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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
LearJeff
Freshman Member
Offline
Hello to all the diehards out there!
It's been quite some time since I've visited "The Forum". That is if you don't count the one in Rome. Heck, I was there barely three weeks ago. No, no, it's this forum I speak of and all of its demented inhabitants.
My complete frame-off...restoration?...of my '74 TR6 was finally completed about 6 months ago. Restoration? I'm still having trouble with that word. It doesn't seem to do justice to all the months upon months of work and thousands upon thousands of dollars spent! Hmmm, is there another more suitable word? Re-build? No, no, that just sounds like you took something apart, cleaned it up and re-assembled it. We DEFINITELY did more than that. Let's see...re-manufacture? No, because even if there was a vaccum-sealed container somewhere in the world with every single part and piece required to build a "brand new" TR6, my car would still be...how should I put this modestly...better. It seems the only word that even comes close to describing what we did is actually two words: Total Ressurection. And, for all you nuts out there who have done the same thing, I bet you feel the same way about your car!
For 18 months or so, I had to endure the constant needling from friends and neighbors: "Jeff, the problem is, when all is said and done, you'll still be left with a TR6!" or this from my business partner "Jeff, save yourself the time and energy and buy a nice Porsche or even a mid-90's Ferrari 355 like mine for all the money your spending!" and finally, "Honey,how much will the car be worth after it's done?"
It seems the only place I'm likely to find kindred spirits is a place like the British Car Forum. And the really disturbing thing is, even after all of the set backs, all of the time ordering parts, returning the wrong ones(it seems the various parts supply houses averaged one wrong part delivered for every four correct parts), the energy, the effort and, yes, the money...after all that, I feel a void exists now that the project is complete. Sure, I've got (in my opinion at least) one of the most awesome TR6's on the road anywhere on Earth, but I also have this strange need to want to do it all over again. Did I just say that?
Anyway, I'll (attempt) to post some pictures here very soon. Who knows, maybe I'm delusional and once people actually see photos, they'll disagree with my Total Resurrection descriptor. In the meantime, to re-cap some of the highlights of what was done to the car, but by NO MEANS a complete list: (For all of you who've seen this before, my apologies!)
The body was removed from the frame; interior removed; engine removed and sent for complete overhaul; transmission removed for complete overhaul; differential removed for complete overhaul; entire frame cleaned, blasted and powder-coated; all new front suspension installed; new front shocks and springs; polyurethane bushings front and rear; installed new polyurethane transmission tunnel (2 piece design from The Roadster Factory-excellent!); designed and manufactured IN HOUSE rear disc brake conversion; all new front AND rear brake system installed (utilized Strange Engineering racing rotors and calipers); braided hoses front and rear; designed and manufactured IN HOUSE twin-rotor "Jaguar-style" parking brake system; designed and manufactured IN HOUSE rear tube shock conversion; all new fuel lines; fuel pump; starter; installed new "green hoses"; converted rubber engine compartment fuel lines to stainless steel tubing; new carbs; designed and manufactured push-rod type throttle linkage and clutch linkage (elimanted troublesome clutch fork); fabricated aluminum radiator shroud (powder-coated); installed new exhaust system; new Panasport wheels, new tires; replaced every bulb; replaced all lenses front, back and sides; replaced all fuses, new fuse box; new wiring; new side mirrors (chrome, bullet-type left and right)replaced every single screw, nut and bolt with aviation-spec hardware. In all, approx. 80 separate pieces were sent for powder coating, including valve cover, exhaust manifold, front and rear suspension pieces, etc. I missed many of the small detail items here, but I'm sure you get the overall picture.
I'm in Northern California and looking forward to seeing some of you British Car Enthusiasts at some upcoming events out here. If anyone knows of any, please let me know in case that particular event slipped beneath my radar. In the meantime, cheerio lads!
It's been quite some time since I've visited "The Forum". That is if you don't count the one in Rome. Heck, I was there barely three weeks ago. No, no, it's this forum I speak of and all of its demented inhabitants.
My complete frame-off...restoration?...of my '74 TR6 was finally completed about 6 months ago. Restoration? I'm still having trouble with that word. It doesn't seem to do justice to all the months upon months of work and thousands upon thousands of dollars spent! Hmmm, is there another more suitable word? Re-build? No, no, that just sounds like you took something apart, cleaned it up and re-assembled it. We DEFINITELY did more than that. Let's see...re-manufacture? No, because even if there was a vaccum-sealed container somewhere in the world with every single part and piece required to build a "brand new" TR6, my car would still be...how should I put this modestly...better. It seems the only word that even comes close to describing what we did is actually two words: Total Ressurection. And, for all you nuts out there who have done the same thing, I bet you feel the same way about your car!
For 18 months or so, I had to endure the constant needling from friends and neighbors: "Jeff, the problem is, when all is said and done, you'll still be left with a TR6!" or this from my business partner "Jeff, save yourself the time and energy and buy a nice Porsche or even a mid-90's Ferrari 355 like mine for all the money your spending!" and finally, "Honey,how much will the car be worth after it's done?"
It seems the only place I'm likely to find kindred spirits is a place like the British Car Forum. And the really disturbing thing is, even after all of the set backs, all of the time ordering parts, returning the wrong ones(it seems the various parts supply houses averaged one wrong part delivered for every four correct parts), the energy, the effort and, yes, the money...after all that, I feel a void exists now that the project is complete. Sure, I've got (in my opinion at least) one of the most awesome TR6's on the road anywhere on Earth, but I also have this strange need to want to do it all over again. Did I just say that?
Anyway, I'll (attempt) to post some pictures here very soon. Who knows, maybe I'm delusional and once people actually see photos, they'll disagree with my Total Resurrection descriptor. In the meantime, to re-cap some of the highlights of what was done to the car, but by NO MEANS a complete list: (For all of you who've seen this before, my apologies!)
The body was removed from the frame; interior removed; engine removed and sent for complete overhaul; transmission removed for complete overhaul; differential removed for complete overhaul; entire frame cleaned, blasted and powder-coated; all new front suspension installed; new front shocks and springs; polyurethane bushings front and rear; installed new polyurethane transmission tunnel (2 piece design from The Roadster Factory-excellent!); designed and manufactured IN HOUSE rear disc brake conversion; all new front AND rear brake system installed (utilized Strange Engineering racing rotors and calipers); braided hoses front and rear; designed and manufactured IN HOUSE twin-rotor "Jaguar-style" parking brake system; designed and manufactured IN HOUSE rear tube shock conversion; all new fuel lines; fuel pump; starter; installed new "green hoses"; converted rubber engine compartment fuel lines to stainless steel tubing; new carbs; designed and manufactured push-rod type throttle linkage and clutch linkage (elimanted troublesome clutch fork); fabricated aluminum radiator shroud (powder-coated); installed new exhaust system; new Panasport wheels, new tires; replaced every bulb; replaced all lenses front, back and sides; replaced all fuses, new fuse box; new wiring; new side mirrors (chrome, bullet-type left and right)replaced every single screw, nut and bolt with aviation-spec hardware. In all, approx. 80 separate pieces were sent for powder coating, including valve cover, exhaust manifold, front and rear suspension pieces, etc. I missed many of the small detail items here, but I'm sure you get the overall picture.
I'm in Northern California and looking forward to seeing some of you British Car Enthusiasts at some upcoming events out here. If anyone knows of any, please let me know in case that particular event slipped beneath my radar. In the meantime, cheerio lads!
