Gold Seal Engine Painting

[minormarc]

Hi everyone. Firstly I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Let's hope 2021 brings us hope for a more 'normal' year.

Now I wonder if any of you would be able to give me some advice please.

I bought my Morris Minor from a member of this group back in June and I am extremely pleased with her. She is in wonderful overall condition and has covered only 37000 odd miles since 1969. She had a Gold Seal engine fitted in 1980 when she had done about 23000 miles but it has got a bit grubby since 1980 and an oil leak hasn’t helped. Engine code starts 8G. The car is unrestored and doesn't need restoring as the previous 2 owners have treated her like a princess.

I need to change the clutch as the release bearing is rumbling and fix the oil leak coming from the sump and crank seals so figured it might be a good idea to take the engine out to do the work. Whilst out, I was going to re-paint the engine in gold as it must have been when new so I was wondering if anyone can give any clues as to what paint I should use and should I have a gloss or matt finish and lastly, spray or brush on? I know the engine will stick out against the Trafalgar Blue of the body but it would have looked like that in 1980 so I wanted to preserve the original look. (not of the original green engine, of course). There is clear evidence of the engine being gold and I would be grateful if anyone could tell me if the sump and engine ancillaries should also be gold? Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks very much.

Marc.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Hello, I am in a similar situation to you as I also have a Gold Seal engine which would also benefit from fresh paint or at least touch-ins. They were painted all over including the sump and even the alloy thermostat cover (which I have also seen painted green on the green engines). First of all I need to clean it though.



But I cleaned up the rocker cover and will be content to leave it as it is. I took especial care when cleaning the B.M.C. transfer and this would have to be very carefully masked if painting around it, but would not cover it with tape, instead place some card over it.






I have tested VHT gold engine aerosol paint but it's not the right shade. The original paint is a bronze-gold. Ford or Oldsmobile gold might work but to save buying them and still not quite right I am going to ask the paint shop to scan it with their special scanner which matches it, and ask if it can be done to resist heat and oil.

[jagnut66]

Hi,
Nice to see Gold Seal engines being kept gold and not just painted green like all the rest.
Good luck with your hunt for a paint match, post a link up on here for others when you find one.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[pgp001]

If you do want a new sticker you can get one here.

https://www.isaydingdong.co.uk/ourshop/ ... ker-4.html

Phil P

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

They are better than nothing but still not a faithful reproduction as the lettering is wrong and it is a vinyl sticker. The Americans are very good at reproducing exact facsimiles of original decals but don't think they've done one of these yet.

[minormarc]

Thank you for your replies and apologies but I have been unable to successfully login here for a couple of days.

Jowettjavelin – Yes, I noticed that it isn’t a bright gold paint that is required, it’s as you described, a bronze gold and thanks for the photos. By chance you inadvertently answered a question I had going on in my head about the sticker on the rocker cover which was where it actually went on the rocker cover. Unfortunately, whoever painted mine green took the sticker off so I did actually buy a couple (thanks for the link Phil P – that’s where I got mine from) which I know won’t be truly original but it’s about the best I can do. I smiled when I saw how crooked yours was. British workmanship at its best eh?
If you do get the right paint, I would be extremely grateful if you can let me know what it is and if you went for matt or gloss – I’m guessing it’s a matt finish.

Thanks again everyone - please keep me posted about the paint JowettJavelin.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Will do but it won't be for a month or two because of Covid and work.

[Chipper]

What's the huge engine out of, that dwarfs the A-series?

It is possible to change the clutch release bearing with the engine just moved forwards enough to gain access using a trolley jack, having first removed the front grille/panel:

[ManyMinors]

What's the huge engine out of, that dwarfs the A-series?

Humber Hawk?

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Yes it is from a scrap 1967 Hawk which can just be seen in the background. As it has overdrive my thoughts turned to whether a conversion was ever available for the Minor, but that's a different subject.

[minormarc]

Will do but it won't be for a month or two because of Covid and work.

No problem at all. I can't get help removing the engine from the car whilst restrictions are in force anyway but if I'm going to paint the engine, I'd like to get the best colour match to the original gold seal colour as possible. I'm very grateful to you.

[Bigrob]

I've been looking at repainting my goldseal engine too.

