Work Continues, Albeit Slowly...

No pictures of further work at this point, but suffice it to say that after many hours of pounding by my friend Jim Croce, the fender is salvageable. I did cut out about a 5" x 6" area that was both too wrinkled and too rusty to save...it was apparent that the folks that preceded us merely beat the fender in and sculpted with body filler rather than actually doing bodywork. So, I've made the cardboard template and the next step is to cut the sheetmetal patch and weld into place.

I'm also on the lookout for another 2000/2500/2.5 to give me something to drive in the meantime...must be running or very close to running, but rest of condition and location are relatively unimportant. It would be nice to have a 4 spd or 4spd+od, but I'd buy an automatic if the car was right. Again, it doesn't have to be pristine, just be running or close to it.

Ally is REALLY looking forward to having her car (the Estate) on the road.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying driving the new TR6 (see pictures) and the Spitfire (see pictures). Thank you all for the continued messages of support and love.

Jamie

Pictures of current status

After grinding away the paint over bondo over paint last night, I decided to post some pictures of the current status of the project.

• All the items in the car are parts for the car
• All the boxes on the roof, hood (bonnet) and windshield are empty boxes for shipping the Triumph parts I'm selling weekly on eBay (here's a link to my current auctions)
• I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the damaged front fender. I have several friends that are better with sheetmetal than I am, I will be asking them to take a look before I decide what to do. Chris Witor has new front fenders, but at 195 pounds plus shipping from the UK, I'm looking for a more affordable alternative...
• The post-it notes on the rear window are the working plan for the restoration...i.e. what I need to do next!
• The weird looking thing stuck to the back of the car is the neatest trouble light I've ever seen. Comes with a magnetic back, a separate flex-head spotlight AND a built in magnetic tray courtesy of Black & Decker.

Anyway, here are the pictures:

Before I started grinding...

And after....

You can the problems best in this last picture:

So, now you know where the project stands. PLEASE write a comment or drop me a line at

tr6driver@yahoo.com I'd love to hear from you!

The project begins again...

For the few of you that are following this blog, I wanted to let you know that Ally and I are doing OK, and that last night I resumed work on the Estate. After taking off a LOT of paint and body filler from the left front fender, I am left wondering whether or not I should just replace the fender or not. They aren't priced too badly, but shipping from England is incredibly high.

I have a couple of friends that are much better at bodywork than I am, so I'll get a second opinion before doing anything rash. UNLESS SOMEONE OUT THERE ON THIS SIDE OF THE POND HAS A LEFT FRONT FENDER SITTING THERE FOR SALE!!! (hint, hint!)

Anyway, thanks to those who have provided emotional support during this time. You know who you are and we love every one of you... :-)

Jamie

Loss and Sadness

I've lost the most wonderful woman in the world. My wife, Cheri, unexpectedly collapsed April 29 and died May 8 without regaining consciousness. There probably won't be any posts for a while as Ally and I find our footings.

12 days before her collapse, Cheri bought me a Spitfire for my birthday...she remarked how I hadn't seemed myself since I sold my yellow one to fund this Estate project. I therefore am including a picture of Ally in the Spitfire (taken the day I brought it home) and my favorite picture of Cheri and Ally.

Update

It's hard to believe I haven't updated the blog since December. I'd LIKE to say that much has been accomplished, but that hasn't been true...at least on the car. Home maintenance and repair, job, and time with Ally have taken their toll on car work time. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and some progress has been made.

No new pictures of them, but the nose cone and front valence have been bead blasted and are awaiting coating with Eastwood products for rustproofing and prevention. A few more parts have been sourced also:

• a nice nose cone badge finding it's way across the ocean courtesy of eBay


• a second set of wood pieces so that I can try refinishing them myself (eBay)


• a center console without the speaker hole but with that cool Triumph script (eBay)


• much better condition Stag brake rotors (eBay)


• and finally, something really cool, adjustable camber/caster plates from Australia (KMac, off of eBay)

Once the TCOC Gathering is finished (April 18-20) I hope to be starting on the car again. Maybe next time I post I'll have real progress to show....

And if you're reading this before 10 PM EST on April 10 and you're in the triangle area, be sure and tune in to WPTF am 680 from 10-11 pm and you'll hear Paul Morro and myself talking about British cars on the Tom Kearney show!