Dingy floorboard rubber

[john in illinois]

Is there a way to clean and blacken the rubber diamonds. Mine are sort of gray on my Tudor.
Can't use bleach white or chemicals because of zinc edges.

John

[Classiccanuck]

the gray is oxidation, tape off the zinc?

[Dollar Bill]

Are you speaking of the running boards? If so, you may consider black shoe dye - Not shoe polish as it will come off in time.

[john in illinois]

Thanks Bill. That would probably work, i will try it. It would not be slippery like Armor all.

John

[ian Simpson]

Originally Posted by Dollar Bill

Are you speaking of the running boards? If so, you may consider black shoe dye - Not shoe polish as it will come off in time.

X2.

Did a very good job on the trunk mat of our 57 Chev.

[noboD]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Forget the die. Buy a bottle of Lestoil at a grocery store's kitchen cleaner area. Brush it into the rubber and let it sit for an hour or so. Then rinse with lots of water. Rubber will be black, grey will be GONE, not slippery. If you don't trust do a test piece.

[Ed Saniewski]

I used Eagle one tire shine. sprayed on and rubbed off after a few minutes. looks nice and black

[1931 flamingo]

Grey is patina.........increases value............

Paul in CT

[john in illinois]

Thanks for the replies. Paul you have a point. My car has laquer painted in 1972 with much patina. Sometimes I like to spiff the old girl up.

John

[captndan]

Tire paint. Good stuff.

[1Tudoor]

Only takes a few min to mask off the 4 edges of ea running bd ..
Just did mine yesterday & painted w/ a semi flat oil base blk .
Looks a lot better today !
I really hate the looks of those metal step plts plus it means ruining the running bds drilling holes so will continue to keep up the running bds.. Makes for a much cleaner esthetically pleasing side view in my opinion .

[Dollar Bill]

I would be somewhat concerned any type of paint or coating will eventually peel/wear off.

[pgerhardt]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Grey is patina.........increases value............

Paul in CT

I know I may get flamed for this but:

Rust = Patina
Dents = Patina
Fading & UV damage = Patina
Cracked & failing paint = Patina
Ripped, water damaged, and critter damaged interiors = Patina

I don't get it? Some even fake rust with paint to get a "patina" look.

Now let me be clear. I understand and support the idea that an original unrestored survivor model A's should be conserved and maintained as is. If nothing else so that it may be studied later to determine what the original features were like on the model A as it left the showroom when new. In fact I think it should be a goal of the MAFCA and the model A museum to try to obtain and conserve one unrestored example of every year/body style of the model A as a living data base for future historians and restorers.

But IMHO this does not apply to an old 1970's restoration that is failing again. There is no "patina" (as in the art or antique sense) to preserve. It is just an old restoration that is starting to look crappy again.

Maybe you don't have the money, skill, or enough interest to restore a model A. You just want the fun of driving one. That is great. Make it safe, throw a mexican blanket over the seat and go for it! Tell everyone, "I like them that way", and have fun! But don't ignore a failing older restoration and call it patina.

Whew! Rant over. I feel better now, and am prepared to duck and run!

[1952henry]

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

I know I may get flamed for this but:

Rust = Patina
Dents = Patina
Fading & UV damage = Patina
Cracked & failing paint = Patina
Ripped, water damaged, and critter damaged interiors = Patina

I don't get it? Some even fake rust with paint to get a "patina" look.

Now let me be clear. I understand and support the idea that an original unrestored survivor model A's should be conserved and maintained as is. If nothing else so that it may be studied later to determine what features were like on the model A as it left the showroom when new. If fact I think it should be a goal of the MAFCA and the model A museum to try to obtain and conserve one unrestored example of every year/body style of the model A as a living data base for future historians and restorers.

But IMHO this does not apply to an old 1970's restoration that is failing again. There is no "patina" (as in the art or antique sense) to preserve. It is just an old restoration that is starting to look crappy again.

Maybe you don't have the money, skill, or enough interest to restore a model A. You just want the fun of driving one. That is great. Make it safe, throw a mexican blanket over the seat and go for it! Tell everyone, "I like them that way", and have fun! But don't ignore a failing older restoration and call it patina.

Whew! Rant over. I feel better now, and am prepared to duck and run!

Don't forget the fake-aged "speed shop" lettering for the doors!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I use Lysol, Biodegradable Kitchen Spray Cleaner. It's the BEST, most effective cleaner I've ever seen! Makes rubber parts appear like new. It even removed the "varnish" looking, disc brake residue from my Buick mag wheels, nothing else, even Lacquer thinner, wouldn't even touch it. On "modern" cars, it made the flat BLACK & rubber parts smooth & like NEW!
It even softened a big BLACK ugly puddle, in my OVEN, when my pie "boiled" over. I just crinkled a paper towel, kept it soaked & it was GONE, in an hour!
Its' active ingredient is some WEIRD name that I never saw in other cleaners.
NO, I'm NOT a salesman for LYSOL!
OH, & it KILLS drainboard ANTS, in a NANO-SECOND!
Bill W.--(AKA, Mr. Clean)

[1931 flamingo]

pgerhardt: At cider mill next month don't come and look at mine. It has patina.

[pgerhardt]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

pgerhardt: At cider mill next month don't come and look at mine. It has patina.

I am sure your car is beautiful. My point was that the word patina is so over used. It is not patina unless your car is an unrestored survor. If your car was restored some time before you got it (and most were), it has no original patina left and is a good used model A - a driver.

Actually I much prefer a model A that is loved and used to a trailer queen that is little more than a scale 1:1 model of a model A, or the model A that is driven to a show and then the owner spends the first two hours of their day removing any evidence that it was ever driven!

BTW regarding the Cider Mill. My car wont be ready (picture), but I plan on vending, so I hope Barn members will stop by my table and say hi.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by Dollar Bill

I would be somewhat concerned any type of paint or coating will eventually peel/wear off.

Everything ages with time, nothing is permanent! Wayne

[ian Simpson]

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

i am sure your car is beautiful. My point was that the word patina is so over used. It is not patina unless your car is an unrestored survivor. If your car was restored some time before you got it (and most were), it has no original patina left and is a good used model a - a driver.

Actually i much prefer a model a that is loved and used to a trailer queen that is little more than a scale 1:1 model of a model a, or the model a that is driven to a show and then the owner spends the first two hours of their day removing any evidence that it was ever driven! :d

btw regarding the cider mill. My car wont be ready (picture), but i plan on vending, so i hope barn members will stop by my table and say hi.

x2

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Sometimes "PATINA" is just crud that some LAZY A** never cleans off. Sorta like a "BARN" FIND, that someone won't even wash off, 'cause it's "PATINA"! MAN, there's some SICK folks out there! I'd HATE to see the inside of their HOUSE!!!! Or be invited for LUNCH.
Bill Normal