Triumph TR3-Fixing the Garage Door

As one can determine by my lack of BLOG entries lately I have not been out in the garage working on the TR for a number of days. Christmas and other distractions have taken me away from my car hobby and try as I may to make it a priority I have not overcome my inertia and actually made it out to the garage to continue on my quest to a completed car. Also I recently signed up for NETFLIX (my family doesn't have cable TV etc) which is providing a whole bunch of wonderful movies and documentaries for me to watch which also has contributed to my lack of garage time.... a woeful distraction that needs to be managed if I am going to be driving a TR3 this summer......

I did however get out into the garage yesterday to repair the rear entrance door to the garage. It was one of those "must do" jobs that didn't get done in the fall when the weather was good. The door has been "sticking" for about 6 months or so and every time it is opened or closed it makes a high pitch squeaking noise that is very irritating. Not a big issue if the garage is only being accessed a couple of times a month but given my frequency in November it really needed to be done. It took about 25 minutes total to get the door to fit properly and operate smoothly. A welcomed improvement.

Triumph TR3-Just Garage Clean Up and Daydreaming.

All has been quiet on the TR front for the last while as I have been otherwise distracted from my car reconstruction hobby (which in fact is not a bad thing as I needed a bit of a break from the toxic environment of filler dust and paint fumes) but now I am feeling a strong need to get back out into the garage and back to work.

Yesterday I went out into the garage and cleaned up the "consumed" sand paper and tided tools etc. About 20 minutes total. I didn't even bother to turn on the furnace and just did the work in the -10 degrees C. temperature. As I was working I did a quick calculation and figured I have about $300 invested in bodywork supplies to get the body to it's current state. The $$$$ add up fast.

I am still focusing on substantially completing the body work my the end of the first week in January 2011 (potentially ambitious but my intent) so I can move on to the chassis reconstruction. I anticipate I have about 30 hours of work left to complete to de-rusting (and prep) of the rear panels around the spare tire cover and installation of the pre-made repair patches-then filling and splashing on some primer to finish off the area.

Triumph TR3-Back to Working on Fenders Once More!!

Yesterday I ran a rag over 3 of the fenders (a recommended "tip" from an auto body repair book from the library) and found some additional "waves" in the sheet metal (just a few-not many) that were not satisfactory to me so out came the filler for yet another skim coat!!! A couple of hours of sanding and finishing I am back to a 220 grit finish ready for the sealer primer to be applied. This detour was a "do it now or do it later" type of decision and as such I determined to take the time to get the fenders to the next level of smoothness.

I have also determined not to do anymore work on the fenders until they are bolted on for the final painting and then I will go back and see what additional "touch up" work might be required? I am anticipating they will have a "fit for purpose" straightness that will not require too much more massaging. It is time for me to move on to the back of the car..

An interesting thought crossed my mind yesterday as to why I determined to work on all 4 fenders at once verse doing them one at a time, completing the work and then moving on to the next one. I surmised that the reason was one related to "production line" repair! I believed it would be easier and faster to make the same repairs to all 4 fenders one after the other then go back and repeat the cycle. One downside is more chaos around having to deal with 4 loose fenders in a confined workspace...there is probably no right answer to this question.

My wife asked me yesterday how I am going to paint the car? I told her I plan to do it myself and she appeared skeptical that this was a good idea? She expressed concern that after all this work I might mess up the paint job and have to start all over again! Of course the bodywork would stay intact and not require redoing but if the paint doesn't go on smoothly lots of rework would be required. Something to contemplate for sure...

Yesterday I found a picture of a white TR3 on E-Bay that is going to act as my inspiration to keep this project going. Today I will print it off and hang a copy in my garage and next to my computer screen.

Triumph TR3-Finally-Sealer Primer Applied

Yesterday I spent about 3 hours working on the Triumph-most of the time spent "in the zone". My main focus was the hood. I had previously primed it (back in the summer) and sanded to a 180 grit finding a number of imperfections that needed to be addressed. There were a number of small convex dents verses concave that required some hammer and file work plus on area with a fairly large dent (probably from someone sitting on the hood) that required a fair amount of sheet metal massaging to straighten out. A small amount of skim filler was required to fill in the indentation after the hammer work was completed. After going over all the problem areas I cleaned up the hood with wax and grease remover and primed it with primer sealer which turned out very smooth-I am happy with the results.

I also turned my attention to the front valance which had been previous "hi-filler primed". I sanded it down to a 180 grit, cleaned it and applied sealer primer to it. Unfortunately upon inspection last night I noticed a couple of small paint runs that I will need to address today. The body work looks good on first inspection ( a huge improvement of the original state).

Overall a satisfying "work session"

Triumph TR3-Early December Garage Time

I finally got back into the garage yesterday (I took some time off for travel-cross country skiing in the mountains) and spent about 2 hours working on the fenders. After running my hands over the panels the night before (I had ventured out into the garage for a moment) I decided one more coat of skim filler was necessary on the rear left and front right fenders. My decision appears to be a good one as both fenders benefited from another layer and more block sanding. (resulting in most of the filler landing on the garage floor but some sticking where it was needed-a desired outcome). I took all four fenders to 180 grit smoothness. A good days work in my determination.

Triumph TR3-November Project Review

Yesterday and today I spent about 4 hours doing the following:

1. Fabricated a splice piece for the inner left hand fender-took me an hour and 1/2 to complete but it looks good.

2. Went over the 4 fenders and located some more imperfections (on 3 fenders) requiring a additional skim coat-more sanding completed (most of the skim coat removed). I now need to block sand and re-primer

3. Por 15 coated the inner fender wells-front-just in front of the doors. It looks good.

The month has proven to be very productive bodywork wise-now heads down required for early December then I will probably stop working around the 15th. Hopefully I will have all the bodywork completed to final sealer primer...

Triumph TR3-More Sanding and Priming

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours in the garage-cleaned up my work area and did a 320 grit sanding of 3 of the 4 fenders. After sanding and cleaning the surface I applied primer. It was extremely satisfying to see the primer covering the "worked areas" with solid gray fenders being the result. Even after additional sanding and "glaze putty" filling the front right fender is still not satisfactory. I am going to head out into the garage again this morning and do another pass and see if I can get the surface to a more acceptable level.

Today I have to head out and procure a new can of filler and some Marine Clean to prepare the inner wheel well surface (front left) for a POR 15 application. I also plan to complete the POR 15 coating of the rear left wheel well (just a very small portion is left) as I have done some addition finishing of the radius that was not originally covered. It is very satisfying to see the surfaces covered "one by one" as I make my way through the "to do" list.

Triumph TR3-POR-15 Rear Left Fender Inner Coating

After a couple of days of non-activity I ventured back into the garage yesterday and spent about 2-1/2 hours doing the final sanding on the front right fender, cleaning up and metal prepping the right front fender rail and sanding the back left fender. I then determined it would be a good idea to coat the rear left fender inner surface with POR15 which I did... 3 fenders are now POR-15 coated (inner)-the right front fender is already painted (the paint looks pretty good) so I might just coat it with a gloss black enamel as the POR-15 would not have a good surface to bite on.

I then applied a coat of high fill primer and etch primer to the front right fender. The fender is still not where I want it to be surface wise so I may need to add some more skim coat filler to the surface in a couple of spots. Today I will do some block sanding and probably apply a guide coat to see how "rippled" the surface really is. I can feel imperfections (dips) when I rub a rag across the surface which is not a good sign. According to an Internet source I referenced yesterday the maximum depth of filler should be 1/16 of an inch to be considered a "professional" job. There is a neat electronic device I saw tested on a Youtube that measures filler depth. I know in some areas (not that many if I think about it) the depth would be greater than 1/16" and the measurement tool would pick this us. The video explanation indicated that a professional would massage the sheet metal to such a degree that a 1/16th depth would be all that was needed to make the surface perfect. Theoretically I can see this as being a good guideline as being the optimum but for my TR3 "reconstruction" it is not realistic to have this professional standard complied to. I do not have the time (nor skill set) to do this myself nor the money to pay someone else to do it. As I stated earlier it is a "fit for purpose" project and perfect panels is not part of the mix. Interestingly the car that they tested (which had a very smooth panel appearance) had exceeded the recommended depth in a few places. I can assume many folks have paid big dollars for "professional" paint jobs which hide filler depths greater than 1/16"!!! I decided yesterday that if I sell the TR sometime in the future I would disclose my knowledge around filler depth...

