Time in Garage: around 2 hours
I spent some time in my storage shed finding the spare master cylinder bracket, reservoir and moving the fenders, trunk lid and hood out of the shed and into the garage. I made a determination I might need to restore the original right hand fender rather than use the one I repaired a few years ago. More work needs to be done to determine the best way to proceed?
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Engine Married to Chassis
Time in Garage: 1-1/2 hours
Yesterday I dropped the engine onto the chassis. The process was straight forward with a few challenges moving the engine out of the garage and in position. I had to stop half way through and re position the arm on the engine hoist in order to have enough "reach" to get the engine to sit on the engine mounts. The stance of the arms on the hoist also interfered with the wheel position-another challenge... A minor set back-but something that needed to be done. I didn't install the transmission mount so |I utilized a 2 x 4 to support the back of the transmission. I have noticed some interference with the bolts on the front pulley. I need to go back and look at the instructions for the rack and pinion installation to see what has been recommended to rectify the situation?
I also purchased some white board cleaner and new fine point dry erase markers to reconfigure the action list which is copied down on the whiteboard on the wall of the garage.
I had to inflate one of the front tires after I installed the engine. Now the engine is in place I can start working on the front shock installation etc. I really want to chop away at the misc activities related to preparing the drive train.
Today I plan to go out in the storage shed and try and retrieve the other master cylinder bracket in order to avoid having to reattach the reservoir bracket that I mistakenly removed on my misguided attempt to convert to TR4 master cylinders. I also plan to move the fenders, hood and trunk lids out of the shed into the garage. I am looking forward to getting back to some body work.
I checked out a 1983 Mazda RX7 for sale in my city. 58 k on a new rotory engine. The car looks too good to scrap but is the configuration I considering for the '57 conversion. Trying to stay focused on the '59 as the #1 priority...
Yesterday I dropped the engine onto the chassis. The process was straight forward with a few challenges moving the engine out of the garage and in position. I had to stop half way through and re position the arm on the engine hoist in order to have enough "reach" to get the engine to sit on the engine mounts. The stance of the arms on the hoist also interfered with the wheel position-another challenge... A minor set back-but something that needed to be done. I didn't install the transmission mount so |I utilized a 2 x 4 to support the back of the transmission. I have noticed some interference with the bolts on the front pulley. I need to go back and look at the instructions for the rack and pinion installation to see what has been recommended to rectify the situation?
I also purchased some white board cleaner and new fine point dry erase markers to reconfigure the action list which is copied down on the whiteboard on the wall of the garage.
I had to inflate one of the front tires after I installed the engine. Now the engine is in place I can start working on the front shock installation etc. I really want to chop away at the misc activities related to preparing the drive train.
Today I plan to go out in the storage shed and try and retrieve the other master cylinder bracket in order to avoid having to reattach the reservoir bracket that I mistakenly removed on my misguided attempt to convert to TR4 master cylinders. I also plan to move the fenders, hood and trunk lids out of the shed into the garage. I am looking forward to getting back to some body work.
I checked out a 1983 Mazda RX7 for sale in my city. 58 k on a new rotory engine. The car looks too good to scrap but is the configuration I considering for the '57 conversion. Trying to stay focused on the '59 as the #1 priority...
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Chassis Path Forward Explained
Time in Garage: 1-1/2 hours
Planning and E-mailing: 1-1/2 hors
Purchase of Parts: 1959 : New reservoir and connecting pipes (around $150 Cdn)
Purchase of Parts: 1957 Chassis $650
Yesterday I ventured out into the garage for another round of garage clean up and reorganization. The space looks much better and I found my engine hoist chain that I couldn't locate last weekend.
I decided to purchase a damaged chassis to harvest the rear end and front suspension parts to get the 1957 Triumph back into a rolling chassis basis. I gave instructions on how I want it cut up so I can load it into the back of my Ranger truck. I have sat on the fence about this purchase for a number of months and I realized that the '57 is not going anywhere until I take some time to make it sellable. It is a bit of a gamble but the upside is definitely there. Spending money to make money. I also ordered a suspension kit and new ball joints. I am hoping the salvaged chassis has front end parts that are in good condition. My initial investigation shows this as being the case. The next part of the puzzle is to make sure I don't spend too much time on the reassembly. More to follow on this.
