Gearbox painted or unpainted

[austerdriver]

Anyone know if the gearboxes were painted bmc bronze green from new or just unpainted aluminium (1098 ribbed type) thanks.

[taupe]

unpainted

[les]

Pretty sure they were bare from factory, they look nice green though if you're a guy who doesn't have a problem with non originality. It also stops the aluminium getting discoloured.

[philthehill]

I have seen ex factory 'A' Series gearboxes left in bare alloy, painted bronze green, painted black and painted gold.
So you can take your pick.
To me the bare alloy is the best.
Phil

[oliver90owner]

I would have thought bare metal from the factory as originals, but likely surface coated on reconditioning?

RAB

[biomed32uk]

A coat of AlumaBlast from Eastwood paints smartens it up nicely, one aerosol tin is more than enough for a couple of coats on the box and a whole lot more. Looks just like fresh cast ally and is still looking smart 2 years on.

[Budgie]

Wow talk about pre empting a subject! I was going to ask what looks best as I know that bare metal was the way they came out of the factory and seeing as my gearbox is now sitting on the bench awaiting a rebuild, I was pondering on whether or not to paint it green like I will be doing to the engine in., decisions, decisions.

[austerdriver]

Thanks for the replies.
I was watching a program the other day with mark evans about a young lady restoring a frog eye and the gearbox was mid bronze green and looked nice! Not that you can see much of it when fitted !

[biomed32uk]

Mine had been done black at some stage in the past, what was left of it looked awful. Still took some shifting though, and with modern Nitromors being useless as they don't strip paint anymore it was a long old job cleaning it up.

[midget]

Mine had been done black at some stage in the past, what was left of it looked awful. Still took some shifting though, and with modern Nitromors being useless as they don't strip paint anymore it was a long old job cleaning it up.

Sorry to hijack thread, but any suggestions on an alternative to the now useless Nitromors please?
Bodens was suggested elsewhere but no good,sadly.I have an awful lot to do and have rejected the blasting/dipping route as not suitable.
Wire wheel/poly discs/flap wheels are used at present, but upsetting neighbors due to noise and pretty slow/expensive.

[biomed32uk]

Starchem Synstrip apparently, you can buy it on the auction site. It has the stuff in that Nitromors used to have when it actually did what it said on the tin. Sure you could tip Nitromors in your tea now and come to no harm.

The Synstrip is recommended by a friend in the village, its evil stuff according to him, back to needing gloves and goggles.

[midget]

Thanks, I'll give that a go. It was suggested by another but fed up with stuff that just does not work, so will report back.
Then we'll all know!

[Monty-4]

The most authentic gearboxes are covered in oil from rear scroll oil leaks.

[smithskids]

A series unpainted. MMs black. same as series Es and Morris 8s.

[midget]

Pleased to confirm that the recommended Synstrip product does indeed work well. Thanks for suggestion.

[biomed32uk]

Excellent news, it is nice when something works and makes the job easy. May have to get some in stock myself. Thanks for letting us know.

[ianmack]

Ive just picked up a box which is bright blue, presumably done by a reconditioner years ago.

Or maybe it was the previous owners favoutite colour.

[Budgie]

I've been in two minds to paint mine green after I'd rebuilt it......well it's now back in the car since Saturday gone and in it's original colour as per leaving the factory i.e. bare metal casting , aluminium.....I'd still like it to have been green tho, to match the newly painted engine.

[RobThomas]

Well...........you could leave it bare ali and then give it a serious polishing??

[austerdriver]

Almost finished the gearbox rebuild well will this next off shift! It's going to be left in aluminium finish for originality the spare one might do in the mid bronze green!!
How do I upload photos from the android to this post anyone anyone?