I made an enquiry a few days about the fender bolts. washers and nuts which I plan to put on order shortly. Hopefully today I will do an inventory of what I need and get the e-mail together.

The garage has got "messy" again (tools, supplies and fenders sitting around all over) which will require some of my attention today. I can't seem to keep the clutter down effectively. I think I need to be more mindful about returning tools and supplies to their rightful places when I finish each day so I don't have to tackle a major clean up when things get out of control.

Triumph TR3-Game Plan

No time spent in the garage yesterday. Other household tasks/priorities took precedence...

Over the past few days I have been daydreaming about setting my project completion projections into a realistic timeframe. This project will be completed if I set my intent and stay focused.

I was going through the "plus side of the ledger" yesterday looking at the positive aspects of the project:

1. The '59 is basically sound

2. Good progress has been made on the bodywork in the last 3 weeks-an expensive and time consuming aspect of the project. The progress is boosting my confidence level the car can be completed.

3. I have the tools I need and the workspace is comfortable to work in.

4. I have enough purchased and existing parts to get the car to a drivable state mechanically.

5. I am motivated and have many of the skill sets needed to complete the work.

6. I have "budget money" set aside for further purchased of needed parts.

Triumph TR3-Straightening Out the Lower Lip-Valance

About 2-1/2 hours in the garage yesterday. First came the much delayed general clean up of the work area and then about an hour straightening out the front valance lip which I would image was distorted by a tow rope at some point. I also removed the front support bracket (about 6 bolts) from the valance with the intent of clean up and repainting. Another piece of the car removed but the action falls into the category of a "job worth doing is worth doing right". Plus it was a real treat not to be sanding filler!!!!!!!! and holding a wrench in my hand...

I ran my hand over the body work and reminded myself of how far I have come in the process. I realize there is more "detail" sanding to be done but at least the panels look smooth and presentable!

I visualized myself driving the car when I was lying in bed getting ready to go to sleep. A very pleasant experience...it has been many years (1973 actually) since I drove a TR3. I can still recall the sensations and sounds....happy recollections that I hope to recreate in 2011...

Triumph TR3-More Sheet Metal Massaging

Yesterday was a 3-1/2 hour work day in the garage-I am still focused on the fenders-2 of which have "high fill primer" sprayed on which signifies the last phase of the process. Something to celebrate for sure!!

This morning will have a garage clean up focus (I still haven't made this a priority) with an intent to look at all the fenders one more time and fill in any imperfections with glaze filler. There are still nicks and blemishes surfacing that need to be addressed and then hopefully some more high fill primer sprayed on the remaining fenders-then I plan to take a few days off (see the next paragraph)-November has been a very good month for progress which puts a smile on my face...

The temperature outside has dropped to -32 degrees C. so I am thinking of turning down the heater to near freezing today and walking away from anymore work on the TR for a few days until the temperature rises a bit. If I don't take this stand my natural gas bill will be astronomical as the garage heater is kicking on every 15 minutes or so.

Triumph TR3-Sunday Morning and My TR3

On Sunday morning I ventured out into the garage for about 3 hours of fender work. I did a final sanding. applied a guide coat and did some glaze filler application on the small imperfections. Three fenders look good, the forth (right hand front) is still not up to an acceptable standard so more rework is required. I am anticipating another hour or two to go... I am over my project estimate time wise for this task ...I have continually remind myself not to be too impatient...

Hopefully today I will get a coat of etching primer applied to the bare spots ( there were a fair number of "pings" (high spots) in the sheet metal which had to be gently massaged with a hammer) and a final 220 sanding leading up to the application of the seal primer. It will be very satisfying to finish up this stage of the reconditioning and move on to the mechanical work.

Magazine Musings

A few days ago I took out a stack of old Hot Rod magazines I had stored away and started leafing through them . For a while I used to buy one every couple of weeks but in recent years (for the most part) I have stopped buying them. Most of the magazines are from the 90's but I find many of the articles to still be relevant and entertaining. The magazines are a mecca for ideas and potential and it is always inspiring to see finished projects...

One interesting article was on the "realities" of paying a restorer to work on your car and how fast the $$$$ add up. Whenever I read this type of article it makes me appreciate the importance of buying the best possible example of the car you quest after and doing as much of the work as you can yourself. I like the idea of a driver with a focus on cosmetic and mechanical improvements as you drive. My next special interest car will potentially fall into this category.

I didn't make it out to the garage on Saturday other than to take a quick look at the POR-15 paint set up on the inner fender (it looks fit for purpose). I felt I really needed to take a break from the toxic environment (filler dust/paint fumes etc) and I am glad I did so....

Today I am going to venture back out to the garage and first of all do some clean up. I have a large garbage bag full of used up sandpaper that needs to be addressed. Tools need to be put away and the garage vacuumed. It looks like I have been very busy out there but I really need to regroup before I proceed....

Triumph TR3-Por-15 Inner Wheel Well-Left-More Sanding

Another productive day in the garage yesterday, spending about 3 hours on fender prep and coating the left rear inner wheel well with gloss black Por-15. (to match the other side).

I made a trip to the local body shop jobber and picked up some more sandpaper, a small tin of Por-15 and a quart of Por-15 primer (just in case I need it-I want to use up the existing can but I believe there is not enough left to finish the final coating)...I am really trying to keep costs down by using up what I have and keeping new purchases to a bare minimum. I am also fighting a bit with the concept of keeping the garage heated as the outside temperature has dipped to -20 degrees C. during the night-my natural gas bill will climb..

I did an assessment of the fender surfaces last night. I am still not satisfied with the panel quality as the block sanding has shown a few imperfections in all but one of the fenders. Fifty one year old sheet metal has some war wounds for sure. I picked up a couple of old hot rod publications when I went to bed last night and did some reading on painting cars. I am wise enough to know the time I spend now (as stated in the articles) will pay off in a higher quality paint job if I make sure the slight imperfections are handled. The hours continue to roll on.

Triumph TR3-Moving to the Front Left Fender

Yesterday I focused my attention on the front left fender. I spent about 2 hours out the garage removing paint and doing the preliminary sanding. The fender was repaired about a year ago and in my wisdom I had determined to coat it in seal primer to protect it prior to being stored. The primer and paint had to be removed-a labor intensive job.

Another coat of skim primer went on the back left fender. The splice repair looks great but required a bit more build prior to final sanding.

Today I head out into the garage to clean up and prepare for the application of high fill primer and ultimately the final seal coat of primer. Light at the end of the tunnel.

Triumph TR3-More Filler Hits the Garage Floor

Made it out to the garage after dinner last night. I spent about 2-1/2 hours doing some finish sanding on the two rear fenders, front right fender and the hood-productive work all round. I am still not happy with the front right fender "smoothness" so I added another skim coat of filler and once again sanded it down. The spray paint can I was going to use for the guide coat turned out to be plugged so no guide coat laid down as planned.

Triumph TR3-High Fill Primer-Part 2

About 2-1/2 hours spent in the garage last night. It is snowing here now and the temperature has dropped substantially (-15 degrees C at night) -it is great to be out in a warm garage on a cold and crisp fall night....

