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Triumph TR6 - Things I learned while restoring my TR6

1 You will not remember where those wires go no matter how obvious it seems right now.

2 Buy plenty of ziplock baggies for hardware and small parts. Label the bags and date them...sometimes chronological order helps.

3 Take photos...you will not remember.

4 Listen to that nagging voice in your head...it's right.

5 Where will that screwdriver go when it slips...hopefully just into your flesh.

6 Windshields take two people to install

7 Electrical grounds are our friends and can never be too clean

8 Don't throw anything away until the car is done.

9 Install new underdash heater hoses while the dash is apart...thanks Skikir

10 If it doesn't need Loc-Tite, it needs anti-seize

11 Think to yourself before each step: "what's the worst thing that could happen as a result of this action"

12 A disassembled car takes up four times the space of an assembled car

13 When you think you are finished sanding you are exactly half way.

14 Paint hides nothing

15 Small parts and hardware are easily left in pants pockets...check the laundry area occasionally for missing bits.

16 Everything you do will cost a minimum of $100

17 Your wife will eventually forgive you



R Brophy

Rob,

excellent truismssss

especially (for me anyways) #10, &11. A reasonable wound will heal, but a damaged part hurts the wallet. Also I think 12 might be a little on the conservative side, especially if you did some rebuilding of sub assemblies and then boxed them for storage, or ordered new parts BEFORE the start of the rebuild.

How about, the item that worked purfectly last year when you removed it, now magically decides not to work when you re-install it, and the one that didnt before, now does, especially if you bought a new one.

And, you got the zip lock bags, were carefull to label the items, but now the label is smudged due to some solvent, or the label is perfectly legable, but makes no dam sense at all (been there, have the T shirt)

KJ
Ken Jackson

Don't forget the one step foward, 2 step back concept. Put a piece on and off 3 to 4 times is so much fun. Especially when you strip the threads and then buy more new parts. By the way, to go around the wife thing is to just buy the part without her knowing, she'll be angry for only a couple weeks but, she will eventually forgive you. If you ask, you'll never get the parts you've dreamed of.
Regards,
Benji
71 tr6
PS: don't tell my wife that I wrote this...
Benji

Rob & Ken, might I add that my Spreadsheet with ALL expenses, chronologically listed by major assembly really has helped to organize the new parts and those which needed rebuilding and what's left to buy. It also helps to recall whether I intended to disassemble and replace at the component level or assembly level. It may even aid in the order of reassembly, whenever I get to that point. Oh and I almost forgot, remember to have a large Ziplock bag or box labeled Miscellaneous or "what the hell is this (these) thing(s) and where does it(they) go??"

A listing of what needs Locktite and what needs Antiseize would certainly be helpful. I'm sure that Rick Crawford would add such to the next iteration of the TR-6 cd. There will be another edition, won't there Rick?

db
Doug Baker

Benji
I hear ya, just this very moment a cry came from the wife
in the next room over,what this charge from BAS of
a $120.00 for ( dammn internet banking ).
cheers,
Malcolm
M Macdonald

Malcom,
Been there, done that!! You see, the trick is to have a "moma don't know about" account nice and handy. Make sure you pay with money orders or cashier's checks so that it can't be easily traced! This should be on R Brohpy's "Things I learned while restoring my TR6" list.
C-yah in my tail wind baby...
Benji
71 tr6
Benji

Hey Guys,

I learned about the alternate "Triumph account" when I built my other Triumph. A dedicated "hobby" credit card might be a good idea too.

Perhaps #18 should be "it is easier to seek forgiveness than permission"?

And Doug, there is no way I would keep a spreadsheet of all my TR6 expenses...what if SHE found it? :-) Good idea for the parts and rebuild info! Can't say I've had much computer time lately...all of my spare time has been putting this car together.

Rob
R Brophy

Broph:

I heard that! Benji - get the girlfriend to order the parts - live dangerously!

Bob
1976-TR6
Bob Evans

R.Brophy, # 13-14 just killed me. Having done all the weeks of sanding, filling, sanding, wet sanding I know.
And I still haven't done the colour sanding!

