Exhaust Notes
Newsletter of the
www.SLTOA.org
July 2007
July Meeting, Tuesday July 17th,
2006,
Arrive anytime after
Presidential Ramblings By Craig Madsen
Enter summer. July Meeting, same as the last three years running @ my good friend John Lambergs house. Most of you know how to get there, if not Creig will have directions published prior to this didy. It's always hot. It's always a good turnout. It's always a good time!
Before I really get to rambling - Those that didn't make the picnic missed a good time. Karl provided a great supper & munchies for our dining enjoyment. The most difficult thing was getting members away from the parking lot for the meeting! Thank you again Karl for your hard work, and Thanks goes to Paul & Kathy Schuessler for picking up the tab for the Pavilion reservation. There's only one thing that might have made it better, (& who knows) perhaps next year we could toss around the possibility of having the June picnic on a weekend. Some of our out of town members might have the option of attending. Yes, I realize we may also loose attendance of some of our local members due to the fact it's on a weekend. So sleep on it, and come prepared for lively discussions! We have a whole year before we have to decide if we want to make a change for that event.
Also, we need to start thinking about how we can make a record profit this year @ the All-British Car show this September. This you may or may not know, is currently our only fund raiser & source of income to the treasury other than Membership dues. We're not currently in trouble, but I will also raise the question - Are our membership dues in tune to our spending needs & wants? I know the timing will be unpopular with everything else going up in price. But we like to be able to discount our fellow Healy & MG Christmas dinners as well as our own (because it's Christmas, & Christmas is about giving). Our postage & costs for the news letter has risen quietly over the years. So, another ball to toss up in the air while you sleep tonight along with that weekend June picnic thing! I will do my part by not bringing so many boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts Sunday morning. My application showed up in the mail today for the All British show. I will try to remember to make copies for the meeting at Johns for those that didn't receive one and want to attend.
It looks as though
a handful of us may run up to
For those that don't know, our star journalist Kathy Kresser’s Father past away two weeks ago. Flowers were sent to the wake from the club. I received a very nice note of thanks to the club published below. Craig Madsen
From Kathy Kresser:
Your kind expression of sympathy is deeply appreciated and gratefully acknowledged
Dear Craig and SLTOA members, It was so thoughtful of you to sent the lovely green plant to my Dad's Wake. It touched my heart. The card was quite appropriate with "we are pulling for you" It is difficult to lose a parent, but good friends and time help ease the loss. Thank you. Your sympathy is appreciated. Kathy Kresser
8th Annual GOBMC Car & Cycle Blow-Out July 27-29 -
Heads up!!! The 8th Annual Show is just a little over a month away and we're still waiting on registrations.
This year, we are forced to going back to requiring pre-registration for banquet meals, due to last year's lower attendance. Last year, in order to try and accomodate everyone, we ordered food for a lot more people than showed up, thus wasting food and money as well. We want everyone to attend, but cannot afford to lose money on this event.
So, back to the old days when banquet tickets were by reservation only. If you do not pre-register, we cannot guarantee you a place at the awards banquet. So, pleeeeeeeeease.... get your registration in the mail ASAP, OR, you can register online at _www.gobmc.org_ (http://www.gobmc.org)
My apologies if you receive this more than once. I'm circulating this through all my email lists in order to reach everyone. If you receive more than once, the delete button isn't too far away.
Thanks for your understanding and support... our folks are already working hard to make your visit a memorable one... hope to see you in July. Rod Miller
SLTOA & Gateway Healey at Mel & Gail's Farm
SLTOA Members, A little late but better than never! Pictures of the shoot out at Mel & Gail's farm... mostly of the farm itself, really neat place. SLTOA and Gateway Healey members were invited to attend. URL to my KODAK Easyshare album of pictures.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=e1j0f4z.aiy85znf&x=0&y=jbt26z
When it gets you to the site, you DO NOT HAVE TO SIGN IN. Just click on the Yellow Slide Show button to see the photos. Ken Dahman
Stories about Those Little British Cars, By Kathy Kresser
I
met Jeff Kelley and his wife, Nancy, at the Triumph Register of America (TRA)
National Meet in
Jeff, when did you purchase the car?
