TR2/3/3A TR3 Is Alive

[martx-5]

The restoration is coming to an end. I have about an hour running on the engine, but up until today, I've never moved it under it's own power. I drove it up the street and back just to see how the clutch and tranny were functioning. Mostly good news to report. The Toyota trans functions great. The clutch is adjusted just nice. The speedo that I did myself is working. Whether it's accurate or not, that I won't know until I get it out on the highway. Unfortunately, I don't have insurance on it yet, so I can't drive it far or fast. I have to put the bonnet on yet, and my O2 sensor shows that I'm running pig rich, so I'll have to dial that in. All the smells and noises are as I remember them from over fifteen years ago when this car last ran. I still have to get new wire wheels and tires, but finances will mean not until the spring. Other then that, It was a great afternoon and I'm a happy camper.

 

[prb51]

Good work! We expect road pics

 

[mrv8q]

Congratulations! After 15 years, no wonder you're happy....2009 will be great for at least one reason....

 

[martx-5]

Congratulations! After 15 years, no wonder you're happy....2009 will be great for at least one reason....

Well, the car sat in the garage for twelve of those years all torn apart. I didn't have the funds to do the work until about three years ago, so in reality, the restoration actually took about three years. Still a long road. With the exception of the machine work on the engine, I did <span style="font-weight: bold">everything </span>myself, including body work and paint. I spent a lot of evenings in the basement doing gauges, recovering the dash and cappings, re-doing seats, cleaning and painting parts...boy, when I look back on it, it is a tremendous amount of work. But, I read somewhere that when doing a project like this, the most important thing is to do something every week, no matter how small it may seem. Whenever you have some time, just work on something even if it's just making a list of needed parts. Don't fall into the habit of not getting anything done for long stretches of time. My time table was to do something every week. Some weeks it was almost every night, others just a bit on the weekends. Eventually it all comes together.

Now I can total up the invoices...Yeah, right...they're stuffed in a drawer and hopefully I will never go in it again.

 

[tdskip]

Wow Art - this is exciting. Has to be a great feeling.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Don't</span> total the receipts!

 

[GBRandy]

Howe cool is that? 12 years? Amazing. Pictures please!

 

[Moseso]

Cool, Art! Welcome back to the "My TR3 Runs" club.

I've managed to get about 500 miles on mine in the last month, but there won't be much more 'til Spring. It's been snowing most of today here. It's not sticking around yet, but the open-car travel season is winding down fast.

That first drive sure is something!

 

[Brosky]

I'm very happy for you Art. It's a great feeling when all of that hard work comes together and it runs and look good.

Good luck and get the camera out already!!

 

[2wrench]

Wow Art - this is exciting. Has to be a great feeling.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Don't</span> total the receipts!
[/quote

I agree. You'll only upset yourself.

CONGRATULATIONS! Do something special for yourself. You've led
by example and stand in the threshold of total success.
You will be smiling all the while you're driving.

 

[TRDejaVu]

Great news.

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

Don't forget to upload a picture that was taken WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING it. Isn't that why we do all this work. I'm going to guess you will be smiling.

I have to remember the part about 'doing something every week'. Mine is more than 1/2 apart, but progress has been dampered. It's only been a couple years. Unfortunately I've been tracking my expences on a spread sheet, and it is very depressing. I started keeping track so I wouldn't purchase the same parts twice, I should have included a column "stored where" instead of "cost".

Congradulations. Pictures please.

 

[Tinkerman]

Good on you Art! A great sense of accomplishment, plus you took the time to help many of us floundering about doing our own restorations. A BIG tip of by LBC cap to you!

Thanks and congratulations, Tinkerman.

 

[sp53]

That’s great news Art. It proves that things have a way of coming around. The help that you have given others has come home. I have always found your posts to be informative and sincere without a lot of ego.