You can get side curtain material that matches Robbins tops from TRF by the
yard. It's a nice heavy fabric. You'll probably spend at least $100 for the
fabric, and then more for the plastic windows, seals and trim. Use the remains
of the existing cover to make a pattern.
I used a flea market purchased sewing machine to make my first set, but coughed
up a couple of hundred dollars for an old industrial sewing machine for the
second set I made. If you don't mind spending the time, you can do the stitching
using a sewing awl, available at most sewing/crafts stores or from Eastwood.
You'll also need to clean and paint the frames, and weld them if they're cracked
or rusted out, something that seems to be common.
There are a few advantages to this approach:
1) You'll get it done quicker than TRF
2) You'll spend a couple hundred dollars less.
3) You'll save even more if you need to do it again.
The disadvantage is that your first time will seem to take forever, and if
you're like me, you may not be happy with how it looks at first. Don't get too
hung up on matching how they were originally done. I made the top frame cover
completely separate from the bottom part and stitched them together at the front
and back edge. It made it much easier. You can see my curtains on my web site at
http://www.merlingroupinc.com/tr3.htm
Check under Mechanical and Trim.
"Hansen, Hans C, III (Red), GLSVC" wrote:
> Folks --
>
> I have recently acquired a 1958 TR3A, TS41439L. I got it on eBay, the car
> being delivered earlier this week. I am very pleased with what I bought,
> even though it doesn't start right now. The most important factor is that my
> wife ("The Treasurer") likes the car. It should start once this cold weather
> breaks and I have more time to work on it. After all, the previous owner
> drove it all summer and fall and drove it onto the car carrier. The car
> spent two and half weeks and over 5000 miles enroute to my home.
>
> But I digress. The side curtains are toast, one with white fabric and the
> other with none at all. I'm interested in your opinions on how to re-build
> these in black. I know TRF can do it for about $450 and several months'
> time. New ones cost $500, $300 on sale. Does anyone have directions on how I
> can re-build the side curtains; what material to buy and where to get it;
> how to stitch the fabric, etc.? Or do you know of anyone who does this in a
> reasonable amount of time at a more-than-reasonable cost?
>
> Okay, okay, I'll explain what happens when I try to start it. I thought it
> might have been the cold weather (it was -5 degrees F this morning in
> Connecticut). The battery is a new (6 months) Die Hard. The choke linkage
> was disconnected. The PO said he never needed to use the choke in Oklahoma.
> Because it was late and all the stores were closed, I used wire to replace
> the missing clevis pins in the linkages. Still no start. There is a strong
> smell of gas and some is slowly dripping from the rear carburetor. I haven't
> checked to see if I'm getting a spark yet, that's my next step. Any other
> ideas?
> TIA,
> Red Hansen
> '58 TR3A - TS41439
> '74 TR6 - CF13994
--
George Richardson
The Wyvern - '57 Triumph TR3, TS15559L - http://www.merlingroupinc.com/tr3.htm
The Hippogrif - '71 Triumph Stag MKI, LE8176E - soon to get a site of it's own
Kitty - '83 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas - Daily Driver (when running)
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