Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Paint the guts or not?

I am currently soaking the guts of my new National A-39. It appears to be all intact and the computer turns freely. There is surface rust over most of the interior parts. My question, if I am not taking the pump back to showroom condition at this point in the process, what should I do to the guts? I have seen some pumps with the interior so nice you could eat off the parts. Others seemed to have clear coated everything.

Ideas and suggestions would be appreciated?

If you read some of the previous discussions on this topic, you will see that most of us gut the mechs. as they serve no real purpose. Then you can clean and pain inside the cabinet, if you choose. I speak from the experience of over four hundred gas pump restorations. Paul www.severngaspumps.com

It's your call, I have done many pumps that was requested to keep and detail the internal pumps and plumbing. It's a lot of work and time/exspense but must say it is pretty cool when done. Some have been done so the electric motor runs when the noozle is lifted and the receiver is in the up position. But most that I have done are gutted, could be a mistake?

I'd gut it, all my restorations are gutted. Gets rid of a LOT of weight, smell, and makes restoring easier.

I agree with gutting the pump. It makes them so much easier to handle. I gut them and put the parts in the iron pile just in case I would ever want to put them back in (not likely though ).

If you are restoring the outside you might as well do the inside. After the guts are cleaned you can just rattle can them for a fresh look. If the pump is going to stay unrestored leave the guts as is. I gut mine like the above collectors do. I use some of mine as storage. It is a good place to hide spare parts, rags, car cleaning supplies or what ever fits in them.

Since your pump is a porcelain Flying A and your just going to clean everything up I would not paint or detail anything inside, just clean it good. The all original look is the way to go these days for certain pumps in certain conditions and yours falls within that category.
Just me two cent worth, Tom.

...I agree with Tom...

...not directed at anyone in particular, but I've found that the ones most vocal for gutting pumps, are the ones most heavily invested in gutted pumps; if the market were to shift to people wanting the actual pumps in their gas pumps (not that unlikely, given that it seems to have shifted to the point where unrestored pumps are much easier to sell than restored ones), their pumps would not be as desirable...and for the most part, as I'm not constantly rearranging my pumps, the weight isn't an issue...

...from what I can tell, most pump internals were just painted silver or primed...

I say leave em in and just wipe them down with a good cleaning.No repaint necessary.
That's what I did.

I never touched the inside of this pump...... all I did was wipe off the tag in the bottom picture.
You don't find them this clean very often.

I buy pumps for my enjoyment, I never worry about what they may be worth someday. I gut them all and I have almost 300 pumps. I don't believe I have lost any money by doing so.

I take the Veeder Root computer out, pull off all the doors, and spray everything at the quarter car wash. Interior is left in natural, but clean patina.

Grant,

This question has been asked numerous times. Some people say gut it, some say leave it. Do whatever makes you happy. If you want to store stuff, gut it and make some shelves. If you like the looks, history, engineering and mechanics, then leave them in.

When I restore a pump, if it already has the guts, then I leave them in and finish them. If it's already gutted, then so be it. I agree with Gulfiend, once finished a pump is rarely moved, so weight isn't an issue (you can also fab casters into the bottom). As far as people complaining about gas smell, you just have to disassemble the pump at the bottom and the gas meter (and a few other parts) and soak/clean them.

Here is a pump I am currently working on, I think the guts look really cool painted (I know it's not original, but I like it). I also buffed the copper, brass, and some of the aluminum. Hope you like it...

Great looking pump. Never seen one with the inside finished.

Steve I was hoping you would post your work on those guts!! That looks awesome!! Why not jewel it up on the inside too if you have the time. The polished parts look awesome!