TR5/TR250 TR250 Latest - Moving Ahead

[kindofblue]

TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

Hey,
Its been awhile since I posted. Seems it not much fun when your car project isn't heading anywhere. To refresh, I have a TR250 that has been sitting in a barn since 1992. My wife and I bought a house last summer, and in one agonizing morning, I moved the Triumph into the garage. It sat for another six months until I got it on jackstands.
I decided its now or never. For 2005 I decided to get some help. I joined the Delaware Valley Triumphs, and met some of the members at a diner breakfast. The next Saturday morning, one of the members Woke ME UP ! to come look at the car.
We spent two hours in the garage. We got the engine to turn over by hand, the carbs and chok freed up. He gave me a list of beginning parts to buy. Some new plugs, wires, a battery, engine starter. I spend an hour again today removing the fuel line from the pump to the carbs to blow it out and replace some of the hoses. I am waiting for battery cables from the Roadster Factory. ( I also bought a t-shirt and TR250 key fob to show off my pride). Maybe soon I can have the lights on and hear the engine run.
A little more of this and maybe it will be on the road sooner or later. I work all day as a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep tech. The grease on my hands from the Triumph makes me a lot happier. I don't care if its 33 degrees out, nothing like spending an afternoon in your garage trying to bring a nice antique back to life. <font color="green"> </font>

 

[AltaKnight]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

Hi Kindofblue....
I just got my TR6 last November, as you can see I live in Alberta Canada where many of ones extremeties get kindofblue due to the cool temperatures here during winter. I've got to get the car fit to pass a Provincial inspection and, well I just couldn't keep my mitts of the car for the whole winter. My garage is not insulated very well but with a propane heater I managed to do a whole mess of things with my winter gloves mostly on, including replacement of all the ignition components, new front end ball joints, trunnions and a pile of other stuff.
When the bug bites it doesn't let go easily, eventually the protests from my better half and the -25 temps convinced me to park it outside and get my commuting car back in the garage.
Good luck with the TR250.
Can't wait for spring!

 

[vrod]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

welcome back, fellow tr250 owner, glad to hear about another 250 being brought back to life, you won't regret it and if you've checked out Ebay for the last couple months most moneys invested should eventually be returned if the car is ever sold. With sales of only 8500 world wide for the 250, it sure helps the values climb. Values set aside though, My favorite thing about these cars are climbing in and driving and with the handling mods I made, these cars can really handle. Anyways hope your tr is back on the road by spring and maybe I'll run into you at the Pitsburg vintage grand prix

 

[kindofblue]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

My Garage isn't heated, but it gets sunlight all day. The weather was 33 and sunny yesterday, but about 40 in the garage. Warm enough not to wear gloves.

Vrod - please tell me what suspension mods you have made to your 250. Eventually, all the suspension components on mine will be replaced, and I am not one to keep it stock. First is getting it started, and safe for the road.
My wife is working with me. I am making a sacrifice. My daily driver is a newer car, which we will be trading in. Not enough money in the budget for two toys. If I put my wife in something nice, she is less apt to complain about money in the Triumph.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Guest]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

Kob, if money is an issue (isn't it always?), buy your wife a really nice previously owned sporty Honda or something. She will appreciate the comfort, etc., and will kick your 250's ass in a run, which will make her feel even better. Then when she feels sorry for you, she will understand when you have to buy more parts. Women are weird like that.

Bill

 

[vrod]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

I'm in the same situation with my wife and will probably sacrifice my 73 tr6 to invest in her next car. As far as my 250 suspension I Have a 7/8 front sway bar polyurethane bushings in the front upper and lower A arms. Adjustable spax shocks up front Tube shock conversion in rear with gas shocks. My engine has been rebuilt with about a 9.5/1 compression, I pinned my thrust washers in place added an external oil feed line but need to add an oil seperator. 1983 toyota celica alternator (puts out twice the amps) never a problem with a low battery. Dunlop sp4000 tires and american racing magnezium wheels (an original option for these cars when they where new. An original Surrey top. Exhaust is a header with dual freeflow stainless. All this has happened over the last 7 years (only way I could afford it) Right now the engine is apart because of dropping a valve caused by a broken valve spring, I,m switching to the dual spring set up. Hope this keep that from happening again. Anyways those are some of the things I've done to the car, which I'm sure any of these guys will tell you they never are done. If I can answer any more questions let me know.

 

[kindofblue]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

Vrod, which do you like more, the 250 or the 6? Tough question huh? I always wanted an MGB or a TR6. I didn't know what a TR250 was until it fell into my lap. Boy, was I pleased when I did research on this model. The best of both worlds, and rare too. What kind of prices have you been seeing on ebay? I saw a fully restored one asking 16K last year.

We have a 2002 Ford Focus ZX5 and 1995 Subaru Impreza coupe. We will be tradin in the Focus, which is my car for a an 04 Subaru Legacy Ourback, which my wife really likes. (Subaru is my favorite modern car company). I think it will save money. The 95 is all paid for and runs like a tank at 108K. The Focus is at 48K and is showing its age. I think its time to drop it before I start repairing more than my monthly payment. If I put the wife in something nice, less complaining about Triumph parts.