I
purchased my 1954 TR2 in the summer of 1972 after my freshmen year in college
for $175. This was my first car. It had been sitting in the neighbor’s back
yard all winter wearing the tonneau cover, buried in
the snow. When spring came I asked the
woman next door if her son wanted to sell the car. Well, she was the right one to ask; she
wanted it out of her back yard. When
purchased, the car didn’t run, but with my father’s help we were able to get it
running in short order. I drove the car
for a couple of years and then went off to start my working life after college
graduation. The car was parked in my
parents’ carriage barn and left until I returned to
Tell me about the restoration process.
The
bodywork repairs, painting, gauge restoration and interior trim were completed
by professionals in their respective fields.
I did all of the mechanical rebuilding and reassembly of the car myself.
When possible, parts were conserved to
maintain originality. Others were
replaced with NOS (new original supply) when not serviceable, or manufactured
from original examples when suitable replacements could not be found. Numerous period photographs were extensively
used along with the Triumph Register’s Concours
Judging Standard to guide the restoration.
The help from Triumph Register members, both here and in the
When you rescued the car from the back yard, what color was it?
The car had a “fuzzy” red exterior with black interior. What I mean by fuzzy is that a previous owner had flocked the entire exterior of the car. Maybe that is how the car survived the 60s without being scrapped.
The build sheet said the body color was ice blue with geranium leather. I color- matched the body to a California ice blue car TS 646 still belonging to the original owner and manufactured very close the build date of my car. The geranium leather and weather equipment were matched to a sample of original trim material that was found between the dash and body during disassembly.
What did you learn about your car from the
build records?
I obtained the production records from the Standard Motor Company Limited and the British Motoring Industry Heritage Trust archives.
This
car, a Triumph Sports 20 TR2 was manufactured by the Standard Motor Company
Ltd. on
Only engine numbers were recorded on production records. Numbers were not matching on TR2s and due to the random nature of how the parts were selected for assembly, they are considered to be original when within 200 of the Commission number.
The special features and equipment on the car included:
Early non-setting choke used on cars through Commission number TS 868.
Narrow windscreen wiper spacing used on cars through Commission number TS 995.
Rare double thermostat housing used on cars through Commission number TS 1200.
Early square tail lamps used on cars through Commission number TS 1306.
‘Baby’ Tenax snaps used on cars through Commission Number TS 3513.
Wire wheels
Adjustable steering wheel
Heater
Toolkit
Handbook, shop manual, and parts manual.
All major components of the restored car are believed to be original.
Do you have the original toolkit, handbook,
shop manual and parts manual shipped with the car?
These items were not with the car when I purchased it. The tools I have are period ones that have been restored with a new tool roll. The handbook, shop manual and parts manual are all first printing.
Jeff, these classic Triumphs are real
treasures. How do we encourage the
younger generation to take an interest in these beauties? The young boys and girls today are so
involved in the high tech world; something like a car is losing its
appeal.
Hopefully by restoring these cars they can serve as windows to the past. They are examples of the glamour and diversity that fueled the car crazy world of the 50s and 60s. I know that my daughter has been surprised how sophisticated and modern many of the cars from that era were.
Thank you, Jeff, for sharing your insights
about TR2s. It is very clear you have
researched these cars and know every inch of your car. It is no surprise your car won Best of Show
at the 2007 Triumph Register of
Jeff also shared with me some history on the
marquee and I thought you would find it informative.
