TR4/4A Your thoughts/value of this TR4

[tinman58]

I think that you have a good car. I am finishing up a restoration on a 250. I have a wiring harness and other parts that are in decent shape. Yours if you want them.

 

[Mink]

I think that you have a good car. I am finishing up a restoration on a 250. I have a wiring harness and other parts that are in decent shape. Yours if you want them.

Wow, thanks! That's very generous of you. I'll be in touch if there are no snags in the purchase.

Here are a couple of pics of the frame area, driver's side floor and rear valance that was mentioned earlier. They look really good to me.

 

[Mink]

Also, in the pile of parts was a second radiator - it had a square opening for a crank start. I forgot to take a picture of it, but do you guys think that was the original radiator for this car? What years did they have crank start?

 

[tdskip]

Also, in the pile of parts was a second radiator - it had a square opening for a crank start. I forgot to take a picture of it, but do you guys think that was the original radiator for this car? What years did they have crank start?

I associate, perhaps incorrectly, those with a TR3a. In any case unless you are going for originality many people remove that when they get them re-cored for better cooling.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Yes, I noticed that 'your' TR4 has a later radiator -- the one with the crank hole was used on the early 4s.

It's something to think about. That original radiator was replaced for a reason so possibly it needs work -- but at least the owner did the decent thing and saved the original part.

Some delete the hole on TR3 & early 4s to increase/improve cooling. I kept the hole on my TR3A and have no cooling issues driving in one of the hottest climates in the US -- but I suppose if I had been fighting overheating I would have been tempted to delete it when I got the radiator re-cored. As it is, I enjoy the novelty of crank-starts and the handiness of the crank when adjusting valves and setting timing.

In addition to the crank hole that spare radiator probably has a long neck to the cap -- this was leftover from when that same radiator was used for the TR3 which required that filler neck to clear the rear edge of the apron. Once those TR3 radiators were used up TR4s got their own design which is what yours appears to have now.

Sure looks like a good car beneath a dubious paint job, look forward to hearing about your plans for it. Not every car must or should be a show car -- solid drivers are a lot of fun and getting harder to find.

 

[Mink]

Thanks everyone for your help and information - it was invaluable. We've struck a deal and it will be delivered on Monday. A week ago I didn't even know I wanted a Triumph!

 

[sail]

Congratulations! Get a Moss https://www.mossmotors.com/CatalogRequest/RequestForm.aspx catalog for starters, it shows every bit.

 

[tinman58]

I kinda like the VB catalog myself.

 

[Mink]

Thanks guys, I just ordered them both!

 

[Geo Hahn]

Well done!

You will also want to get familiar with The Roadster Factory (aka TRF). Here's their Glovebox Companion for the TR4.

We're fortunate to have several major suppliers -- sometimes they all have the same thing but some items are unique or superior though just one.

 

[PatGalvin]

Congrats Mink

There are several of us in the area that would be happy to help out and give you some tips (or a hand) on getting the car on the road.

Pat

 

[Healey_Z]

Way to go Mink. I found BPNW was my favorite for good info on the phone, best prices and reasonable shipping. https://www.bpnorthwest.com/triumph.html Also put May 18 on the calendar. I would say 300 or so British cars show up.https://www.ubscc.org/CarShow.htm

 

[Mink]

Well, she's here. I need to figure out my plan of attack, but I think one of the first orders of business is to locate a generator and all of its associated hardware and see if I can get the engine fired up. I'm setting a soft goal for myself of having it driveable for the UBSCC on May 18th. We'll see. Here are a few pics of it safe in my garage with a bunch of parts, etc.

https://imgur.com/a/DegmW

 

[tedwone]

Congratulations on your purchase and good luck with the restoration. I have purchased old British sports cars in far worse condition than the one you acquired and I am happy to say that many of them are being driven today. I always buy basket case cars so I can enjoy putting them back together. Just remember that you will spend both more time and more money than you originally plan, but use all the resources that are out there to help you. The TRs are easy to work on and lots of fun to drive.

 

[Geo Hahn]

... I think one of the first orders of business is to locate a generator and all of its associated hardware and see if I can get the engine fired up...

Of course you don't need a generator to start the engine -- just a decent battery. If you are going to bring it up to operating temperature you will want a 'belt' to run the water pump from the crank pulley. I once made one from a length of nylon rope (generator seized) and drove 300 miles to get home.

 

[Mink]

Of course you don't need a generator to start the engine -- just a decent battery. If you are going to bring it up to operating temperature you will want a 'belt' to run the water pump from the crank pulley. I once made one from a length of nylon rope (generator seized) and drove 300 miles to get home.

Yeah, I might try some kind of Rube Goldberg belt to get the water pump to spin. I'm dying to know if it'll run.

I spent this afternoon ripping out the disgusting interior. It was vile. Really vile. Like "the seller found a petrified cat on the passenger floor" vile (actually true). Found some minor pinholes on the passenger side, but the driver's side was awesome.

 

[tdskip]

Great - just keep chipping away at it.

 

[Geo Hahn]

...Like "the seller found a petrified cat on the passenger floor" vile (actually true)...

Hey, I could've used a petrified cat -- to catch the petrified mouse that was in the dash of my most recent acquisition:

 

[Mink]

Hey, I could've used a petrified cat -- to catch the petrified mouse that was in the dash of my most recent acquisition.

No problem, here you go.

 

[glemon]

I am glad I had my supper already