Hi guys, I've owned a TR4a (built Oct 31, 1966) for 2 yrs now. During that time, I have spent many hours tearing it apart to see what I have. I knew the engine was toast when I bought it, and it needed a lot of love, inside and out.
i got it home and started the process. I took the engine and tyranny out. Pulled all of the interior and separated the body from the frame. I work slow
My Spidy senses started tingling when I started checking out the frame in earnest. It has holes rusted through in a couple of places and I can see at least a dozen places where the frame has been welded and braced. All four of the lower suspension are rusted out and my mechanic and I found the front rt lower suspension bracket is bent 3/4" toward the back. The rear differential mount is bent and twisted, and on and on. It is still "fixable" but I don't have the skills or the $$$$ to have the work done.
still, I might have considered finding another frame, but the final nail in the coffin came when I started taking the fenders. Short story long, the fronts had been tack welded at the bottom because there is nothing behind them to bolt to. The tub has holes all the way from the fender wells to the front edge of the rocker panels. I should say, it is one big hole. The rears are worse and I haven't even taken the rocker panels off. At this point, it makes no difference, I can guarantee it will be just as bad.
The rear fenders are more fiberglass than metal. Which is probably good, since that and bondo are the only things holding the L rear fender together. The PO, or someone, had used body filler in the seam between the rear fenders and the body. I didn't even know there was supposed to be a chrome bead there, until Ed told me. When I started chipping away, all I got was bondo and more fiberglass. The fender isn't bolted or screwed to anything, because the metal tub is rusted away.
i could go on and on, but I have come to the conclusion that this car is not fixable. And even if someone got it back together, it is a rolling death trap. I shoulda' known something was up when I found 6 big metal washers behind the rear suspension frame mounting bracket on the R side, and 0 on the L.
The frame is rotten, the tub is too and 1/2 of what's on the car is junk. ****!
so, I will send it off to that great race track in the sky, but I can pull some parts if anyone needs something (lights, door handles, engine brackets, suspension, diff, 4 sp tranny) the usual stuff. pM needs and thanks for the support.
Maybe a Fiat next :glee:
i got it home and started the process. I took the engine and tyranny out. Pulled all of the interior and separated the body from the frame. I work slow
My Spidy senses started tingling when I started checking out the frame in earnest. It has holes rusted through in a couple of places and I can see at least a dozen places where the frame has been welded and braced. All four of the lower suspension are rusted out and my mechanic and I found the front rt lower suspension bracket is bent 3/4" toward the back. The rear differential mount is bent and twisted, and on and on. It is still "fixable" but I don't have the skills or the $$$$ to have the work done.
still, I might have considered finding another frame, but the final nail in the coffin came when I started taking the fenders. Short story long, the fronts had been tack welded at the bottom because there is nothing behind them to bolt to. The tub has holes all the way from the fender wells to the front edge of the rocker panels. I should say, it is one big hole. The rears are worse and I haven't even taken the rocker panels off. At this point, it makes no difference, I can guarantee it will be just as bad.
The rear fenders are more fiberglass than metal. Which is probably good, since that and bondo are the only things holding the L rear fender together. The PO, or someone, had used body filler in the seam between the rear fenders and the body. I didn't even know there was supposed to be a chrome bead there, until Ed told me. When I started chipping away, all I got was bondo and more fiberglass. The fender isn't bolted or screwed to anything, because the metal tub is rusted away.
i could go on and on, but I have come to the conclusion that this car is not fixable. And even if someone got it back together, it is a rolling death trap. I shoulda' known something was up when I found 6 big metal washers behind the rear suspension frame mounting bracket on the R side, and 0 on the L.
The frame is rotten, the tub is too and 1/2 of what's on the car is junk. ****!
so, I will send it off to that great race track in the sky, but I can pull some parts if anyone needs something (lights, door handles, engine brackets, suspension, diff, 4 sp tranny) the usual stuff. pM needs and thanks for the support.
Maybe a Fiat next :glee: