Binder/Buy vrs Build/ Nov/Dec Plan

I rearranged my Triumph binder ... While doing so I had an opportunity to view to view the "before" pictures taken when the previous owner rescued the '59 from the farmers field. Looking at the pictures shows me how far I have progressed...encouraging on many fronts..

This week "Bring a Trailer" had a nice TR3 listed for $12,000 and change...really got me thinking about the build vrs buy options that present themselves from time to time...would I have been better off to buy a better car initially... You bet! Had I bought a $12,000 car 5 years ago I would have been driving in the interim instead of building...the estimated $$$ difference by the time I finish the build . About $3000 cheaper to build I figure but the final $$$ are not in yet....my car will be more personalized... Trade offs for sure...

I laid out my Nov/Dec plan on paper...trying to set reasonable goals?

Removed the hinges from the damaged door frame...started to put tools away in garage..ran out of energy....

HPC Coating Applied in Trunk Area

Time in Garage: 3 hours over 2 days
$$$ spent $70-paint and respirator cartridges..

The body is still sitting in my driveway-countdown to October 20th body to frame reconnect continues-the body prep is done!  Yesterday  afternoon I sprayed the trunk with the High Performance coating ....outside temp was around 50 degrees F which was a bit low but I got around the low temp by utilizing my space heater placed under the car cover once the coating was laid down. I'm not  too overly concerned about paint  adhesion ( room temperature is optimum) as the trunk area will be covered with carpet...the coating took about 30 minutes longer to set up which was to be expected...the spots spray gun worked well...I was glad I sprayed outdoors vrs in the garage..

My main focus will now be on the frame prep....painting and body work will recommence once the car is moved back into the garage...outdoor ambient temperature is just too low to continue...

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.

The Model

Today I purchased a basic Triumph TR3 1/24 model kit off E-bay.... I considered the purchase for a while ( I tried to find one locally with no luck) and determined it was a good visualization to complete the model as a replica of what I am building in my garage. This way I can complete it during a cold winter's night and then focus on it as a desired state for the real thing...a small step but for some reason it sits well with me...

Garage Heater

In October 2009 I decided the only way I was going to get my TR3 ready for the summer of 2010 was to install a heater in my single car garage to extend my "wrench turning" potential to those cold winter days and nights that are just waiting for some meaningful "hands on" experiences. My son is a sheet metal journeyman and offered to install the heater and also to engage the services of a plumber colleague to run the gas line and do the necessary hook ups. The overall cost seemed reasonable and I was willing to contribute some "sweat equity" to the equation to get the work done. Everything was looking great project execution wise but unfortunately my son has been otherwise engaged with a very rigorous work schedule (long hours) for the last few months that has predisposed him to working with paying clients verses helping dad out...so I have had to be patient and the project has missed the good weather window and has now moved into a more challenging winter environment-not good but unfortunately unavoidable...

This weekend is looking promising...my son is coming over for dinner this evening...I have my fingers crossed it is all going to work out and I will have a comfortable work environment on the horizon....

The Foundation-The Cars and Parts

The "purpose" of this blog is to provide myself (and potentially others) with a day by day (or whenever Triumph TR3 related thoughts/work contemplated or completed etc etc) record of what's going on with my "hobby",,,,I believe this blog will become my muse to keep me focused and centered on getting at least one of my cars on the road my September 1,2010..from this point forward referred to as "The Goal"....

History

In 1973 I co-owned two Triumph sports cars with my brother: a very tatty 1955 TR2 (with a blown transmission) and a solid but poorly painted 1962 TR3 with a high performance engine installed. Over a period of a couple of years the cars had become "the classroom" for learning all about the care and maintaining of Triumphs particularly in the areas of electrical, SU carbs and hydraulics (brakes and clutch)...based on the fact we had a parts car (the TR2) the TR3 was kept on the road for minimal cost. In 1973 I became engaged to be married and needed money for the ring so my brother and I determined to list the cars in the paper and sell them-which we did.... in retrospect a good decision.....

Current Day

Fast forward to December 2009 I now own 2 Triumph TR3's-a 1957 and a 1959...the 57 is totally disassembled with a powder coated frame and boxes and boxes of parts with the 1959 being "partially disassembled" with enough parts purchased over the past few years to put it back on the road. The last few months have been spent doing body work resulting in a bunch of panels "almost ready" to go to the body show for final primer.