1980 house with black stuff around the bathtub drain. I'm putting in a new tub

I'm putting in a new tub and over course nothing fits. The problem is the drain centered, but its to low and the overflow is short and needs to move forward. I cleaned the area around the drain and it looks like black glass or epoxy, but from searching the forum I think it might be lead. The house was build in 1980 so it seems a little young for lead.

Here are the drain pics. This if my first venture into non-faucet plumbing.




link to bigger pictures
https://picasaweb.google.com/tullostech/GuestBath?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCI3KmO_r-bDKrAE&feat=directlink

It doesnt look very simple to replace the drain. Can I just raise the lower drain with some type of adapter? and raise overflow?

Thanks
Nick

Unless you are replacing a tub with an identical one, you should always plan to replace the drain and overflow assembly and sometimes the drain line will need to be moved. In an 80's house, I would not expect to find any lead joints.

You are going to need to dig out the joint below that drain shoe and determine what the joint is. Unless it is in concrete, it shouldn't be too tough to make right.

I agree, the pics are super small. I enlarged them.

Yes, I edited my post after seeing the linked pictures.

ok, i figured the black stuff was lead. I got if off another thead.

what is the black stuff?

Good question. Looks like someone had some extra roofing mastic they needed to get rid of. Someone's idea of waterproofing maybe?

after hours of searching online looking for something similar I found this post.

http://www.diychatroom.com/f80/tackling-tub-replacement-myself-help-me-out-127745/index3/ , then I noticed our houses are the same age and the same location.. it must be a local plumber or something.

IF your old drain and overflow had fit the new tub, THAT would have been a miracle. You almost ALWAYS have to relocate them, but HOW to do it varies with EVERY installation. Most users would NOT want to reuse the old drain fitting anyway, even if it did fit. That is NOT lead, but I am not sure what it is. It appears to be too "hard" and shiny for roofing cement.