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General TR It Happened Again

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CJD

CJD

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Since I retired, I realized the insurance bills are eating us alive, so had to downsize on the toys. The Harley sold first, followed closely by the TR2. It was a hard decision, but I had to make excuses to drive it, and I never thought it was safe enough to pass down to the kids. All that aside...some of you may remember that lightening struck our house as our last TR3 drove away under new ownership. The TR2 was bought by a dealer in New York. They wired the money, and the day I overnighted the title, our house got hit by lightning...again!! New house, but the second Triumph sale to cause lightning strikes...go figure.

That was last week. Today the car was picked up by a total nimrod. It may not make it in one piece to New York. After watching Charlie Chaplin almost destroy the car as he loaded it up...I would rather not know.

I am wrapping up the Stearman, and it will likely be sold next year too. I plan to back off of the large projects after that. We'll see how long I can go without a project, though?!? It's been a fun, 16 year run with the TR's, and very sad to see the last one go. I started my first TR3 when my airline job went to heck after 9/11, and an East Texas TR3 was the only car I could afford to purchase as a project. I had never seen one before that day! The late Randall yelled at me enough to get me squared away on the TR3, which later led to the TR2 that probably should have gone to the crusher it was so far gone. I feel like I made a lot of friends on the forum and shared many fond memories over the years, even though I have only met a handful, I feel close to most of you. I will keep my Triumph bookmark, but like many others, I am sure I will slowly drift away. Before that happens, I just want to thank you all for all the help and comradery! Safe travels and fun with your hobbies!

John
 
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John -

Boy, can I relate! Though we've not had quite the drama you've ~enjoyed~, and I've not built an airplane (!), we're in the process of downsizing and moving from our dream log home in the foothills of the Smokies to Monteagle, Tenn., to be closer to our son and his family. Sold off our two MGBs that I restored a while back, after the TR3 and TR8 that I also restored, then the XK8, and now we're down to just the Victor TF that I built. It's been a great experience, and like you the appreciation I have for all the good folks here is vast. But when it's time it's time. Don't plan to let go of the Victor anytime soon and I'll drive and enjoy it until I can't.

Mickey
 
John thank you for all that you have contributed to this community. You are one of my trusted sources of information. i wish you joy in whatever lifes journey brings you.
 
Sad to see the probability of drifting away John.
You should still hang around and provide you wisdom and keep us in order.

I think that smaller projects will be more manageable and less time eating.
But keep ing it British. As you are a biker ( once a biker always a biker !)
How about a nice classic (pre 1970s) British motorbike. Just to keep your hand and eye in - you understand and you can share your trials and tribulations on here - I’m sure Basil wouldn’t mind.
Good luck in life John
 
John you should listen to the lighting. I find your leaving the forum specious. I am just going to pretend it did not happen. You taught me a lot, and I am grateful. I am too shocked to ask if you have a extra low port head, but I will because I am desperate. Anyways expect an email when I am stuck.

Steve
 
Hang around, John. You're too valuable to go off drifting too fast. I couldn't begin to list the issues you've helped address over the years. Knowledge counts for everything here, and knowledge comes from experience--and age. I'll hope to see and hear lots more from you. And, BTW, thanks for mentioning Randall. There's another giant of this forum and its history, and you'll always be in that same league.
 
John. the camaraderie of this community is what makes this sport a living thing. Sorry to see you drift off.
Mad dog
 
Scalextric?

Smaller projects, British, car-related… ??? 😀

But seriously, thank you for your contributions! Don’t be a stranger!
 
John, thank you for the time and effort over the years to document your meticulous work and for your feedback and advice to those who are trying to emulate your work on their own little projects. I too have started allocating my projects to family members and although not ready to leave this behind at the moment can see the time when projects will diminish.
I trust you have great fun in whatever direction you move ahead. Best regards, Lionel
 
John, what an incredible run you’ve had. Your story is exactly what makes this community special… the projects, the memories, and the friendships along the way. It can’t have been easy letting go of the TRs and soon the Stearman, but it sounds like you’ve made thoughtful decisions. Your legacy of saving that near-crusher TR2 speaks volumes.
 
Thanks for the support guys! I'll be around for a while longer...just probably not as often as I have been.

Steve, I don't have another head. Marv sold me the head that went on the car, and I did keep the original one with the crack for, like 10 years. But it finally went to the scrap yard. Marv had a low port head that even had the same casting dates as the original.

I do have a lockheed differential that I have no use for!?!
 
Can I divert just a bit and ask when low and high port heads changed, how to tell, and the significance?
 
The low port heads are straight along the top over the intake ports. Shortly after the TR3 came out, the ports were enlarged, which required bumps along the top of the head to make room for the larger intakes. Of course, when the large ports came out, everyone wanted to swap out for them...so the small ports became rare.
 
John, I am planning a trip down highway 10 through Texas probably next year to go back East and see my son in NC. If you still have the diff perhaps I can swing by. The low port heads stopped in 1955 as far as I can tell.

There was a guy out on Vancouver Island I knew who had one, but I waited too long and he sold it. Recently, I bought a nice set of H4 carbs, so I have decided to go low port on the head to be more stock on my 1955. However, the low port heads are harder to find than I thought. One should pop up sometime.

Steve
 
I'll hold the dif for you if you want it! You'll have to split off 10 onto I20. We are only a 5 mile deviation off I20 in Arlington.
 
Thank you John for the parts, I need to talk with my General Foreman for the exact details. Hope to get out that way never been to Texas or the whole general area down there.

Steve
 
I am not on here too much, but you helped and explained a couple of issues I had better than anyone else. We really need people on here like you. Thanks Bruce
 
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