I went over the two rear and front left fender with another coat of high fill primer-let it set up and then did a light sanding with a 320 grit block sander to determine the "health" of the surfaces prior to applying another coat of high fill primer and ultimately the guide coat for final block sanding. There were some imperfections (more than I anticipated-but what's new) that became apparent which I addressed with a bit of hammer and dolly work and another application of filler where necessary. Once this was done I left the garage and came in for the evening. I like to "clear out" of the garage when I have applied filler or primer and let the products off-gas without me around to breath in the vapors. The toxicity of body work products is a real concern and I like to limit my exposure where possible. ( I always were protective safety equipment and keep my skin covered as much as possible). I am coming close to my self imposed time limit for body work (it is more an exposure issue (dust and fumes) than interest and focus-I do enjoy the work) but I need to press on for a while longer before I move over to the mechanical side. My plan is to get all the panels into the final coat of POR 15 primer and sealed up so to speak. Then I will take pictures and publish them. (probably on my Flickr account).

My wife asked me last night when I was going to start on the mechanical work which is a good sign. She has yet to come out to the garage to see what I am doing which kind of surprises me? I guess she really has no interest in car restoration-hopefully she will enjoy the car when it is finished!!

I looked at an Internet site a couple of nights ago on the restoration of TR6, this act illustrates the beauty of the Internet to find inspiration and tips...

Dream Garage/Tool Collection

As mentioned in one of my earlier "posts" I am finding my working space ( a single garage) to be fairly confining space wise from time to time. I don't believe the restricted work space is detrimental to the success of my project but it would be nice to be working in a double garage sized space especially when the need arises to move panels around etc etc.

From time to time I find myself wandering through web-pages showing individual's working spaces and the "green eyed snake of jealousy" sometimes raises its' head. There are some very impressive home garages out there. I daydream about the potential but then realize there is no way this is going to happen in the short run so I better get back to reality and make the best use of my space as I can....

I am also surprised at how comprehensive some people's tool collections are!!! Impressive. My tool chest seems to be meeting my requirements in a very satisfactory way so at this point I am operating in a very "fit for purpose" state. I seem to be able to find the tools I need to move the reassembly along without having to go out and purchase or rent them-which is great....I will however have to go out and rent a coil spring compressor when I go to reassemble the front suspension. I also daydreamed a bit this morning about purchasing a used parts washer but realistically for the amount of time I would use it, it hardly seems worthwhile to purchase. I will make do....

Triumph TR3-High Fill Primer

I only made it out to the garage for 15 minutes yesterday. Long enough to do some panel inspection and spray some high fill primer on the cowl, right front and right rear fenders. It was good to see the skim coat of filler covered over.

While out in the garage I inspected my Niosh approved spray paint respirator with the intent of cleaning it and utilizing it for the next while. One of the reasons for the short visit to the garage last night was my uncomfortableness with being in a vapor and fume filled environment while spraying the panels. The respirator is brand new but not utilized for the past few years-just sitting on a shelf- I believe some sanitization is definitely required!!!

I also found my "spray can" trigger that I bought on impulse last year. It worked surprisingly well on the spray cans I was using. I found myself smiling as I marveled at the engineering simplicity of the design and the functionality it provided with respect to ease of spraying. Money well spent in my determination.

Once again my garage has become a bit "cluttered" with tools and body prep materials so I am going to have to regroup and get things back into some resemblance of order before I proceed.

I reviewed the MOSS Motors on-line catalogue looking at the chassis hardware that is required to mount the body. Once I remove the body from the chassis I am going to have to address this issue so I might as well be prepared..

I also spent about an hour of so going over my bodywork "how to" books and reviewing the Youtube video on applying the Duplicolor Paint System. Still scheming trying to determine if I am going to proceed with a "garage" paint job-I am still very much sitting on the fence...

Triumph TR3-Inner Wheel Well Paint Prep

I made it back out to the garage yesterday for about 4 hours total which caps off a nice run of committed time on the weekend.

My main focus was prepping the rear left inner fender well. I used some filler to sculpt out the lower fender well area where I added the patch. The surface looks smooth and "fit for purpose" . I then washed down the area with Marine wash and sanded off the excess rust. It was interesting to note the original 1959 paint application had "runs" in the primer. The reason I believe the paint is original is based on the fact the color is black (the original color of the car) and there are no layers of paint over the primer. I scuffed up the surface but determined not to smooth out the runs too much. They add character plus once the fender goes on the runs are not visible. I then sprayed on some Metal Prep which finished off the surface for paint. I took a detour trying to locate my remaining POR 15 gloss black-with no luck so I will need to purchase some today. I have been contemplating the "correctness" of leaving the fender wells gloss black verses painting them the color of the car. It is one of those "crossroads" in the project. I am not sure in the overall scheme of things it really makes a difference. Painting them white will mean extra work on my part and I am not sure I want to make the effort!

The balance of my time was spent on the front right fender (etch primer application and further skim coat prep) and cleaning up my workspace which had got a bit out of control. I still have the left hand fender to tackle with respect to the clean up of the rail for painting.

Mazda Powered TR3 Rat Rod Update

UPDATE: I did some budget calculations a few days ago and realized that a "basic" rat rod build taking in the "knowns" (with a bit of contingency built in for the "surprises") it would cost me about $4500 to build the car. This realization took the "bloom" of the project from a cost perspective. I had originally envisioned a $2-$3000 build. There are so many pieces missing on the '57 that once I started to compile the list the $$$ added up rapidly.

Yesterday the "entrepreneur" in me started to do some research on the desirability of the car from a resale perspective and if there is potential to build the car and turn it over for a profit? I tempered this enthusiasm by trying to determine what the car is worth "as is"? This train of thought moved me into the "automotive art" category and how neat it would be to do the build from a artistic expression perspective!

Then I started to contemplate the tens of thousands of dollars people pay others to build custom cars (or refurbish components) and the $4500 doesn't look unreasonable from that perspective.

Yesterday I made an enquiry to a local British sports car shop as to whether or not they would be interested in purchasing the '57? This is an initial enquiry only and one I needed to make to gather some data on the desirability of a basket case project?

As I confessed to a friend, my Everest is the '59 reconstruction and I really need to stay focused on finishing the build and getting the car on the road before I start any other projects.

Triumph TR3-More Skim Coats of Filler

Yesterday was a stellar day in the garage (about 5 hours total) . I pretty well got everything done I had planned to with the exception of the left hand front fender rail clean up. Interestingly I was at the library picking up some DVD's to watch and decided to check out the automotive shelf. I located a couple of bodywork books that proved to be insightful. I will be doing some more perusing today for more tips.

I realized last night I do not have enough of the proper sandpaper (120/180 grit) for the block sanding of the components before the next application of primer which will mean a trip to my supplier on Monday. I am trying to use up all my bodywork supplies and keep expenses to a minimum.

Lots to do today: prep and prime the LH fender rail, finish off sanding the patch repair on the rear LH fender and remove the fender to access the lower inner fender patch I installed the other day and get it cleaned up and smoothed out. I also realized I do not have to be concerned about a loose fender nut that I have tried to epoxy in place and failed as I can get to it through an interior access to undo it ( I didn't realize this was possible initially) and try again-something else to add to the agenda for today. I have the front right hand fender ready to apply etch primer and fill primer so I can take it to the next level. The rest of the fenders will need to wait until Monday for the same treatment. If time permits I may do some work on the hood. There are some dings to be addressed.

I realized this morning that I have at least 200 hours invested in the bodywork to date. That is a fair chunk of time! For a while it didn't seem like I was making any progress but all of a sudden I can see results (on a bigger scale) Most of the literature I have read indicate this is the expensive and time consuming portion of a restoration and a major hurdle to overcome. It feels good to be nearly finished with only the back apron left to go. I have the parts fabricated to do so and plan to install them when I take the body off the frame (easier access)....

Triumph TR3-Left Rear Fender Work

Yesterday I spent about a 1/2 hour in the garage working on aligning the rear left fender for the final skim coat of filler and primer. Everything seems to be in order and think the fender will look good when I get finished today. I also spent some time installing the snow tires on my wife's Honda-not TR3 work but automotive in nature. I experienced some frustration when I realized that both of my tire pressure gauges have become inoperable. (it looks like it doesn't pay to buy cheap gauges) which translated into an expected trip to the tire store to top up the tire pressures before my wife took off on a trip-all this kind of threw off my garage time yesterday....

