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Baldrick's Winter Makeover
- Thread starter Jerseygirl
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Jerseygirl
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There hasn't been a whole lot of picture-worthy progress, but I'll try to get a few pictures posted this afternoon showing the trunk panel, new amp, and power outlet.
IanF
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Ok... Here are some pictures of the amp install.
First, I made template from carboard:
Then traced it onto 1/4" particle board and cut it out on a bandsaw. Since such a small sheet of particle board doesn't flex much, I had to test/trim/test/trim/test a number of times. Then I drilled holes for various parts. I drilled two holes so the panel would sit flush over the bumper bolts.
Here the amp and panel are test fitted in the car. The amp is spaced off of the panel with 3/8" plastic spacers.
I then removed the amp and marked and drilled hoels for the panel attachment screws. Here they are during a test fitting which also gives a good shot of why I wanted to drill clearnace holes for the bumper bolts:
And here we have the finished panel with carpet applied and the wires run. I cut the carpet oversized so it would overlap the existing carpet and trim. I also only cut out the holes for the power plug and for the amp mounting bolts. I drilled two holes for the power and speaker wires towards the front and just ran the pre-amp wires from the edge of the panel. I mounted the amp so that the adjustment controls were more visible from the rear of the car. Fortunately, the cover plate was easily flipped 180 so it looks right. We plan to replace the ugly cap the power outlet came with for something better looking.
What I don't have a picture of is the new hole and grommet I installed up over the wheel well to run the speaker wires. You can see the wires in the picture above, but they will be covered when the forward trunk panel goes it. I didn't want the speaker wires any more exposed than necessary after going through all of this to make it look neat.
First, I made template from carboard:
Then traced it onto 1/4" particle board and cut it out on a bandsaw. Since such a small sheet of particle board doesn't flex much, I had to test/trim/test/trim/test a number of times. Then I drilled holes for various parts. I drilled two holes so the panel would sit flush over the bumper bolts.
Here the amp and panel are test fitted in the car. The amp is spaced off of the panel with 3/8" plastic spacers.
I then removed the amp and marked and drilled hoels for the panel attachment screws. Here they are during a test fitting which also gives a good shot of why I wanted to drill clearnace holes for the bumper bolts:
And here we have the finished panel with carpet applied and the wires run. I cut the carpet oversized so it would overlap the existing carpet and trim. I also only cut out the holes for the power plug and for the amp mounting bolts. I drilled two holes for the power and speaker wires towards the front and just ran the pre-amp wires from the edge of the panel. I mounted the amp so that the adjustment controls were more visible from the rear of the car. Fortunately, the cover plate was easily flipped 180 so it looks right. We plan to replace the ugly cap the power outlet came with for something better looking.
What I don't have a picture of is the new hole and grommet I installed up over the wheel well to run the speaker wires. You can see the wires in the picture above, but they will be covered when the forward trunk panel goes it. I didn't want the speaker wires any more exposed than necessary after going through all of this to make it look neat.
OP
Jerseygirl
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So now the ball falls back into my court. Once I get caught up on some non-car things, I can finish up my trunk carpeting project, and then re-cover the speaker boxes in a color that better goes with Baldrick's interior.
The heated seats will get put on hold until this fall. We'll begin the search for seat elements that actually get warm.
Next up will be to get the SU's and the header installed. I want to get some miles on the carbs to make sure all is well before I attempt to drive to Watkins Glen in September.
Also on the list of things to do is to finally fix the driver's side exterior door handle so I can get into the car a bit easier, and also to install the new door window seals that have been sitting on my shelf for a while now.
But in the mean time, the car is ready for the season. The carb install and door projects should only be a couple days each so we can probably tackle them on a weekend.
The heated seats will get put on hold until this fall. We'll begin the search for seat elements that actually get warm.
Next up will be to get the SU's and the header installed. I want to get some miles on the carbs to make sure all is well before I attempt to drive to Watkins Glen in September.
Also on the list of things to do is to finally fix the driver's side exterior door handle so I can get into the car a bit easier, and also to install the new door window seals that have been sitting on my shelf for a while now.
But in the mean time, the car is ready for the season. The carb install and door projects should only be a couple days each so we can probably tackle them on a weekend.
OP
Jerseygirl
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Thanks Sharon. Stupid Vista doesn't play well with most things from what I hear... :wink: Looking forward to seeing your pics and your TR3 back on the road.
Update: Ian got the new front springs and shocks installed last night. Just more shiny bits under the bonnet that make the rest of the engine bay look like crap. (sigh) Someday...
