6/29/10: Hot Rod Wires wiring harness arrived. Will look at it on Saturday to confirm it is the same as the one in The Seven. Will begin the installation as soon as the Prince of Darkness, AKA Lucas Electrics, has been totally exorcised from the car.
6/30/10: Received tracking confirmation that the fuel level gauge and sending unit are on a FedEx truck to be delivered to the house today. I still need to make the final decision on engine choice. I have no faith that the Laycock/DeNormanville overdrive unit will function. Also, we cannot make the shifter do anything. These factors, along with my familiarity with the Datsun engines, are strongly influencing my thoughts.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
6/28/10: Ordered a Hot Rod Wires 12 circuit wiring harness, 2 1/16” fuel level gauge, and universal fuel level sending unit. The harness is identical to the one in The Seven so I know it pretty well. Had given some thought to wiring the headlights to run when the ignition is on but with this harness it is no big deal to wire it up “properly.”
6/26/10: Worked on removing more wiring harness. Got very frustrated and decided that the Lucas design has got to go. (Six wires for a headlight dimmer switch?) I quit messing with it to prevent further damage to irreplaceable and/or sell-able items. Test fit AutoMeter 2 1/16” gauge in dash. It fit nicely. An AutoMeter 5” tachometer and speedometer ought to fit in their respective holes as well. So we’re now rethinking the stock engine. I'm leaning towards an L-20b or perhaps a Z-20.
6/12/10: Removed driver’s seat and finished vacuuming cockpit. Began the rewiring process. Have the old harness out up to the dashboard. Engine bay and rear of car are un-wired. Removed water pump to see what’s what. Removed wheels and two spline-drive adapters. Test fit 14” Datsun 280ZX six-spoke alloy wheels. They fit nicely and look good. I think we will go with them.
5/16/10: Vacuumed out the floorboards and under the hood. There were piles of crap in the car, literally. Discovered the driver’s seat is on adjustable sliders but the shell is so rusty that it will have to be discarded. Found a significant rust hole through the floor behind the driver’s seat. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that one.
5/1/10: Drove to Oklahoma City for the Regional Vintage Triumph Owners Association Meet car show. Saw lots of TR-3s and got a few ideas. My excitement level is going up, along with the level of “whelm.” I think we are going to revive the car as a “survivor” and leave the patina it has gained over the years. It will be something of a “Rat Rod” resurrection rather than a restoration or renovation. Will it be pretty? Not likely. Will it be fun? I sure hope so. I wonder if Northside Upholstery could do an “Indian Blanket” style tonneau cover.
4/24/10: Took the nose off to get to the radiator. Took the radiator off to get to the crank pulley. Put a wrench on the crank pulley to see if the engine was seized. It turns over! Once the fan belt was removed and the drag of the crusty water pump was removed, it really turns freely. I'm quite satisfied with today’s progress.
4/9/10: The trailer is backed up against the door of the garage. I will be moving the Triumph to the shop and The Seven home tomorrow.
4/10/10: The Triumph is at the shop, finally. The move went well, better than expected. The tire held air long enough to get on and off the trailer. I will tear into the car soon and see what I have to work with.
4/10/10: The Triumph is at the shop, finally. The move went well, better than expected. The tire held air long enough to get on and off the trailer. I will tear into the car soon and see what I have to work with.
4/2/10: Spent a few hours clearing out around the car and installing the wheels. One tire was flat and not even seated on the bead. Aired it up and set the bead. Audible leak from the base of the stem. Installed on car anyway. Lowered car off of stands and contemplated rolling it out for pictures. Decided against it because I would have had to roll it right back in. Leaking tire was about half flat again so jacked the nose back onto stands. Cleaned up and called it a day.
4/3/10: Tried to move cars. Got RX-4 off of trailer at John's house but did not attempt to move Triumph. We'll try again next Saturday.
4/3/10: Tried to move cars. Got RX-4 off of trailer at John's house but did not attempt to move Triumph. We'll try again next Saturday.