Today I plan to finish off the rear fender (filler and sanding), one more skim coat of filler on the front right fender (after some minor dent repairs-I found an area that I missed on my original inspection that needs some work) plus a cleaning up and sanding of the front fender rails (that run down the seam of the hood where the fenders attach to the inner fenders). Neither front fender has this area cleaned up and primed. A "must do" task.

Hopefully today will be productive although at this moment I am not feeling too energetic and/or motivated? I am sure once I get out in the garage and turn on the "tunes" things will move on as they should...More to follow

Triumph TR3-Panel Adhesive

Five hours in the garage today. A record I think? I managed to apply panel adhesive to the rear left fender splice and attach it with rivets which should provide a super strong bond. Next step is to grind down the outside and apply some filler to cover over the seam. I did a check of the fender radius and it looks good at first pass. I also cleaned up and installed the angle brackets that were needed to secure the floor boards to the firewall sections. The first part of the operation went really well...but I ran into problems after I applied the panel adhesive and realized I only had 1 (one) -1/8 drill bit for the drilling out the rivet holes and of course it broke twice!! leaving me with a short stubby bit to try finishing off the installation. Frustrating to say the least but I think I got the angle bracket installed tight enough with the existing rivets and a floor jack from underneath to clamp the floor to the bracket. I am going to need to go back and further secure the angle bracket after the adhesive sets and I remove the jack. A bit of a struggle late in the day but I made good progress for sure.

I really felt cramped in my single car garage today. Not really enough room to move around at times which is something I have to work around that complicates whatever process I am involved with. There just isn't a whole bunch of room on the sides of the car. Oh well-on the upside is the space is cheaper to heat in the winter than a double garage....

Triumph TR3-Inner Fender Patchs

Yesterday was a quiet day in the garage...I only spent 1 hour working on the left hand side rear inner fender patch preparing it for final attachment plus cleaning up the fender splice. I pulled out the grinder and cleaned up all the surfaces that will come in contact with each other. A small productive step....

Triumph TR3-Hanging the Fenders/Project Direction

Yesterday I determined after an hour of sanding and body prep that I was going to reposition the fenders and cowl on the car so that I don't have to move them around so much in my very confined work space (a single garage). This strategy was inspirational from the perspective of seeing the wonderful shapes of the TR3 come together-I love the sweep of the doors and subtle curves of the rear fenders where they follow the trunk lid contour. I am now going to remove the fenders one at a time to work on them. I also scanned the body work to see how the fenders and cowl are looking. I am pleased but also aware some more finish prep is needed before the primer goes on. Hopefully I will get some pictures posted once this happens.

I also had to regroup and go through my sandpaper collection to sort out the grades. I was surprised at how many sheets I had available. It was time well spent. Fortunately I had everything I needed to continue on with the finish sanding on the filled areas without having to venture out for more supplies. I also had to clean up my Shopvac filter so the unit would function properly. I have a special filter installed to reduce dust creation. The filter was incredibly contaminated and as I cleaned it I realized just how much of the skim coat of filler landed up in the Shopvac.

I spent about an hour on positioning the left back fender and bolting it down so I can put the lower splice piece in and have it align properly. I was going to go back into the garage last night and clean up the splice and lower body patch but other priorities took precedence.

I laid out my "revised" project plan on paper yesterday while eating my lunch. After about another 12 hours of body prep and priming (estimated) I am going to remove the body from the frame. I need to do this as the undercarriage of the body needs to be prepped and painted. At this point the project can take 2 different directions: one is to move the frame outside and continue working on the body or move the primer coated body outside (well covered of course) and reassemble the powder coated frame with the best parts from both cars. At this point I am leaning towards the "mechanical" reconstruction just because I want a change of pace but the practical side is also screaming out that I should finish the bodywork and get a coat of paint on the car before I store it outside...I am using POR15 primer which I think is not as porous as other primers so outside storage would not be an issue. I will need to follow up on this.. Of course once the body is removed I will "temporarily" have 2 "basket case" Triumphs which is a bit disturbing.

All in all a good day yesterday and I look forward to more of the same today....

Triumph TR3-Setting My Budgetary Intent

Yesterday I reviewed my project plan with a focus on cost estimates to finish the reassembly. I believe I have enough money set aside to finish the car but I am concerned about having "contingency funds" available to address any "surprises" that come up.

I have a majority of the parts (new and used) already collected so I am anticipating with the exception of a new fabric roof and wiring harness my $$$ outlay is going to be reasonable?

During the reassembly I am going to have to "sort out" the mechanicals to determine which components of the two cars I am going to incorporate with an eye on reliability and drivability. Luckily (with the exception of the clutch and starter solenoid and motor) I have two of everything to go through. Hopefully the '59 has a solid drivetrain and I will be able to keep it whole. My earlier Triumph ownership showed issues with transmission integrity ( syncro health for example) which may mean a transmission change out after the car is reassembled and driven. Not a big deal.

I am anticipating "unneeded" parts will be marketed to generate additional funds. The big question is timing on when these parts should be sold?

The only "financial wild card" that is apparent right now is the clutch assembly which I have not had an opportunity to inspect to see what the wear looks like? The $300 estimate to replace it is not in the budget right now. Hopefully there will be enough disk life left that it will not have to be replaced immediately?? I have a new throw out bearing available which will be installed regardless.

I have to keep the perspective the car will be driven very few miles and it will probably take years to wear out the used components. If I was going to tour etc then I would have to re-evaluate my approach and replace marginal components with new. If I determine to sell the car next year then the new owner can make those decisions...

Triumph TR3-Duplicolor Paint Job-next steps

Yesterday I spent some "think time" on whether or not I wanted to proceed with the Duplicolor "home" paint job I had originally planned to do on the Triumph. My real issue is a shortage of $funds and a consideration of the trade off between having the paint job done professionally vrs getting the car on the road in a timely fashion on budget? I have already purchased the paint and have a compressor and paint gun in my garage ready to go so I am on my way to the "shade tree mechanic " solution. I have been perusing the YouTube postings showing people who have actually completed a paint job and it looks fairly straight forward. The paint is very forgiving with a very open re-coat window which gives me an incentive to "give it a try" to see what happens.

I have some previous painting experience- a VW bug in the mid 1970's. The paint job actually turned out fairly well. There was one small run (there are a lot of curves on a VW) that was hardly noticeable that I never repaired. It was overall a very satisfying experience and was done for a very reasonable price. All my subsequent paint jobs have been done by professional shops. My 1979 Ford Camper Van (which I still own), a 1962 Volvo 544 and a 1986 Mazda pick up truck all received "cheap" paint jobs after I completed a majority of the body work. I spent the most time on the 544 body prep and the results showed. The Ford and Mazda had more "fit for purpose" finishes which made them presentable but not up to body shop standards.

For now I will continue working on the panel prep as it will need to be done regardless of who does the finish paint job....

Tr3-Monday-More Skim Coats of Filler

3-1/2 hours in the garage today. It seems my quest for ripple free fenders required still more skim coats of filler (4 coats on 2 of the fenders) and block sanding. I am making good progress but it is taking much longer than I anticipated. Nothing new there. Next I am going to have to apply a guide coat of paint to determine where the subtle peaks and valleys are? Two fenders and the crowl feel pretty good to the touch. the other 2 fenders are a bit suspect? Fortunately the car is going to be painted white which hides some imperfections. I still want to take it as far as I can before applying paint but I am not expecting perfection. My goal is to have a reliable driver that looks good from 5 feet away (or maybe closer?)....

TR3- Saturday and More Skim Coats of Filler

Today I spent 4 hours today in the garage. The heater kicked in and out warming the space to a very pleasant 60 degrees F. Another 2 skim coats of filler were applied to the fenders and crowl section. Lots more sanding done and as a result I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel with respect to straight panels and a reasonable surface for the final paint prep. Tonight I went out and applied some additional filler in a couple of places. Hopefully tomorrow I will finish off the preliminary filler sanding and move on to the block sanding prior to another coat of primer being applied to all the panels.

