TR2/3/3A Tr2 getting it back on the road

[croz]

Welcome Neighbor!
I suggest that you join the Vintage Sports Car Club, here in Calgary, where I am the current president. There are a number of members with TR3's, myself included. Check our website at https://www.vsccc.ca/.
I've completed a 6 year restoration of a '60 TR3 and have a few parts left over, including a new British Wiring harness that was not used. Some bits may be useful.
Cheers,
Steve

 

[BillyB62]

Join the club! Not only will you get a wealth of knowledge from members who have traveled the same path but often someone will have an engine stand sitting in their garage taking up space as once the engine is complete, its rarely used.

 

[TR3driver]

In addition to a good hoist, you'll need some way to control the angle as you lift the engine & transmission out. I have "made do" with a logging chain through the hoist hook and a big punch to lock the chain in place; but some kind of tilt mechanism makes the job significantly easier.

The engine stand is less critical perhaps, but still a nice thing to have.

I am effectively color-blind as well, since my 56 still has the original harness in it and, as noted, the colors have faded to a uniform brown. But judicious use of a test light will quickly sort things out. If you have one, a powered "buzz box" is even better, but I haven't gotten annoyed enough (yet) to make one.

Rebuilding the TR engine is straight-forward, any decent engine shop should be able to deal with it. The removable wet liners are uncommon, but obvious. And of course you should take them the shop manual, as they may not have the information otherwise (or worse, have it wrong). Still, I feel it is a good idea to have a discussion about what they are, or are not, going to do. "Rebuild" is a rather vague term. Specific topics might include:
1) Line-bore for cam bearings?
2) Hardened valve seats?
3) Valve guides iron or brass
4) Displacement (eg keep original 83mm bore or go up to 86, 87, or 89)
5) Line-bore for crankshaft
6) Balance all moving components
7) Use TR4A (small stem) exhaust valves?

There's lots more, of course, those are just some examples.

For the gearbox, though, it would probably pay to find someone who is familiar with the TR gearbox (especially the early 'crash' box). Shipping to, say, Quantum Mechanics, might prove to be a good investment there. There are some details that the manual doesn't cover, like how to tell the good reproduction synchro rings from the bad ones.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Join the club! ...often someone will have an engine stand sitting in their garage taking up space as once the engine is complete, its rarely used.

Or possibly a hoist. We have a club member who loans out his engine hoist on one condition: 'You have to keep it until I am ready for it back'.

Makes a pretty good system with no one person bearing the burden of storage all the time.

 

[Rubicon]

So it looks like I found an engine hoist and stand for a very good price, I go and pick it up tomorrow. So I can then continue on with the project. I look at the vsccc for bits and pieces, and to see what going on in town. I'll have to join up I guess, just haven't done it yet!
I was going to do all the work myself until this deal on body work came up, engine rebuilding will be done when I'm at work and it slow, with no planes for me to fix. I have the manuals already, so it should be good, just have to see how much machining is gonna need doing once it's opened up.

 

[Rubicon]

So I'm gonna bring this tread back from the dead. Well a lot has happened since thus one started. We sold our house, the deal for body work and paint fell thru. So I didn't do much to the tr2 all of last year, once we decided to sell the house it took all the free time, and I had no where to work on the car while I was homeless. So now it's sitting in the garage and I'm getting the list of sheet metal ready so I can order some. So far it's gonna be floors, the "A" and "B" post are good, inner rockers are good, outer..... Still deciding if I'm gonna replace them or make some while I'm at work. The frame is good as far as I can see, so all in all a good couple hours of work done before going to work
ill try to up load some pics soon

 

[Rubicon]

The car is sitting on jack stands so it's a better height to work on. I know I made a few mistakes so far, removing doors and crap, but it did that so long ago, and before I knew better, but it all still is straight as far as I can tell will be offering up the doors to make sure it's still good soon

 

[Geo Hahn]

I wouldn't think you're in trouble for removing the doors if the frame is sound. Bracing is, of course, needed if the body is lifted off the frame.

Good to see you back at it.

 

[CJD]

Great...another TR2!

Look forward to your progress. Now we gotta get JP back at it!

 

[Rubicon]

It has been a slow start to it, start and stop it seems to be the way it goes. But I need something to do to keep me out of trouble, while it's the busy season for the wife. Plus I've had this car for awhile so I'd like to see it done. I'll try and keep updating the thread as things go. I'm glad to hear that doors off May not have caused any issues, I'll check but won't worry too much about it. When time come to lift the body off the frame, I'll be doing bracing as well hopefully the doors will be on as well.
Im looking forward to completing this one, it's the only one I've kept out of all my toys! Plus now I have a garage to work out of, so hopefully it goes a bit faster now

 

[Rubicon]

Well not too much to say, started straightening the driver side inner fender, trying to repair the collision damage, and filling in some screw holes. It's starting to look better but still so much to do! Order the floor pans that I needed, they are to be here Monday or Tuesday, just in time for me to go back to work. So this is the start to my resto! Day 1 down and lots more to go.
ill try and get pics when something bigger happens.