->Last weekend while doing some rear suspension work on my recently acquired
->TR4A IRS, I made a depressing discovery. The frame appears to made up of two
->donor frames welded together!
-> 1) Forget about it. I have been driving it and didn't note any odd
-> behavior etc... so it must be ok.
->
-> 2) Reinforce the welds with plates welded to the sides of the frame
-> members around the welds.
->
-> 3) Junk this frame and try to find another.
->
I found that my TR-6 had been done the same way, but just about
at the firewall. I've left it alone for 5 years now, and raced on it
rather heavily. the engine I had until last week dyno'd out to about
185hp, and I've seen no effect on the frame welds. The frame is now slightly
twisted front to back (about 0.30 inches no less) from the hp but is
otherwise solid. The person who did mine cut the two frames as 'U's set
at 90 deg, fitted it together, and welded it. So I went with your option 1
with no problems.
I'd skip option 2 unless you think you've got a problem. Go with
option 1 and check it periodically. Option 3 is very expensive and
overkill to say the least. Not to mention more work than you really want to do.
But if you'd said something last Monday or Tuesday, I'd have been glad to sell
you a TR-6 frame for, say, $1800....I'd even have tossed in a 5 cyl TR-6
engine at no extra charge. :-}
If you're worried about straight, take it to a frame shop and have it
checked out. Mine turned out to be better than factory tolerances.
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