For the past few years, I have puttered away on my TR 3 (small mouth '56) to
the point where I have now completely disassembled it (with copious notes,
labels, photos, and videos). I am looking for advice as to the steps/timing
for the rebuild.....as I disassembled, I cleaned, blasted, rebuilt, painted,
and labelled etc....so I have boxes of components that are OK and ready to
go, as well as a number of new parts). My goal is not concours, but a
driveable TR that is close to original.
I have done body & mechanicals etc. on a TR 6 (which I will sell soon to pay
for TR 3 parts and work) but I have not started from scratch before....what
comes first?
a) I plan to have the frame stripped and then do some welding to repair old
collision damage that a DPO did poorly....do I powder coat....or paint?
b) My next goal would be to rebuild the suspension....new springs? or
repaint the old?...what bushings etc. for the front?
c) I have rebuilt a Ford engine before and intend to rebuild the engine for
the 3....at what point should I do that? Is it worth it to take it to a
local specialist and just provide the parts?
d) The body needs some work on the front end...particularly the inner
fenders/wings..... blast it clean...or chemical dip? ...... find and weld
new inners or pick and file until they're presentable? (DPO 'hammered them
back into approximate form then bolted on the outers).....will also weld in
new floor pans and sills.
e) The tranny & OD...should I rebuild, put a kit in, or clean it thoroughly
and hope....? do not know when it/they last worked.....(this truly was
purchased out of a barn......shed really.)
Any other advice on useful procedures or resources for any/all of the
rebuild will be gratefully received.
David J.R. Williams
Director,
Curriculum Branch
Ministry of Education
PO Box 9152 Stn. Prov. Govt
Victoria B.C.
V8W 9H1
Ph: (250) 356-2308
Fx: (250) 356-2316
e-mail (work) : David.Williams@gems7.gov.bc.ca
e-mail (home) : djrwilliams@home.com
web: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/
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