Having recently finished my 64 Spitfire restoration and at the same
time starting on the restoration of a 51 Dodge 1/2 I have a couple of
observations to make.
While doing the spitfire restoration the documentation I had to work
with when I first started in 1987 was marginal at best. I didn't have the
parts catalog, I didn't know about or have one of VB's catalogs at that
time. All I could get my hands on was Clymer's "Triumph Spitfire
Owners Handbook for Mk1,2,3". Between this book and photos that I
would take of every spitfire I came across I was able to get started on
the car. This particular spitfire did not have much on it when I bought
it other than the doors, bonnet and seat. No interior and very little
original parts left in the engine compartment. Then around 1990 or so
I came across VB's catalog and the exploded view diagrams made a
world of difference in my abilities to makes sense of all the parts and
pieces that I had collected over the years. Considering the time span
that I spent working on this car and about an 8 year hiatus in between
start and finish when I didn't work on it at all the exploded diagrams
made all the difference in the world. I've come to rely on them for just
about anything I do to the car now.
For the 51 Dodge truck I have the shop manual and an original copy of
the truck parts list. Neither of these books has much in the way of
exploded diagrams. Considering this truck has a lot more parts on it
than my spitfire did I've found it very difficult at times to make sense
of the parts that I have in hand. Fortunately I had taken literally
hundreds of pictures while I was tearing the truck apart. Without
these pictures it would be an even much harder task than it is now.
Suffice it to say, I hadn't realized just how well we had it made in the
Triumph world when it comes to documentation and parts availablity.
Getting new reproduction or NOS replacement parts for my truck is not
all that easy compared to the Triumphs. Fortunately I've found two
sources for parts that will probably get me through the restoration but
sometimes its a chore to try and find the correct part.
The sad part of this whole thing is the Dodge truck was made right
here in America where you would think there would be a strong
interest in these vehicles.
So I guess my hat is off to places like TRF, Moss, VB, BMIHT and all
the other parts houses that help us with our LBC's. Maybe someday
that will happen with American made iron also.
Sorry for the long winded and boring note, I just had to get this off
my chest.
"Taxation WITH representation isn't so hot, either!"
Brad (Lincoln Nebraska 402-464-1502)
1964 Spitfire4 BFC25720L (In "Teething" Mode right now)
1966 TR4A CT72398L (Waiting for garage space to start teardown)
1951 Dodge Truck 82217766 B-3-B-108 (Sheet metal going to body shop now)
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