12/26/09: Bruce and Mel (my brother and sister-in-law) came over to the house and wanted to meet Nadine. I realized while showing it to them that I really am more excited about this project than I am letting myself believe. There is some jaded “been there, done that” attitude, but when it comes time to talk about the car, or show it off, I do jump up and rush to do it.
12/16/09: Outbid, with a $700.00 bid. That puts it over my $1,000.00 cap after shipping. While this engine might have put us a step or two ahead, losing out does not set us back any. Ray assures me that he has seen enough Triumph engines with stuck rings break free and run that the other engine was not necessary. We will see when we get the car to the shop. As an aside, I just looked up the bore and stroke numbers for the Standard Vanguard 1991cc engine: 83mm x 92mm. Using The Roadster Factory piston and liner set (87mm bore) would yield 2188cc. There are also 86mm (2138cc), 87.5mm (2213cc), and 89mm (2289cc) sets available from other sources. For giggles I did a little more math and found that perfectly square (92x92) yields 2446cc while over square (93x92) yields straight up 2.5 liters.
12/09/09: Found an engine in KC, MO on e-Bay today. Starting bid is $399.00 and there is a $749.00 Buy It Now price. Shipping is guesstimated at $250.00 to $350.00 with a $60.00 pallet fee. I calculated that it would cost me $250.00, or so, and twenty-four hours for me and someone to go get it in Fifi. If the bidding goes over $590.00 ($690.00 if shipping is only $250.00) I begin to break even on the road trip. Under $590.00 it is still cheaper to pay shipping.
12/10/09: Received an e-mail from the seller confirming that shipping to Fort Worth will be $250.00 plus $60.00 pallet fee. Was also assured that the later (TR-4) engine would fit the earlier (TR-3) chassis. Was also told that the later engine is 200cc larger with a better intake port design.
12/10/09: Received an e-mail from the seller confirming that shipping to Fort Worth will be $250.00 plus $60.00 pallet fee. Was also assured that the later (TR-4) engine would fit the earlier (TR-3) chassis. Was also told that the later engine is 200cc larger with a better intake port design.
12/05/09: Took wire wheels, “new” tires, and inner tubes to John's Kreblechistani tire guy. He was unable to finish installing them. Will return Sunday to pick them up.
12/06/09: Picked up wheels. Three were ready, one had the stem hidden somehow. Waited for that tire to be redone then went home. Unloaded them next to the car. Probably won't install them on the car until the day we go to move it to the shop. Outlay: $40.00 to mount tires and tubes on wheels.
12/06/09: Picked up wheels. Three were ready, one had the stem hidden somehow. Waited for that tire to be redone then went home. Unloaded them next to the car. Probably won't install them on the car until the day we go to move it to the shop. Outlay: $40.00 to mount tires and tubes on wheels.
11/26/09: Thanksgiving. Mom invited Willie and Nadine to lunch at Aunt Margaret’s so I will bring the laptop to show off pictures. Laid out main wiring harness in living room. Yikes! Will look at it again along side the wiring diagram and hopefully it will make more sense. Found out reason car was parked, they bought a new Rover and began using it as the daily driver.
11/27/09: Did not look at wiring harness along side wiring diagram as tentatively planned.
11/27/09: Did not look at wiring harness along side wiring diagram as tentatively planned.
11/20/09: Ordered four inner tubes so we can install Nadine's “new” tires on the questionable wire wheels and make the car roll. Outlay: $114.85 with shipping.
11/23/09: Part of the wiring harness and the inner tubes arrived. No immediate plans to mess with them yet.
11/24/09: Further investigation is turning up more evidence that the bolt pattern under the spline drive adapters is, in fact, 4x4.5” just like a Datsun.
11/23/09: Part of the wiring harness and the inner tubes arrived. No immediate plans to mess with them yet.
11/24/09: Further investigation is turning up more evidence that the bolt pattern under the spline drive adapters is, in fact, 4x4.5” just like a Datsun.
11/19/09: Removed wheels today. They came off surprisingly easily. The car sits on jack stands at the moment waiting for me to have tires and tubes mounted so it will roll. It also looks like the bolt pattern holding the spline drive adapters on is 4x4.5, just like a Datsun! This will be a monumentally awesome development if true.