TR3-Still Working on Fenders

Yesterday I got out into the garage for about an hour-not as much time spent out there as I would have liked but it was a busy day full of distractions and commitments. I did some more finish sanding on 3 of the 4 fenders and realized after I was completed another skim coat of filler is going to be needed on all 4 fenders. Hopefully today, this will happen!!!

On Sunday I took out the Haynes Repair manual and looked at the section on the front suspension disassembly and repair. The exercise was to orient me to the components and start me down the road on the reassembly. I think it was time well spent as I look forward to doing something other than body work. My plan is take the bodywork to a "semi finished" primer state and then start working on the mechanical reconditioning. I have a more than a few bodywork hours left before the wrenches start turning.

TR3-More Skim Coats of Filler Than Anticipated

Over the last few days I have applied 2 additional skim coats of filler to the two front and rear fenders. I had anticipated being completed by now but as with most things TR3 wise it is taking me longer. The fenders are starting to shape up well. I anticipate I will have them ready for another coat of primer tomorrow. The cowl is down to final sanding and one more light coat of filler. Lots of work done so far-some more to go...

I also took time out to fix the latches on one of my plastic tool boxes. Both latches were broken and I really didn't want it to go to the landfill so I bought new latches and spent about 3/4 of an hour installing them...now I am back in business.

Skim Coat of Filler Applied Cowl and Front Fenders

Body Work Prep: Yesterday I worked for 3-1/2 hours (for the most part enjoyable "in the zone" type of work-the time went very quickly) applying the skim coat of primer which resulted in getting the front fenders and cowl to the next level of body work "completeness" by spending about an hour on each of the panels. The cowl and right front fender required minimal application of filler but the left hand fender had more ripples etc that needed to be addressed. Today I plan to finish up the final finishing and reapply primer over the work areas. As I worked on the panels the question of how far do I take the body prep before I consider applying the finish coat occupied my think time... The issue of "fit for purpose" crops up in all my projects (automotive and otherwise) and I think it is a good question to ask oneself to keep things in perspective-especially when on a limited budget like I am. Short cuts in this area of body prep could be obvious when the car is reassembled but at the same time I am not sure I want to put in the extra hours that would be required to bring the panels to the next level of "perfection" when there is so much other work to do. My goal is to get the car on the road in May in the most time efficient manner with a minimal output of cash...It is a fine line to walk. I can easily see how the big bucks are spent on this area of car restoration and there is no denying that the body work is what people will notice. Fortunately the car is going to be painted white which covers up minor imperfections so I should end up with what I consider a "fit for purpose finish" for a minimal amount of cash outlay..

Project Planning update: I really want to get the car back on the road by the end of May 2011. In order to meet this deadline I determined last week that I will remove the body from the chassis to complete the rear body work (around the spare time cover) and also to allow me access to painting the underside of the floor boards verses having to lie under the car.. I will then roll the chassis outside the garage and finish the body work then move the body outside and start on the powder coated chassis reconstruction inside the garage (this will be my winter project)..It will be easier and more time efficient in the longer run to go this route although I am feel somewhat reluctant to take the '59 to another level of disassembly but after careful consideration I think it is the way things need to go. Also having the bare chassis will allow me better access to the components.

I also decided that next week I am going to start posting pictures of my progress...

Primer Applied

I managed to get a coat of primer on the dash and trunk areas on Tuesday afternoon so at least the metal is covered and I can move on. Time spent: 1 hour.

Today I have determined to tackle the skim coats of filler on the cowl, front and right rear fender as it is projected to be a warm autumn day and the work can be done outside. I also need to apply another coat of primer on the hood after taking care of some minor imperfections. If I can get all of this done I will be a happy man.

The '57 TR3 Rat Rod Project

The idea of constructing a Mazda powered Rat Rod is building momentum in my imagination but there are some realities that will need to be addressed.

First of all there is the issue of funds to finance the construction. Right now there is no money allocated for this to happen. The only way it could proceed (past the reconstruction possible with existing parts) would be to sell the '59 after it is put back together. My best estimate for an "economy build" would be in the $3000 range and that is primarily for the mechanical aspects and does not take into account a new roof and side curtains etc etc. Of course there is the potential to market the drive train etc which would put extra coffers into the pot. The financial side of the enterprise is a constraint for sure.

The second aspect is more complex. I am not sure I have the "energy" and enthusiasm needed to complete the build. It will be interesting to see if this changes once I get the '59 back together and experience some success. I have not been as focused on the '59 build process as I could be (should be) and as a result of my lack of attention the project hasn't moved along as quickly as it could. Examining the "whys" clearly shows me that the "root cause" is that I have chosen not to make working on the car a priority in the overall scheme of things. Being retired should open more of a door for me time wise and I think I should examine why I am not using my time more effectively? I find the process of working on the cars very relaxing for the most part but I am wresting with channeling my personal energies to get the work done. Too many distractions for sure...

A further complication is that for the past couple of years I have been contemplating a classic truck owner experience. Realistically I should only have one special interest car in the stable so decisions have to be made.... This desire may "trump" the rat rod build...

The contemplation continues...

More Sanding and Prep

Yesterday wasn't a stellar day in the garage as I didn't physically make it out there until later in the afternoon leaving little time to actually work on the TR before the dinner hour hit. Excuses are many. Other activities took longer than anticipated plus I got distracted by a visit to the library which wasn't planned but turned out to be an enjoyable foray. It was a glorious fall day and probably too nice to spend in the garage? (more justification?)

I did spent about an hour doing more sanding getting to the point that I am ready to apply the primer to the dash and trunk areas. It is going to be good to get the metal covered. I plan to do this today before I head out of town for a couple of days...

Master Plan/Just Do It/Master Cylinders and Primer Prep

Yesterday I wrestled a bit with the project management gods coming to the conclusion that the only way I am going to get the '59 reassembled is to make a commitment to myself t0 get out into the garage on a regular basis and do some work on the car-even if it is just small tasks that take a few minutes. Every step accomplished gets me closer to buttoning it up and driving . I need to get this car back together for a number of different reasons.....Part of this conclusion stems from my interest at looking at Kijjiji ads for classic cars...there are so many abandoned projects represented and I just don't want the Triumph to end up in the ranks of the unfinished...so it has to be heads down with a commitment to "just do it".... I have set a target date of July 1st for completed assembly with an intention of attending a British Car meet in mid July as my goals. I believe I have the skills to finish the job and fortunately I have a majority of the parts to do so so I am on my way.

With a new sense of focus I started wrenching on the '59 by removing the brake and clutch master cylinders. Both are rusted and seized which is disappointing as I understand they were rebuilt at one time but unfortunately time and the elements have taken their toll. I am presently soaking the plungers with penetrating oil so at least I can disassemble them to see the extent of the damage. Replacement master cylinders are reasonably priced. I am going to wait until I am ready for reassembling the brake system before I purchase them.

I spent about an hour "hand sanding" the dash area of the tub on the '59. The garage was warm, I had the radio playing and everything was right with the world as I removed the last remaining fragments of paint and smoothed out the areas that needed attention. Hopefully today I will finish up and apply a coat of primer. I will need to purchase some fine grit sandpaper and a dust mask today before I can proceed. Given the fine "fall" weather we are experiencing I am going to apply some skim coats of filler to the fenders and crowl areas today. I want to get this work done outside in the fresh air verses later on when I will be forced to do so inside the garage. Breathing the fumes in a confined space is not the best thing health wise.

Fenders and Such

Yesterday I spent a short period of time working on the 1957 (about 1-1/2 hours). I extracted the front fenders from my garden shed and lined them up for examination and evaluation. I think 2 of them should be sold and I am considering exactly how to do it...(Kijjiji perhaps). I also put the tub up on saw horses in the driveway and cleaned up the newly painted surfaces plus secured the car cover appropriately. I really need to focus on the '59 and get the work that needs to be done-done...hopefully today there will be not unexpected distractions...