Update: Ian got the new front springs and shocks installed last night. Just more shiny bits under the bonnet that make the rest of the engine bay look like crap. (sigh) Someday...
IanF
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Brosky said:
Oh we know all too well... That's how a simple automatic to manual conversion in the Volvo turned into a complete tear-down and restoration of the engine bay.
I took some pictures of the spring/shock assembly... I'll try to get them posted soon... partly to show off my spiffy (and hugely overkill) spring compressor... :crazy: :hammer:
OP
Jerseygirl
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Baldrick's "new" SU's are getting dropped off tomorrow for a rebuild. :banana:
I haven't made any progress on the trunk carpet. We had a little Volvo project get in the way so that we're ready for a Volvo GTG in Philly this weekend. Once I finish that up, it will be back to Baldrick again...
I haven't made any progress on the trunk carpet. We had a little Volvo project get in the way so that we're ready for a Volvo GTG in Philly this weekend. Once I finish that up, it will be back to Baldrick again...
OP
Jerseygirl
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Yes, it's an extremely rare and valuable Triumph model that not many people know about.
The Triumph Volvo is virtually priceless, but if you'd be interested in one, let me know. I'm sure we can make a deal. :thumbsup:
The Triumph Volvo is virtually priceless, but if you'd be interested in one, let me know. I'm sure we can make a deal. :thumbsup:
OP
Jerseygirl
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I finally took Baldrick out for his first little drive of the year yesterday. Wanted to remind myself of how he drives with the ZS carb before we install the rebuilt SU's sometime in the next week or so.
It was also my first drive since we finished installing the new rear speakers. The speakers along with the new amp in the trunk are VERY nice. The intention is not to annoy the neighbors, but the amp allows me to turn the stereo up so I can actually hear it when the top is down, without all the distortion I was getting without the amp. Very, very happy. Now I can get out on a nice country road, put on some Mozart and enjoy. :thumbsup:
Strange as it may sound, the only place I was able to find speaker boxes was Walmart. All the other places I looked only wanted to sell me some huge enclosure intended for a sub-woofer. I even tried Crutchfield. Anyway, the boxes I found were covered in a grey felt, which I really didn't like the look of, considering my interior is tan with some black here and there. I had some very nice black vinyl left over from some other projects so I decided to go ahead and recover the speaker boxes with that.
I realized while I was out in the garage today that I have been remiss on a few pictures from last year's progress so these should get everyone caught up...
The new speaker boxes:
The temporary mounting panel that Ian made for the driver's side heated seat switch and my overdrive switch. Both of these will get moved up to the dashboard when we finally get around to making the new one, hopefully sometime this year:
This one's old, but here is the new shifter boot that I had made to replace the tan vinyl one that came with the new carpet. The vinyl on that one really didn't match the seats at all. I already had the tan vinyl you see in the picture below, and amazingly it matched the new seat covers almost exactly!
And finally, below is the new e-brake boot I made to replace the original torn one that was in the car. Embellished it with some embroidery for that little extra touch:
I think that brings us up to date. Hopefully we'll soon have pictures of the new header and carbs installed. :banana:
It was also my first drive since we finished installing the new rear speakers. The speakers along with the new amp in the trunk are VERY nice. The intention is not to annoy the neighbors, but the amp allows me to turn the stereo up so I can actually hear it when the top is down, without all the distortion I was getting without the amp. Very, very happy. Now I can get out on a nice country road, put on some Mozart and enjoy. :thumbsup:
Strange as it may sound, the only place I was able to find speaker boxes was Walmart. All the other places I looked only wanted to sell me some huge enclosure intended for a sub-woofer. I even tried Crutchfield. Anyway, the boxes I found were covered in a grey felt, which I really didn't like the look of, considering my interior is tan with some black here and there. I had some very nice black vinyl left over from some other projects so I decided to go ahead and recover the speaker boxes with that.
I realized while I was out in the garage today that I have been remiss on a few pictures from last year's progress so these should get everyone caught up...
The new speaker boxes:
The temporary mounting panel that Ian made for the driver's side heated seat switch and my overdrive switch. Both of these will get moved up to the dashboard when we finally get around to making the new one, hopefully sometime this year:
This one's old, but here is the new shifter boot that I had made to replace the tan vinyl one that came with the new carpet. The vinyl on that one really didn't match the seats at all. I already had the tan vinyl you see in the picture below, and amazingly it matched the new seat covers almost exactly!
And finally, below is the new e-brake boot I made to replace the original torn one that was in the car. Embellished it with some embroidery for that little extra touch:
I think that brings us up to date. Hopefully we'll soon have pictures of the new header and carbs installed. :banana: