ewcorco@erenj.com writes >
> Greetings - my name is Ned Corcoran and I'm new to the group. I just
> purchased a 1971 TR6
> I don't know an awful lot about Triumphs though that certainly didn't stop
> the people who designed the wiring scheme for this car, from what I can
> tell upon first examination. The electrical system (along with the carbs)
> seems to be the what I need to tackle first. Also, determining what is and
> isn't original and what's missing is a bit of a problem since the car's had
> two previous owners.
Start checking the wiring color codes against the map in the shop manual
to see how much is original Lucas code. My Midget had some hacks on it,
but the wiring was all original. The map in the Bentley's reprint of the
factory manual was quite good. Therefore, I had little trouble tracing
problems. Except for an intermittent horn, I had no real problems with
the Lucas wiring.
Now the Midget is history (totaled on a test drive by the guy who was
buying from the guy to whom I sold it) and I have a Lotus Europa. Any
resemblance of the wiring system to the map in the Lotus manual was purely
accidental. A PO (SOL-speak for "previous owner) who worked for a
satellite company in Hawaii had rewired it using enough wire for a small
town. Everything was so convoluted, I finally just yanked all of it out
and rewired the car on my own. I didn't have to buy any wire. In fact, I
now have a big box full of wire that I salvaged from the car.
> 1) Is an external oil feed kit and/or an external oil cooler a good
idea?
Yes, but I wouldn't expect it to be essential.
> 2) The small, red "IGN" light in the lower part of the tach stays on
> whenever any of the lights are on - any ideas where to start to fix this
> indicator?
I have a red light like this on the Europa. Some of them were
oil-pressure lights and some of them were "IGN" lights. Damned if I can
tell which mine was or how to hook it up. I gave up for now and just left
it out. The oil pressure gauge works.
> 4) The carbs (dual Strombergs)......help!
The usual response is to get SUs or a Weber. A lot depends on the
smog-testing situation where you live. There are several people on this
list who know how to get along with Strombergs. Not me.
> I'm also a bit limited compared to what I see with the rest of the group
> in that I don't have an infinite supply of $$$,
A lot of us don't, so don't think you won't get advice suitable for
cheapskates like me.
> a tremendous amount of mechanical knowledge or ability,
I have been blessed with a certain amount of mechanical logic. I have
kicked around machine shops in the past. I am too clumsy to make a living
as a machinist, but I picked up a lot of scraps of info while I was trying
to prove otherwise.
> and access to a complete automotive shop.
There I are times I wish I had a lathe and milling machine. I have picked
up quite a selection of automotive tools in the last 23 years or so.
> I've enjoyed what I've read during the past week and have learned a lot
> already.
This list, the autocross list, and the Lotus list have saved me many
times. Also good is a Marque club. You may have already heard from Bill
Sohl of VTR (Vintage Triumph Register) via Email. You want to join. You
also want to join your local Triumph club. Bill can help you find them, I
bet. The support available in a marque club far outweighs the dues. One
expert in the field of special-interest cars (no, I don't remember who)
went so far as to write that anyone restoring a car without joining the
marque club was absolutely crazy.
> I can be reached at ewcorco@erenj.com and would love to watch
> over your shoulder if you plan on doing any work on a similar car in the
> eastern PA/central NJ area.
Better yet, get in there and help. You learn by doing. The car does not
even have to be that similar. These skills are transferable. Your marque
club members and the members of this list can help show you where your car
departs from the norm.
Welcome aboard. You will find that British-car ownership is whole way of
life.
Phil Ethier, THE RIGHT LINE, 672 Orleans St, Saint Paul, MN 55107-2676
h (612) 224-3105 w (612) 266-6244 phile@stpaul.gov
"There is nothing like a complete money-is-no-object restoration.
And this is going to be nothing like one." - Phil Ethier
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