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TR2/3/3A One of you guys must save this TR2

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Andrew Mace said:
I'll not argue the merits of disc brakes, but I just don't see front drums as inherently bad.
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I learned to drive (and wrench) on a car with drums all round; and you're right, it wasn't bad as long as they didn't overheat. But it wasn't a sports car either, and I had absolutely no inclination to go tossing it around mountain curves at speeds well over what prudence (and the warning signs) would suggest. And it wouldn't do anywhere near 100 mph.

Likely there was some problem with the TR that could have been fixed, but my buddies & I never found it. You never quite knew what to expect when stomping on the whoa pedal. Sometimes it would pull down straight & hard; other times it would look for a tree to climb. I'm allergic to trees (or at least trying to climb them in sports cars).
 
TR3driver said:
Banjo said:
but they don't command any more than a 3 or 3a unless they are meticulously put back to original.
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For me, the stumbling point is the front drum brakes. I owned a TR3 with front drums for several years, and never could get them to where I felt I could rely on them. And if you are going to upgrade to discs, why not just start with a late TR3?
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:iagree: That must be why many TR2 I have seen on web sites ( UK & Europe)have brake servos installed. I often wondered how much improvement they achieve.

evansj2-1.jpg
 
I don't know........my first in-command of a Limey Limo was my granddad's 1957 Jaguar 3.4L Sedan (later called a Mark I), with 4-wheel drum brakes, hauled it down real nice from 120.

Modern drum linings suck.
Anytime we need to reline anything older than, say, 1968, we take the shoes down to the local reline outfit and they use "AB" lining.
No asbestos, I don't think, but they actually work.

You buy from a generic supplier, like NAPA, and two feet on the pedal won't stop the car.
 
Ferrari made excellent drum brakes. That's why they were so resistent to changing to discs. I had several drums braked cars and all were no stopping pigs. They didn't pull to one side of the other, they just didnt stop worth a flip. Not a one was a Ferrari.
 
Having a 54TR2 TS604L,and a 64 TR4 for the last 39 years, the 4 wheel drum problems are a myth. Keep them properly adjusted and they work just fine and you also learn to refine your down-shifting skills for all Triumphs.TR2s have a different feel than TR3s. More like a 4 wheel motorcycle. The head and carb differences,lighter weight,louder exhaust,and as well as feeling a little less refined give it the feel of a bit more Grunt. Just my opinion,owning both types. TR2s are harder to restore because some parts rarity,but very early cars can take a lot of patience to find the correct stuff. With TR2s being so rare,they always draw a crowd. I feel it's a shame to hack them up.
 
Fear not John, I say "Rat rod" but in reality that just means I'm gonna finish it in flat black epoxy primer, and paint the rims red with wide whites. Modifications will be no more than a TR4A motor and probably the disc brakes from the same car. There will be no irreversible "hacking" done to TS5012LO. I just don't have the cash to properly restore it, and this way I might have a chance of getting it on the road and enjoying it. If a TR2 enthusiast wanted to buy it, it can be had, and I'll replace it with a later TR3 to "rat out"
 
I am looking for a TR2. But not this one. This car looks like the proverbial "the further you go, the worse it gets." Much of the work on this car I would have to contract out, and it would be more than I could afford. Not to mention that it is already at $10K!

To reinforce Malinick's response, the drum brakes on a TR2 were not an issue, at least not with the 4 or 5 owners that I know. Per Piggott's latest book, the original TR2 will out-accelerate the TR7.

I'll keep looking - my day will come.

I am really enjoying you folks' input on this forum - I am spending more time here than on the MG forum!

Philthy
 
angelfj said:
TR3driver said:
Banjo said:
but they don't command any more than a 3 or 3a unless they are meticulously put back to original.
Click to expand...

For me, the stumbling point is the front drum brakes. I owned a TR3 with front drums for several years, and never could get them to where I felt I could rely on them. And if you are going to upgrade to discs, why not just start with a late TR3?
Click to expand...

:iagree: That must be why many TR2 I have seen on web sites ( UK & Europe)have brake servos installed. I often wondered how much improvement they achieve.

evansj2-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Howdy Frank,

I`m sure I`m mistaken but It is your "Engine Bay" still in primer? I can`t imagine it is since you`ve done all that nice detail work in there. What the heck engine is that anyways? How`s the Ferrari coming along?

Regards, Russ
 
Just a comment on TR-2 brakes. With maintenance and suitablle lining material they are perfectly adequate for the street, although you need to allow more distance between you and the car in front of you as they don't get the immediate 'bite' that a disc brake does.

For competition or even high speed work they are horrible. The choice is to use linings that fade after one lap or linings that do stop fairly well but wear out the drums at an accelerated rate. The switch to TR-3 discs is a no brainer.

This is #3507 on the track, drum brakes and all:

TR-2.jpg
 
Howdy Folks,

As you all are probably aware; That Ebay TR2 is back on the Air! Now it has an opening bid of $9600.00. As I had suspected; the "1" bid that he did get was probably a Friend or Relative helping to drive the selling price.

Someone posted a question about the "Very Large" Drum Brakes. They do look like they may have come off a "Big Healey".

LOL to this Seller cause in my opinion; He`s going to need it.

Regards, Russ
 
chatted with the owner via txt...he's convinced it's a 10k car as it sits. It is def a great car to rebuild but you'd be way upside down in it if purchased at that price.
It ran last in '04 as the starter died (easy to start these critters without a starter) so I rec he run it and give some info as to motor cond (psi's x 4) and OD workability. Too much a pig in a poke at the moment for that money considering all the other issues.
 
Howdy Folks,

Well; He`s back on the air again on Ebay. Now its opening bid is $9500.00 with No Reserve. I lost count but I think this is his 3rd. try at selling in the last month. "LOL" for that $$$!!!

Russ
 
the last few times I watched his bidding he had a 'buyer' always bid about 1k below his reserve...only one bid each run.
The last time he had it up for 10.5K and he had a 9.5k bid.
I strongly suspected a shill bidding for him.....I guess now we'll see if the last 9.5K bidder really exists. Doubt it.
 
Hi There prb51,

On his 1st. ebay listing; He got "1 Bid" for $10K with a reserve of $10.5K or was that a "Buy it Now"?? I guess it really does`nt matter cause I too am quite sure he has a friend who placed the bids just under the "Selling & or Reserve" price.

I`m taking bets he won`t get any bids this time around.

Russ
 
In the event some of you curious folks have been watching that "TR2" on ebay; "IT`S GONE"!

Did he accept an offer of $5K from someone? The opening bid was $9.5K with No Reserve & I`m not sure how many days the auction was for.

Oh Well; Whatever.

Russ
 
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