Bud,
Good luck and enjoy the fun. TR4s are the best
Brian Sanborn
62 TR4 CT16260L - Groton, MA
sanborn@net1plus.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Bud Rolofson <Bud_Rolofson@nps.gov>
To: triumphs@autox.team.net <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Date: Thursday, April 01, 1999 3:20 PM
Subject: TR4A New Project
>
>Well fellow listers I've taken the plunge once more.
>
>I came across a deal for a 1967 TR4A last week and decided I would buy
>it yesterday. It was crunched in the front end ten years ago by the
>PO's daughter and has been sitting carefully covered up every since.
>The frame, grille, upper and lower valences, radiator, front fenders,
>inner fenders, wheel arches, are all crunched and beyond repair. The PO
>is the original owner and has two other TR4As that he's restored so he's
>a dyed-in-the-wool 4A guy.
>
>For $1200 he's selling me the complete 67 TR4A, (that is in great shape
>(body panels are solid) from the engine back), another 4A tub with a
>rust free front clip, 4 fenders, a good straight bonnet, a replacement
>grille, a replacement front bumper, replacement front suspension parts
>(that he acquired for the crunched ones), a replacement radiator, and a
>replacement solid/straight 4A frame that is already stripped down and
>ready for blasting and painting. It has the original A-type overdrive
>too. Basically the price includes ALL the parts to make the car whole
>again. The engine is a question mark (obviously ran good enough to get
>in an accident) but it turns and he said he changed the oil religiously
>and maintained the car with all the TLC that Triumphs need. It really
>was his baby for 20 years so he's interested in seeing me get it rolling
>again.
>
>Since I'm going to take it off the bent frame and put it back together
>on the straight frame it seems like a no-brainer to do a frame-up. What
>do you think guys? I'm thinking it's a much better project (cheaper and
>faster, better result) than making my rust bucket TR6 into a TR256 like
>I'd been thinking about.
>
>I'd appreciate any general or specific advice on how I should proceed
>with the restoration given the situation. I want to do it right and I'm
>in no hurry since I've got my good TR6 to drive. That, along with the
>fact that I don't have big chunks of money to throw at it all at once.
>I'm going to do most of it myself, cause that's part of the fun, and
>farm out as little as possible (famous last words right??). What were
>those restoration books someone recommended?
>
>I've gleaned some ideas from past messages on restoration projects but
>would love to hear any strategies on a plan of attack that you might
>like to share. Successes, failures, wish I'd done it this way
>comments???
>
>I guess I'll get the straight frame first and check it for any spots
>that might need a little welding. I plan to add gussets to reinforce
>the front suspension and the differential mounts and maybe stiffen the
>frame in a couple places (I'm not going to race it or show it so those
>criteria won't limit decisions on improving driveablility, safety,
>handling, etc.. Then it's on to blasting and powder coating.
>
>This is going to be fun, I'm stoked. And to think 9 months ago I didn't
>own ONE Triumph....gulp.
>
>Bud
>71TR6 CC57365
>71TR6 CC65446
>67TR4A CTC57806
>
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