And the closest I can find is this:

VHT SP404 Metallic Gold Flake

61mp0ueReoL._AC_SL1500_.jpg (75.97 KiB) Viewed 3289 times

39a7d07c-2bef-5fb0-9161-6f4949530fda.jpeg.jpg (78.7 KiB) Viewed 3289 times

These aren't my photo's but them online.


I am struggling to find a UK suppliet but it is readily available in the US

[Pete Bags]

I've been looking at repainting my goldseal engine too.

And the closest I can find is this:

VHT SP404 Metallic Gold Flake


61mp0ueReoL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
39a7d07c-2bef-5fb0-9161-6f4949530fda.jpeg.jpg


These aren't my photo's but them online.


I am struggling to find a UK suppliet but it is readily available in the US

Now that goldseal engine in my Moggy would be fun!

[geoberni]

I am struggling to find a UK suppliet but it is readily available in the US

That's because they are principally an American domestic paint brand, basically part of Dupli-Color, which is a Sherwin-Williams brand.

You may find you can get it under a different label in the UK, as Sherwin-Williams are a global concern.

You highlighted their Engine Enamel which is good for 550F, but there is a Brake Caliper paint they do that's good to 900F available in the UK...
Try this company, they seem to have some of VHTs products:
https://www.frost.co.uk/engine-paints-enamels/

[Bigrob]

Now that goldseal engine in my Moggy would be fun!

Wouldn't it just!!

I am struggling to find a UK suppliet but it is readily available in the US

That's because they are principally an American domestic paint brand, basically part of Dupli-Color, which is a Sherwin-Williams brand.

You may find you can get it under a different label in the UK, as Sherwin-Williams are a global concern.

You highlighted their Engine Enamel which is good for 550F, but there is a Brake Caliper paint they do that's good to 900F available in the UK...
Try this company, they seem to have some of VHTs products:
https://www.frost.co.uk/engine-paints-enamels/

I thought they may have been, I'll see if they've got a European/UK equivalent.

I did see the caliper paint, but a lot of those need baking, and I'm not sure if running the engine up to temp counts as a bake?

[philthehill]

Available from Frosts

https://www.frost.co.uk/brands/vht-pain ... gLQu_D_BwE

[Bigrob]

Available from Frosts

https://www.frost.co.uk/brands/vht-pain ... gLQu_D_BwE

Thanks Phil, I see they stock a range of engine enamels and VHT paints, but I'm not sure they have the colour I think is closest.

I mean my eye could be way off!


Sorry edited to add a question!

Someone stated further up about the repro sticker being wrong as it's a vinyl sticker.

Was the original sticker a paper sticker or water transfer?

[minormarc]

I've been looking at repainting my goldseal engine too.

And the closest I can find is this:

VHT SP404 Metallic Gold Flake


61mp0ueReoL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
39a7d07c-2bef-5fb0-9161-6f4949530fda.jpeg.jpg


These aren't my photo's but them online.


I am struggling to find a UK suppliet but it is readily available in the US

Thank you Rob....I'll definitely bear that in mind. It does look a reasonable colour match although if JowettJavelin manages to get something by having the original paint scanned, this may be even closer. It's always great to have options, so thank you for posting.

[geoberni]

Was the original sticker a paper sticker or water transfer?

If you look at JJ's photos above, they have the classic appearance of the decals you use on plastic model kits, so I would say water transfer.
I doubt you'll find these available anywhere....

[Bigrob]

Thank you Rob....I'll definitely bear that in mind. It does look a reasonable colour match although if JowettJavelin manages to get something by having the original paint scanned, this may be even closer. It's always great to have options, so thank you for posting.

Oh 100%. We matched some engine paint for someone a few years back, using swatches, we weren't fancy enough for a scanner!

We ended up taking a spray out of our colour match to a specialist who mixed up the engine paint for us. But it was bang on.

If you look at JJ's photos above, they have the classic appearance of the decals you use on plastic model kits, so I would say water transfer.
I doubt you'll find these available anywhere....

I thought it may be. I've actually been looking at custom printed transfers for model kits for my father in law who makes models of specific vehicles, subs, planes etc.

I've been trying to find a good quality photo of an original, clean and undamaged 'sticker' to get some made up