Triumph
started as a company producing bicycles in 1887. It went on to motorcycles in 1903, then motor
cars in 1923 and finally sports cars in the mid -1930s. The racing effort during this time was headed
by none other than Donald Healy. By 1939
the company had accumulated huge debts and was in receivership. Thomas W. Ward Ltd. purchased the company in
1940. After several years of lackluster
performance Standard Motor Company acquired what was left of Triumph on
The
first Triumph cars made under Standard were designed to use surplus engines no
longer needed by Jaguar. By the early
1950s, it was decided that an all new car was needed to capture the growing
sports car market in the United States and a prototype was shown to the public
for the first time at Earl’s Court Motor show in October 1952. However, the car performed poorly when tested
by the motoring press following the show.
With the tireless efforts of Ken Richardson, test driver and development
engineer, a revised car was again shown to the public at the Geneva Motor show
in March of 1953. A new chassis had been
designed to make it stiffer than the original one but it still utilized the
front suspension and rear axle of the Triumph Mayflower. A modified Triumph Vanguard engine and
transmission completed the package. In
May of that year the company authorized high speed trials on the Oosternde to Jabbeke highway in
The
first production cars were built in July 1953.
By the end of 1953 a mere 305 had been produced. TS 778 rolled off the line
It should be noted that Standard Motor Company also had a long relationship with Jaguar. From 1929 to 1932 Standard supplied parts to the Swallow Coach Building Company. From this company SS Motors was formed and later became Jaguar. SS Motors continued to buy chassis and motors from Standard until the outbreak of World War II for its SS Jaguar Models. After the war, Jaguar Cars Limited was born but only the 1.8 litres were still supplied by Standard. Tooling for the larger engines had already been sold to Jaguar and within three years they were totally independent with everything being built in-house.
The specifications for TR2s
Country of Origin:
Engine: 1991 cc (121.5 cubic inches) overhead valve inline four cylinder, 90 Hp
Drive Train Configuration: Front engine rear wheel drive.
Transmission: 4 speed manual with non-synchronous first gear.
Top Speed: 124 mph in aerodynamic trim, 114 mph in standard trim.
Number Produced: 8636 with 4001 of them being long door cars.
Original Cost: $2,448 without optional equipment
Years of Production: 28 months starting in July 1953
Curb Weight: 2107 lbs.
Fuel Consumption: 32 mpg overall
Classified Ads: Contact Creig Houghtaling at
, the
address listed below, or 636-678-2181 to place a free ad in this newsletter.
For
For
I'm moving to
Background: High-Compression Engine
New oil cooler and screw mount oil filter New brake master
New radiator New cooling hoses
New heavy duty springs in rear from Victoria British New shocks on all four wheels
New Crane 700 electronic ignition and uprated coil with platinum plugs and new wires New LED lights in all dash instruments (MUCH brighter) New Alpine radio and speakers New manifold gasket New gasket for temperature control New tires (wheels sanded for rust and treated before new installation) New OE fuel pump New battery New (refurbished) starter motor New alternator and belt New driver side mirror (bullet style) New sound-proofing pads affixed to foot wells (to reduce vibration and because I sanded and treated the floor for rust, then applied the pads to help with rigidity) Replaced rear left wheel cylinder (i.e. brake) Refurbished fuel tank by stripping, painting and treating with red coat Fuel lines cleaned and tubing and filter replaced Carburetors refurbished with completely new gaskets, rubber and pins (damper oil stays in now for nearly a year) Vacuum hoses replaced Air vents cleaned (they swivel freely now) and ducts fixed/replaced Valves checked and tuned along with a new head gasket Door locks unseized so they work New drain plug on rear axle (originally did not come with one, this was an add-on) All fluids drained and replaced All brakes checked
Currently, the only known problems are that the front right caliper has one piston sticking. I am seeking a refurbished caliper for both fronts so as to match, but if sold I would not complete this task.
Overall, very little rust except for foot wells, of course. Body and frame are excellent, but could use a new paint job. Damian Kostiuk - 273-875-8014
For
Curt Shepard, Vice President, Love Funding Corp, 212 S. Central #301, St. Louis, MO 63105 - 314-512-8566, 314-922-3121 Cell
Creig Houghtaling, Editor
www.sltoa.org