Maybe a Crypty Miracle?

[Tinster]

My faith in miracles has been renewed.

A gentleman just left the Crypt after stopping by
unannounced. Curiosity got the better of him.

His name is Luis and he owns a 1970 MGB. Luis told
me there is a tiny British car club in Puerto Rico
with 19 cars of mixed breeds. He thinks there are
2 or 3 other TR6s. Even better, Luis told me there
is a British car mechanic two hours drive from my house.

Luis called the mechanic about the Crypt Car. The mechanic
had looked at Crypty several years ago but PDO Pedro
refused to pay for any of the much needed repairs. The
mechanic told Luis the Crypt Car was a worthless bucket of
bolts, years ago.

So...............if I can get Crypty operational enough to
make a 2 hour drive, without breaking down, a for real Brit
mechanic can look at my car and tell me what's wrong with
it. And even fix it!!

Wow! Something positive to work toward. I just might end
up with an operational, reliable and fun to drive TR6!!

D /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

 

[malice]

Right O. Do IT! That would be cool.

 

[Steve]

Well, it's a good news/bad news scenario for certain, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! You have done so much to the car already, you might as well have an expert complete the procedure.

I think that congratulations are in order! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif

 

[tomshobby]

Dale, did you really take time to get on the forum before leaving for the mechanic?

Just go friend! Drive, push, or pull Crypty. Just get there pronto!!

 

[Aldwyn]

Hey, what a great find! A club AND a mechanic!!

 

[Tinster]

Well Now, Tom-

Wasn't it Aldwyn that DROVE his car to a local Brit mechanic
for a look see? And then got a gizzillion $$ estimate for
everything under the moon?

Can you image the estimate I might get? A rich, Gringo
paying $500.+ to flatbed a dead TR6 2 hours to the only
Brit mechanic on the island?

Remember- I got charged $600. to install a clutch throw-out
bearing after I gutted the car and pulled the tranny myself.

The mechanic now knows there is a potential new customer.
I'll eventually get Crypty to the point where I can make a
2 hour drive without breaking down and THEN I'll make an appointment for a "look see" by the mechanic.

But it's nice to know he's out there.

best regards,

d

 

[GB1]

Dale:

You can dolly crypty on the back of your jeep.

Just hope that this isn't the start of a retirement fund, please be careful my friend.

The car club is great news.
Pat

 

[TR4nut]

Dale-

You for sure need to hook up with the other TR6 owners, at least to form a small support group! And if one of the other TR6 owners owns an early TR6, painted in a non-standard green, and he bought the car from a DPO from Dallas around 1998, well that DPO was me as I sold my last TR6 to some lucky soul in PR.

Good Luck!
Randy
65 TR4

 

[Tinster]

Randy- mighty curious indeed. As I am stripping out DPO
Pedro's paint from the engine bay, underneath it I'm findin
this strange, off-color green. Could it be all the problems
with my 1969ish TR6 rest on YOUR shoulders?

..............................
............................
................................
.......just kidding!!!!

Pat- I will be VERY careful. I know a whole lot more today
than I did 19 months ago. I will DRIVE my car into his
shop. If this mechanic is able to change out the wheel
bearings at a decent price; I'll give him the job.

But it will be great to look inside a real TR6 and see how
things are really supposed to go together. Many "clubs" here
on the island are an excuse to get loaded. I tend to avoid
booze parties as being boring, since I'm an iced tea buddy
of Bill W. I'll check it out.

regards,

d

 

[Silverghost]

Would seem to me a call to the club to check out the mechanic and a call to the mechanic about the car first would be a good step. AT&T is the next best thing to being there. I would be interested to know why he thought the car was "a worthless bucket of bolts" years ago. Of course you have seemingly discovered this for yourself <brave soul!> /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif A call would prevent something along the lines of "THIS guy bought THAT car???!...ka-ching...." Of course, it MAY just be possible that he is of the mindset we are here, kind, helpful and more interested in the cars than just the $$$ <and NO I am NOT that innocent! LoL but maybe, just maybe....> Personally, I hope it IS all on the up and up and provides you with some good resources!! Keep us posted!

