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1965 TR4A progress and restoration


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Rather than have multiple threads I thought I would merge my car and its progress into one thread. I'll have lots of questions as I progress but I hope I can start to answer a few questions as well. So, I bought this car via an online auction through Trade Classics, a little wary as I was unable to visit the car the pictures and videos displayed a very honest seller and a car that had been used but also maintained. More importantly it had also been garaged for the 36 years of ownership. The car was delivered with social distancing in place, again very odd although this will be the fourth car I've bought without viewing it first, something I would never have done 20 years ago. The car needs work but I'm aiming to keep it on the road and use it as much as possible. Next purchase will probably be the Revington setup, backlight and Surrey top. Her are a few pics in chronological order:

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My socially distant arrival, 2metres apart at all times, snow foamed and jet washed down upon arrival. Hood opened and interior inspected. Under no illusions about the amount of work required to the interior. I'm aiming to make my own dashboard, did this on my Spitfire but I've recently taken delivery of an X carve so will try using this to manufacture from hardwood. Just need to draw up the dash so if anyone has a spare dash I can borrow for measurements I would be grateful and will of course make up a new one for you as well.

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The car hadn't really been polished for a while and was looking very flat so just for fun I ran a DA polisher over her. Also rubbed down the sills as the paint had flaked off and there was quite a bit of surface rust but all solid. That's not to say that these panels will not be replaced into the future.

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The bodywork looked a lot worse in the pictures, again under no illusions about the amount of work involved here but very pleased with the lack of rust, was expecting it to be a lot worse.

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The bulkhead has a lot of surface rust around the battery and will need to be cut back, thinking about CO2 blasting, not sure yet.

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TBH it looks like a pretty good basis to start with, the dent your on about in the arch is supposed to be there and you are missing the wing beadings on top of front and rear wings. The dash you have

Jase, I know these are strange times but I also live in Bridgend and have a 1962 TR4 and would normally offer you the opportunity to come and use as a reference or just a chat. Have you cont

Having spent quite a lot of time going through the car I decided to do an essential run today and drive it for the first time and pick up some petrol, just a few shots back on the drive and my essenti

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The boot floor and interior looks solid from top to bottom and at some point had a Moss complete stainless exhaust system fitted.

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The original colour was Conifer green which I'll be taking the car back to eventually.

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It's a good opportunity to get the whole family involved so my daughter has a brush in hand and is giving the sill a good coat of paint just to protect it after what looked like a few years of no paint at all.

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The engine, suspension etc have all been well maintained, service records for every year and MOTs dating back to 76. I've just changed the basics including new leads etc. Will fit electronic ignition and the spin on oil filter once I have started to use the car.

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For a 55 year old car it's pretty good the front drivers inner wheel arch has a dent in it, I think that during the 70's it has had some sort of bump, the inner wing looks like it has been repaired badly but a simple replacement or resto will sort this out.

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So today I've spent some time painting over the rust that I sanded back having etch primed it. Just using enamel for the time being. Unfortunately the colour looks more like Brooklands green on the car so waiting for the paint chap to come back to me.

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Also fitted new cones as there weren't any on the car.

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Also decided that short term I would cover the rust in Dinitrol just to give it some protection

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Unfortunately the PO lost the keys to the car the morning of pickup, currently the car will start with any key. Fortunately he has payed for replacement locks for the doors, boot etc. Aiming to replace those this week and to fit the emergency bonnet release.

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TBH it looks like a pretty good basis to start with, the dent your on about in the arch is supposed to be there and you are missing the wing beadings on top of front and rear wings. The dash you have is an original one and could pretty easily be restored to good condition. I would be having a good luck underneath before you go worrying too much about the top side, keep with the convertible for the minute and see how you like it before going down the Surrey route when you can actually get out and use it. Looks like you have TR6 wheels too.

I buy my parts from TR Shop if thats any help as I find their prices are good and they tend to stock better quality parts than some others.

Stuart.

Edited by stuart
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Thanks Stuart, haven't tried the TR shop yet, been buying from Rimmers as I used to buy some parts from them for my Spitfire although always liked to buy from Paddocks as well. Been underneath, all solid and sound, looks like it has been constantly treated underneath having had a new chasis in 95. I've already Dinitol'd underneath as well. Having owned the smaller Triumphs for over 30 years I'm obsessed with rust :)  I like the TR6 wheels (not sure what the options were for the cars originally beside wires) they make it look wider on the road, just need to use it now.

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An aesthetic update today, decided to look at the front bumper as the over riders were in the wrong place. Sort of dreaded it as every other Triumph bumper over rider I have tackled in the past has been rusted together. You can imagine my surprise when it all came off without any trouble. Pics speak a thousand words:

 

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Number plate needs replacing but the bumper polished up really well considering I only spent 10 mins on it. May pop the DA polisher on it to see what that does. Any recommendations for a traditional number plate supplier?

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I then had a look at the back bumper which is quite pitted but a little elbow grease made a huge difference. There is no rust on the reverse of these bumpers and they are in good straight condition so will look to having these re-chromed into the future:

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As you can see the bumper is okay, the bootlid has the dreaded tin worm across the bottom although this looks very repairable and has not affected the frame behind. I'll be rubbing this down to slow down the rot.

