failed completely, due to the crank moving so far forward. The problem was, as the washers got thin, they tended to just drop into the sump, leaving the crank to grind into the block. The 'fix', as such, was to pin the thrust washers into the block with thin copper pins, tapped into pre-drilled holes. This prevented the washers from dropping out.
Kevin McLemore

I am probably going by modern renovations.
I checked with a friend in the Standard/Triumph Club. He agrees with Kevin, not quite shiney,not quite matt.
When we bought used Triumphs we got a mate to clutch/de-clutched and watched for crank float.
Rar TF2884
Ray Lee

Ray, do you or anyone actually, have a photo of the original valve cover copper/gold paint or a close match? PJ
PJ Jennings

I don't know anybody with an early Herald, the ones I see are 67 on with silver.
I am told it is a metallic bronze similar to TF switch panel but darker.
Sorry I can't be more precise.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

It has been suggested that a GM colour, #7147 “Camel” is fairly close to the original colour. Here’s one vendor:

https://www.pepboys.com/dupli-color-perfect-match-camel-metallic-camel-metallic-8-oz-/product/241634

And here’s a photo of an aged but somewhat original Herald. Note that the air cleaner housing is in a matching colour, and that’s as I remember.

Kevin McLemore

I found this yesterday. Supposedly a 1963 Hearld. PJ

PJ Jennings

Easy to see multiple photos. Just Google "Triumph Herald Engine Bay" Then "IMAGES" Multiple shots will come up.
John Quilter (TD8986)

This thread was discussed between 20/07/2023 and 24/07/2023

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