Rear Axle Finish

JCNA agrees with Roger re XK140
JCNA (42): all black (diff housing, rear axle housing, backing plates,
brake drums, wire wheel hub). Nothing stated re 120 and 150 I think.

I must say that I have never heard it seriously suggested that the diff
housings were other than black originally. If there are observations to the
contrary, let's hear about all the date, the numbers and the history of
each particular car and re-think it then. There seem to be a few areas
where the poor black finishes on XKs (120s especially) ended up red lead
colour - e.g. inside body panels on early 120s, panels inside engine
compartments etc.
- John Elmgreen

My late XK120 rear axle was well preserved in grease, so I can attest to
the originality of its colour. It was completely painted black, although
the diff housing was black over red lead. The black paint on the diff was
poorly bonded - most of it came off with the thick layer of grease as I
scraped it off.
- Nick Saltarelli
  1954 XK120SE OTS
 1968 E-type OTS

I just cleaned up my ENV rear end last year on 660636 and the entire rear
end was Black. The oil and dirt preserved the original paint very well. I
never knew there were grease fittings for the axle bearings.
- XK120@aol.com

Allow me two add my 2 cents to the discussion. When I dragged S830794
(XK-150S OTS) out of a field in 1988 I not only had a red dif housing I had
a red engine block! After a number of weeks I figured out the block, and
maybe the rear end was DIPPED in a chemical called glyptol (sp?). I learned
this was used by the factory to reduce oil drag inside the enging block. As
someone else mentioned the judges are not allowed to look under the car in
the US so I did not give the dif much thought. Another thing I noticed
throughout the years is the "factory" made its share of mistakes. I saw the
national XK-150 last October and found a few things wrong with it, so
lighten up guys and gals, after all it's just a car!

- L J Haithcock
  S830794DN
  XK-150S OST

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