Planning and E-mailing: 1-1/2 hors
Purchase of Parts: 1959 : New reservoir and connecting pipes (around $150 Cdn)
Purchase of Parts: 1957 Chassis $650
Yesterday I ventured out into the garage for another round of garage clean up and reorganization. The space looks much better and I found my engine hoist chain that I couldn't locate last weekend.
I decided to purchase a damaged chassis to harvest the rear end and front suspension parts to get the 1957 Triumph back into a rolling chassis basis. I gave instructions on how I want it cut up so I can load it into the back of my Ranger truck. I have sat on the fence about this purchase for a number of months and I realized that the '57 is not going anywhere until I take some time to make it sellable. It is a bit of a gamble but the upside is definitely there. Spending money to make money. I also ordered a suspension kit and new ball joints. I am hoping the salvaged chassis has front end parts that are in good condition. My initial investigation shows this as being the case. The next part of the puzzle is to make sure I don't spend too much time on the reassembly. More to follow on this.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Moving Along
I haven't spent much time in the garage in the last few weeks. I have taken on a temporary work position and have been traveling, getting training and project orientation so once again the Triumph has fallen to a lower priority in my life.
I got the drain spigot replaced (the one received from Moss has a broken handle) and a new water pump gasket (the other was really brittle and split when I took it out of the package. I viewed the $500 chassis I have been offered that has all the components I need to put the spare chassis back together. I am going to make the decision this weekend and get moving on it.
Yesterday I extracted my camper van from the ice in my driveway. The front left tire was flat and it took a while for the engine to fire up. My battery charge of a month ago or so did not last long enough to get the engine firing so I had to boost the battery. I commissioned my compressor and blew up the tire and moved the van back and chipped out a lot of the ice after it had warmed up for a while. I had to move the van and remove the ice so I can extract the chassis and mount the engine in the driveway because I don't have enough room in my garage to do it there.
My wife and I were at a dinner party last night and my TR3 project came up for discussion through an innocent question asked by a friend. My wife lamented the trading of our beloved MGB for a car that didn't run and that required excessive work and how she doubted the Triumph would ever be finished? A friend spoke up and asked her if she spent any time in the garage helping out and that comment garnered no response other than a shrug and a "no" . I am sure I am not the only old car hobby guy that experiences an ongoing "critique" by a loved one but I cringe whenever the subject comes up because I often find myself having to defend my hobby and my intent and often it is not comfortable to do so. I have met people in the old car hobby where female partners have as much enthusiasm for the cars and working in the garage as the man does. Hmmmm....
I got the drain spigot replaced (the one received from Moss has a broken handle) and a new water pump gasket (the other was really brittle and split when I took it out of the package. I viewed the $500 chassis I have been offered that has all the components I need to put the spare chassis back together. I am going to make the decision this weekend and get moving on it.
Yesterday I extracted my camper van from the ice in my driveway. The front left tire was flat and it took a while for the engine to fire up. My battery charge of a month ago or so did not last long enough to get the engine firing so I had to boost the battery. I commissioned my compressor and blew up the tire and moved the van back and chipped out a lot of the ice after it had warmed up for a while. I had to move the van and remove the ice so I can extract the chassis and mount the engine in the driveway because I don't have enough room in my garage to do it there.
My wife and I were at a dinner party last night and my TR3 project came up for discussion through an innocent question asked by a friend. My wife lamented the trading of our beloved MGB for a car that didn't run and that required excessive work and how she doubted the Triumph would ever be finished? A friend spoke up and asked her if she spent any time in the garage helping out and that comment garnered no response other than a shrug and a "no" . I am sure I am not the only old car hobby guy that experiences an ongoing "critique" by a loved one but I cringe whenever the subject comes up because I often find myself having to defend my hobby and my intent and often it is not comfortable to do so. I have met people in the old car hobby where female partners have as much enthusiasm for the cars and working in the garage as the man does. Hmmmm....
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