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....

Fasteners and Other Misc Parts Ordered

Time in Garage: none

It has been a quiet week Triumph wise. No garage time since the last entry

Tonite I ordered replacement fasteners for the transmission to engine mounting. No luck in locating my cleaned and painted fasteners so I decided to reorder tonite...Included was a new brake switch, drain tap and hold down clamps-brake line to differential and a few other odds and ends. Also I was offered a new front bumper at a discounted price. I sat on the fence for a few weeks but decided to commit today as I am going to eventually need one....

Body Off Again/Brake Line Routing

Time in Garage: 3 hours

Yesterday I determined to remove the body from the frame one more time. Access to the bolts I need to cut off/remove (on the outrigger flanges) is too difficult with the body on the chassis. I also decided having the body back  on the stands makes for easier access for the tasks I need to complete in the near future.

Last night I was very low energy but decided time spent in the garage was more productive than watching tv so I ventured out for an hour or so and tried to install brake lines. I has previously rerun them but removed them when I had the chassis straightened/checked in 2012. They have been kicking around the garage for months and often getting in the way...after some trial fits I got most of the lines figured out but ran into trouble with the rear axle configuration. Now resolved based on research on the Internet...an excellent resource..

Body Reunited with Frame (almost)

Time in Garage 3-1/2 hours

Reunited the body to the frame this afternoon!!!!looks good!!!