TR2/3/3A Mid section repairs

I am trying to keep my post a little more organized, tho I am not an organized person. I tend to skip around. These repairs are still on the back of the car but more to the middle.
Front vertical panel damage. Started repair and decided to make new panel.
Damaged panel removed, Car is upside down.
new hammer formed panel ready to be tacked.
new panel tacked ready to be welded.
new panel welded and weld finished.

On to the front fuel tank support and nuts for the fuel tank straps.
This shows the damage where the fuel tank support weld to the floor. the square blocks the driver side damage.
Passenger side damage with the reinforcement removed.
Driver side floor repair, damaged area removed.
Driver side floor repaired and welded to fuel tank support.
Repaired area zink primed before reinforcement welded.
New reinforcement with original crimp nut, Good as new. Process is same for passenger side.
Anti rattle spring tab ready to be spot welded.
Anti rattle spring tab spot welded in place.
New and old anti rattle spring tab.

More good work Frank, looking good

Graham

Nice work Frank getting the work done is what I like to feel. It looks like you made the piece, wow. Restoration keeps us fit—keep moving--- the car is right behind you.

Thank you, Steve. Yes I made the repair panel and it turned to be the right decision rather than try and do multiple patches. Progress is slow but I am very happy with how it is turning out. Frank

Hats off to you Frank for undertaking such a monumental job on this car. It reminds me of a car I know of that was taken to a high end restoration shop. The shop told him that he would be better off trying to find a better car to restore as the car was described as "most of the bottom 10 to 12 inches of the body was missing". The car meant something special to the guy. The car got restored and was beautiful. I overheard the shop owner making the remark that he put over 1,000 hours in on that car. That was back when he was charging $80 per hour. So the guy now has an $80,000+(parts) TR3. And he is happy. So happy is what really counts.
Frank your work is beautiful and hacks like me are really envious of your talent and patience.

Thank you for the kind words. This is a labor of love. I love the car and I definitely love the challenge to bring this car back with all the emotional highs and lows that metal working brings. I learn something with every piece I repair and every part I make. There is the added benefit to the friendships formed on the forum. I have no idea how many hours I have in it so far or how many it will take to complete this project. John brought his back and his work has been a tremendous help that I reference as I work on my car. My goal is to finish this project and not get discouraged as a lot of people do and end up selling an unfinished car. That would be the worst, lost money spent on project, lost labor , and no car. I stay positive in hopes of having a fun beautiful car some day. Frank

charleyf said:

Hats off to you Frank for undertaking such a monumental job on this car. It reminds me of a car I know of that was taken to a high end restoration shop. The shop told him that he would be better off trying to find a better car to restore as the car was described as "most of the bottom 10 to 12 inches of the body was missing". The car meant something special to the guy. The car got restored and was beautiful. I overheard the shop owner making the remark that he put over 1,000 hours in on that car. That was back when he was charging $80 per hour. So the guy now has an $80,000+(parts) TR3. And he is happy. So happy is what really counts.
Frank your work is beautiful and hacks like me are really envious of your talent and patience.

Click to expand...

Boy, THAT sounds familiar!

Looking at the first photo I thought Where is the rest of the car?

You have taken on a monumental challenge there. The new panel looks great. I need to try to get my hand in TIG welding. So far it has not been to successful.

Following along with interest.

David

Frank, you are much more organized than you give yourself credit for. Still love the way you are hammering out panels better than British Heritage!

Wow! Thank you for the complement.I owe a lot to you and Lionel. My car was in worse shape than I bought when I started on it, but reading thru the documentation of your journey and seeing a finished beautiful car has kept me going. Seeing Lionels incredible rear apron and wings showed me that it can be done by amateurs in there home shops with ordinary tools. Frank

By far the rear section is the most complicated to work on. I think you are almost to the point where repairs start to move much faster. It won't be long before you see the end of the project in your windscreen!

Really looking great Frank.

Cheers,
Tush

Thank you, Tush. Winter weather may have brought the rear of the car repairs to a halt . I think I could get the rear closing area sand blasted but to get the back half warm enough to paint and keep it at temperature would be difficult. The driver side inner wing has already been repaired, so I finished up the passenger side.

Bottom of the rear inner wing.

rear inner wing after repair

There was not much left of the bottom of the inner wings. sheetmetal patches sealed with tar and pop rivets is the kind of stuff that makes me shake my head but I guess the PO did the best he could. I am looking forward to transitioning back to the front and continue work on that . Frank

I hear you Frank, I’m struggling up here as well with temperature at the moment...I need to paint but it’s -20 outside ��

Cheers,
Tush

Looks great, very impressive fabrication and welding

Wow -20 we are at the other end down here +42c on Friday a bit cooler today forcast 33 overcast and humid. I found the best temp for painting was 26 and dry usually first thing in the morning.

Graham

Pretty cold in the shop last few days so not a lot of progress. The sheetmetal parts are the last to warm up so hands don't warm up either. These closing panels were made a few months ago and just now getting to start final fitting.
original lower rear closing panel.
Hammer form for the lower rear closing panel. I made a template that matched the spare tire pan. used it to make a hammer form out of a piece of oak from an old shipping pallet.
clamp the sheet metal to the hammer form and start forming the flanges. The curved flange takes a little time as that flange has to be shrunk as it is formed. The 90 degree flanges are pretty easy , you have to pay attention on this panel because flanges go in different directions so it is marked on the hammer form so I don't get confused.
lower rear closing panel in place. I am very happy with this panel as it fits the spare tire pan and is under no stress to hold it in place. Once the closing panels are all fitted this will have to wait so the inside of this area can be sand blasted and primed before all the panels are spot welded, closing in this area for ever and ever. Frank