Back to Garage/ '57 Tub Changes Location/Next Steps on the '59

Garage Clean Up: I spent about 5 hours on Thursday on further garage clean up. I actually moved the 1959 out of the garage so I would have more room to sort and clean up. It is starting to make sense to me around the importance of having "space" when undertaking a project of this nature. A single garage does not offer much of a contingency space wise. Clutter really impedes progress-no doubt about it. I figure I accomplished about 90% of what I wanted to do which is a really good start. Hopefully today I will get back out there and finish up. It certainly feels good to have things in their proper places and to get rid of some of the associated clutter that seems to accumulate in garages-especially mine.

Tub Move: I incorporated the assistance of my son and his friend Derek plus my daughter to move the '57 tub from the back driveway to the front driveway right outside the garage door. The four of us carried the tub for a hundred feet or so. I would not want to walk it around the block but the short distance was very manageable. I imagine it was a funny sight to behold. Today I am going to put the tub on sawhorses and start to assess my next steps. I also plan to match up which fenders I am going to use and then make a decision on the "sale" of surplus body panels. I need to generate some revenue to keep my projects going. I still have about $800 dollars in the TR fund thanks to my mother's generous gift a few months ago but I would like to top it up plus free up some room by getting rid of the parts.

Next steps on the '59: Hopefully today I am going to finish prepping the exposed panels and get some primer on the bare metal. This needs to be done asap as I started working on this back in August and I shouldn't wait any longer. I decided earlier in the week that I am going to finish up my identified bodywork ( I anticipate I have about 12 hours left) then make another attempt at getting the car started and letting it run for a while. A year ago when I attempted the last start up I didn't install the fuel pump fulcrum correctly so the fuel pump needs to be removed and refitted. Also I need to drain the oil and change out the filter prior to start up as the oil filter canister was leaking on the last start up. I have the adapter to change it out to a spin on filter which I believe will be an excellent enhancement. I also have decided to take the master brake and clutch cylinders off to determine if new rebuild kits will do the trick. They were rebuilt a few years back but are now seized due to non use. Knowledgeable Triumph folks are saying for reliability reasons I should go with new master cylinders but the cost is somewhat prohibitive. I will just have to see what comes up on the inspection. Once I finish these tasks I am going to move the car outside, cover it and start reassembling the powder coated frame.

Back to Creating Order in the Garage

Yesterday I came to the conclusion I can't continue to work on the TR's without spending some time in my garage creating some order( primarily so that I know where things are when I need them). I have a tendency to go "heads down" on tasks and end up with a pile of clutter to deal with that I subsequently ignore (rather than take time each day to address) until I become "boxed in" (physically and mentally) and unable to continue working. I have now reached that stage so it is time to regroup.

To start off I spent an hour or so going through my bodywork supplies trying to determine what is useful and what wasn't. My sandpaper tote (a recycled electric drill case) has broken clasps which make its' usefulness questionable. I contemplated throwing it out but quickly came to realization it was very fit for purpose size wise and that I could probably pick up some new clasps at Home Depot and fix it vrs throwing it into the landfill. So that is one of the tasks I am going to do today. I have also discarded some dated and defective spray paint cans. A trip to the dump will be in order as they will need to be disposed of as hazardous waste.

The other issue I am dealing with is "stuff" stored in the garage that is restricting my working space. I have ignored this intrusion over the summer months but now realize with the coming cold weather that I will need as much room as I can get to move around the garage with the door closed so the "useless" stored items will need to be addressed today.Bicycle storage is another issue as the bikes take up a fair amount of room hung from the ceiling. So I moved them out into my camper van for winter storage. Today I also need to install the casters I bought over a year ago to attach to my table saw so it is easy to move. The table saw also takes up a fair amount of room and can be moved to my storage shed until I need it again. Upon examination yesterday I realized about 25% of what is stored in my garage does not need to be there. Moving it out will free up a considerable amount of space.

Eastwood Chassis Black/Chassis Path Forward

Yesterday I restored the '57 tub back from lying on its' side (easy access for work) to upright sitting on blocks and generally cleaned up the back driveway from my rust removal and paint application antics. I also attended a local swap meet and bought a can of Eastwood's Chassis Black paint that I have heard good things about but have been reluctant to order in off the internet. I should have enough paint to coat the suspension parts when I reassemble the chassis. Yesterday I decided regardless of which body tub I use I should reassemble the powder coated chassis. It would be cleaner and more straight forward to upgrade generally. I also completed a mental check list of what parts I have already purchased for the job...so a good day generally with an incremental step being taken down the road to reassembly

More Rust Protection Completed on the '57

On Thursday I spent 5-1/2 hours doing prep work and painting the undercarriage of the '57 tub. I decided to use Rustoleum paint as the panels still had a majority of the original paint still intact with very little rust showing. I figured applying the Rustoleum would be more "fit for purpose" than going with POR-15.(which I would consider overkill)...the process took me longer than I originally anticipated due to the fact that there was a considerable of amount of prep work required to remove the dirt and oil that had accumulated.

By examining the floor boards I can make the assumption they have been replaced in the past 20 years or so?

I also found a very interesting website that shows a Mazda Miata conversion on a MGB. It gives me much of the background as to the mechanics of what is involved and I think, a good resource for information-the Internet is great for garnering information on almost any topic...

Today I am going to finish off the balance of the under car painting and make arrangements to move the tub closer to the garage door...

More Work on the 1957 TR3 Completed

Last Saturday I managed to get the engine bay POR-15 coated. The weather was very cooperative but unfortunately my personal schedule ( a dinner party for a good friend) impacted the "careful" application of the second coat at the "tacky" stage of set up on the initial coat. The second coat went on smoothly but there are a couple of blemishes that could have been avoided had I had more time. I had to remind myself it is an engine bay and most of the flaws will be covered or hidden anyway...

Today I tipped the body on its' side and cleaned off the dirt and built up oil and grease from the underside of the body. Using the garden hose, Scotch pads plus a environmentally appropriate degreaser the underside of the body looks pretty clean. Tomorrow I am going back with the rotary wire brush and some mineral spirits to take off the remaining scum. I hope to etch the surface with some fine grit sandpaper and coat it with a couple of coats of black enamel paint. The original paint is actually in pretty good shape which is encouraging to say the least (particularly given the age of the car-it looks like it was redone sometime along the way... I did not want to remove the existing finish and keeping in the spirit of a "rat rod" type vehicle build my approach should work out well...

More POR-15 Application

Another good work session on the '57 tub....I am now about 60% finished treating the surface rust and applying the POR-15 paint..Tomorrow I want to tackle the underside and firewall/battery box...small incremental steps for sure...but satisfying...

Weather Sensitive Tasks Take Priority

The autumn days are getting shorter and the nights cooler which means I really need to get outside and do whatever I can to move my TR3 projects forward particularly while the weather is warm enough to paint rather than having to apply it an enclosed garage during the winter.

I realized yesterday I really need to address the 1957 tub and get the rust eliminated or at least neutralized before I end with a perforated mess. I made my way out to the driveway and spent 5 hours in the sunshine cleaning and preparing the floor boards and trunk areas and applying some POR-15 products . I had taken an earlier look at the overall condition of the body to determine whether or not I could get away without sandblasting the tub and I came to the conclusion the most "cost effective" and "fit for purpose" approach was to go the Por-15 route. Most of the paint had been removed and all that was left was mainly surface rust (fairly severe in some places) so most of the benefit from sand blasting had already been achieved. The application metal prep and paint seemed to have gone well and I now have an expanse of gray color where rust used to reside.

I realize that if I want to move ahead with my "rat rod" Mazda Miata powered TR3 I need to make daily progress even if I just work for an hour or two. Working on the TR's is a great stress reliever and I need to do more of it vrs other pursuits...

Miata Engine Swap into a TR3-New Project Direction?

I do a lot of daydreaming about my Triumphs-it is what I do...a dreamer and a planner vrs a do-er..I should probably be daydreaming less and working in the garage more but that is a whole different issue that I am not willing to address today!! Since I am in daydreaming mode anyway I thought I might as well get my thoughts jotted down. Perhaps this action will allow me to move on?