11/18/09: After researching conversion from positive to negative earth, ordered main wiring harness, two headlight sub-harnesses, front (turn signal & park light) sub-harness, steering column (turn signal & horn) sub-harness, low tension coil to distributor sub-harness, overdrive switch to relay sub-harness, and overdrive relay to solenoid sub-harness. These items should totally rewire the car. Outlay: $429.19 with shipping. Nadine delivered signed title and title transfer to mother today. She was pleased with the “Thank You” gifts.
11/17/09: Attempted to get together with Nadine to sign title and title transfer form. We were too late to get to a (superfluous) notary. Mother bought token “Thank You” gifts for Nadine for when the paperwork does happen. Still unsure if car is a gift or purchase. Leaning towards “probably a gift.”
After this post, I will stop making comments before the entry.
11/14/09: Space is made in garage by moving The Seven to the shop. John Roper and I take truck and trailer to Nadine’s house to pick up car. We discover, much to my relief, that the wheels WILL roll as the parking brake had not been set all these years. Once in the open, more pictures were taken. Car winched onto trailer with little drama. Once secured, and all spares loaded, car was taken to car wash where John insisted on hosing the dust off. In hindsight, I am glad he did. At the house, Gregg Gary helped unload and secure in garage. Spare parts taken to shop.
11/15/09: “Pickling Solution” (50/50 mix of Marvel Mystery Oil and Automatic Transmission Fluid) purchased and introduced into cylinders via spark plug holes. Spark plugs look good, slightly black and sooty. Oil on dipstick looks remarkably good, still clear and fresh looking. No viscosity check performed however. Decided to wait on jacking the car to stands for wheel removal.
11/14/09: Space is made in garage by moving The Seven to the shop. John Roper and I take truck and trailer to Nadine’s house to pick up car. We discover, much to my relief, that the wheels WILL roll as the parking brake had not been set all these years. Once in the open, more pictures were taken. Car winched onto trailer with little drama. Once secured, and all spares loaded, car was taken to car wash where John insisted on hosing the dust off. In hindsight, I am glad he did. At the house, Gregg Gary helped unload and secure in garage. Spare parts taken to shop.
11/15/09: “Pickling Solution” (50/50 mix of Marvel Mystery Oil and Automatic Transmission Fluid) purchased and introduced into cylinders via spark plug holes. Spark plugs look good, slightly black and sooty. Oil on dipstick looks remarkably good, still clear and fresh looking. No viscosity check performed however. Decided to wait on jacking the car to stands for wheel removal.
I would like to point out that I am deleting the hyperlinks in the original since I do not know how to make them work. The previous post had links to some pictures. I just thought you might like to know that.
11/11/09: Nadine dropped off some letters to mother. These included the following. A letter from Standard-Triumph making sure she had made arrangements to have the car shipped to the states as she was taking delivery at the factory. A letter from the Cunard shipping line confirming the car was on board the RMS Britannic sailing from Liverpool, England to New York, USA on 11/11/58. (This information excited me because the RMS Britannic was the sister ship to the infamous RMS Titanic. Unfortunately, the White Star Line had three ships named Britannic over the years. This was the third and not said Olympic Class sister ship to the Titanic. Still pretty cool though) An invoice from Triumph of New York stating the car had arrived, had the Cosmoline removed, and was awaiting pick up. A copy of a letter from Nadine to Standard-Triumph requesting they pay to fix a scratch incurred in transit. A letter from Standard-Triumph stating that they would indeed pay the $20.00 to fix the scratch. And finally, an invoice from Earle Hays Triumph stating the scratch had been fixed.
