-
Hey Guest!
British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!**Upgrade Now**
(PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
ITS'UP!!!!
- Thread starter CUPWALKER
- Start date
Share this page
T
Tinster
Guest
Guest
Offline
CUPWALKER said:
<span style="color: #660000">Cup:
Storage was also a major problem for me.
I developed the concept of "parts boards" in
order to keep things organized.
When I removed a part, I labeled it on my board
and also tied a paper lable with string on the
part. Office Max has the small lables.
Then I took a photo of the "parts board" and stored
the parts in plastic baggies or small boxes.
The parts boards can be stored anywhere.
best of luck, stay organized, and take a gazillion
photos.
tinster</span>
TR6oldtimer
Darth Vader
Offline
Before you remove anything do a good survey of the car, not just the body, but the chassis as well. Put together a list of things that need repair or replacement, then price it out. I know this is a special car to you, but before you go ripping it apart get a realistic idea of what it will need.
The engine and transmission are simplest and easiest to repair, even if totally shot, so I would leave them for the last, and leave them on the chassis.
You really have only two choices to make at this point in time. Do the tub repairs first or do the chassis.
I chose to do the chassis first then the tub. If I were to do it all over again, I would clean up the chassis but do the tub (floors, rockers, etc) first because as it entails a lot of lifting off and putting it back on the frame. I would also do only one panel at a time to help in alignment as body panel replacements are made (it also allows you to reference the not worked on side as you move ahead. Also, work from the inside out, it helps hold things together.
Also, only remove what you have to remove, keeping things on the car helps mitigate storage issues. For example, I routinely temporarily mount fenders and such on the car as I worked along. So if you are repairing the right rear panels on the tub, the other three fenders can be left on the car. Other then body panels, seats, and top, you will be surprised how little space the smaller parts will take up. I bought a few of the file storage boxes and a lot of zip lock bags to hold the parts.
Good luck, <span style="text-decoration: line-through">and get a camera, we like pictures</span>...
Sorry about that, I see you do have a camera... :eeek:
The engine and transmission are simplest and easiest to repair, even if totally shot, so I would leave them for the last, and leave them on the chassis.
You really have only two choices to make at this point in time. Do the tub repairs first or do the chassis.
I chose to do the chassis first then the tub. If I were to do it all over again, I would clean up the chassis but do the tub (floors, rockers, etc) first because as it entails a lot of lifting off and putting it back on the frame. I would also do only one panel at a time to help in alignment as body panel replacements are made (it also allows you to reference the not worked on side as you move ahead. Also, work from the inside out, it helps hold things together.
Also, only remove what you have to remove, keeping things on the car helps mitigate storage issues. For example, I routinely temporarily mount fenders and such on the car as I worked along. So if you are repairing the right rear panels on the tub, the other three fenders can be left on the car. Other then body panels, seats, and top, you will be surprised how little space the smaller parts will take up. I bought a few of the file storage boxes and a lot of zip lock bags to hold the parts.
Good luck, <span style="text-decoration: line-through">and get a camera, we like pictures</span>...
Sorry about that, I see you do have a camera... :eeek:
TheSearcherMan
Jedi Trainee
Offline
I will give you some very sound advice. Put the wheels on it, put it back on the ground, and sell it. Then, take your time, find one that somebody else has poured their life savings, retirement, marriage, etc. into, and buy it on the cheap, but be very careful. You will be glad you did. If you haven't done one of these, you don't have any idea what you are getting into, time wise and moneywise. You can sink 50 grand into this, and it still may not be right, or worth 10 grand. It is better to buy one already done.
BugEyeBear
Jedi Trainee
Offline
SearcherMan,
Good advise... No Doubt Correct from the $$$ point of view.
<span style="font-weight: bold">BUT you fail to take in to account the primary reason most of us do these complete restorations... WE LOVE IT!!!</span> :banana:
OBVIOUSLY we aren't doing this sort of thing to make money, nor to end up with a cheap sports car. IF that were the case we'd go out and buy a used Miata, or maybe an already drivable Triumph or Spridget. BUT NO, we ABSOLUTELY LOVE the idea that we tore apart a P.O.S. car, redid every part to better than new standards, and put it back together again to (HOPEFULLY) drive down the road again one day.
