Rework Pending

Time in Garage: 3.5 hours

First thing yesterday I determined to clean up my master cylinder mounting box and remove the bracket that holds the resevior for the master cylinders. I did this based on my decision to incorporate TR4 brake and clutch master cylinders with built in reseviors. I drilled out the spot welds and pryed off the bracket, sanded down the box and decided to trial fit the master cylinders before applying a coat of paint. To my amazement the master cylinders interfered with each other making it impossible to remove the caps to add brake fluid etc. Upon this discovery, I scratched my head trying to determine where the "recommendation" to use TR4 cylinders came from? I sent out an e-mail to Drakes, my parts supplier and he responded promptly questioning my desire to utilize the TR4 components? In the meantime I sent out a second e-mail to the author of the Toyota brake conversion to get his take on my dilemma. He too responded quickly indicating I should utilize the standard TR3 components. A second e-mail came in from Drakes indicating I could position the TR4 components differently by changing the mounting bolt holes in the box to offset the cylinders but they did not recommend I do this and reinforced the idea of reverting back to the original TR3 components based on the fact the cylinder bores were the same. I checked with Drakes and they indicated I could return the TR4 components to exchange if I could reference the orignial invoice number and still had the packaging. Which I do. Based on my removing of the bracket I am now going to have to get it rewelded back on so I can incorporate the resevoir. REWORK. I spent some time yesterday trying to determine the origin of the idea to use TR4 components and based on the amount of time that has passed since I ordered the master cylinders  (a couple of years) I have no recollection and no paper trail.

I assembled the painted water pump components and related gaskets and bolt. The paper water pump gasket is very dried out and cracked when I removed it from the package. I am thinking I can utilized a form a gasket to seal up the area and still utilize the supplied gasket? Not sure yet?

The rest of the time was spend cleaning up components and making a pile of items to get sandblasted. (seat rails etc)

Back at It!!!

Time in Garage: 2 hours

Yesterday I got back into the garage. I am just back from 25 day vacation in Maui and ready to get my hands dirty again. While away I spent some time (not a lot I have to admit) thinking about the reassembly. I really want to stay at it for the next while and get some tasks removed from my list.

I cleaned up the heat shield and got it ready for painting along with radiator hose tube that was badly rusted. I also spent about an hour cleaning up the footwell area on the passenger side. I removed a rusted screw and washer that was left over after the tattered carpet was removed earlier. The area cleaned up well. I have some surface repair to do make the area more presentable. Then primer and painting.

Transmission Nut Rivets Installed

Time in Garage : 1-1/2 hours

Got the 6 nut rivets installed last Sunday. The process took a bit longer than anticipated. The nut riveter tool was of a lower quality which impacted installation a bit but the job did get done. I ended up having to set the nuts a bit tighter with a socket wrench and bolt. Nice to have this task completed.

Nut Rivits

Time in Garage: 1 hour

I have experienced some frustration with anchoring my transmission cover nuts into the floor pan. My first pass of " gluing" the nuts didn't work. I think it related to the finish. I couldn't get a good bond. I then went to a specialty jobber and got some clinch nuts but they did not install well either. Not fit for purpose. Searching the internet provided me a homemade way of using nut rivets without utilizing the tool ( the cost of which I find prohibitive considering I was only going to install 6 nuts) .. Using the YouTube method failed. My son has nut riveters at his shop..both a manual and pneumatic version which I have made a request to borrow..."right tool for the job" has to apply in this application. No short cuts...

New Bumper and Fasteners etc/garage time

Time in garage: 3 hours
$$$ spent $426

Yesterday I finished off the bead trim for the transmission tunnel and epoxied in the nuts for the tunnel fastening bolts. I picked up my fasteners, a new brake switch and other assorted small parts from my supplier on Friday along with the new front bumper... Not sure about the purchase of the bumper at this point as it is not needed for a while but the price was right...

Fastener Clean up/Garage Chaos/sheet Metal

Time in Garage: 2-1/2 hours
$$$ spent $70

Back in the garage yesterday...still lots of "day to day" distractions keeping me from my hobby...I continue to determine priorities from a day to day perspective..determining "first things first" ....feeling aware and focused doing so but not always easy for me to do and more "often than not" . not Triumph focused....yesterday was high on  " old car hobby" desire but a low physical energy day which translated into some progress being made...but once again not as much done as I had planned...

I cleaned up my Eastwood tumbler and reintroduced the fasteners that I started cleaning a few weeks ago. The media had become very contaminated so the fasteners came out tarnished the first time...

My garage required an hours worth of clean up before I could even start working...I talked to my wife about this "hindrance" to my productivity...she just smiled a knowing smile...my next home will have a larger shop area...I am really cramped space wise which leaves no room for items to be "parked" out of place...

My son bent my 90 degree sheet metal beads for the transmission tunnel  to floor mounting surface yesterday. A critical task in the reintroduction of the body to the chassis. I am very grateful for his work...today I head out to the garage to install the bead.

I purchased some small heavy duty discs for cleaning up the footwell and under dash areas...plus found sanding discs  on sale for my orbital sander...very good price...I also purchased a spray can of undercoating for touch up and final spray of the beading.

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....