11/11/09: Nadine dropped off some letters to mother. These included the following. A letter from Standard-Triumph making sure she had made arrangements to have the car shipped to the states as she was taking delivery at the factory. A letter from the Cunard shipping line confirming the car was on board the RMS Britannic sailing from Liverpool, England to New York, USA on 11/11/58. (This information excited me because the RMS Britannic was the sister ship to the infamous RMS Titanic. Unfortunately, the White Star Line had three ships named Britannic over the years. This was the third and not said Olympic Class sister ship to the Titanic. Still pretty cool though) An invoice from Triumph of New York stating the car had arrived, had the Cosmoline removed, and was awaiting pick up. A copy of a letter from Nadine to Standard-Triumph requesting they pay to fix a scratch incurred in transit. A letter from Standard-Triumph stating that they would indeed pay the $20.00 to fix the scratch. And finally, an invoice from Earle Hays Triumph stating the scratch had been fixed.
I think you get the point. I am going to stop telling you what entry it is in the journal. If you feel the need to know, count the bloody things yourself! I think I will also combine the shorter entries into a single post. Like so:
10/31/09: Potential pickup day postponed by Nadine. Too much stuff in the way.
11/8/09: First viewing of the car. I made arrangements to come by and see the car in the garage on a Sunday afternoon. It was rougher than I'd hoped but not so bad that I was scared off. Took a few pictures.
10/31/09: Potential pickup day postponed by Nadine. Too much stuff in the way.
11/8/09: First viewing of the car. I made arrangements to come by and see the car in the garage on a Sunday afternoon. It was rougher than I'd hoped but not so bad that I was scared off. Took a few pictures.
Journal entry four:
10/29/09: First meeting with Jeff Sloan of British Auto Specialists. Was given some advice about the first things to do when taking delivery. Was admonished to NOT “bastardize” a car with this much history. Was warned of the few pitfalls I might encounter. Was given names and web sites for help and parts.
10/29/09: First meeting with Jeff Sloan of British Auto Specialists. Was given some advice about the first things to do when taking delivery. Was admonished to NOT “bastardize” a car with this much history. Was warned of the few pitfalls I might encounter. Was given names and web sites for help and parts.
Journal entry three:
10/27/09: Have dinner with the Parks and talk about the car. I am informed of the following details. Nadine purchased the car new from Earle Hayes Triumph in Fort Worth, Texas in 1958. She took delivery of the car from the factory in Coventry England. She and her mother toured the British isles in it and shipped it back to the US. Willie and Nadine both drove the car all over the US accumulating just over 90,000 miles. The car was last driven July 4th, 1972 after which it was parked in their garage. Tentative plans are made for me to come view the car and take delivery.
10/27/09: Have dinner with the Parks and talk about the car. I am informed of the following details. Nadine purchased the car new from Earle Hayes Triumph in Fort Worth, Texas in 1958. She took delivery of the car from the factory in Coventry England. She and her mother toured the British isles in it and shipped it back to the US. Willie and Nadine both drove the car all over the US accumulating just over 90,000 miles. The car was last driven July 4th, 1972 after which it was parked in their garage. Tentative plans are made for me to come view the car and take delivery.
Journal entry two:
10/23/09: Mother asks Willie Park (Nadine’s husband), “What are you all going to do with that old car?” Willie’s reply was to the effect of, “We were discussing that the other day. We were thinking of giving it to Tim.” They make plans for the four of us to dine the following Tuesday to discuss it. I am informed of this and am left speechless.
10/23/09: Mother asks Willie Park (Nadine’s husband), “What are you all going to do with that old car?” Willie’s reply was to the effect of, “We were discussing that the other day. We were thinking of giving it to Tim.” They make plans for the four of us to dine the following Tuesday to discuss it. I am informed of this and am left speechless.
Here we go. This is the first entry of Tim's "Journal of the Restoration of 'Nadine,' A 1958 Triumph TR-3"
c. Thanksgiving 2004: While talking with Nadine Park about my building a Birkin replica of a Lotus Seven, she mentions having a Triumph TR-3 in her garage. We talk about it some and let it drop. In subsequent conversations, I ask about the car. Mother learns of the car at some point.
c. Thanksgiving 2004: While talking with Nadine Park about my building a Birkin replica of a Lotus Seven, she mentions having a Triumph TR-3 in her garage. We talk about it some and let it drop. In subsequent conversations, I ask about the car. Mother learns of the car at some point.
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