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First real drive - understanding the disease

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drooartz

drooartz

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Took the TR4 for its first real drive last evening. Given that its not really registered (still on the POs plates) I've been keeping pretty close to home so far. Yesterday I took the car up Emigration Canyon, a really nice and close canyon twisty. For the first time, the TR actually felt like a car and not just a project--sure the seat (note singular here) isn't bolted to the rotted floor, but the car ran great. Temp steady, oil pressure seemed good. On a cool summer evening, a wonderful taste of things to come.

Also had my first taste of Shipfitter's Disease. I was working on fixing up the wipers, and while under the dash I had to keep from trying to disassemble other things that also seemed to need attention. For the first time I understood how someone could take a functioning car totally apart. It was a strangely strong pull. I resisted, but it was hard.

All in all, a great LBC day that I just wanted to share.

-Drew
 
RESIST THE URGE!!!!!

it is hard I know. But unless you're looking for a trailer queen I say run it and have fun!

My motto is "Make it SAFE and make it FUN".

Years ago my Dad and I fell into the shipwright's vortex and pulled everything apart on his '52 MGTD. A year later we slapped it back together enough to run safe (no chrome, interior, top, etc.) and drove it for 4 more years just because we hated seeing it sit and we couldn't miss another warm summer night cruising up to the drive-in for burgers placed on the folded-down windshield. Time and money pressures meant that we would have had to wait another 5-10 years if we really wanted to do it right.

I wouldn't trade the times I had racing him in my TR3 on country roads for a brand new TD magically transported from the showroom.

Good times are what these cars are all about...

Enjoy! It looks like you got a keeper
 
[ QUOTE ]
...my first taste of Shipfitter's Disease... For the first time I understood how someone could take a functioning car totally apart.

[/ QUOTE ]

When I first got my TR4 it really needed nothing done. Within 48 hours it looked like this:

interiorout.JPG
 
Re-drove the "Trapper's Loop" run, huh? Bet it was a lot more fun than in the Hyundai /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
When I bought my TR3 this winter, it was not running. At least not for me. I had a mechanic meet me to take a look at it and he and the PO had it running before I got there, but by the time I arrived it had run out of gas. The PO paid to get it running and drivable (not a whole lot to do). The first time I heard it run I knew I had done the right thing. "Izzy" (short for isildir, which means "brat" in celtic) had glass packs and a good throaty growl. I was immediatly in love (and my wife knows).

I am keeping her running and safe, not building a trailer queen.
 
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Re-drove the "Trapper's Loop" run, huh? Bet it was a lot more fun than in the Hyundai

[/ QUOTE ]

I just did the very first part, to the top of Emigration only. The TR is not strictly legal (POs plates still) so I wasn't taking any chances. It was more fun, for sure. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Geo -- that picture is exactly what I am trying to avoid right now, though I do wish my TR had such nice floors!

I'm comfortable with the fact mine will never be a perfect restoration. It's my first LBC, after all, and I don't intend to keep it forever. It's my learning car, so the goal is safe drivability. I've so much to learn just on the maintenance side anyways, that I'll be quite busy enough. My hope is a 1 year initial run to get it fully safe to drive (mostly means new floors and such) and then drive and maintain until I feel the urge to try a different car. How long that takes is anyone's guess.

-Drew
 
Got my Spitfire a month ago i love it!!!! I did a tune up and replaced the interior door panels i love her more and more each day. Went out for a drive today and saw a 72 mgb so i pulled over i dont think she was to happy about it she started idling weird after i was about10 miles away she was fine.
THATS WHAT I CALL BRITISH CAR ENVY!!!
 
I didn't know my condition had a name. "Shipfitters Disease" sounds so much more sophisticated than "Uncontrollable desire to tinker with things that are working just fine".

Now if only was medically recognised - my HMO might cover the costs associated with it...
 
[ QUOTE ]
I didn't know my condition had a name. "Shipfitters Disease" sounds so much more sophisticated than "Uncontrollable desire to tinker with things that are working just fine".

Now if only was medically recognised - my HMO might cover the costs associated with it...

[/ QUOTE ]

from Terri-Ann's website - Shipfitters disease defined:

The phrase is "shipfitter's disease". The person who first defined it on the British car list in the spring of '89 defined it thus:

" A boat owner noticed that a light bulb was burned out in the cabin and went to replace it. While replacing it he noticed that the socket was cracked and decided to take care of it while he was at it. After removing the fixture he noticed that the wiring insulation was frayed. Since he already had the fixture off it seemed like the easiest time to replace the frayed wiring. He removed the wiring and exposed the wood underneath. He could clearly see dry rot on the beam. Well since he already had the wiring off... And before long, the boat was in dry dock undergoing a complete refit because a light bulb burned out in the cabin."

https://www.tjwakeman.net/TR/TRrebuild.htm
 
"And before long, the boat was in dry dock undergoing a complete refit because a light bulb burned out in the cabin."

Boy, can I relate to that! My pals wondered why it took so long to get my TR3 back together and its just a driver! (It also applied to changing a seal on the garbage disposal in the kitchen sink leading to not only a new disposal but new counter, new sink, new cabinet doors, new diswasher and new flooring. While you're at it....

Pete
 
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