R.Nick Taylor on Front Wing & Running Board Paint Protection
When Member Willi Austin contacted me with a question about a Paint problem it reminded me that member Nick Taylor had experienced a similar condition so I put them together and the following story transpired.
Frank
Willi Austin asked:
"I am due to visit the factory sometime soon, to seek opinion on some peeling lacquer coat on the near side front wing (about 1” x 3” if anybody else has this problem?) "
Nick
"I am due to visit the factory sometime soon, to seek opinion on some peeling lacquer coat on the near side front wing (about 1” x 3” if anybody else has this problem?) "
Nick Taylor Responded:
I had a problem of blistering paint. Picked up by Lifes Motors just before my Warranty ran out.
The Location was on the Wings just below the doors on each side.
When the wings were removed, the side panels and wood frame needed treatment. The Morgan Motor Company paid for this work to be effected by a local body repairer (in Southport), from memory it was 2 years from the registration date.
After 4 years I then found Paint Bubbling under Tread Rubber Tracks on the running board.
My repair man in Bolton, who had been critical of a warranty job at my expense, removed wings again and resprayed and replaced them with all new fixings in stainless steel.
In addition I bought a spray from the MD of a company who happens to be a Morgan Owner and supplies the product to aircraft industry.
My bodywork man was most impressed and has used same product when restoring E type Jags.
He chemically cleaned all metal bits and treated them with usual rust inhibitors’ under coats, lacquer and amazon green spray.
To date the wings still look pristine.
He also visually checked the new stainless steel fixings for me last week.
The Spray Product is called ACF-50.
(which I bought in a large 13oz. Aerosol Can on 21st April 2016.)
The Invoice is for ACF- 50, Corrosion Preventative, Ref. PO No TFS2291 - Aerosol. MILC-81309E. C110105
The cost was £12.50 + carriage £5.83 + vat which I also think it was for a next day delivery.
U.K. Source is Adams Aviation Supply Company, Croydon,CR0 9UG
But if you Google them and phone the UK Distributor, everyone there was most helpful and if you mention your Morgan you’ll be referred to the Managing Director.
Steve Langton is the Managing Director who is a most helpful Morgan owner.
The ACF 50 Product gets rid of moisture and puts on very fine protective coating.
It also penetrates into all micron paint surfaces.
Please note that you must complete any de rusting and finish the paint resurfacing before application of this product. Once applied, paint or lacquer will not adhere to the ACF finish.
Hence it is very good for treatment to use after regular washing.
At the MOG 16 event, the Goodie Bag contained a Small ACF 50 Application Bottle which also suggested to use this after cleaning to drive out moisture.
It does an excellent job in achieving this.
However, My first Morgan in 1959 had a recommendation in the Handbook that 3 in 1 Oil should be used between the body work and the wing. This practice was OK until the ferrous parts started rusting.
Owning the Can of ACF 50 is also very useful when I need any touch up paint work, my bodywork specialist always asks me to bring the ACF 50 aerosol with the tin of paint.
I also have a tin of Amazon Green Paint for such purposes, just in case!
My findings were that the cause of the paint problems stemmed from the rusting of ferrous items used by the Morgan Factory such as panel pins and other steel fixings.
The Running Board Tread Rubber Strips are held by mild steel bolt fixings between the Aluminium Tracks and the Body Wings.
The Bumps in the Tread Rubbers were caused by corrosion growth on the heads of the metal fixings, eventually causing the bubbling of paint around the fixing.
Removing these fixing bolts and replacing them with stainless steel bolts, which also need to be countersunk into the Aluminium Tracks, was the obvious answer.
The warranty fixes included well known anti rust preparations used by body builders.
Aqua-Steel, a Rust Converter developed in the Marine Industry
The build up of corrosion on fixings also allows water tracking into wooden ash frame especially as this area dips down and the wood frame will collect the damp and may eventually rot the wood.
The Vulnerable 'Low Spot' under the Doors on the Morgan Ash Frame
Previous Morgan's with steel bodies and wings tended to be rust buckets in this area.
Paint and Lacquer is pretty good these days as is its application.
Treated ferrous parts should be good.
However body movement can break down, wear, scratch the surface to allow water to get to the steel fixing.
The ACF 50 was sprayed on last.. We found that it worked its way into Helix of threads exactly as MD (mog owner) said it would.
Applying ACF 50 to the Rubber Beadings
Applying ACF 50 along the Tread Rubber Tracks
Spraying the Bright Work with ACF 50
That's my theory of how you solve the problem. Hope this is useful as I think it answers most of the problems that are coming up!
Best regardsNick
Thank you for chasing this up for me, and thanks Nick for this very useful piece of advice.
I fear the lacquer peeling may be different from your paint bubbling; that said, it may be less costly to fix…
Interestingly, Mike Duncan at Hartlebury Garage fixed the raised running board rubbers, by removing the rubber and cleaning the rusted heads of the mild steel bolts which held the ducting; possibly, replacement with stainless steel should have been the preferred option.
I’ll check out the ACF 50 and get spraying!
Willi.
I’ll check out the ACF 50 and get spraying!
Willi.
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