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Assemble and run or body off restore?
- Thread starter CraigLandrum
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TR6oldtimer
Darth Vader
Offline
I guess this is still true?
Jimmy Soul - Happy for the rest of your life
If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life
Never make a pretty women your wife
Go for my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you
A pretty women makes her husband look small
it very often causes a system fall
As soon as he marrys her then she starts
looking for things that will break his heart
but if you make an ugly women your wife
you'll be happy for the rest of your life
An ugly women will put peals on that
and she'll always give you a piece of that.
....
Dude 1:say man
Dude 2:hey man
Dude 1: I saw your wife the other day
Dude 2: Yeah
Dude 1: Yeah and Shes Ugly
Dude 2: Yeah shes Ugly but she sure can cook baby.
Dude 1: Yeah
https://www.lyricsdownload.com/jimmy-soul-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-lyrics.html
He He He...
Jimmy Soul - Happy for the rest of your life
If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life
Never make a pretty women your wife
Go for my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you
A pretty women makes her husband look small
it very often causes a system fall
As soon as he marrys her then she starts
looking for things that will break his heart
but if you make an ugly women your wife
you'll be happy for the rest of your life
An ugly women will put peals on that
and she'll always give you a piece of that.
....
Dude 1:say man
Dude 2:hey man
Dude 1: I saw your wife the other day
Dude 2: Yeah
Dude 1: Yeah and Shes Ugly
Dude 2: Yeah shes Ugly but she sure can cook baby.
Dude 1: Yeah
https://www.lyricsdownload.com/jimmy-soul-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-lyrics.html
He He He...
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/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif
Always did like that song....
Always did like that song....
rlandrum
Jedi Trainee
Offline
The "sainted son" should chime in here...
My basement is wasted space. Having a car parked there for any period of time is perfectly fine by me, especially if I get to go work on it...
I got the car for a steal because the owners son disassembled it and let it sit. He took it apart when he was 15. Not exactly the best time for a kid to take on a restoration. Prior to that point, the car ran "great", at least according to the previous owner.
My goal was to have it "running" by Christmas time, which was a bit aggressive. My goal hasn't changed. I still want to get it running, just because that what I set out to do.
The car definitely has dirty little secrets. It's in phenomenal condition (metal wise) because it was restored once before. That said, I still think the car is a driver. Fit and finish on this car is not going to be pretty, since some of the panels aren't original.
I'm willing to give up my goal of getting it running if restoring it is what you really want to do. It's your car now.
My basement is wasted space. Having a car parked there for any period of time is perfectly fine by me, especially if I get to go work on it...
I got the car for a steal because the owners son disassembled it and let it sit. He took it apart when he was 15. Not exactly the best time for a kid to take on a restoration. Prior to that point, the car ran "great", at least according to the previous owner.
My goal was to have it "running" by Christmas time, which was a bit aggressive. My goal hasn't changed. I still want to get it running, just because that what I set out to do.
The car definitely has dirty little secrets. It's in phenomenal condition (metal wise) because it was restored once before. That said, I still think the car is a driver. Fit and finish on this car is not going to be pretty, since some of the panels aren't original.
I'm willing to give up my goal of getting it running if restoring it is what you really want to do. It's your car now.
Online
My personal perspective from my own (limited) experience -- if the body is sound enough to use essentially as is, head for the driver approach. These cars are easy to dissassemble, and you could easily strip it down in a weekend or 2 (or an evening if you're truly motivated). Get a little of the fine driving experience in you, then decide if it's worth the full restore.
I've had my Bugeye for almost 2 years now, and really haven't been able to drive it much (engine issues, in short). So I decided to do a mechanical refurb first, and drive for a while. There are a couple rust issues, but they're small and not structural. I can always pull off all the mechanical bits and tackle the body issues later. That way I'll have some of the happy driving memories to cushion the check writing that will be necessary.
In the end, do what you feel is the right thing. That's all that matters.