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Finally (for today) what is the official position of the boot badge? As you can see the A is swinging from one arm at the top :) Shouldn't it be next to the 4? Thanks

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Jason 

What made you think your front overriders were in the wrong place? 4A over riders are on the outside of the headlight whereas TR4 ones are inside where you have moved yours to!  Normally you can't do it wrong as the correct bumper for the model has the holes in the right place and the bumpers for a 4 and 4A are different but only in their holes..

Having said that,  something looks a bit wrong with the original locations - they look a bit too far out, looking like they are in front of the indicators - no doubt someone will be along with a definitive photo

Cheers Rich

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Just now, rcreweread said:

Jason 

What made you think your front overriders were in the wrong place? 4A over riders are on the outside of the headlight whereas TR4 ones are inside where you have moved yours to!  Normally you can't do it wrong as the correct bumper for the model has the holes in the right place and the bumpers for a 4 and 4A are different but only in their holes..

Having said that,  something looks a bit wrong with the original locations - they look a bit too far out, looking like they are in front of the indicators - no doubt someone will be along with a definitive photo

Cheers Rich

Graham beat me to it!

Cheers Rich

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I know, it is throwing me, it is a 4A and I thought they were closer to the centre. Where they were seems to obscure the indicators. Any ideas greatly appreciated, nice and easy to move back if needed to .

 

Could they be the wrong over riders?

Edited by Jase
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As they were they were too close to the indicators? Bizarre, could it be a bumper from a TR5?

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I'll move them back, at least the bumper is now clean :) 

So looking at some TR4 pictures, I think the bumper is slightly different and I have a 4 bumper which is why my over riders are a little too close to my indicators. Not sure but that's my best guess. Shame as the bumper is superb.

Edited by Jase
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12 hours ago, Jase said:

As they were they were too close to the indicators? Bizarre, could it be a bumper from a TR5?

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I'll move them back, at least the bumper is now clean :) 

So looking at some TR4 pictures, I think the bumper is slightly different and I have a 4 bumper which is why my over riders are a little too close to my indicators. Not sure but that's my best guess. Shame as the bumper is superb.

You have a TR4 front bumper definitely. The boot script should read TR4A in one line and the IRS in another below it.

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Stuart.

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Jase,

I know these are strange times but I also live in Bridgend and have a 1962 TR4 and would normally offer you the opportunity to come and use as a reference or just a chat.

Have you contacted the South Glamorgan Group as there will be a lot of help on there. 

Speak to Spiro as he can often help with the supply of parts.

Neil

 

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1 hour ago, Ransomes256 said:

Jase,

I know these are strange times but I also live in Bridgend and have a 1962 TR4 and would normally offer you the opportunity to come and use as a reference or just a chat.

Have you contacted the South Glamorgan Group as there will be a lot of help on there. 

Speak to Spiro as he can often help with the supply of parts.

Neil

 

Thanks Neil, appreciate that. That would be useful if and when we emerge from this lockdown.

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A few more updates from today, found the original steering well tucked away in the boot, guessing it isn't th e'original' but it does have a horn push, will clean up and dig out one of my old Spitfire steering wheel push springs.

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Had a poke around in the boot, before a wash down and hoover:

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And a couple of photos after a quick wash and hoover, a little bit of surface rust, will start to clean this up and coat it in brush on to protect it over the next few weeks. Also included an image of the inside of the bootlid.

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I would make that red wire hanging down in the boot safe as thats a side light feed.

Stuart.

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Thanks Stuart, I'll take a look at that tomorrow. A few more jobs today, handles fitted to the soft top instead of a brake bleed spanner, Need to take them back off as they aren't locking in the right place but that's an easy job.

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These all arrived in an order from Rimmers this morning which also included a new ignition lock:

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This was really straightforward to change, if you haven't done one before a small scriber through the hole just depresses the lock and it pops out. Thought it would be much more difficult. I also expected the next job to be a pain but to my surprise all of the bolts just undid?? Is this a Triumph?

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Also started going through the history of the cr and I pretty much have all of the MOTs since this one and the original green log book.

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Having spent quite a lot of time going through the car I decided to do an essential run today and drive it for the first time and pick up some petrol, just a few shots back on the drive and my essential food drop off point:

 

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And wow, everything I was expecting, it does need to be tuned properly and I'll organise this once we are out of lock down. If anyone has any recommendations for the South Wales area I would be grateful. A couple of days off now as I don't want to burn to many bridges with the boss :)

 

Edited by Jase
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10 hours ago, Jase said:

Thanks Stuart, I'll take a look at that tomorrow. A few more jobs today, handles fitted to the soft top instead of a brake bleed spanner, Need to take them back off as they aren't locking in the right place but that's an easy job.

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That is a TR5/6 hood front hood rail. The TR4A has a different arrangement with over centre clips.

 

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Cheers

Graeme

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Just received some TR6 wheel centres. Going to replace the centre badge with a TR4A badge, should start to make the wheels look complete. Just need my paint factors to open so I can match my paintwork and pick up some aerosols for the wheels.

 

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