Hi Paul,
If you're replacing as much as you've listed, there's a significant amount
of cutting and welding to be done. Once some of the sections have been
opened up, its not unusual to find surprise pockets of rust inside the
cavities that'll require some creative "cut-n-paste". While your baby is a
TR and mine's a Spitter, I'm undertaking basically the same list of panel
replacement you are- if you take a look at the restoration section of my
website, you can get an idea of the scope of what you're tackling and how
much welding is involved. Some other considerations- there's a lot of
"door-off,door-on" required even with good bracing to ensure good alignment
when you replace the sills, rocker and inner strengthener (if a TR3 has 'em
like a Spitter). If you want to take the extra steps of priming, painting,
seam-sealing, etc of the various cavities and panels as the tub is built
back up- that takes a while too. Then there's all those pesky spot welds to
drill out just to take the sections apart... Add it together and that'll be
verrrrry spendy at a body shop. Renting or buying a welder and ancillary
equipment (helmet, gloves, clamps, wire, gas, grinding wheels, rewiring your
garage- man, did I do all that?) might be the way to go with the extent of
replacement- especially if you have a patient friend who's an expert to
advise and assist. Besides, after you finish this project and "the bug"
bites you again- you'll be all set! *grin*
"Any drive you don't return from on a tow truck was a good one..."
Jon
'77 (mostly) 1500 "Ol' Yeller"
FM66043 7U
Nass #104 VTR #14429
www.yankeespitfire.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Paul Dorsey
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 7:58 PM
To: triu autox
Subject: welder dilemna
Hi,
I'm getting ready to do a frame-off restoration of my '60 TR3A. I have a
nice
solid car to work on with minimum rust. Those peices requiring replacement
include only the:
battery box
both inner and outer sills/rocker panels
both left and right floorboards and
both left and right outside footwells
I have a good friend who is an expert mig welder who lacks equipment but
says
he'll help. I've bought and looked at Roger Williams "How to restore a
TR3".
I've studied the pictures on bracing of the "door apertures" that he
suggests,
but now I wonder how much welding will be actually be required on my car?
If
none other than the bracing, then it would be easier to take the stuff to a
welding shop than have to rent the equipment from a welding rental center.
What do people suggest?
Have I not read my book enough?
Thanks, Paul
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