Bill - you definitely have a soft heart - but it is in the right place.
This one is beyond my capabilities and time, but I'm sure you will get some
interest... (where is Brad when you need him 8^)
My first question is --- Where are you (& it) located? -- {there is an
interesting question. Why is it "are you located" and "is it located" when
both are singular.... I digress.}
Second, if you do decide to part it out, let me know as there may be some
items of use on my '3...
Carl
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Miller [mailto:millerb@netusa1.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 1999 12:53 PM
To: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: TR4 Dilemma - need advice - long
Listers, especially you TR4 owners,
I have a dilemma. A while back, while searching for parts
for my spitfire,
I came across what was left of a TR4. This thing had no
doors, bumpers,
trunk, and about 5' of trash dumped in it. The hood
(bonnet) was on it and
in excellent shape. When I finally got it off, the engine
compartment was
very complete and original. Then I offered it to the list.
I got several
replies asking for bits and pieces, manifolds, engine,
transmission, drive
shaft, axles, etc. When I went back to the salvage yard,
the guy said get
what I want now, because it was going to be crushed. He'd
take $195 for the
motor and tranny. The rest of the stuff he was not really
interested in.
After some haggling back and forth, he told me to take the
whole car, and
take the parts off on my time, he needed the space. Last
Saturday, I went
to go get it. After I got it loaded on the trailer, the
guy at the
scrapyard yelled "hey, don't forget the rest of the junk"
and led me around
to corner. He gave me the windscreen frame, the doors, the
bumpers, luggage
rack, and two boxes of misc. parts and pieces. The doors
are like new, no
rust except a very little surface, the chrome is straight
and really in
decent shape. I took my "treasures" home and started
cleaning out the
trash. To my surprise, the floor pans are solid; I found
the original jack,
ratchet, gauges, and even the "push" type grease gun. The
title says this
car has only 16,000 original miles. The speedo agrees. I
think it's true,
because the engine compartment is original down to the Lucas
coil (old
logo), Lucas fuses, and radiator! The washer bottle even
still has fluid in
it. Now here is my dilemma. I (now) think this car is
quite restorable.
And is fairly complete. It will take somebody with bodywork
experience and
a whole lot of TLC. The sills will need replacing, as well
as the back
fenders. The front fenders although rusty (all the paint on
this car was
stripped off at some point and let set outside) appear to be
mostly solid.
The interior is pretty much gone as it sat outside, piled
with trash,
although some of the carpet is useable. I really don't
have the time to do
it and I have two other projects in the works. Now here is
where the
dilemma comes in. I know I could make some money for my
spit projects by
parting it out, I'm sure there are people out there wanting
original parts
that I now have. But if this is in fact restorable, I
would much rather
see it on the road someday, than parted out. My wife says
I have a soft
heart (and head) for Triumphs. Perhaps she's right. What
should I do?
Part it out? Sell it to someone else who has time to
restore it now? Tarp
it and "get to it someday" myself? I'm afraid that if I
leave it set for
years, what is good now won't be good then. I plan to
change the fluids and
run the engine this weekend. It's not stuck and looks
really good through
the oil filler cap, still coated. I'm positive I'll get it
running. Any
thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.
Bill Miller
65 TR4 CT32080L
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