[Fot] Recently Nominated to Join FOT

[A Daniel Cronin]

8/20
  List Members
  Back in early August Bill Sohl was kind enough to nominate me for membership in the FOT and it was in turn seconded by Doug Mitchell---thank you Doug!
  Bill suggested that perhaps I could write a short "bio" on my background with Triumphs, so here goes.
   
     My initial exposure to TR's began in summer of '64 while a student at Michigan State University.  A good friend (DD) had a white 55 TR2 ,(he was the fourth owner of the car which had had the motor and rear axle upgraded to TR3A components by a prior purchaser).  When he broke his ankle on a skate board and couldn't get the cast to work the clutch and brake peddles he sold TS6927L to me (5th owner) for $400.  I drove the car daily till Uncle Sam called the summer of '66 and per our original deal, I offered it back to DD (6th owner) for the same $$ as I had purchased it for. 
      I spent 3-1/2 years in the service of Uncle Sam, got married, etc and yearned to have a TR once more.  DD still had the car, but had filled in the wing seams, redone the red leather interior in black vinyl and painted the car BRG.  He drove it for a while then when something went wrong and had no time parked it in an outbuilding where it sat for many years.  He agreed to sell it to me once again for the original $400 deal--this in 1976.  Thus began my re-association with things Triumph.  I joined the Vintage Triumph Register (#824), The Detroit Triumph Sports car Club, the Triumph Register (England) and the TRA.  Became active in the early years of TVT as Special Projects Manager, Book Service Guy & Production Manager of TVT and eventually Vice President under Steve Rossi. 
      From 1985 to 2005 was mostly inactive in the various clubs due to work and family but did manage to keep collecting various NOS and reproduction parts to eventually rebuild the "2".  Have owned several other TR's, TS5616L, TS78310L, TCF1325L and TCF2386L over the years, but always had the restoration of that first TR2 in the back of my mind. 
      I struggled with what sort of "restoration" to undertake---Original build show car, or updated daily driver---eventually settling in 2005 with---Spirited, Updated Daily Driver---which I am now in the midst of implementing.  The list of items the car will exhibit is extensive and will make no economic sense to anyone including yours truly, but then that is not what drives us to extremes is it?
     The car will sit on a new RATCO Frame, especially modified by Tony Vigliotti to accept complete TR6 front suspension components which will be augmented with Uncle Jacks uprated stub axle kit, Toyota 4-pot calipers on EBS disks and SS braided flex lines to the new Revington TR split (front/rear) brake system components and Revington TR's rear disk brake kit (utilizing Rover 800 components) with remote Servo assist to help reduce peddle pressure inherent with four wheel disk brakes.  I plan to install a front/rear pressure control to fine tune the front/rear bias. 
      My plan at present is to retain stock TR6 front springs with Spax adjustable shocks and 3/4" front sway bar, new Utherane suspension bushings throughout.  Rear suspension will also be stock springs dampened by Apple Hydraulics 15% uprated rebuilt lever shocks, SS front spring retainer bolt and Uth. bushing with upgraded rear shackle mounting.  Diff has been rebuilt with 4:11 to 1 ring and pinion gearing mounted to a Quaife (gear type) Positrack unit enclosed by finned alloy diff. cover.
     Cooling supplied via full core aluminum radiator, alloy water pump housing with 6-blade impeller and alloy thin belt pulleys (including damper and alternator (negative ground conversion) pulleys, 12" electric fan with manual override and an oil cooler w/thermostat after spin on oil filter unit, and alloy sump with clearanced oil pump.
     Steering will be via a Revington TR Rack and Pinion conversion kit and a Mona-Lita 15" dished leather wheel, turn signals actuated via MG stalk mounted unit.  Wheels are Panasport 5.5 x 15 and will probably go with 185 x 70 series tires to stay close to original tire diameter.  Revington TR alloy front hubs and adjustable upper A arm gudgeon pins for added adjust-ability in suspension geometry.
     Motor will be TCF block with British Frame and Engine 89mm piston, tapered pins and liner kit, Cower steel billet crank (thanks Mordy) augmented by Carrillo standard length A beam rods.  Cam will be around 280 degree duration and .410 +/- lift, new push rods to alloy roller rockers supported by alloy rocker supports with new shaft and comp. springs, alloy retainers, SS valves with .50 lager intake, gas flowed head and TR4A intake manifold, exhaust is TSI ceramic coated header to standard TR2 pipes.  All rotating parts static and dynamically balanced to include Fidanza alloy flywheel, TR6 type McLoude diaphragm clutch pp and disk.  HVDA TR to Toyota 5-speed transmission conversion (trans rebuilt by ManTran) with McLeod TOB.
     Additional engine upgrades will include Craine 3000 electronic ignition and matching coil, be built re-curved distributor by John Smarna, negative ground conversion, MagnaCor 10mm ignition wires, Bosh plugs.  Alloy front engine plate and valve cover.  Electric fuel pump / filters, alloy gas tank.
     A complete Dan Masters wire harness with additional relays will be installed along with 100 w Pl700 headlights, interior courtesy lites, under hood and trunk lights, XM and Nav systems, Mazda Miata seats and individual roll bars behind each seat with three point belts.  Car will be topped off with factory steel hardtop.  Interior will be put back to original red leather / vinyl (including Miata seats!) and carpet and the exterior body and top back to white, but probably from current generation Toyota Tundra pickup which is a bit "warmer and deeper" than the old Pearl White.
     That about does it, but I know I have neglected some items as this continues to be a "work in progress".  If any of you have thoughts, suggestions or constructive criticism I am interested in hearing them.  I am hoping to be done by VTR in Detroit for 2008, but??????????
     Am also restoring a 1940 Indian four cylinder motorcycle and enjoy fly fishing in my spare time (now that I have retired and have some!).
     Thanks for your patients in reading his rather rambling tale and overlooking my mis-spellings too!
   
  Regards, Dan Cronin
   


Planning & Development Services
A. Daniel Cronin
248 761-2673