MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

TR parts and Triumph parts, TR bits, Triumph Car Spares and accessories are available for TR2, TR3, TR3A, TR4, TR4A, TR5, TR6, TR7, TR8, Spitfire and Stag and other TR models are available from British car spares and parts company LBCarCo.

Triumph TR6 - Rocker Panel Coating

Any thoughts on what that thick black stuff is and where I can find some? Thanks. Rick O.
Rick Orthen

Hi Rick

There are three types at least of thick black stuff. Under about a million different names. The paintable type rockerguard generic name. And Ashfalt type for up in the wheel wells that some use to deaden sound as well is not to paintable. Any body supply store. The British stuff my grandmother used to drink. I believe STOUT would work very well. Liquer store.

TIP
Rockerguard etc. leaves a rippled finish I am not to happy with. If you have ever tried to remove it you won't be happy either. I use a paint additive for flexible mouldings on new cars called Flexar. I like PPG urethanes though so name may be different. Still looks good no chips can't tell its there after 2 years. I don't do Major Gravel runs with either though.

Standard car paint has a very hard surface and chips. Flexar keeps the paint a bit less hard and flexible almost like the rockerguard without noticeable diference on lower surfaces.

Good Luck
Bill


B Brayford

In 1990, I finished the total body-off resoration of my TR3A. Since then I have driven it over 69,400 miles. The under fenders, wheel wells and all over under is still as new as it was in 1990. I had it painted at the same time with the same paint as the exterior. You can run your hand under any of the fenders and you would think they were painted yesterday. I don't suggest tar or rocker-guard for the under body. I have to admit, I don't drive "TRusty" in the winter, but during that 12-year period, I'd guess I've done over 50 miles over gravel roads under repair and driven about 3,000 miles in the rain on wet roads etc. To clean it back to new, I use a do-it-yourself car wask or when I'm at home, I use my 1500 psi Karcher high-pressure spray gun with a wipe down using soft cloths and varsol (mineral spirits) to de-grease it either before or after.

Don Elliott, Original Owner, 1958 TR3A
Don Elliott

Thanks Don and Bill. You see, I noticed that the rocker black plastic coating (which is 30 years old) behind the front wheel was loose. I was able to pull off pieces of the stuff and found some minor rust, but most of the body color was still there. Since I'm not ready for a full body strip and respray, I'm going to pull off what I can and deal with the surface rust. As a temporary measure to prevent rock chipping, I'll cover with "rubberized undercoating" after the painting is done.

Rick
Rick Orthen

Rick O
When doing my restore, the paint shop guy suggested a film (mylar??) that is like a peel and place type of self adhesive product. It is clear and will allow the original black to show through....if I recall either ripple or flat finish. I did not go for it. I went with the just black paint finish (original). Like Don E. I do not plan to drive on gravel roads and when I have had to (construction) I drive VERY slowly. It still looks good and one nice thing about it is that it is an easy touch up when it becomes necessary. One nice thing about doing a body off restore is that you can flip the tub upside down in the gaurage ( or in Bills case work shop) strip, prime ,and finish the underside. I applied the ashfalt type to the entire underside including wheel wells (not on the frame). The Flexar stuff sounds interesting....original looking and chip resistant..what more could you ask for!!
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Rick O. - There's a TR6 owner in Ontario who fabricates "durable ABS plastic" wheel wells (he calls then TR6 Fender Liner Kits) that protect the paint once you have touched it up.

He has other stuff too.

His name is Bob Bieler. Try Bob at Magenta Automotive. Guess what colo(u)r his TR6 is ?

cbbieler@sympatico.com

Don Elliott, 1958 TR3A

Don Elliott

Thanks for the wheel well liner tip; I'll consider it when I the body needs to be restored (which shouldn't be for quite a while). As I stated previously, my problem area is the rocker panels which have a plastic-like textured coating. Unfortunately, moisture got under the coating at the attachment bolt areas and rust started. I peeled the loose coating off these areas and dealt with the rust. I will not be reapplying a coating to these areas (just a few coats of black paint). I wonder when people redo their body whether they reapply the coating or simply let the body color shine through.

Rick O.
Rick Orthen

Rick - I've seen "Rocker-Guard" available in black or ivory colo(u)r. I've also seen it as "paintable" which means that you can apply it and later you can paint over it in the colo(u)r you want.

Don Elliott, 1958 TR3A
Don Elliott

This thread was discussed between 19/09/2002 and 24/09/2002

Triumph TR6 index