[TR] Originality issues

[Chris Simo]

My 2 cents -

I upgrade my TR4 as much as I want - but not to the point in not being
able to return to originality one day. It started as reliability
improvements and blossomed from there.

I'm not hammering a fender to make a carb fit or cutting and welding
the frame.  I clean, tag and bag all removed parts and have them in a
big plastic tote for posterity.  Transmission and driveshaft are in a
wooden box.

So far the parts I've upgraded - generator to gm alternator; Neg
ground;  radio and bracket (made new bracket to fit DIN style radio);
electric fuel pump; horn relay; electronic distributor; electric fan;
Toyota transmission; alloy valve cover; modern oil filter; weber
single barrel carburetors (not fully sorted at this time); cam; wood
dashboard. front and rear sway bars; stainless exhaust; dual cigarette
lighters under the dash; rear occasional seat is now a speaker box.
I'm sure I've missed something.....

Only a few holes were drilled in the car to accommodate these upgrades
- I made aluminum brackets that bolt on to existing fasteners for most
electrical mods.  It looks pretty good (to me) and is all reversible
without  much bodywork. (a few screw holes in the dash and a couple
for the sway bars).

My TR2 - right now it's pretty darn original and pretty much rust
free.  Until I get really disgusted - I think I'll keep it that way.
I do have a complete TR3 rear end and brakes -  and tr3 disc brakes on
mounted on spindles waiting in the wings for that day......  I snapped
an axle doing a burn out on high school graduation night - not much of
a burnout it turns out..... I ended up machining and heat treating one
myself - so I'm a bit leery of what is currently in that rear axle. I
want to pull it out and see just how bad it looks - but I'm too happy
driving the little wreck at this time.

Chris