I was e-mailing a friend yesterday who had made an enquiry into my progress on Triumph to give him an update. As I typed the e-mail I realized it had been many days since I was in the garage last so this morning I went in and checked out my blog and sure enough it was September 7th! Way too long in my determination......

I ventured out into the garage yesterday and cleaned up once again. The clutter continues to mount...I did not clean up as well as I would have liked (everything should probably be pulled out of the garage and sorted and reordered) to but it was necessary to get my woodworking and painting tools put away and a space cleared around the car.

I have also been scheming lately about potentially doing a Mazda Miata engine swap on the '57 and making a "rat rod" type ride out of the car. The TR3 purists would find this concept to be a desecration of the marque but to me it makes a lot of sense to upgrade to a more modern drive train from a reliability and environmental perspective. I have probably spent a couple of hours contemplating the potential and working out some of the major challenges. It seems doable for sure and would provide something completely different as a ride.

The inspiration came from a caption on an E-Bay ad for a Triumph TR3. The current owner was lamenting his lost opportunity for doing the engine swap as he had no time to work on the project-resulting in the listing of the car. His disclosure got me doing some research on the Internet that led me to some very interesting sites where people have documented their conversions. No TR3's covered but a MGA and Sprite so the concept and challenges would be similar. I skimmed through the pages and got a pretty good overview of the processes. There are a couple of areas I am not sure of like the electrical system interface with the computerized fuel injection system and the modifications to the gas tank for the return line etc but I believe these issues can be resolved with more Internet research.

In addition the conversion with probably be cost effective as a JDM Mazda engine and transmission is in the $600 range.

I sense there is going to be more daydreaming ahead!!!

Back to Sheet Metal Fabrication-Patch Panels

This morning I returned to the TR after a considerable absence. (August 17th)...I have been distracted largely by vacation travel and a garden requiring immediate attention...but hey, excuses are excuses regardless of the justification...

Today was an excellent metal fabrication day. An "in the zone" type of experience where the sheet metal patches I was making worked out really well and the time passed quickly. I realized today that I just about have all the patch panels fabricated and I can start cleaning them up and installing them permanently-an exciting prospect for sure...as with other endeavors the execution time has exceeded my estimation by a considerable margin and some of the "rework" related to me just not being happy with the initial fabrication. I have to continue to remind myself this is a "fit for purpose" build and I shouldn't attempt to go overboard with the quality of the bodywork. I just try to do the best I can....

Yesterday I regrouped and cleaned up my garage and put away tools etc. I have been working on my 1979 Vanguard Camper van repairing some rust problems that needed to be addressed earlier than later!!! I have a few projects to tackle...

Yesterday I did some fender assessment related to my extra fenders off the 1957. I plan to use the best ones for the current build on the '59. I am still assessing what to do with the "57. It is still on my mind...something fun to contemplate but action needs to be taken soon-winter will soon be here....

End of the Line on 1957 Hood Refurbishment

Yesterday I determined the 1957 hood is damaged beyond my ability to repair it so I decided to stop working on it and return to the 1959 hood refurbishment. Unfortunately I have $200 worth of bead blasting and probably 6 hours of work into it already that I am going to have to walk away from. My inner voice is telling me I am wasting my time going any further and to have it professionally repaired would be very cost prohibitive. The issue I am dealing with are dents that have been caused by the hood being closed on something in the engine compartment so the dents protrude outwards instead of inward like hail damage etc...very hard to repair properly..

I did a 400 grit wet sand on the '59 hood. I will need to put on another coat of primer for build purposes and an additional wet sanding to get it ready for paint. Not perfect it will be "fit for purpose" for my driver status car.....

The 1957 Hood Plus Strategy Considerations

I have spent a few hours trying to prep the 1957 hood for primer. Unfortunately my endeavors have not met with much success. The hood actually might be too far gone to salvage.. There is a small dent/bulge in the hood probably caused by it being shut on something that was left sitting on the engine? It is proving to be very difficult to repair and I am getting close to giving up on the process. I have to admit my "shade tree" bodywork skills are probably being pushed to the limit and as a result it might be time to turn it over to an expert or even pursue a replacement hood? However this all becomes a secondary consideration if I do not plan to reassemble the 1957??

I continue to ponder my strategy around the disposal of the extra car (the 1957) and the related parts. How far should I take the reassembly before throwing in the towel and hitting Kijijji and placing an ad? The big issue for me is making one drivable car out of the two and having enough money generated from the sale of the second car to finish the first one. My "spider sense" tells me to reassemble the powder coated chassis with all the good parts from both cars then sell off the remaining vehicle as a "basket case". This action must be taken soon as I really feel the need to make a definitive decision and get on with it?

Primer and Such

Current Work: I managed to get back into the garage late last week after returning from vacation. I straightened out the rear spare tire cover and primed it plus the hood and both doors. Total time spent about 8 hours. Yesterday I started doing the prep on the 1957 hood for priming-realizing I waited a little too long between sandblasting and priming so some surface rust formed. Easy to remedy at this stage..

Overall Strategy:

A friend indicated I am probably a better planner than do-er and he is probably right. This observation fits my Meyers-Briggs personality profile..INTJ-I am a big picture kind of guy...details often mess me up....Talking about the "big picture", nothing gets my creative juices flowing more than an early morning planning session and the creation of a critical path to follow.... The problem comes with actually committing time during the day to get the work done that has been planned. I think this is a common issue with people restoring vehicles and one that is causing me a fair amount of grief with respect to making progress... but at least I am aware of the problem..now I am trying to address it...

1957: Hopefully I am going to be able to get the 1957 tub sandblasted along with a couple of the fenders next week. I have a friend who works for a sandblasting firm who has offered to do the work. I really need to get the tub primed and an assessment of the work needed to be done completed. I am uncertain how I am going to proceed but for now are considering a partial reconstruction of the car and subsequent marketing if all goes well..

1959: I need to be heads down on the bodywork while the weather is still good. I want to have the car painted by mid September and if I am going to do this there needs to be a focused systematic approach. Much of the major body work has been completed-it is mainly paint prep that needs to be done...

Back at Panel Bashing

For the last few days I have been working on the doors: The weather for the most part has been cooperating and nothing is better than working in the garage on a warm summer night especially when there are no thundershowers to contend with. I have finished removing all the paint from the right hand door and placed a skim coat of filler to smooth out the contour. In my wisdom (based on an assessment of the existing left hand door skin) I determined to make one good door out of two and sacrifice a damaged door with a good skin to be a donor. The process worked well and I think in the long run will be much more time efficient than trying to repair the existing skin. I also determined to revisit an existing patch panel and through my assessment determined my first attempt is not acceptable so I started over again using the discarded door skin for the purpose. It worked great.

I am trying to get the car totally in primer by July 3rd. I am going to keep my head down and push for this milestone prior to my vacation. I know I will need a break from all the toxic activities related to the body work. When I get back in late July I am going to go back to the mechanical work.

Automotive Project Jealousy

Last weekend I was working in my driveway when I heard someone "feathering" the throttle of a high performance car to get it to idle appropriately. I looked up and saw my neighbor Jim driving his 1968 Camaro around the block. The paint was all stripped with some filler applied. It looks like he is getting ready to take it in for paint. Jim has been working steadily on the car over the last year and a half and it looks like he now has a "runner".

I experienced a full range of emotions as I looked toward the street and saw him motoring by. I will admit I "internally" shared the experience with him and how great it must feel to take the car out of the garage and onto the street under it's own power. At the same time I felt extreme jealousy and disappointment in myself for not being in the same position myself. (we both started our projects at around the same time) The blame game started to get played and from there things got progressively worst emotionally as I crashed into a state of self loathing. It took me a full 2 days to recover-not good. The experience opened my eyes as to what is happening in my life and what I found out was very illuminating to say the least.