 

[Tinster]

Randy: Local Triumphs!!! Awesome!!!

Either of these 2 TRs once upon a time your car?
I am hoping the TR mechanic I have just been informed
about is the same guy who set up THIS engine. Even Paul
should drool over this set up.

Now I am hopeful I will be able to get Crypty rechristened
as Amos and start touring the beautiful island upon which I
live.

hot diggity dog!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

 

[TR3driver]

Remember- I got charged $600. to install a clutch throw-out bearing after I gutted the car and pulled the tranny myself.

Eeyowtch ! Bet you walked funny for a week after that one !

 

[toysrrus]

Hi There Tinster;

I agree with the people here & with Yourself:

I would get your car in there ASAP; Push, Pull whatever:

What I would do first is get onto the Brit Car Club Forum & Meet with some of the other TR6 Owners & get their opinion of what this "Brit Mech" is like before Hauling your car in there on a Dolly: He sees you pulling up in what he says is a "Trash Bucket" means $$$$ to the Both of You:

There is Light at the end of the tunnel anyway;

Best Wishes; Russ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif

 

[kodanja]

Sounds like a winner!!!

 

[Tinster]

Russ-

Sadly they have no forum; just a loose membership that
gets together for group rides and group parties every
few months or so.

I actually had the Crypt Car operational for a few minutes
yesterday. I backed out of the Crypt and and drove 0.3 miles
in the hood. Nothing blew up, nothing fell off, nothing
ceased to function, no grinding or clunking noises except
the failing differential and the screaming starter.

I'll find out where this Brit mechanic has his shop and
drive up there in the Grey Ghost one day and introduce
myself.

In my humble opinion, my TR6 is "almost there" and I should
not need to spend another fortune replacing major components
I installed myself with help from the many folks here.
I think the car just needs tweaked. Except for the wheel hubs and differential.

There's not not about the car I have not already replaced.
I'm in no panic to get my car to this Brit. mechanic. That
would cost me immediate more $$- the way business is conducted here.

PS: So much has been done to Crypty, he is in reality not
even close to "trash bucket". He looks pretty fine.

d

 

[Tomster]

Talk to the other owners first PLEASE

 

[Brosky]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Talk to the other owners first PLEASE [/QUOTE]

Good advice...........PLEASE take it before you even get near this mechanic. He may be great, but then again...........

 

[MGTF1250Dave]

Aloha Dale,

I would recommend you join the local club. Usually most club members will be much like the people on this forum, a cross section of ages, background and experience with a love for LBCs. Most will be willing to help out to the extent of their ability with either technical expertise, cleaning parts or just providing moral support. Just like the BCF only in the real world. Years ago I when I was renovating my MG I hesitated in joining a local club until I was finished. I should have joined a club first, it would have been a great help and probably stopped some of my mistakes. My local club, British Car Club of Hawaii holds a monthly Tech Session where we meet at a members garage to work on a club car or two. A great way to learn about the cars and get a helping hand.

 

[Banjo]

Oh yea... That's the break I've been waiting to hear about for you Dale! Even if that mechanic isen't all that he should be, the "club" will have more resources than we can give long distance.
Excellent... Maybe I can meet "the club" when we come down. That'd be cool.

 

[RonMacPherson]

Okay, tell us about the wheel bearings and the differential.

Let's see if we can help save you some money and offer you some good advice.

Wheel bearings, front? rear? both?

The front wheel bearings are actually a very simple task to replace. My recommendation is to take the old bearings off(need to use a drift to drive out the outer race which will remain in the hub) take the bearings and seal to a bearing supply store and replace them with SKF or Timken, replace the seal with a MODERN equivalent(rubber, not felt). Use a good moly hi temp wheel bearing grease, a bearing packer, put a tablespoon in the hub between the two bearings, a teaspoon in the hub cap and you're good to go. On the rear, recommend you get some exchange hubs, TRF, mebbe the others, shop around.

The diff, is actually a very simple piece to repair. But if you do not have a shop down there that works on diffs, might want to get a reman from Quantum or someone like him