The Project/Back in the Garage

Time in Garage: 3 hours

It is hard to believe it has been over 6 weeks since I worked on my Triumph? The summer has flown by and obviously my old car hobby has not been a priority! It has been an interesting [and good] summer on many fronts and as one can imagine a busy one! I was at a friend's wedding last weekend and met up with a colleague who is into rebuilding jeeps. He has a fully equiped shop and loves to get out there and wrench but finds it difficult to find the time. He and his wife shared the only way work gets done is if they set a date by choosing an event to attend and then by doing so he buckles down and delivers! They suggested the date should be realistic and they said I do the same! Good plan...I started my project in 2009. It is hard to believe it has been 4 years since I started the build!  A considerable length of time. I too, really need to buckle down and deliver! I am not sure what event I will pick but when I do I will publish an entry

Another colleague has his second project vehicle up for sale after he came to the realization the build is not going to happen as project truck number one is still in the garage unfinished. We talked about Kijjiji and all the abandoned projects listed and his conclusion is the builder probablly didn't have the skill set to finish the work (which probably includes project management skills and discipline to stay on track) or the money to have someone else finish it? He could be right!

On Saturday I did the final sanding and finishing on the waterpump housing and water pump. Painted both. Cleaned up and applied the first coat of silver paint to 50% of the exhaust system. Coming to the conclusion prep doesn't have to be perfect as I am not concerned if the paint deteriorates as I drive the car. I also painted the clutch inspection plate. Some garage clean up was in order first.

Oil Pan Paint Applied/parts sorted

Time in garage: 3 hours

Catch up on earlier work. Oil pan painted..sorted through parts...

Exhaust System Clean Up/The Garage

Time in the garage : 3.5 hrs

I have just about finished the exhaust system de-rusting . About another hour or so to go. Not sure of my decision to save some money and not sandblast the assembly but I think it will be fit for purpose once I get a majority of the rust off.

I spent a few minutes researching painting options and decided on barbecue paint. I know after a few months of driving the paint will probably peel off and the rust will return but a least it will be cleaned up in the short run. A majority of cars on the road have rusted exhaust systems...so not a problem in my eyes.

I do have some POR 20 that I bought last year...i thought about using it  but curing  would be the problem...

I am also cleaning up the hangers and related hardware/bolts.

Garage clutter caved in on me again. 2 hours today cleaning up...

Valve Cover Hold Down Bolts/Garage Clean up/Project Discussion

Time in Garage: 2 hours on Saturday

Not a lot of time spent in the garage over the last week ...Social events in the evenings during the workweek and other distractions/interruptions/ priorities this weekend have dominated my personal landscape trumping Triumph work sessions.

I did manage to get my valve cover hold down nuts  un-seized which is another step completed in the engine block reassembly.

Spent about an hour tidying my garage. Heading out to do more of the same today.

Stopped to talk to a neighbour yesterday while walking my dog. After some conversation about his new fence the topic shifted to how my Triumph project was going? As the conversation progressed I started feeling more and more defensive. I admitted to him I was growing weary of having the car disassembled in my garage but I also didn't want it to become a Kijjiji statistic (unfinished project) and to be sold returning 25 cents on the dollar! I cut the conversation short and moved on. Lots of sensitivity related to the topic for sure?

Fuel Pump/Spin on Oil Filter Install

Time in Garage: 3 hours

I cleaned mating surfaces for the fuel pump and oil filter.

I had previously purchased a spin on filter conversions from Moss Motors. I had to clean out the old dried up rubber gasket from the existing filter housing before installing the aluminum housing from the kit-  a task that took much longer than expected. The new assembly (with the bright orange Fram filter) looks great against the newly painted engine block. Unfortunately I was unable to do the final install because the oil gauge line is in storage and not easily assessible. The line is needed because it acts as a spacer on one of the studs.

 I  was unable to do the final install on the fuel pump because I couldn't locate my previously purchased gasket...

1957 Tub Sold

Last week I started parting out the '57 by selling the tub to a fellow enthusiast. The decision was not an easy one to make but I think serves both of us in the most beneficial way. My rebuild fund gets a boost in $$$, the spare tub is no longer sitting around taking up space and I still have access to the parts I need to finish off my car. More parts will be sold as the build progresses.

Oil Pump/Oil Pan Installed

Time in Garage 3-1/2 Hours

A good day in the garage yesterday....installed the new oil pump cartridge. Pretty straight forward other than my not checking the oil pickup configuration before installing the cover so I ended up pulling the cover off one more time. Tolerances look good. I ran the oil pan sump bolts through another cleaning cycle utilizing my Eastwood tumbler. Applied gasket sealer to the oil pan gasket and installed the newly painted Oil pan- torquing down the bolts to spec. Satisfying to see the bottom end buttoned up. I applied some paint to the bolt heads for rust protection. Looks good too.