I
>
>
>I would like to make this less frivolous. We have a '52 TD that has been
>in my wife's family since the late '60's. It is in need of a complete
>restoration and I got the car about 4+ years ago with that in mind. We
>need to replace all coach work, and a number of other things that,
>combined, are really beyond my (limited) abilities and even more limited
>time.
>
>I am not looking for pointers to places that can restore a TD to good
>running condition. I live near Hartford, CT and would be interested in
>knowing of places that could do the job and the approximate cost. (I've
>put about $1500 into spares, including most of the oak). We are not
>interesetd in a show car, but rather someting to have fun with and to
>drive.
>
>Can anyone give me some pointers to places in the Connecticut area that do
>good work on TDs and might even understand the balance between purity and
>convenience I'm trying to achieve? They would have to be able to come and
>get the pieces, since I do have the thing (mostly) torn apart, albeit on
>its wheels.
>
>TIA
>
> --Bill Singleton
>
>William L. Singleton | singleton@ccsu.ctstateu.edu
>Director of Information Services | 860-832-1719
>Central Connecticut State University | This space for rent
>"If anyone objects to what I say I am not only prepared to retract it but
>to deny under oath that I ever said it." T. Lerher
>
>
>Its hard to reply as to reasonable costs. The fact that you need to replace
>all
the coach work really raises the dollars. Are you sure the body can`t be saved?
A new body can be bought for many thousands from Moss and other suppliers.
Being
the wonderful hand-crafted cars the T`s were, means that even a new body must
be
worked and fitted as each car is unique. Add that labor to body work on the old
fenders, runningboards, gas tank, etc., cost of a fair paint job, and you are
beyond the price of a new Neon. You haven`t spent a nickel on mechanics. If
everything has to be rebuilt, engine, trans, brakes, instruments, you just
bought another Neon. The cost between a show car and a runner gets blurred . A
runner is a functional car that was repaired or preserved many years ago not a
car that is built up from pieces.
I hate to discourage you and suggest you restore the car on a five year plan.
Look at what you have. Have someone from a body shop look at the body fenders
etc. and give you advise and prices. Begin to do the chassis yourself. Work the
right side using the left side as a guide. After that do the left. You can do
brakes, suspension, etc. I did my TC this way over 18 months and I am not a
good
mechanic. If the engine needs rebuilding fiqure 3 to 6 thousand. Trans $1500 to
$2000. The rebuild of the engine and trans needs mechanical skills and
experience.
You should join the New England MGT Register. You can`t restore without their
guide books and each issue of their magazine "the Sacred Octagon" displays
business cards of local T type specialist. Their are at least four in the Conn.
area that I know of.
I believe in the" Leckstein rule of 3" It will cost three times as much as you
originally thought. It will take three times as long to fix as you are told.
With me, to do a one hour job, one hour is spent doing it, one hour is spent
trying to fiqure out why it still doesn`t work, and one hour doing it again.
Please E mail me and I will give you information on joining the Register and
the
names of Conn. area T restorers.
Mike Leckstein
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