I've had my Bugeye for almost 2 years now, and really haven't been able to drive it much (engine issues, in short). So I decided to do a mechanical refurb first, and drive for a while. There are a couple rust issues, but they're small and not structural. I can always pull off all the mechanical bits and tackle the body issues later. That way I'll have some of the happy driving memories to cushion the check writing that will be necessary.
In the end, do what you feel is the right thing. That's all that matters.
NickMorgan
Jedi Knight
Offline
Craig,
It looks as though you have yourself a great car there.
I think it has all been said before. You are so close that maybe you should just go for the full rebuild. However, it is always great to be able to run the car for a while first, just so see what it is like!
Your dilemma is familiar to me. About 20 years ago I bought a scruffy TR3 that I wanted to get to a drivable state and use it for a couple of years before undertaking a full rebuild. Of course once I started investigating the car the quick clean up turned into an 8 year rebuild.
In the mean time I bought a 1959 TR3 to use while the other was being rebuilt. I ended up keeping this car and selling he first one after the rebuild.
My problem now is that there is some paint work that needs doing, but really I should repair the battery box and floors before that ... and if I was to do that I would really want to take the body off the chassis ... and I would really want to take it back down to bare metal ... and it would be great to blast and re-paint the chassis ... Oh no, I see another 8 years of non-motoring. I think I will just keep using it as it is!!
Let us know what you decide and good luck either way.
Nick
It looks as though you have yourself a great car there.
I think it has all been said before. You are so close that maybe you should just go for the full rebuild. However, it is always great to be able to run the car for a while first, just so see what it is like!
Your dilemma is familiar to me. About 20 years ago I bought a scruffy TR3 that I wanted to get to a drivable state and use it for a couple of years before undertaking a full rebuild. Of course once I started investigating the car the quick clean up turned into an 8 year rebuild.
In the mean time I bought a 1959 TR3 to use while the other was being rebuilt. I ended up keeping this car and selling he first one after the rebuild.
My problem now is that there is some paint work that needs doing, but really I should repair the battery box and floors before that ... and if I was to do that I would really want to take the body off the chassis ... and I would really want to take it back down to bare metal ... and it would be great to blast and re-paint the chassis ... Oh no, I see another 8 years of non-motoring. I think I will just keep using it as it is!!
Let us know what you decide and good luck either way.
Nick
vettedog72
Jedi Knight
Offline
Freshen the motor, brakes, steering (suspension) and wireing and let it roll. Life is too short to wait. A rebuild is all way possible and you can research for ever and rebuild it better than it was when it left the factory. No a bad thin, just a long way off. You could be on the road this spring /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif
Body off is the way to go...and this is not meant to imply show car level restoration. It will be so much easier to get the mechanics sorted out (vs. crawling around on a creeper), because for safety you really should plan on rebuilding brake and clutch hydraulics, replacing suspension bushing, new tires, etc.
I did a TR4 this way in the late 70's. There was little or no rust so I put the tub on two 55 gallon drums and hauled it to a body shop for a "driver" paint job . While it was being painted I got things working properly but did not go overboard on under body cosmetics. The end result was very satisfying. Good performance, safety and reliability and better than average cosmetics for a reasonable price and level off effort
Cheers
MG
I did a TR4 this way in the late 70's. There was little or no rust so I put the tub on two 55 gallon drums and hauled it to a body shop for a "driver" paint job . While it was being painted I got things working properly but did not go overboard on under body cosmetics. The end result was very satisfying. Good performance, safety and reliability and better than average cosmetics for a reasonable price and level off effort
Cheers
MG
MGTF1250Dave
Jedi Knight
Offline
Aloha Craig,
Great looking car. I guess a lot depends upon definitions. I would suggest correcting any rust problem areas now since it apart to prevent the cancer from spreading. Repair, rebuild or replace parts that would have perished during the car's slumber. After reassembly paint it the color you like (BRG is a good choice) before you install the interior. Ultimately it your decision to make and the significant factors are; how much do you want to spend (usually cost more than the plan), how long you want to take with the project (again expect delays) and what are your expectations (concurs car or a reliable daily driver 20 ft car). Good luck.
