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TR2/3/3A TR3 not engaging 2nd gear

It wasn’t ideal but how it came about was a shop in southern Cal was going gangbusters on a full refurbishment and the crash of ‘08 hit. The project financing ground to a halt and the shop inherited the car under mechanics lien. I bought it as it sat and continued the project.

But not taking the car apart made it extra difficult and tedious to rebuild it - not knowing what various parts or bolts or brackets were or where they went. So the resto took a lot longer than it should’ve.
 
Yes Hamish I think something like that happened with my last restoration. I did the engine first and even started it. Then the engine set for 4 years while I finished the body. 4 years later when I got the body/car complete, I started the engine and a lifter wore down to nub. Bummer. This time I am going to get the project more synchronized, so the project comes together as one.

steve
 
I've been looking to buy an airplane for a couple years, and have been learning a lot about engine rebuilds, times and storage. Then, I have the old Stearman, and I have not touched that engine yet, other than pulling the plugs to lubricate the cylinders. If you rebuild an engine, you can easily pickle it almost indefinitely. If you run it, it's possible to pickle, but gets much harder unless you pop most of the covers off to spray everything with rust inhibitor. For plane logbooks the rebuild time doesn't start until you run-in the rebuilt engine, but if you wait too long, it's frowned upon.

I guess the bottom line, it's always best to rebuild a motor last in the restoration. If that is not an option, then do not run the engine until ready to drive it. I helped my 12 yr old kids rebuilt my TR2 engine over 4 years before we ran it...but I pickled it well and did not start it until the restoration was finished. She's still running well, into the 7th year.
 
I always paint the body off , only setting it on when the drive train is 100% This is the factory way and IS faster.
It may seem a bit odd but "test"driving the chassis around the parking lot is kinda fun .We once dragged a finished
Tr4 chassis to a show that was only 5 blocks away.Got a ribbon !!
Mad dog
That could work out well. I’ve got the shipping pallet ready to go. Hope to pick up from Quantum later this week.
Where are you at son? send me a PM
 
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