TR4/4A Bent TR4 Frame

[Scott McK]

I got some bad news today from my bodyshop. It appears that the frame on my 4 is bent beyound reasonable repair.

At some point the car took a preety good hit to the right rear wheel area. This damaged the frame on the right side but also bowed out the rail on the left side too. To make matters worse they added a new right rear wing to the car without repairing the frame damage.

If you stand behind the car and sight down the right side from front to rear it is no longer a straight line but a very noticble curve to the inside. Maybe as much as 1-1.5 inches. The right door has a gap of about 1/2" between the B post and door. You can actually lift the right rear end of the body up about 4" and close this gap up.

I sent the car in for new floorpans and inner/outer sills and they found all this after it got there.

I trust this body man but I also had a very knowledgeable foreign car friend of mine come to take a look at it. They both say Its just not worth the cost it would take and then it may not be right. The cars pretty rought to begin with.

Your thoughts are appreciated. Scott

 

[Geo Hahn]

Sorry to hear about what you have found, but...

Many people take on a restoration using a sound restorable TR4 and a fairly complete but unrestorable parts car. Sounds like you may have the 2nd half of that equation.

Alternately, straight frames are available and much easier to transport -- 2 guys can easily rassle one onto the back of a pick-up. Question would be whether the tweak in the body would come out okay if it was bolted to a straight frame.

I hate to see any TR broken up but a third approach would be to part it out on eBay to recover your cost so far and look for a straight TR4.

 

[vagt6]

I'd get a second opinion if I were you. In fact, my GT6 had a slightly "torqued" frame, which was not disclosed by the PO to me. I discovered it when rebuilding the suspension.

I was very lucky to find a damage repair specialist who used to race Triumphs! He has a frame straightening machine and told me he'd have it as good as new for a few hundred bucks. In fact, the GT6 is there now having the work done. He'll also align it.

Go to an alignment or frame damage specialist, they're not hard to find. (I had to go 62 miles). They may estimate it free of charge, or maybe charge $50 or so.

Get it professionally diagnosed, then proceed. Maybe you'll get lucky like I did.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

 

[Winston]

Scot,
I too am feelin for ya, but if I may ask,
what do you mean Right Rear Wing? The rear quarter panel extends from the B post(back of door), to the rear tail lamp assembly, is it fiberglass or steel? How is your rust situation? Taking it to the shop for inner and outer sills is one thing, but was the whole floor pan, pretty bad or worse?
I had to make a couple of serious cut's and refab the trailing arms or we would have lost the car. I was not able to maintain absolute original design, and for that I'll have learned a valuable lesson, but unless you're really in trouble, trunk alignment, rear cowl shifting, that sort of thing, I would really hate to see another LBC lost. I wish I had found the confounded things when I was younger, that being said I know a lot of the folks on the Forum are serious collectors and restorers and believe me I wish I could send old Ruby to an expert resto facility. I don't have that kinda budget. In my humble opinion there is a place for the repair to drive and do things a little at a time and sometimes even fabricate, but unless there's an oak tree growin thru the floorboard I too would talk to other shops.If you can do you're own mechanicals you can probably overcome this obstacle.

Winston 67TR4A IRS

 

[waltesefalcon]

Scott,

Welcome aboard and sorry about the TR4. I'd suggest doing some more looking before I gave up on it. Also what part of Oklahoma you from?

Cheers,

Walter

 

[Scott McK]

Thanks to all who replied to my bent frame dillema. I havn't done anything yet, just got it back from the bodyshop. There is a Brit Restore shop in Dallas that I have been talking to and I think I may take it down there for an expert evaulation. I dont want to give up on this car nor do I want to sink money into it needlessly.
Thanks to MDcanaday for the email, if I can figure out how to post pictures I will do so. Also Walter in Lawton, I'm in Ardmore OK, were almost nheighbors. Thanks again to all and thanks for this great forum.