Ready to paint my heater box which I know should be black. But, Not sure if it is supposed to be gloss or semi-gloss. Same question for the black suspension components.
Thanks for the help,
Herb
Herb,
WIth questions like this it would help if you reference which E-Type you have in your topic header, or (even better) add that detail to the My Cars section of your profile. The answer may depend on the exact model/year of your car. That said:
The JCNA Judging Guide for Series 1 cars does not quality the level of gloss in the black paint of the heater box or other engine bay components - it simply says āblackā. The Series 2 Judging Guide is more specific. For the Heater Box is says āgloss blackā, but then proceeds to qualify this with the statement āā¦reports that 60-80 % gloss is the consensus and has seen 90-100%, gloss - many may consider 90-100% to be over restored, but currently there is no penalty for over restoredā. SInce the suspension components are not judged, the JCNA Guides have no advice for that area. Clear as mud, ehā¦?
1 Like
It was Jaguar standard black paint, wasnāt it - so, kind of a dull gloss blackā¦? With a run or two in the paint which is very thin.
4 Likes
I have a late Series 1 car and the original black paint on the heater box was a black gloss - but a low gloss and definitely not a high gloss. Iāve seen cars repainted in a high gloss and they do look over restored to my eye.
Herb:
Could you be more specific about what components youāre actually referring to and front or rear? Some of these parts may no longer be in their original color possibly painted by a PO. 
With regard to the other components, Iām talking about the ācageā that holds all of the rear suspension and the differential.
Another way to approach this would be to match the gloss of other existing items in your engine compartment. As far as the IRS cage, use the same, just to be consistent.
Iām convinced itās a very dark brown and not from agingā¦ at least on later cars, good that you ask
Same sort of paint otherwise, gloss, but not like water, but not dull. And drips and runs.
All of the black parts on these cars were quickly and economically sprayed with the same runny, sloppy black. It was most definitely not the high gloss perfection that you see on high end restorations. I did mine in semi-gloss powder coat which ultimately looks eggshell. Do it the way you like it and donāt worry what others think.
4 Likes
Words to live byā¦ 
1 Like
I already painted everything blue, Herb, so, I hope you like it! 
1 Like
We always used semi gloss for the black parts.
Yes I agree but I use āSatinā which is the same thing
Satin is different than semi-gloss.
There is āflatā, then āsatinā, followed by āeggshellā, which is followed by semi-glossā, and finally āglossā ā¦ at least if I recall the sheen/gloss levels correctly (āsatinā and āeggshellā may be in reversed order?). At least that is in non-automotive paints, not sure if the same levels apply to automotive paints.
I chose Semi-Gloss.
1 Like