Guys, don't want to sound like a red neck from the last century, but, who earns most of the money in your house hold? If it is you then you are entitled some good stuff before you shuffle off this mortal coil. Life is very short, A TR6 is not that much to ask for. Is it?
Chris
Christopher T.

Doug
Slowly 2.0 is being worked on.
It will be a self install version to boot.
My big problem is getting stuff of the net with the pictures still there. Can not go to VTR anymore for stuff.

"11 Think to yourself before each step: "what's the worst thing that could happen as a result of this action"

Forgetting to install something else first then having to remove what you just did so as to install the forgotten item.

Rick C

Rick Crawford

Rick C....
To keep going on your 'off-topic' bit about 2.0, a friend digitally recorded a bit about the TR6, on speed channel (?) and I will send you a disc when he burns me a copy. Said he would, but you know how those Healey guys are!

Rod
Rod Nichols

after so many years I just (l)earned #17
skikir

Guys,
I have a separate LBC account...but only last night when the monthly drain was being executed, I was reminded that it all comes from the same source, however it's spent!

Rick,
I may have some of the VTR articles. Let me know for which ones you're lacking photos.
db
Doug Baker

I think my wife is either afraid enough or wise enough not to ask. She knows that the engine is being rebuilt right now and is okay with that, but she hasn't asked what I really think its going to cost. Thats a good thing, because I don't think she would appreciate the value I'm getting. My pitch has been that since Clive is doing it and letting me help with some of the unskilled labor, it is a real bargain!

And by the way, if your wife doesn't know you spent money on your LBC, is it like the tree falling in the forest with no one around to hear it! I don't think it counts as money spent if she doesn't know.

Get a separate credit card, its the only way to go!

John
JL Bryan


Rob,

One more to add to your list:

'That wrench you just put down will be gone when your hand fumbles around to find it while you're holding a part in place with your other hand and you're twisted around like a pretzel.'





HP Henry Patterson

Good one Henry,

How 'bout:

Objects fall at 9.8 m/s2, but that velocity can be safely doubled if the item is aimed at fresh paint. (Don't ask)

All 10mm and 12mm sockets will eventually evolve into 11mm sockets.

The strongest glue in the world is rust.

Rob...off to install two upper ball joints to finally pass his safety inspection.
Rob Brophy

To all on this thread,
It' so funny to see all of you go through the same trials and tribulations that I've done in the past 5 years. Here in the Seattle Washington area, there's not a lot of Triumph tr6 people to communicate with.
I'm glad to have found a place where I can communicate with tr6 people. I'll see y'all on another thread.
benji

Having gone through it as well (well, not quite as in depth as Rob) on an MGTD, i would add a couple.
If something is held on by 6 bolts...never tighten them up fully one by one...you will always have to go back and loosen them all to get the last one in place...
If something is held on by 6 bolts... 4 will be easy to remove, in fact way too easy...the other two will take the afternoon (A TD radiator for one....)
Great job Rob....
Rob Brophy

Oops, sorry guys.

The note above came from my buddy Gordon (MG-TD). I sent him a link to this thread and I guess he got logged in as me. D'oh!
Rob Brophy

Bemji
"Here in the Seattle Washington area, there's not a lot of Triumph tr6 people to communicate with."

I happen to know 2 fine gentlemen out there in Rain land that I have had the pleasure of meeting, seeing both their TR6s, and yaking over a wabbly pop.Both of them have been heard of on this BBS.

Oh ya ....interesting personal address:)
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Bemji-Not many TR6 people in the Seattle area? Try contacting the local Triumph club-www.tyeetriumph.org/
You will find more TR6s' than you can shake a tow rope at.
Berry price
BTP Price

#25: That children can pick up new languages way too quickly and then inform their mother of their new vocabulary

bob
Bob Craske

HP Henry Patterson

'That wrench you just put down will' ... be gone when come back from the last "test run."
skikir

This thread was discussed between 28/09/2005 and 03/10/2005

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