Great looking car. I guess a lot depends upon definitions. I would suggest correcting any rust problem areas now since it apart to prevent the cancer from spreading. Repair, rebuild or replace parts that would have perished during the car's slumber. After reassembly paint it the color you like (BRG is a good choice) before you install the interior. Ultimately it your decision to make and the significant factors are; how much do you want to spend (usually cost more than the plan), how long you want to take with the project (again expect delays) and what are your expectations (concurs car or a reliable daily driver 20 ft car). Good luck.
D
Deleted member 451
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When I bought my TR3 6 years ago it was with the body off plan in mind. The car would barely start, backfired, steering was scary, body panels didn't fit right, etc.The PO had over $2K trying to get it to run right with no luck. I was figuring several years of an hour or so a night. I got it home and after about 2 hours really felt sorry for the PO, the distributer drive gear was off by a tooth and the carbs needed adjusting.
After converting it to R&P steering I put it all back together thinking I would drive it through the summer. 40,000 miles later the panels still don't fit, the paint is still ugly, and I love it more than ever. The restoration is now planed for after retirment in 6 years if I'm not too busy driving it.
My thought is to put it together, drive it till the wheels fall off, then fix the wheels.
If you do decide to restor it instead of BRG and tan think about black and gray, makes a stunning TR3.
After converting it to R&P steering I put it all back together thinking I would drive it through the summer. 40,000 miles later the panels still don't fit, the paint is still ugly, and I love it more than ever. The restoration is now planed for after retirment in 6 years if I'm not too busy driving it.
My thought is to put it together, drive it till the wheels fall off, then fix the wheels.
If you do decide to restor it instead of BRG and tan think about black and gray, makes a stunning TR3.
foxtrapper
Jedi Trainee
Offline
Many a car gets taken apart for restoration, and never put back together again. It gathers dust for years, losing parts over time. Eventually, it is scrapped or sold for parts.
So, how good are you and *really* doing the job and finishing it?
If you're like most people, go ahead and enjoy the car now. Drive it and love it as it is, a driver not a showcar. If you are one of the rare folks who really are a fanatic and will really do the work and finish the job, then a total teardown restoration could be a real answer.
But you've got to evaluate yourself. None of us can really do it for you.
So, how good are you and *really* doing the job and finishing it?
If you're like most people, go ahead and enjoy the car now. Drive it and love it as it is, a driver not a showcar. If you are one of the rare folks who really are a fanatic and will really do the work and finish the job, then a total teardown restoration could be a real answer.
But you've got to evaluate yourself. None of us can really do it for you.
rlandrum
Jedi Trainee
Offline
The decision hasn't been 100% committed to just yet, but it looks like it's gonna be a frame off.
We found a local guy that'll blast the frame and another company that will poly-epoxy (powder coat) it.
We might try to get the body off the frame this weekend. Then I can spend my time taking apart the various bits of the frame.
Once the body is off, I can get a good sense of it's true condition. I should have some new photos either way.
We found a local guy that'll blast the frame and another company that will poly-epoxy (powder coat) it.
We might try to get the body off the frame this weekend. Then I can spend my time taking apart the various bits of the frame.
Once the body is off, I can get a good sense of it's true condition. I should have some new photos either way.
martx-5
Yoda
Offline
rlandrum said:
If you do take the body off the frame, make sure that you brace across the door ways. From the A to the B pillar or some variation of that. Below are a couple of pics of what I did. I also added a cross brace, put a hole in it, and used that for lifting with my engine hoist. The position of the cross brace turned out to be perfectly balanced without any of the exterior panels on.
NickMorgan
Jedi Knight
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Ah, I've just made the connection. I was wondering why you were answering the questions on behalf of the original poster!