TC Firewall/Bulkhead Colour

[Shanghai]

Im sure this topic has been discussed before but please humor new comer.
From my research I believe (please confirm) that my TC4885 should have either a Light Grey or Green Grey firewall.
Can anyone confirm which is correct?
Also any ideas on paint codes or references?
Thanks in advance.

[stephen stierman]

Yes, given your sn. your firewall would be light gray, read the post about three before this one and this is discussed. Mine was what you might call a light dove gray and I used a Rustoleum rattle can to paint the thing. I found the original color not to have a high gloss, but age and heat probably plays a part in this. Your engine would likely be a similar color, perhaps with a greenish tint, but again age and heat play a part, I mixed up my own. Photo under exposed and darker than reality. I am not saying this is exactly the color, just wanted to make sure the firewall was not body color and the engine was not red!

[Tim Jackson]

Some info in this file.

[Steve Simmons]

I was going to say there are a couple books you need, but Tim has already given the required info from them! Original T-Series and TCs Forever are both required reading for the TC enthusiast.

[TBrad]

Sherrell states on page 61 that the bulkhead or scuttle (firewall) pressing changed between #4884 & #5562. It would be interesting to know if yours has the deep flutes or the shallow ones. Apparently, the deeper flutes indicate a body from Carbodies of Coventry and the shallow flutes indicate a body from Morris Bodies. He does insist all deep fluted scuttles were painted grey. Also, according to Sherrell, the bolts and washers fastening the scuttle should be black. He further says the engine colour (color) should be a mid to dark grey, not the light grey of the scuttle (page 69).

[stephen stierman]

Brad, I can tell you that TC2911 has the deeper cruder looking flutes and the bolts holding the firewall to the scuttle were and are black. The firewall as I mentioned had not been removed from the tub and all the bolts washers, wire loom holder, etc were intact when I took it apart. As far a the engine color, I mixed that up myself and if I were doing it over again probably would have made it a little less green, but that photo is darker than reality.
Steve

[TBrad]

Brad, I can tell you that TC2911 has the deeper cruder looking flutes and the bolts holding the firewall to the scuttle were and are black. The firewall as I mentioned had not been removed from the tub and all the bolts washers, wire loom holder, etc were intact when I took it apart. As far a the engine color, I mixed that up myself and if I were doing it over again probably would have made it a little less green, but that photo is darker than reality.
Steve

My scuttle/firewall is very much the same color as your engine.

[stephen stierman]

Brad, I am betting that your firewall has been repainted at some point in its life as mine was. It is pretty well accepted that they were painted a light gray. When I pulled mine off the timbers, that is exactly what I found on the flanges under the rubber seals. I wish I could have discovered some old paint on the engine, but there was no question that it had been apart and repainted many times during its service life, so I took liberty and mixed something up that was not maroon that could have had a semblance of what various authors have described.

[SteveW]

Slightly off topic, but could someone let me know if the joins between the firewall/bulkhead and the rest of the car have any sort of rubber seals between it and the rest of the car. In particular, is there anything between I) the bulkhead/fire wall and the two triangular brackets that secure it to the chassis and ii) between the firewall/bulkhead and the wood frame.

I'm just about to do a temporary fit to allow me to build the front half of the wood frame and I need to make sure I allow for any seals that are required.

[stephen stierman]

Yes, there are rubber strips between the firewall and the cowl timbers and also between the triangular brackets and the firewall.

[SteveW]

Thanks for the information. Sorry, I should have also asked in my original post what the thickness of the rubber strips are. If they are thin then I'm thinking I should allow 1/8" for both, if thicker then say 1/8" for each...

[stephen stierman]

Yes, and I should have measured them. These appear to be a bit thicker, perhaps 3/16" would be closer.

[Shanghai]

Sherrell states on page 61 that the bulkhead or scuttle (firewall) pressing changed between #4884 & #5562. It would be interesting to know if yours has the deep flutes or the shallow ones. Apparently, the deeper flutes indicate a body from Carbodies of Coventry and the shallow flutes indicate a body from Morris Bodies. He does insist all deep fluted scuttles were painted grey. Also, according to Sherrell, the bolts and washers fastening the scuttle should be black. He further says the engine colour (color) should be a mid to dark grey, not the light grey of the scuttle (page 69).

Hi Brad,
I'm not sure if my flutes are the deep or shallow type. Here is the only photo I have at the moment, can you comment? It would be interesting to know as this is #4885 one after #4884 that Sherrell states is the start of the change over period.
Thanks
Tony