How to Restore Triumph Tr2, Tr3 and Tr3a

by Williams, Roger

• ISBN13: 9781903706152
• ISBN10: 1903706157
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-06-23
• Publisher: Motorbooks Intl

Summary

This manual uses the hands-on experience of five TR restoration specialists to help you learn how to accomplish many different restoration processes for your TR. It explains the many different characteristics of all of the Triumph TR models. Chapters tell you how to choose the project car, what and how to restore yourself, and which jobs to leave to the experts. Every aspect of the restoration process is explained in detail, and supported by more than 450 photographs or illustrations. It also contains a list of parts and service suppliers. Enthusiast Restoration Manual Series.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements and about the author	6	(1)
Foreword	7	(1)
Introduction and using this book	8	(1)
Safety	9	(1)
Selecting your first TR and buying tips	10	(8)
Which TR to choose?	10	(1)
A review of the TR range	11	(1)
Origins	11	(1)
Sidescreen TRs	11	(2)
Non-sidescreen TRs	13	(2)
The `Wedgies'	15	(1)
Conclusion	16	(1)
Buying - some golden rules	16	(2)
What to check when Buying	18	(14)
Buying a sidescreen TR	18	(1)
What to look for	18	(1)
Body, paintwork and trim	19	(1)
Bodywork	19	(4)
Paintwork	23	(1)
Interior and exterior trim	24	(2)
Inspecting the chassis	26	(3)
Engine gearbox and overdrive	29	(1)
Engine condition	29	(1)
Gearbox condition/assessment	30	(1)
Overdrive	31	(1)
Rear axles and suspension	31	(1)
Preparing your Restoration plan	32	(10)
Stripping the car	32	(1)
Do you have the contacts?	33	(1)
Chassis or body first?	33	(1)
What and where to paint	34	(1)
A typical home restoration plan	34	(1)
The `two-piece' preliminaries	34	(1)
Common one or two piece restoration plan	35	(4)
Spare parts	39	(3)
Body restoration	42	(32)
Introduction	42	(1)
Minimising body repairs	43	(1)
Plan 1	43	(1)
Plan 2	43	(1)
Plan 3	43	(1)
Body restoration - the `rules'	44	(1)
Rebuilding the doors	44	(4)
One piece body repairs	48	(17)
Two piece body repairs	65	(6)
Additional tips	71	(1)
Sand blasting	72	(1)
Conclusion	73	(1)
Chassis restoration	74	(8)
Separating body from chassis	74	(2)
Stripping, sand blasting and checking	76	(2)
Shot blasting	78	(1)
Front suspension checks	79	(1)
The vulnerable spots	79	(3)
Painting, plating and rust prevention	82	(7)
Galvanising	82	(1)
Painting your chassis	82	(1)
Powder coating	83	(1)
Painting body tub and panels	83	(1)
Step 1: zinc primer	83	(1)
Steps 2 and 3: etch priming and final gloss finish	84	(1)
Doing your bit	85	(2)
Other painting detail	87	(1)
Stone chip protection	87	(1)
Bright metal finishing	87	(1)
Chrome plating	87	(1)
Component preparation	88	(1)
Rust prevention	88	(1)
The four-cylinder engine	89	(18)
Background	89	(1)
First checks	90	(1)
Removing the head	90	(1)
The cylinder liner and lower seals	90	(1)
Oil leaks, circulation and containment	91	(2)
Other bottom-half suggestions	93	(1)
Cylinder head matters	94	(1)
Assembling the four-cylinder engine	95	(1)
Fitting the engine	96	(1)
Ancillary equipment	96	(1)
Distributors	96	(1)
Inlet manifolds	96	(1)
Exhaust manifolds	96	(8)
Some cooling detail	104	(3)
Modern oils and fuels	107	(4)
Runing-in/breaking-in and engine oils	107	(1)
Oil thermostats	107	(1)
Using unleaded fuel	108	(1)
`Unleaded' cylinder head	108	(2)
Anti-run-on valves	110	(1)
Clutches, gearboxes and overdrives	111	(7)
The clutch	111	(1)
The gearboxes	112	(3)
Overdrive matters	115	(1)
Problems and solutions common to `A' and `J' types	115	(1)
The `A' type overdrive	116	(1)
The `J' Type Overdrive	116	(2)
Carburettor induction	118	(6)
Identifying your carburettor	118	(2)
Identifying your inlet manifold	120	(1)
Preliminary operational checks	120	(2)
Adjusting the idle speed	122	(1)
Balancing twin carburettors	122	(1)
Replacing the throttle spindle	122	(2)
Front suspension and steering	124	(9)
Warning signs	124	(1)
Checking or improving the suspension	125	(2)
Restoring the steering	127	(3)
Rack and pinion conversions	130	(2)
Front coil spring compressors	132	(1)
The rear axle and suspension	133	(5)
Rear leaf springs	133	(1)
TR2 and TR3 `Lockheed' axles	134	(1)
The `Girling' rear axle	134	(1)
The `Girling' axle's hubs	134	(4)
Hubs, wheels and tyres	138	(6)
Hubs and hub conversions	138	(1)
Road wheels	139	(1)
Steel or disc wheels	139	(1)
Wire wheels	140	(1)
Spinners	141	(1)
Alloy wheels	142	(1)
Spare wheels	142	(1)
Tyre sections	142	(1)
Tyre diameter calculations	143	(1)
Brakes	144	(5)
Master Cylinder Revisions	144	(1)
The front brakes	144	(2)
The rear brakes	146	(1)
Brake lines	146	(1)
Improving the brakes	147	(1)
Fitting a servo	147	(1)
Drum to disc conversions	147	(1)
General brake tips	148	(1)
Miscellaneous matters	149	(4)
Do or die components	149	(1)
Electrical suggestions	149	(2)
Windscreen detail	151	(1)
Improving security	151	(2)
Trim tips	153	(12)
Getting prepared	153	(1)
Refurbishing the dashboard and cappings	154	(1)
The dashboard	155	(1)
Cockpit cappings	156	(1)
Sound deadening felt and carpeting	157	(3)
Internal trim panels	160	(1)
Seat belts	161	(1)
Renovating the seats	161	(3)
Sidescreen refurbishment	164	(1)
Keeping out the elements	165	(12)
Boot and door seals	165	(1)
The hood frame	165	(2)
Hood variations and fastenings	167	(1)
The fastenings	167	(3)
Fitting the hood, tonneau and stick cover	170	(1)
Hoods	170	(3)
The sidescreens	173	(3)
Hood maintenance	176	(1)
Lefthand drive to righthand drive conversions	177	(5)
Predominance of lhd cars	177	(1)
Preparation/shipping	177	(1)
Steering	178	(1)
Switching the pedals	178	(1)
Hydraulics	178	(1)
Dashboard and instruments	179	(1)
Wipers, electrics and lights	180	(2)
Conclusions	182	(1)
Appendix 1. Major body changes	183	(1)
Appendix 2. Welding, tools and techniques	184	(6)
Welding	184	(1)
The alternative methods	184	(1)
Welding equipment	185	(1)
Additional equipment	186	(1)
Safety	186	(1)
Learning to weld	186	(1)
Types of weld	186	(1)
Seamstitch welding	187	(1)
Basic metal forming and adjustment	187	(3)
Appendix 3. Clubs, specialists and suppliers	190	(1)
Index	191