New guy with his hands full in Ohio!

[jeep937]

Hello everyone, I'm around Dayton Ohio. I've got my hands on a few Triumphs right now but that's not all. I'm into most anything with wheels. Jeeps, Muscle cars and Old Fords. Here's some of what I do.. OH and I'm pretty sick with cheap motorcycles also..

Got this TR4.

The Dash pad didn't fit correctly and some gauges didn't work so I'm thinking quick fix. Nope. This is what I found. A piece of air duct replaced the factory cowl where apparently it was cut out to install a glove box instert. Then riveted in place and then bondo was filled in the channel where the pad fits into. WTH?


About 6 months before this I started shaping metal and figured I'd just build a whole new "racecar" dash. And as time always does, it brought me to my senses and allowed respect for the 4 to shine. I'm putting it back to stock after it sitting apart for a year.. So I broke out the old tin snips a mallet and the handy dandy stretcher shrinker set I got from Fey Butler and started putting the car back the way it was..


Came out really really nice. I'm kinda blown away by my first timer skills on this one. Seems like everything I do, it's the first time..

Here's the project that taught me about metal working..

I thought it would be fun to make videos about my junk and put them on youtube. Some say they are awesome. I'm not sure how I've managed to fool people.. haha This is one about shaping metal on that old Honda with the Kaw tank. I'll probably make some about the Triumphs too..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_8knO1guIk

Here's a taste of some of the other current projects I'm working this week.. Turning two Jeep YJ's into one nice restored period correct 80's-90's 4x4. Making a roller 69 Camaro into big block monster with manual drum brakes to bring me closer to god.. My Trans Am starter took a crap on me last week so that needs pulled too..

And let's not forget the glorious TR4. I've got most of the wiring sorted and now I just have to install some LM7810 Chips and hopefully the temp and fuel gauges will work. Bonus for working wipers and heater!

 

[toysrrus]

Hi There Jeep,

Let me be the 1st to "Welcome" you to "THEE" best LBC (Little British Cars) site anywhere.

Happy Motoring.

Russ

 

[glemon]

Good work with the TR4, your car, you can do what you want with it, but modified dashes have never done much for me, always look cheap and kit car-ish, so good choice with finessing it back to stock. Looks like you know how to have fun with things that have motors and wheels....

 

[jeep937]

Good work with the TR4, your car, you can do what you want with it, but modified dashes have never done much for me, always look cheap and kit car-ish, so good choice with finessing it back to stock. Looks like you know how to have fun with things that have motors and wheels....

Thank you sir, I agree about the hacky fabbed dashes. I'm mostly speaking about the American drag style. I hate the look of new Autometer and the like gauges in an old car. I was going for a more vintage race car look. You know how when you see an old Ferrari or other prewar/post race car it's kinda handmade homemade looking. Engine turning, leather and elagant clusters with arrow needles. Anyway, I made some cardboard mock ups and didn't like how it was turning out. I even tried a corvette style dual hump.. No good. Back to stock it was.

I really like the look of how the dash in an AC Cobra is really just part of the body cowling. I like how the paint from the outside comes into the cab over the car under the windscreen. Unfourtunatly, a flattop just doesn't transfer the sexy lines of the TR4 into the cab.


Here was the double hump version, it too was all wrong and didn't flow with the rest of the car..



I have a couple sayings in my shop that I live by. The first is, "If a man put it together then I cant take it apart and sometimes put it back together" and the second one is, "If I can make it out of cardboard then I can make it out of metal." Both of these go back to when I was a child. I'd take apart everything mechanical I could get my hands on. Old stereos, bikes, tv's, lawnmowers, buildings... One of my favorite things to do was make large spaceships with decks and living quarters and complicated room layouts with construction paper and cardboard. I'd turn shoe boxes into bases for my GI Joes (3 3/4" early 80's style). I was never satisfied with the larger sets and how I couldn't change them how I wanted. This trend continues today with my love for motoring. I love making things out of metal and taking trash or scrap bikes, beat cars and what not, and making them work. It's a real triumph to start an engine you pulled out of a junk pile..



Here is a bike I pulled out of a pile for cheap and made run and run well. Thought I ride it, it is not done. I still intend to do a low profile seat and still have to button up the harness stuff under the seat as it's just zip tied. My friend just layed this amazing black rising sun a couple days ago. The bike is an 1979 SR500 Yamaha and it's a pure joy to ride.

Here is my friends '72 CB450 that I'm doing Cafe style. I wanted to use aluminum so I sold a big mower and bought a TIG welder. This is just one of the concepts we came up with.. It has since changed

Here is my uncles just finished TR3

Here you can see that I don't discriminate when it comes to type of bike or car I desire. The '31 Ford was bought sight unseen and we got taken for a ride. I've since had to rebuild almost every system on the car. It's interesting working on something that was basically designed in the teens. It's a first generation automobile with it's rabbit bearings, splash and drip oiling and mechanical breaks.. Well probably second gen since first gens were chain drive, tiller steering.. but you get the point.
The bike is a recent score '76 enduro with a clean title~! I've never touched a two stroke up until this point and have had it running well but I think the points are duked..

In back you can see my Trans Am. Oh I love that car. I built the motor at the local community college twice.