TR2/3/3A What are some unusual places you've found parts for your car?

[Snowkilts]

I got my clutch throwout bearing at Home Depot.

(For those not in the US, this is a chain of large home improvement stores. Not a supplier of auto parts.)

 

[CJD]

That is strange. Did you just happen upon a rack of bearings?

 

[mctriumph]

Never use a made in China bearing for anything other than a Xmas tree ornament, even then they
just fall off.
Mad dog

 

[Snowkilts]

That is strange. Did you just happen upon a rack of bearings?

No, bought online. Picked up in the store.

 

[Snowkilts]

Never use a made in China bearing for anything other than a Xmas tree ornament, even then they
just fall off.
Mad dog

That was what I liked about the Home Depot bearing. Made in Livonia, Michigan, not far from where I live. I used it instead of the Taiwanese one that came with my clutch kit.

 

[CARSINC]

Found a 3.8 differential in a weed field along with some unusable body panels. The 3.8 needs a complete rebuild otherwise it's a free boat anchor.

 

[charlie74]

I had to look; Home Depot carry Sach’s clutch kits on their website. I don’t know if they fit our cars but still, it’s a surprise!

 

[CJD]

Well, I guess I did find my TR2 in a mudpuddle in west Dallas.

 

[mctriumph]

I once had a guy come up to me in a bar and tell me I could have his, if I hauled it off.
(rolling frame)
Mad dog

 

[JHaydon]

Even though I work for a retail parts house, I LOOOOVE finding non-traditional parts sources. Ace Hardware, McMaster-Carr, Aircraft Spruce, West Marine, and even Amazon have all supplied parts for my racecar. I consider NAPA a non-traditional source (for racing parts at least), and Moss a non-traditional source for Bentley parts. (Although that last is kind of a cheat since British makers all shared their sources.) NAPA and other American parts chains are still non-traditional when it comes to parts for British cars.

I also enjoy solving problems with the "wrong" part -- I found that Ford uses a door lock rod clip that nicely replaces the original brake line retaining clips that Tiga sourced from who knows where, and that drum brake return springs worked well to hold the exhaust collector to the header.

 

[mctriumph]

Got one for the old salts. Warshawski Catalog 1970 .They sold the big bore liners for Tr's.
seems like it was 90$. Sounds cheap till you consider the buying power of the dollar
at that time. Made my old 59 run like a rabbit !!
For a really long story ,the used 83mm pistons were reused several years latter in a 58 Tr3
and that motor was given back to me 15 years ago. Still have it (God knows why).
mad dog

 

[JHaydon]

Got one for the old salts. Warshawski Catalog 1970 .

My dad, along with a group of AACA buddies, visited the old Warshawski warehouse a few decades ago, long after they had become JC Whitney (and long before they were bought by CarParts.com). They still had shelves of pre-1970 stock that didn't make it into the JCW catalogs. IIRC, he found a few bits for his '30s Packards.

And how old am I that I consider JCW to be "the new days"... how long has it been since they last printed a catalog?? I just checked their website and they appear to be a "car culture e-zine" now.