Making Progress

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Started doing some repairs on the wheel arches at the top as they are both pretty rusted out. Not finished yet as I ran out of Mig gas before I could do the plug welds at the bottom. Here are some pics.

Still need to drill the holes for the wing mount and attache the cage nuts to the back. I think that I have enough room to get a mig torch in there....if not, plan b.

Cheers,
David

 

[TR6BILL]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Tush, you have got to be a gluten for punishment.

 

[mallard]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

David looks like some good work. I got to do some welding myself on Sunday. What's with the five holes on top of the fender well?

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Hi Keith,

There must be about 30 holes in different areas where the PO installed various rolls bars (none of them came with the car). Will weld them up eventually.....

Bill, much more effort going into this one over the TR6...then again, the 6 came from California...not alot of rust on that one. On this one, age + rust + vintage racing has not been kind!

Anyway, still having fun, just taking alot more time to get this one to be a good looking driver.

Cheers,
David

 

[Don Elliott]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Dave - Are you planning to publish your work as a book explaining how to restore a TR3A ?

Regards

Don Elliott

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Now thats not anything that anyone would want to buy

My car wasn't in two pieces like yours was! If there is anyone that could/should write a book, it would be you Don.

Still having fun.

Cheers,
David

PS, still looking for that stub axle. Been through the basement and garage bins with no luck. Trying to get out to the garden shed but the weather is making that difficult....

 

[Brosky]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Nice work you have going there my friend. Will you be able to seal all of that up when you are done so that no rust starts back in the again?

 

[tdskip]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Tush - kind of hard to see but is that a lap or butt joint on that metal strip?

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Hey Paul,

Might be a little difficult to do much in that area as I don't want to build it up too much and effect the gap at that top seam where the beading drops in. I will probably check it after the paint is done. I can say that I did use weld through primer between the layers. I can also say that it will be sealed most likely with POR 15 on the inner tub as well. I was thinking that I might like to try to lizard skin product for fun......

Tom, So it was a two part repair. I didn't show a picture of it, but the first thing I did was to repair the metal on the inner rear quarter panel over the wheel well butt jointed on the bottom and sides. I did the repair in three smaller sections because of the arch. After I repaired the base metal, I repaired the side of the "saddle" section by butt welding up to where it forms the edge where the beading will be. The bottom of that piece is welded with spot welds about a 1/4 inch from the top arch of the wheel well.

Hope that my answer makes sence.

Cut some more stuff up and found some more holes this afternoon....will post some pics a little later.

Cheers,
Tush

 

[tdskip]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Makes sense - and weld-thru primer is about the beat you can do at this point. I like to get a creeping type of cavity wax in there as well once the welding is done.

 

[AEW]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

I'm trying to reduce my pile of unnecessary things. One of the tasks is to say goodbye to some of the parts car scraps. I think I could have given you those tub parts you are making for just postage. Sorry a bit late I understand

(possibly need a new post from here)

Is there much use in trying to salvage parts like the upper wheel arches? I wasn't planning to bother. Also does anyone know if anybody cares to be told of the total destruction of the car? I mean does VTR collect defunct TS comm numbers or any thing?

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Hi AEW,

No Worries. Actually, I don't mind making the repair panels if they are not too complex and beyond my skill set.

You wouldn't happen to have the following areas on your parts car would you....

Looking for the rear valence, or at least the sides on the right and left....don't need the center section.

I am also looking for the bottoms of the b posts on both sides where the rock guards would cover.

Cheers,
David

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Played around a little bit more in the garage today and decided that I would tackle the front passenger side inner wing. Pretty rusty along the outside edge and all the cage nuts had rusted off. Need to weld some new metal in so out with the old.....

Thought I would break the patch into 2 sections and keep the little tab in the middle for reference plus I wanted to move a little higher up to save the cage nuts for the hood latch bracket.

Continued stripping paint off the car as well and it is about 80 per cent done....found another hole to deal with that was covered with fiberglass...kind of and odd place....

And a general shot of the body

Will try and weld that patch in in the next couple of days. Going to get some more Mig gas tomorrow.

Cheers,
David

 

[tdskip]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Good progress Tush - make sure to insure her well.

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

You know what Skip, I have been giving alot of thought to installing a third brake in the rear valence before I send it out to paint. I would like it to look more "built in" so to speak. I have read some horror stories on here and elsewhere about 3s being rear ended...

Soon as it is finished I will have it appraised by the same guy that did my 6 and will insure it with the same company that does my 6 as well.

Cheers,
Tush

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

David, Tush, M...

I have really enjoyed your pictures and progress. I am impressed with all of it. I am just about to begin the 'body work' portion of my restoration, so am paying very close attention. Regarding the latest inner wing cage nut area refurbishing, would it not be easier to do multiple small metal patches? How will you locate the position of the new cage nuts/holes?

Is that 2nd hole in the cut off section for the fender mirror?

Jer

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

Hi Tex,

I couldn't do smaller patches as the metal was pretty rusty and thin and I wouldn't have anything to weld to. I decided to cut from one area to another where I knew that I could weld it solidly. I kept the two cut out sections to make a perfect template for the replacement patches. I also wanted to make the patches as long as possible as I thought it would be easier to keep the outside edge aligned (not sure if it matters as you will never see it when it is done unless you look under the car...)

To answer you other questions, I plan on fitting the fender using the front wing holes and the captive nuts where the fender fits to the bottom of the sill. I can mark where the holes need to be drilled through and then can attach the captive nuts. Option 2, I could just lay over the template pieces and mark where the holes were.

Since the car that I am restoring is a former vintage racer, I think that it has had more than a few bumps in its life. I think that the fender location was changed slightly thus some of the extra holes in the old metal as you can see in that pic that I posted with the extra holes.

I plan on fitting all the panels including the boot and bonnet before I drill anything. Once I know the alignment is good, then I can mark, drill and weld the cage nuts.

Hope that this has answered your questions.

Cheers,
David

 

[DNK]

Re: Making Progress TR3A

David,Tush,M...
Nom de Plurals...
Pretty funny

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Hi Guys,

Got the patches welded in today. Here are a few pics.

Here are the patches that I cut.

Tack welded in

Fully Welded

Bottom side

Ground out

Cheers,
David

 

[poolboy]

You're a man of many talents, Tush.
Hard to believe that an executive Chef can from his kitchen and then go home and build a car in his garage.