120 Brake Reservoir Paint

The paint is pealing off the lid of my brake reservoir, which is caused by the brake fluid. Does any one know what type of paint is not affected by brake fluid ? - Frank Rubino

Frank, POR 15 - Wray Schelin

Frank, Powder coating seems to be OK - Col Haywood

The old 120 glass jar tops were cad plated. I have seen some of the metal types in later cars painted black or cad or tin plated. Powder coating will definately work, but it sure wasn't available way back when. - Larry J

I agree with Larry that generally the brake reservoir tops were satin silver metal plated (I take his word for it that this was cadmium), but there were some examples painted black e.g. a couple in the handbook, also 670178 (the 1000 mile alloy car) and some others reported to me (nothing later than 1951). I do not know whether the other sightings were original or not - pretty hard to tell with an easily refinished item like that. Any else got any opinions? - Regards, John Elmgreen

Hello Johm and all; My 120 purchased new on May 14, 1954 and left the factory 11/11/53 (674443), the brake reservoir was painted black with a poor quality paint as it did not survive too long. After several attempts to paint it again with black paint of that period, I just lekt it natural, which is a tinned can. Someday I'll try again with modern paint, but not powder. It was definately painted black when the car was new, but the action of the fluid ate it away. - Bernard Yurt

Dear Bernie, You have the can type brake fluid reservoir. What about the earlier glass type with the metal lid, anyone seen an original one of these painted black? - Regards, John Elmgreen

Frank - Phenolic epoxies are quite resistant to brake fluid. Standard epoxies are not, but the phenolic variety work great. It requires a catalyzed material, don't let anybody tell you that a single pack (all in one can) material will be resistant, because it won't be for very long. Tough to find, though. I'm in the coating business, so I get samples. These types of products are generally not labeled for consumer sale because they are nasty so I'm not sure where you would get them. - Scott Selbach

John, I have two of these Glass brake fluid reservoirs amongst my spares. The respective Mark 5, Mark 7 and XK120 Spare Parts Catalogues all list the identical Jaguar Part No C.3540 and GIRLING Part No. H.2812. This is interesting in that even though Mark 5 and 7 used GIRLING brakes, XK120 used LOCKHEED brakes. The first one I have is reputedly ex Mark 5 (I can't confirm), and appears to have (had) a bright plated metal lid, AND a small GIRLING name plate rivetted to the metal band. The second one IS ex 1951 Mark 7, and appears to have remnants of black paint on lid and no sign of plating, otherwise identical to first one except NO Girling name plate. - Roger Payne

Yes, Mine was painted black with a Lockheed tag on the band. The screws were black on mine. The lid color was questionable, and was not bright in color. I painted it black as no reference to others in the area. - Cleo Bay Jr., 52 XK120 OTS, 56 XK140 OTS, 62 E-Type OTS

Scott, Try Rand-O-Plate from Randolph Aircraft Coatings. This two part epoxy based "Stuff" was developed as a substitute for the zinc-chromate primers which were outlawed in several states. I have not tried ROP with brakefluids but it has survived everything else I have thrown at it. You can get it at most aircraft repair shops. - Regards, Klaus Nielsen

If you have any questions or comments send e-mail to: ted@jag-lovers.org
Main Page	Back to the Library