I'm Not Using a Sawzall Anymore!

For a long time, it seemed that the last tool I used on the car was always a "sawzall" (a power reciprocating saw if you aren't familiar with the term). Now, it's starting to go back together. I haven't touched the car in December (and probably won't until January), but wanted to post some pictures of where we are. I had to visit Harbor Freight tools to get enough vice grips to hold the front end together to take these shots. I fabricated the silver pieces using 2X4's in a vice and plain sheetmetal...basically they were to fill up the space between the other two pieces. Thankfully, they will be behind the grille! But at least it looks like they fit OK. Here's some closeups as well. You'll see I still have some beating and pounding to do, especially on the ends of the brown nosecone part. I think I'll have to tack the top edge first and then alternate persuading with tacking as I go around.

Another one for sale & more bodywork progress

Here's another chance to join me in my madness...there's another sedan for sale on eBay. It may not have as solid bodywork as the last one I posted did, but it sounds much better mechanically. I wonder why they took it off the road?

BTW, while I'm thinking about it, if anyone out there has a really nice trim piece for the fake hood scoop I'm interested. The one I have is quite pitted, but I'm not sure I'm willing to shell out $100 or more for the reproduction ones that appear from time to time on eBay.

If you're interested in the sedan, here' s the link to check the auction out:

<http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Triumph-2000-1966-Triumph-2000_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6469QQihZ018QQitemZ280154285660QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW>

As far as Chrissy (my car) goes, right now the nose, lower valence and two new panels I fabricated for between them are being held on by vice grips. I had to make a trip to Harbor Freight tools to get enough...but it's nice to see the car starting to look complete again. There is still some shaping work to do to make sure all the panels lineup but I hope to get to some of that this weekend. Once all trimming and tapping is done, I'll take the panels off one more time, protect everything I can with paint, reposition them back and start welding. That should take some time and I'll definitely need some help with holding part of the nose in the right place. I'm also going to be welding up the holes for the original nose badge as it won't be reinstalled. I've never really cared for it, and as the "TRIUMPH" letters will still be there I think that's ornamentation enough for now.

Reconstruction at Last!

Finally! After many nights of pounding, copious applications of sanding, elbow grease and POR-15, as well as my humble attempts at welding, the "under the nosecone" section of the Estate was finished today. It's a terrific feeling to be putting the car back together instead of deconstructing. Now, on to the side panels just below and to the outsides of the center portion. I'll have to temporarily position the nosecone, lower valence and grille to get the spacing right for the paper patterns.

No, the welding is nothing pretty, but it is strong. I wanted to make sure that if the car was ever in an accident again, the front would hold up at least as well as it did when it was new. I'll be carrying my wife and daughter with me and I can't imagine more precious cargo.

You can see from this closeup shot that I actually ended up replacing the entire corner of the piece. What you can't see is that both the front and side edges are formed under to create a flange for other parts to weld to. The front flange was OK...the side flange didn't exist...so I measured the other side carefully (assuming IT was right...) and tried my best to match up with it. We'll see how the nosecone fits. Just laying it up there this afternoon it looked pretty good, but once I clamp things into place I'll know for sure. That's it for this installment; more soon I hope!

OH, what a deal....

I'm probably lucky this isn't in North Carolina...a RUST-FREE saloon just surfaced on eBay. At this point it's $300 no reserve. AAARRRGGGHHH!



Here's the link. Good luck to someone living near Oregon...

<http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-Triumph-2000-Saloon-Rust-Free-Complete_W0QQitemZ150146351634QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150146351634>

Having visited the hospital this week as a patient, I have no other news to report. I'm feeling fine now so hopefully there will be more progress this week... :-)





Jamie

Back to work with rusty metal...

I'm getting used to seeing old rusty metal at night. Here's to getting rid of it one way or another!

It's been a while since my last update. Here's some of the parts purchases:

A NOS front lower valence...I just LOVE the old Stanpart label. Don't know if I can save it but I'll try...

A NOS front nosecone. Nice eBay seller packaged this really well from England.

A set of 7X15 wheels. Yeah, they're LOUD, but the color ought to work well with the cream paint and red interior. Thank heaven for the upsurge in AE86 Toyota drifters that have the same bolt circle and offset as TR's.... :-)

So, where we last left the project I had to attack the nose. First, one half came off:

Which was enough to expose that there was a lot more work to be done. Then, the other half came off. That's the new nosecone below:

Unfortunately, I'll be creating some panels myself using the old cardboard and transfer method. You can see why here:

Yes, there's actually supposed to be sheetmetal there. Oooops. I only wish that the "craftsman" that did the previous work actually was one.

I'll try to update sooner. Maybe by the next post I'll be attaching rather than detaching!

Jamie