New guy, new owner

[Steve69]

Hi everybody! I'm new to the BCF, and also new to Triumph ownership. April 20 marked the day CC 26710 L came to its new home in my garage. It's a mostly-original car from Texas, and has a little rust but overall not too bad. Original color was Royal Blue, but as you can see somebody resprayed it. My immediate plan is to get it roadworthy and enjoy driving it around as-is for a year or two. At that time I'll tear it down and do a ground-up body-off resto with a few improvements. Webers, exhaust, and probably a GP-2 cam and mild head work are all planned. Oh, and I got Konis, GP springs, and a bushing kit for the front so I'll add matching bits for the rear.
The wheels you see on the car are an immediate issue, as they're the wrong size. They're 15 x 6.5 with +20mm offset, and the fronts hit the upper A-arms at about one full turn of the wheel. Not good... I need to get them off and sell them (with new 215-65R15 tires on them -- anybody interested?), then get new MiniLites in the correct size.
There's much work to come, and I'll be spending a lot of time here picking up tips and picking brains...

 

[Silverghost]

Hi Steve! Welcome to BCF, there's no place better! I am in Chicago too, near O'Hare. You'll find amazing minds and resources here! Don't be afraid to ask questions and we LOVE pics here - but only the kind you wouldn't be embarassed to show your Grandmother!! :laugh:

 

[tomshobby]

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you have a nice car. There are a lot of Triumph owners in the Chicago area and some of them visit here. https://britishcarunion.com/

 

[tdskip]

Welcome!

 

[rooster]

Hi,

Don't go selling those wheels yet. I expect that some one here will probably have a solution for you. It's a common problem.

Welcome.

 

[Tomster]

Hi from the no longer frozen North
Wheels, Wheels did you say wheels !!! ???

 

[martx-5]

Welcome aboard! This certainly is the place for answers to any questions you have. We have a great, very knowledgable group of guys here that know these cars inside and out.

Somebody has always "been there, done that".

 

[angelfj1]

welcome Steve

 

[SpannerMan]

Steve, Welcome. It bears noting that the 69 has some unique differences - e.g. body coloured windscreen frame, I think the steering wheel is different, in comparison with the other years. If you are not up on that and want to check it out there should be plenty of online resources.
What's going on at the back of the car (bumper, lights etc.)?
Pete

 

[Steve69]

Pete,
The back of the car is currently in the trunk and/or leaning against one of my tool chests. I guess the rear fenders were off the car until just before I got it and the PO only attached them with a few screws. Both rear fenders (and the fronts and the trunk, er, boot lid) have rust holes in them and will be replaced when I get to the teardown and restoration. Oh, and I did get the original steering wheel with the correct original trim, the correct original seats (3 of them), and a bunch of other bits and pieces.
Tomster, the wheels are 15 x 6.5 with a +20mm offset and have a set of virtually new 215-65R15 radials on them. The problem with them is the deep positive offset pulls so much of the wheel into the well that the fronts hit the upper A-arms at about one full turn of the wheel. That's at "being-pushed-by-my-son" speeds -- I can't imagine it being any better at actual road speeds with the suspension moving up and down as well. The wheels and tires will definitely be replaced at some point, probably by the end of this summer.
Steve