Project Blue Belle

[oldE]

Or maybe Project Blue Balls. This might be more than I can handle.
As already posted on the Redcoat thread, she arrived on a truck on Tuesday. I had seen the car up close on Sunday and made the seller an offer. He must have liked me because he countered my offer with a lower amount! He had had the car for about 5 years. His brother had it for about 5 years before that, but it has been a garage queen for at least a decade.

I took a few before pics. The interior was interesting, extra speakers were installed at the front of the console.



The real chuckle came when I dropped the top and discovered two RadioShack speakers bungee corded to the roll bar.

Multiple bolts later the driver's seat was out along with the carpet pieces (I have it on good authority they are brown) and the bodge job someone did on the floor was revealed .

[masraum]

Sweet! We need another 4-5 Pelicanites to join the TR6 club so we can create our own technical board! LOL Who's in for a British Racing Green TR6?

I don't see what you're considering "bodge" about the floor because the pics small. What's the issue? I guess whatever it is, it's better than looking down at the road underneath.

I do like them in blue!

Keep up the posts!

[oldE]

The seat was a revelation. I had the seats of the Golf Cabriolet recovered and had done the seats in the Miata myself. I wasn't prepared for the level of slap dash 'throw stuff together ' evident in the seat. That will be a project in itself


I will be taking the interior apart bit by bit and bagging fasteners and trying to note what needs to be replaced. Right now this is a journey of discovery

Restoring your TR Triumph is on my reading list at the moment (included in the sale) and I have been watching a serious of videos done 6 years ago by a guy from Toronto. (RUSTY BEAUTIES) Both are depressing as heck, but somewhat inspirational at the same time.

[Alan A]

Tush? He’s restored a bunch of Rumfs.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Tush? He’s restored a bunch of Rumfs.

I been bad, I been good
Dallas, Texas, Hollywood
I ain't askin' for much
I said, Lord, take me downtown
I'm just lookin' for some tush

I guess the song is about different tush... I know that the guys were "car guys" but I don't think they were singing about the guy restoring TRs

[herr_oberst]

Nice project. Looks like the interior is mostly there, even if it is a little rough. Wood looks good, all the gauges and pads and knobs are in place, that seat frame can be welded, you can replicate the console sides out of some nice sheet plastic and eliminate the speakers....floors are rusty, but that's pretty normal!

Leyland did no one any favor with the pad on the top of the door doubling as the door pull....

Does this car have the electric overdrive?

Looking forward to the pictures of the progress.

One of my absolute favorite things about the TR's is when you're sitting in the drivers seat, you open up the door and right below your left shoulder is that rear tire; it makes you feel like you're wearing the car!

[oldE]

Steve. The floor "replacement ' attempt was a piece of sheet metal welded in over the old floor. No stiffening ribs or formed channels, just a piece of steel that wasn't even primered. I knew it was a half vast job when I sat in the seat and the floor flexed as I leaned back. I suspect the passenger side is worse. Learning how to take it apart is an experience in itself.
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
Yes, the seats will be stripped, the frames repaired and painted and there will be new foam and covers. After doing the seat frames I will take them to the guy who did the Cabriolet seats for me.

[Monkey Wrench]

you can order new lucas smoke here, part number is 530433

https://whereisbobl.com/tiger/smoke.html

[rfuerst911sc]

TR4 anyone ?

Marketplace - TR4 Triumph with Title | Facebook https://share.google/GG3qe3NK3Es2B6Jlk

[herr_oberst]

I'd drive that just the way it is! Tune it up, better wheels and tires, douche out the interior; heck yeah!

[rfuerst911sc]

Or maybe a TR 6 ?

Marketplace - Tr6 triumph | Facebook https://share.google/dXer4G1TIiCydDGjq

[oldE]

Hobiemarty has a lot to answer for, I am thinking.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Or maybe a TR 6 ?

Marketplace - Tr6 triumph | Facebook https://share.google/dXer4G1TIiCydDGjq

It’s not a 73. It’s rough as hell. I wouldn’t go near it.
YMMV

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by oldE

Hobiemarty has a lot to answer for, I am thinking.

Haha, yeah I guess so. I think it is a good score, don't know what was paid, but if the floors are the main issue then you are better off than I am, lol, mine is definitely a labor of Love!!!
The front speakers are in the factory locations by the way, that is how it was done. Funny thing, someone gave me a set of 2 way Radio Shack "Realistic" speakers that I had in the floors behind the seats for a while in my TR.
I like the blue with tan, nice looking TR.

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[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by oldE

The seat was a revelation. I had the seats of the Golf Cabriolet recovered and had done the seats in the Miata myself. I wasn't prepared for the level of slap dash 'throw stuff together ' evident in the seat. That will be a project in itself


I will be taking the interior apart bit by bit and bagging fasteners and trying to note what needs to be replaced. Right now this is a journey of discovery

Restoring your TR Triumph is on my reading list at the moment (included in the sale) and I have been watching a serious of videos done 6 years ago by a guy from Toronto. (RUSTY BEAUTIES) Both are depressing as heck, but somewhat inspirational at the same time.

"Elin Yakov's Rusty Beauties" is a channel that I watch also. Another channel that I watch is called "TR Restorations". That guy has some useful information but he plays some music sometimes as he is working which I find a bit annoying.
If you are going to make a tutorial video about how to perform a specific task, don't play music in the background as it is very distracting, just explain the process and get on with it! Now if I am working on something, sometimes I like to have a radio playing to make things more enjoyable. Okay rant over.

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[oldE]

Well I feel a bit more positive today. After watching a video from Rusty Beauties on rebuilding an inner front fender on his TR6, I looked at the inner fenders on Blue Belle and was relieved to see that area was not going to be an issue. So far the rust seems to be confined to anything that was covered with carpet.
Who knew covering unprotected metal with damp carpeting could cause problems?

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by oldE

Well I feel a bit more positive today. After watching a video from Rusty Beauties on rebuilding an inner front fender on his TR6, I looked at the inner fenders on Blue Belle and was relieved to see that area was not going to be an issue. So far the rust seems to be confined to anything that was covered with carpet.
Who knew covering unprotected metal with damp carpeting could cause problems?

That's good to hear. I've been watching some of his videos about wiring and then realized he was working on a 1970 model which has a few different relays than my 76. Oh well, I learned some things anyway.

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