 

[red_tr250]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

KOB, agree with the other posters...good to have another 250 fan out there! Mine is in a million pieces and is literally all over my house...surrey top in the basement, 3 deck lids in the garage, engine at my parents house...the list goes on

Luckily I happen to have a TR6 to drive...I'd have to admit I like the TR250 a little better...something about the buldge in the hood

Todd

 

[vrod]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

kindofblue, Its hard for me to compare the tr6 with the 250 because, the tr6 was a project when I bought it some 12 years ago and never had it back on the road. As of yet the body is hanging in the ceiling, having had any panels that were showing rust completely replaced adding 4 new british heritage fenders. The frame is leaning against one of the shop walls, and the engine sits on a stand, quite a shame but I am seriously thinking about starting to put it all back together. As far as looks, I seem to prefer the older classic look of the 250, the drivetrain, frame and midsection are identical, so I imagine they both feel similar while driving. I can remember thinking and wondering while replacing one of the inner fenders on the tr6 (before I had bought the 250) how much more trouble it would be just to replace all the inner fenders with 250 panels upper deck and rear panels also any front panels, hood and trunk lid in effect creating a 250 out of the tr6 anyway I ended up finishing the 6 in its original form and not to long after that had found the 250 locally for sale. At that time, I swore that the 250 would not come apart until the 6 was back on the road, so that I allways had a car to drive. As far as prices for the 250, the ones I noticed were between 10,000 and 16,000. Bought my first 250 back in 1979 for $1,700.00. It was a rolling bondo buggy, but hey when the top was down, I didn,t care what was under that paint. This was the car, that hook me on LBC's for life. Looks like you will end up with a good combination (subaru and tr250) with the 250 providing plenty of tinkering entertainment.

 

[kindofblue]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

Looks like you guys have your hands full with cars in pieces. My 250 is currently complete. It ran well when parked. The previous owner kept pretty good care of it. It failed the state inspection for rear wheel bearings. He was planning to install them himself when his two daughters and teaching took over. Eventually he became more into bicycles than cars. Until he met someone who was crazy about these cars. He signed it over, and It was mine to keep.

The car has its fair share of bondo. The left front fender was replaced by a TR4 fender, and so I am missing the commision plate. The bottom of the door sills have a littl bubbling rust. None of it goes through though. The car was originally a Texas car, until the previous owner got a job in PA. He drove it for one winter here before it was parked. The interior is really worn out, I think it was the black vinyl in the hot Texas sun. I don't care right now. My main purpose is to get it safe and driveable and on the road as soon as possible. I don't plan on it being a showpiece anytime soon.

 

[vrod]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

kindofblue, I think your doing the right thing getting your car back on the road as soon as possible, making it safe and dependable and just enjoying it for now. Looking back at what happened to my 6 I wish it would have been finished sooner. My 250 came from Texas also, Living up here in the north I was always used to rusted out triumphs and this 250 impressed me for its solid frame and lower sheet metal. Keep plugging away on that tr and you'll be ready for spring.

 

[red_tr250]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

I couldn't agree more. That's what I did with my TR6. Get it on the road & safe and most of all ENJOY IT! Pretty much had to cus the 250 was too far disassembled to get it back on the road. I am fortunate that my 250 is mostly rust free.

Todd

 

[kindofblue]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

My parts from the Roadster Factory came in today. A set of battery cables and some wires. Too bad I have to work the next 4 days. I won't get back into the garage till Sunday. Hopefully it is mechanically sound so I won't have to disemble the whole thing, and I can get it on the road.

 

[red_tr250]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

what no back order? just kidding. my late tr6 frame goes to the welder for a bit of tweaking. new box sections welded in already. plus the diff mount reinforced. i bought the goodparts adjustable trailing arm mounts, solid rack mounts, new 1" lower srpings & an entire urethane bushing kit, & spax shocks from bpnw. i think i have everything to put the chassis back together except nuts & bolts!

 

[kindofblue]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

Vrod, and TR250,
Let me get this straight. You each have a TR6, and a 250, one of you has the 250 in pieces, one has the 6 in pieces. How odd is that. I wonder ifyou guys ever get them on the road, if you can tell how different they feel.
The parts arrived from the Roadster factory. I was very pleased. The presentation was great. The parts catalogue is like something I've never seen. Color photos, and commentary. Of course, they had a woman for a graphic designer. Not the lifeless parts lists from a Moss catalogue.

 

[vrod]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

kindofblue, If you were to take the bodies off both tr6 and tr250 and put the rolling frames complete with drive trains installed you would not be able to tell the difference, except for a few details on the engines. Because of this, I don't think there is much difference in the feel of the ride. It really comes down to how you feel about the difference in the cars looks. Hope all is going well with your rebuilding.

 

[kindofblue]

Re: TR250 up-date - Moving Ahead

I am so excited today. I put the new positive and negative battery cables in the car. I brought my wife out to the garage. As soon as I touched the negative cable to the battery, some lights came on. The headlights work, and I put the key in the ignition, I could hear the starter attempting to engage. I think it was in gear though.

THe horn works too. When I pull on the light switch on the right of the steering column, the horn blats. Only after the headlights are on though. The car tells me this is common with others of its species.