Now I realize this doesn't apply to everyone on the forum. Some of us are more "driver" than "fixer", and that's perfectly OK! There is plenty of room on here for all of us, and the Brit Car Community benefits from both types of enthusiasts. :thumbsup:
And Finally, if spending time at home in the garage tinkering on your car (away from bars, drugs, other women, etc...) results in a divorce, then in my humble opinion you were probably headed that way anyhow! AND you are probably much better off in the long run! I'd much rather have my bollocks remain attached and sitting on the floor of my garage than have them detached and sitting in the bottom of my woman's purse!!
"That's my 1.5 cents!" (the dollar is a bit weak right now!!)
("OK, can someone lend me a ladder to climb down off of my soapbox now????)
"Cheers!"
-Bear-
(Bollocks Attached & Very Happy in the Garage....)
Good advise... No Doubt Correct from the $$$ point of view.
<span style="font-weight: bold">BUT you fail to take in to account the primary reason most of us do these complete restorations... WE LOVE IT!!!</span> :banana:
OBVIOUSLY we aren't doing this sort of thing to make money, nor to end up with a cheap sports car. IF that were the case we'd go out and buy a used Miata, or maybe an already drivable Triumph or Spridget. BUT NO, we ABSOLUTELY LOVE the idea that we tore apart a P.O.S. car, redid every part to better than new standards, and put it back together again to (HOPEFULLY) drive down the road again one day.
Now I realize this doesn't apply to everyone on the forum. Some of us are more "driver" than "fixer", and that's perfectly OK! There is plenty of room on here for all of us, and the Brit Car Community benefits from both types of enthusiasts. :thumbsup:
And Finally, if spending time at home in the garage tinkering on your car (away from bars, drugs, other women, etc...) results in a divorce, then in my humble opinion you were probably headed that way anyhow! AND you are probably much better off in the long run! I'd much rather have my bollocks remain attached and sitting on the floor of my garage than have them detached and sitting in the bottom of my woman's purse!!
"That's my 1.5 cents!" (the dollar is a bit weak right now!!)
("OK, can someone lend me a ladder to climb down off of my soapbox now????)
"Cheers!"
-Bear-
(Bollocks Attached & Very Happy in the Garage....)
I also appreciate the advice on keeping everything on the car (never crossed my mind) but I also have started removing the front fenders so i can see what needs to be done behind them. If I keep the motor and trans in the car, wouldn't that make it harder to get to some the panels i need to work on, besides i have the perfect shop to do motor work just not storing parts. but I will take Ray's advice and only do one section at a time because I've noticed every thing i take off the car has more work under it so I'll say section for that reason.
T
Tinster
Guest
Guest
Offline
CUPWALKER said:
<span style="color: #990000">I'm with you Cup!!
I am just about to cross $50,000. restoration barrier for my 1969 TR6.
The Crypt Car was a gift to me from my Brit wife. One day, soon I hope,
I will take a drive with my wonderful wife up into the interior, twisty
mountain roads of the island.
The fun and friendships I have made during this DIY, total
BCF help, car restoration are priceless. I accept my car will never
be reliable. It is a given the kind folks here at the BCF will
always get the Crypt car going again.
You have joined a Brotherhood, Cup.
dale</span>
G
Guest
Guest
Guest
Offline
TheSearcherMan said:
Want my phone number???
Silverghost
Yoda
Offline
There are indeed many available TR's out there at a range of prices, BUT, and this is indeed a BIG but - there is only one "I just got my hands on this '59 tr3a that has been in the family for 40 sum odd years and i don't even know where to start." No amount of money in the world can buy another one of those. From this viewpoint, you have a car as priceless as any 7 figure car that ever rolled across the field at Pebble Beach.
If I ever had the means to purchase one of my father's or my families cars, I would, because that's the only one there ever was or ever will be.
Just my 2 cents.....
If I ever had the means to purchase one of my father's or my families cars, I would, because that's the only one there ever was or ever will be.
Just my 2 cents.....
TR6oldtimer
Darth Vader
Offline
Stick with it. My cousin Kerry, (Aweman on this forum) is doing a TR3 that his father delighted in owning and has been at it for awhile. The '73 TR6 that I am restoring is one I've owned since the mid '70s. If not for that reason, I would not have taken on a full restoration project. I would have bought one, or perhaps the Europa I've always liked, or the GT6, or a new truck.