!957 Tub Comes Home

Last week I made arrangements to have the 1957 body delivered to my driveway. The tub was sitting beside a quonset in a farmers field and really needed to be brought home. Other than cleaning out some grass and mud and putting a car cover on no additional work has been done. It was a tremendous relief to finally arrange the transfer. Cost $50.

I was surprised how "solid" the tub is. A considerable amount of body work has been done already. I just need to neutralize the rust and get the tub cleaned up. Critical path has been set up. I just need to turn up and do the work.

Back In The Garage

I have been distracted by a 3rd party home reno project so no TR3 time for the past few weeks. Yesterday I returned to the garage to put away wood working tools and clean up so I can get started again on the reassembly. I am eager to get the body work completed so I can prime the rear of the tub and move on the the rear left fender reassembly. I have to be satisfied with incremental steps taken on a day to day basis. I really want to be driving this car in the summer...

Taking Stock and Cleaning Up

After a few days away from my TR3 project I ventured back out to the garage t0 clean up and put my tools etc away. I need to do this every so often in order to start fresh in an organized way. I also temporarily reattached the reworked body panels to the car to get them out of the way. It was satisfying to see the blue primered panels in place which resulted in a tinge of "job satisfaction" being experienced. Lot of work left...

I also thought about the 1957 car yesterday and what I should do with it. I am considering some options..;.

Rear Tire Cover/Paint Removal/Parts Sorting

Tonight I spent a couple of hours removing paint from the rear tire cover (which is a bit bent and dented from years of work) and the area on the right left around the rear wheel well area. I wasn't in the mood to do patch panel work so taking my 3M disk and removing some paint that was left over from the chemical strip was a good way to spend the evening. Somewhat menial work but necessary and in many ways satisfying as the layers of paint appear and disappear down to bare metal. The car certainly couldn't take another layer of paint so it is "necessary" work from a project completion perspective.

The paint removal was not without it's challenges: I had to remove 4 of the hold down attachment points for the flap on the side curtains so I could remove the paint which were fairly well stuck and hard to get at the nuts but with patience and perseverance I triumphed (no pun intended). I also went through one of my big plastic parts tubs sorting out what parts I have accumulated and what parts the previous owner had taken care of.... More work to be done there.....

so 3 hours spent today....2 body work and 1 sorting....a good productive day...

Rework on Back Splash Plan

Yesterday I went into the garage and reworked the patch panels I had started to fabricate for the rear of the car. In fact I started all over again on the left hand side. Instinctually I knew I could do better so instead of excepting a compromise I revisited the work. By chance I glanced over at a piece of the old fender that was sitting on the floor that I thought would work well instead and it did. The panel I am working on is curved and the fender piece fit almost perfectly...The work flowed well generally but I got very tired in the afternoon and left after about 2-1/2 hours of productivity. Good country and western music on CKUA which added to the experience. -It would have been good to spend a few more hours metal bashing but a good incremental improvement...An 8 out of 10 day all round.

Parts/Parts/Parts and Workspace Maintenance

Today I ventured into the garage after a couple of weeks of non-action. Vacation called out and I answered followed by a consulting job opportunity that I needed to explore. Now I am back on track for some Triumph project progress.

Before I left on vacation my mother very generously gifted me some money to assist with the restoration. The gift was unsolicited and as such very much appreciated as a spontaneous gesture. The cash will help me purchase the parts I need to finish the car to a "drivable" status. In preparation I transferred my needed part list to an Excel spreadsheet I am keeping and looked up the part numbers and prices in the Moss catalog. Although tempting to order the parts I have decided to hold off temporarily and adopt a "just in time" approach...

The rest of my time today was spent cleaning up the garage getting ready for my next work session. I am physically weary today and as a result determined not to do any actual work on the car.

Saturday in the Garage

I spent about 5 hours in the garage on Saturday. A good productive time focused mainly on the rear panel below the spare tire compartment. I decided to use the remaining sections of the harvested rear left fender to make the new patch components I needed. There was some rework involved as I had already fashioned a few panels back in the summer but I was not really happy with the outcome so back to some creative panel bashing. I also removed some more paint from the main body. Really good music on CKUA assisted me in staying focused. An enjoyable day all round.

Paint Stripping

Today I spent a few hours out in the garage using my aircraft chemical stripper to remove the last bits of remaining painted areas on the car. The car is now about 95% stripped. Tomorrow I will use my dual action sander to remove the rest of the paint and get the panels ready for primer. I focused on the front area between the dash and the firewall and the rear valance where the gas cap goes. Many layers of paint came off. I am glad I used up the rest of the paint stripper product-now I just have to get rid of the can at our dangerous goods drop off .

I needed to remove the faded red paint to get revved up about the grunt work I have to do over the weekend. I have decided today's task was pivotal in getting me a few steps closer to claiming the car as my own (new paint.new color)....

Left Rear Fender Patch

Today I took my hacksaw and tin snips and made one good rear left fender out of two. The second fender was purchased damaged as a "donor" for $150. I contemplated repairing it for a short period of time but after a bit of panel bashing realized it was too far gone for restoration and I should go back to my original intent of using the front portion as a splice. The splice was harvested and it worked well (primary fit only) and now I have the rest of the damaged fender to use as raw material for other repairs I have to make. A win-win for sure. I spent 2-1/2 productive hours today. Good times...

February 27,2010 Garage Clean Up

The 27th of February TR3 activity consisted of a couple of hours of garage clean up so I could move the '59 back into the garage. The tarp and car cover had lots of snow and ice built up on it which translated into some extra effort on my part to extract the sleeping Triumph from it's outdoor parking spot into the warm garage. It also took a fair amount of physical effort to move the car. I almost gave up at one point but I persevered and finally moved the beast into the garage by attaching a chain to the front of the chassis and pulling the car (from inside the garage) verses trying to push it on the snow and ice covered driveway. I came very close to approaching a neighbor for assistance but it turned out to be unnecessary.

I also installed the garage door sealing strips to stop drafts from entering the garage from the outside. I removed them a few years ago when I repainted the front door trim and never reinstalled them. I think this will increase the efficiency of the unit heater somewhat.

Once the car was in the garage I surveyed the work that needs to be done. I reviewed my white board and crossed off the completed tasks and reconfirmed my critical path as still being viable. I also determined (99% sure) I am going to remove the body from the chassis to allow access to the bottom of the car for painting of the underside and also repair of the back panel around the spare tire holder.. The reason I am going to do this is I think it will be straight forward lift at this point as a majority of the bolts have been replaced when the new floor was put in and as such they should be easy to remove plus I have to disassemble the steering in order to install the rack and pinion assembly leaving a few electrical disconnects and of course the brake lines etc. I am not going to do this until I get the rest of the body panels repaired and in primer including the interior and trunk areas. I want to to make sure all the tasks are complete before additional disassembly happens.

The issue of what to do chassis wise is still out there?? I am leaning towards using the powder coated '57 chassis and reassembling the front suspension using the Moss Motors rebuild kit then transferring the engine/transmission and rear end over from the 59. The engine is going to be repainted black with the pan being pulled and a new gasket installed. Of course the transmission will need to be separated so the clutch can be checked and the new throw out bearing installed. I am keeping my fingers crossed the clutch pressure plate and disc will not need to be replaced at this point.

A good day in the garage with lots of daydreaming taking place. I continue the project with resolve and focus and hopefully I can follow a path of least resistance and get the car back on the road in the summer. I am enjoying the process so far.

Out of the Snowy Driveway and Back Into the Garage

Today I move the '59 back into my heated garage. This is a pivotal moment in my critical path as I start to fit the repaired panels back onto the body to check for fit. There is still lots to do but this event should provide me with a much needed motivational boost.

A New Year-Warm and Comfortable

Last week I finally got my garage unit heater inspected and commissioned which is a giant step forward on the Triumph project critical path!!!. The installation took about 6 weeks longer than originally envisioned but what can one say when your son is doing the work for free (he is a journeyman sheet metal worker) and it had to fit it in as an "extra" in his very busy schedule..

I have spent some quality hours working in a comfortable environment...I have to love that...