T.R.:Written off 1983, Returned to the road 2006

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 5:44 pm

With apologies to those who don't want to see TR's creeping into the forum: at least its a targa top

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Anyway, this is what it was:

The bodywork has been stripped to the inner tub, and the bulk of the accident damage pulled out, with just minor tidying where the worst creases were (I will let in some fresh metal here, as although the metal is now pretty much the correct shape, it has been heated to cherry red, and is a bit ripply as well).

The body was then cut in half (as per: http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6756)

The chassis then turned out to have been bent as well: mainly the O/S front suspension tower, a notorious weak spot on these. This was straightened using a porta-power. The chassis and all of the suspension parts have been blasted, and POR'ed, and then two-pack blacked. The chassis is now rolling, with new poly bushes, rack, dampers (gas adjustable), trackrod ends and top ball joints. The wheels seen here are TR5 wheels, which are one inch wider than the titchy originals.

The chassis has now swapped places with the 914 in the stealth shed, just to make it a bit easier to enjoy the 914. Next TR stage is to strip the engine, and order up whatever that is going to need. The arrival of the 914 as brought about a re-re-think on the engine. Originally it was going to be as per original. Then it was going to be tuned up to tolerable limits. Now I've come round to keeping the TR as original as possible, and treating the 914 as the car to be a bit more creative with, simply because its going to RHD, and no longer particulaly original anyway.

BTW, this is what I'm aiming for, although mine will probably have a red interior, and wire wheels will depend on budget at the time ...

Lightweight_911 · Post by **Lightweight_911** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 6:09 pm

Looking good Barry - one of the joys of restoring one of the 'old-style' British sportscars is the separate ladder chassis which makes all of the running gear so accessible.

lewis · Post by **lewis** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 6:18 pm

comming on well love the old TR's. Were these not called surrey tops and not Targas? Are you staying with the same colour?

lewis.

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:23 pm

The chassis looks very similar to my Mustangs set up. Prehistoric! Well it was good for the odd Ferrari in the 50's and 60's

Its still acceptable for Corvette's.

Saw a really nice Mustang at the ace with a ladder bar set up and a panhard rod equipped 9" rear axle. Ohh and Maserati brakes... Looked space age in comparrison.

Damn Barry.. you make a fella feel mechanically inadequate.. nice job.

Ian Donkin · Post by **Ian Donkin** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:53 am

Excellent work as always Barry

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Thanks for sharing with us.

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:59 pm

Lovely work Barry, always interested to see quality 'work in progress' pictures to inspire us all to do our own cars properly next time!

MdR · Post by **MdR** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:39 pm

Looking good Barry.
Garden is neat & tidy too

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:42 pm

O.K. yes, Surrey Top rather than Targa: thought it might slip under the radar easier!

Thanks for the comments (as always), engine update in a month or so, then I will start my favorite bit: the bodywork

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Oh yes, the lawn was cut specially: well you want these things to look professional in the old photo album

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porker914 · Post by **porker914** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:27 pm

Barry looks very nice.

So once you have finished both the TR and the 14 if you feel the need to do any more body work I have a few you could have a go at!!! just to satisfy your needs of course.

David

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:15 pm

Just shows how busy this forum is these days: amazed how far back I had to go to dig this out

. Thank's for the kind offer, David, if I need a bodywork fix, I'll be in touch

.

Anyway, finally started to strip the engine out today, hows this for cooling

:

The TR's are quite well known for doing this, what with being cast iron, but I've never seen one like this. Luckily its wet liners, so when they come out, the block can be cleaned (vacuumed) and we'll be O.K. Not much work this week (again) so should get it stripped and cleaned by the weekend, possibly back together again.

Gearbox looks fine (oil clean, overdrive clicking on solenoid, gears select fine and no odd noises) so I'm going to take the traditional TR owner approach of take a chance on it.

Soon be on that bodywork ...

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 2:18 pm

After some unexpected diversions, now back on the TR.

As we left it, the engine had been stripped. No huge problems except that having restored the liners with the hone, went to fit the new rings, only to find the rings too big

. Hmm strange, they're the right size, so if the rings are too big for the bores, that can only mean one thing: someone in the past has fitted 85mm liners instead of 86. In turns out these are the Standard Vanguard liners, which wouldn't be a huge problem, except that getting rings for these is tricky. Anyway, a new piston/liner set has put the engine back to standard.

Otherwise, all the usual bits: crank re-grind, new bearings throughout, together with seals, gaskets, chain etc etc etc. Oh yes and some paint

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New pistons and liners in:

Shiny crank:

Shiny engine:

Next stage is too drag the front half of the bodywork in and start cutting out all of that rust: now where's that 9in grinder

porker914 · Post by **porker914** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 7:20 pm

Barry,
I think you are a very good example to all us who got marrried and had kids that maybe we got it wrong!!!!!!

I love reading about all your restorations and only dream of one day getting back into the garage to finish restoring one of the 914's that I last did work on 3 years ago!!!

Keep up the good work.

Also when you get to the painting of the body stage I would love to come over and watch as I need some painting tips!!!

David

Gilbert '71 T · Post by **Gilbert '71 T** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 8:21 pm

Looking very good Barry, now that's a lot cheerier than the engine we can see peeping through the bonnet in the first picture.

Ian Donkin · Post by **Ian Donkin** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:12 pm

Top effort Barry

, but isn't that valve cover a bit bling

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kevster · Post by **kevster** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:54 pm

looking wicked Barry - talk about a dab hand in the resto department - you should get some cameras in the garage and do an online restoration broadcast live and direct.

Is that tr engine on the garage floor or the lounge floor? Truth now ...