All of us like the cars, and like to drive them, some of us actually enjoy working on them (most of the time, er, or sometimes).
Anyway, as to taking the engine and transmission out or leaving it in is probably not as big a deal on a three as it is on the six, which has a very flexible frame so the wieght is needed to stress it. On second thought taking the engine and transmission out will give you something to work on when the weather goes south and it will give you lots of items to add to Santa's wish list.
All of us like the cars, and like to drive them, some of us actually enjoy working on them (most of the time, er, or sometimes).
Anyway, as to taking the engine and transmission out or leaving it in is probably not as big a deal on a three as it is on the six, which has a very flexible frame so the wieght is needed to stress it. On second thought taking the engine and transmission out will give you something to work on when the weather goes south and it will give you lots of items to add to Santa's wish list.
Online
When I bought the TR3, it was a basket case, very much like yours. Needed LOTSA work. I did everything but the body work/paint and the engine, and it turned out beautifully.
Then bought an MGB in the same state, to restore for my wife, and did the same to it, only that time, I built the engine myself.
Drove the TR3 for a while and decided I wanted something different. Fell head over heels for the TR8, and found one needing restoration. Sold the 3 in order to do the 8, and didn't come anywhere near "what I had in it".
To me, though, that didn't matter. The experience of restoring, then driving the 3 was well worth it. The B and the 8 were also a ton of fun to tackle, and now I'm hoping to do another; just haven't decided what I'd like to do, or where to put it!
There's no logic when it comes to this hobby. And that's all it is to many of us - a hobby. Takes money. And time. Like any other hobby.
Enjoy it, Cup, and keep us posted!
Mickey
Then bought an MGB in the same state, to restore for my wife, and did the same to it, only that time, I built the engine myself.
Drove the TR3 for a while and decided I wanted something different. Fell head over heels for the TR8, and found one needing restoration. Sold the 3 in order to do the 8, and didn't come anywhere near "what I had in it".
To me, though, that didn't matter. The experience of restoring, then driving the 3 was well worth it. The B and the 8 were also a ton of fun to tackle, and now I'm hoping to do another; just haven't decided what I'd like to do, or where to put it!
There's no logic when it comes to this hobby. And that's all it is to many of us - a hobby. Takes money. And time. Like any other hobby.
Enjoy it, Cup, and keep us posted!
Mickey
vivdownunder
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Cup, after taking photos, keep every single item you strip off the car so that later you will know what it looked like, and that the car had one, even if you intend to replace the item.
I use clear sealable sandwich bags from the supermarket for small parts....heaps in a packet for little cost. Write on the bag with a texta what's inside, and where from, before you seal in the part.
As time passes with the rebuild, it's absolutely impossible the remember where every little part came from, and when you finally start bolting it back together again, you'll bless having everything labelled.
Cheers,
Viv.
I use clear sealable sandwich bags from the supermarket for small parts....heaps in a packet for little cost. Write on the bag with a texta what's inside, and where from, before you seal in the part.
As time passes with the rebuild, it's absolutely impossible the remember where every little part came from, and when you finally start bolting it back together again, you'll bless having everything labelled.
Cheers,
Viv.
Online
Oh, and another thing:
This is more than a hobby for me.
My work/calling is the priesthood. As such, my work is very open-ended. Often, I have NO idea of potential fruits of my labor. Goes with the territory.
However, I can take, and have taken, a broken, rusty, inoperative collection of parts, clean it up, fix/replace what needs doing, and then stand back and point to it, and say, "I did that!" Pretty sound therapy for me, indeed, and it provides much-needed balance!
But that's just me...
Mickey
This is more than a hobby for me.
My work/calling is the priesthood. As such, my work is very open-ended. Often, I have NO idea of potential fruits of my labor. Goes with the territory.
However, I can take, and have taken, a broken, rusty, inoperative collection of parts, clean it up, fix/replace what needs doing, and then stand back and point to it, and say, "I did that!" Pretty sound therapy for me, indeed, and it provides much-needed balance!
But that's just me...
Mickey
hondo402000
Darth Vader
Offline
when it comes to money invested and pay back, just think about the deep sea fishing trip cost and divide it by the few pounds of fish you caught yea cheaper to go to the store and buy it, Spend all you want to and have fun doning it
Hondo
Hondo