Blog

WHAT we’re doing, and HOW we’re doing it!

August 10, 2026

This week we have another example of our in-house production capabilities. This strange looking fastener is used on all TR6’s to hold the spare tire cover in place in the trunk. Yes, gravity will do the same thing, but with an occasional rattle depending on just how rough the road is. Normally we just purchase these from one of the usual suppliers, but everyone has had them on back-order for several months. Because we had several TR6’s finishing at nearly the same time (see July 6 at the bottom of this page), and all of them needed this little piece, we had no choice other than to create them ourselves. The process began with a rough sketch and caliper measurements of an original fastener, and then transfering it into our CAD program. Unlike the heater blower fan from last week, this was actually simple enough we could do the engineering here. Once the 3D drawing was complete, it had to go into another “slicer” program to be made ready for one of our 3D printers. Test pieces were printed and tried on actual cars, and then revisions made and more test parts created until we had pieces which would actually work. Countless hours were consumed during this engineering process, and that cost will never be recovered from a part which sells for only $1.65. (Whenever there is an established price for an unobtanium part, that’s what we’ll sell it for). If we were a “we work on anything” shop who only sees a TR6 every few years, we couldn’t afford to make a single part like this and eat the development costs, but when we have multiple TR6 cars in here on a continuous basis, we’ll do what we have to to keep the repairs and restorations moving forward.

August 3, 2026

We’re always working on projects to create Triumph parts which are no longer available, and this week we are happy to announce several new additions to our ebay store. TR4- TR6 heater blower fan blades and electric motors. The fan blades are 3D printed here using a high-temperature PLA plastic, which is also reinforced with fiberglass. We can get along OK here with some simple CAD work, but anything this complex had to be hired out to a real CAD designer. Triumph used the same single speed motor for both single speed blowers in the TR4-4A, and then choked it down with a resistor to get a second (slower) speed for the TR250 and TR6. We were able to locate true single and dual speed motors, and create the bracketry and spacing to effortlessly mount into the original Smiths heaters. A single speed motor is shown here (2-wires), and the 2-speed motor will have 3-wires. Mounting hardware is included. The trolublesome resistor is no longer necessary (250-6), and the motor wires directly to the 2-speed switch. Our fans fit our new motors and the original Smiths motors, and original fans also fit our new replacement motors. All of these components (individually or in combination) are available in our ebay store. Just follow the PARTS link above and search for Heater, or any of the part numbers MCY219, MCY221, MCY222, MCY223, or MCY224.

July 27, 2026

This is more of the car we showed you back on June 22, and you can actually see this problem from a different angle in that photo as well. This car spent 15 years at another shop, and we’re finding plenty of reasons as to why it was taking so long. The previous shop painted themselves into a corner, and didn’t know how (or want) to go back and fix their mistake(s). If you look at the apron where indicated by the red arrow, you can see where the apron suddenly bends forward, and the line of the apron stops following the line of the front apron. By the time you get to the bottom of the apron and fender, the apron juts out a good 3/4” ahead of the fender, and unfortunately the other side is just as bad. Any bets on how well the front bumper irons will fit? We won’t get into the doors and trunk (boot) lid hitting the body. Folks, the time to fix all this and make sure the panels meet as they should is BEFORE any paint is applied, not years later! Most of our full restoration clients understand why we must assemble and disassemble panels to test-fit multiple times while a car is in our metal and paint shops, but a picture like this is worth 1000 words for the occasional guy who doesn’t “get-it”. And as for any “professional” shop who would plow forward like this without multiple tests to make certain that these problems won’t appear later, well, you should probably find another line of work!

July 20, 2026

Someone spent an awful amount of time installing new floor pans in this TR4A before it arrived here. It was a good attempt for an owner in a home garage, but we sincerely hope that a paid shop didn’t do it this way. To start with, there are two different types of floor pans available for the TR4-TR6. Yes, they are the same parts (R&L) for both models. The best fitting are the BMHIT floor pans (usually black E-cote at this time), and then there’s a cheaper set from a place in Detroit, (normally greenish-gray primer). The cheaper set is missing much of the attachment metal around the perimeter, and they are difficult to even get into position, much less secure properly. These are the lesser pans. As far as installing new metal, be it internal or external, rule #1 is NEVER lay one piece of metal over the top of another one. This creats a moisture trap, and in a few years you’ll likely experience accelerated rust in these same places. Rule #2 is to weld new metal SOLIDLY, not by spaced tacks as we see here. Tack welding like this just leaves more spaces for the moisture to enter into the trap! Fortunately the car is here now for a complete frame-up restoration, and we’ll be removing this failed attempt and repairing the floors correctly. It hurts to back-up and re-do anything, but we’ll spend less time than was wasted the first time, and it’ll also be quicker than trying to correct all the errors.

July 13, 2026

The rear half of the Triumph bodies (TR2-TR6) are a complicated assemblage of several parts that form multiple pockets and seams which hold moisture and promote rust. Then there’s the possibile collision damage to add into the mix, so any problems back here can be a nightmare to repair for anyone without copious experience and correct fixtures to hold it all in alignment. Basically, we are the only shop on this side of the Atlantic with any prayer of getting a mes like this back together quickly and correctly. This TR6 needed the spare tire floor and both pieces of the inner valance, plus outer rear valance and both rear body mounts. Then you have to know how to modify the new reproduction parts to make them fit together correctly because they aren’t 100% straight from the box. Having done this same repair many times, and assisted by our rotisserie body jig, this isn’t a big deal for our metal shop to bring it all back together and create an invisible and structurally solid repair. Note the trunk lid is already mounted onto the hinges, and we’ll reference that to verify upper alignment throughout the process.

July 6, 2026

This is the first time in our history when we’ve had three complete restorations finish up at the same time. While we’re always working on 8- 10 complete jobs at all times, they usually come together singularly, matching the way we start new projects, one-at-a-time. Occasionally we’ll have two wrap up together, but this is the first time we’ve ever had three finish in unison. As every car has different needs and will take a different amount of time to complete, this time the combination includes a couple of cars that were really nice, so they finished ahead of schedule. It’s still a lengthy project when 15-20,000 individual components have to be disassembled, cleaned, inspected, and then restored or replaced before a complete and total re-assembly. Then there’s the waiting list before we can ever get your car in the door, so if you are contemplating restoration or repairs to your Triumph, don’t delay to call and get it scheduled!