• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

TR2/3/3A TR3 mechanics in Raleigh/Durham North Carolina area?

Share this page

J

Jim Lee

Jedi Trainee
Offline
I am looking for recommendations for a mechanic to help me get my 1959 TR3 back on the road. I live in the Raliegh//Durham North Carolina area.

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
 
Hendrix Wire Wheels specialize on Healeys, but I'm sure he'd work on TRs also.
 
There is a company called Flying Circus English Cars. I believe he is in Durham.
 
I recommend Dave Crane in Henderson. His work phone number is 252-432-7890. His address is 134 Coventry Lane, Henderson, NC 27537. A good many of the Triumph owners in the Triangle area that are members of The Triumph Club of the Carolina's use Dave. If you are not a member of the Triumph Club of the Carolina's I recommend that you join since you can get some good advice from the local members.
Regards,
Bob
 
Thanks to all that responded. I reconnected with Dave Crane in Henderson. It has been so long since I have seen him that I was not sure he was still there at Dave's Place. He is Mr. Triumph to me.

In any case I had a chat with him and he suggested doing what I should of thought of on my own. I thought the problem was the starter because all it would do is click when I tried to crank it. It turns out that I have something similar to a frozen engine. I removed the plugs and tried to push the car with it in first gear. I was able too move it a few feet but it was much more difficult than I remember it being when I used to check the valves using the same technique. Then I got to the point now where I cannot move it at all. I am really worried about having a bent crankshaft though i have no idea how it would have gotten bent. The car was running not that long ago. It has been maybe a year since I had it running so with the humidity that we have here, even though it is in my garage I could understand it locking up but what bugs me is that I was able to move it a few feet, with great effort, but cannot now. I sprayed some wd30 in the cylinders so I am going to give it another try tomorrow but I am pretty nervous about the engine. Which would be unfortunate because it was a really good running engine last I had it on the road.

Any suggestions for pouring in any fancy elixirs to see if I can free it up? WD30 is probably not the ultimate 'unfreezer'. In any case I will be using my Triple A membership to get the car over to Dave in Henderson.

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
1959 TR3 TS50500l (I think)
 
I prefer Marvel Mystery oil for loosening stuck cylinders. I feel that WD40 is just too thin and doesn't say on the cylinder walls and tends to wash off any oil that may have been there. It will smoke quite a bit when you get it started, but that is not a problem since it will burn off. Just don't put a hugh amount of Marvel Mystery oil.
Regards, Bob
 
Jim Lee said:
Thanks to all that responded. I reconnected with Dave Crane in Henderson. It has been so long since I have seen him that I was not sure he was still there at Dave's Place. He is Mr. Triumph to me.

In any case I had a chat with him and he suggested doing what I should of thought of on my own. I thought the problem was the starter because all it would do is click when I tried to crank it. It turns out that I have something similar to a frozen engine. I removed the plugs and tried to push the car with it in first gear. I was able too move it a few feet but it was much more difficult than I remember it being when I used to check the valves using the same technique. Then I got to the point now where I cannot move it at all. I am really worried about having a bent crankshaft though i have no idea how it would have gotten bent. The car was running not that long ago. It has been maybe a year since I had it running so with the humidity that we have here, even though it is in my garage I could understand it locking up but what bugs me is that I was able to move it a few feet, with great effort, but cannot now. I sprayed some wd30 in the cylinders so I am going to give it another try tomorrow but I am pretty nervous about the engine. Which would be unfortunate because it was a really good running engine last I had it on the road.

Any suggestions for pouring in any fancy elixirs to see if I can free it up? WD30 is probably not the ultimate 'unfreezer'. In any case I will be using my Triple A membership to get the car over to Dave in Henderson.

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
1959 TR3 TS50500l (I think)
Click to expand...

Just a thought but never try to bump or turn the motor over in first.Third is better,I use fourth when rolling on the garage floor to set points,but first puts way to much strain in the trans.
Tom
 
It sounds like Dave has already taken care of your immediate issue. While Henderson is not too far, your local choices are Flying Circus in Durham as mentioned by Number6, and perhaps Carl Cason of Sports and Classics in Raleigh. You could also consider Apex Vintage. They may be willing to work on non-race cars.

The TCOC is a good source for local Triumph help. You will also find members of the NC MG CC helpful. They are not exclusive to MGs.
 
Back
Top