Follow this step-by-step practical guide to restoring a Triumph TR4 and TR4A sports car. It includes details on chassis, bodywork, mechanical components and interiors. Plenty of photos to support explanations.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements and about the Author 6 Foreword 7 Introduction and using this book 8 Safety 9 Chapter 1. Selecting your first TR and buying tips 10 Which TR to choose? 10 A review of the TR range 11 Origins 11 Sidescreen TRs 11 Non-sidescreen TRs 13 The 'Wedgies' 16 Conclusion 17 Buying - some golden rules 17 Chapter 2. What to check 19 Body, paintwork and trim 19 Bodywork 19 Paintwork 24 Interior and external trim 25 Inspecting the chassis 25 The TR4A chassis 25 The TR4 chassis 27 Engine, gearbox and overdrive 28 Engine condition details 28 The gearbox condition/assessment 28 Overdrive 29 The differentials 29 The TR4's rear axle and suspension 29 The IRS differential on TR4As 29 Chapter 3. Preparing your restoration plan 31 Stripping the car 31 Do you have the contacts? 32 Chassis or body first? 32 IRS hogging 33 What and where to paint? 33 The main restoration plan 33 Example 1 - Ladder chassis TR4 - one-piece body repair 34 Example 2 - IRS TR4A - two-piece body repair 34 Conclusion 37 Spare parts 38 Chapter 4. Body restoration 41 The TR4 - TR4A differences 41 Minimising body repair difficulties 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Body restoration - the 'Rules' 42 Rebuilding the doors 43 One-piece body repairs 45 Two-piece body sequence 50 Progressing the restoration 51 Additional details 55 Sand blasting 60 Chapter 5. Chassis restoration 62 Separating body from chassis 62 Stripping, shotblasting and checking the chassis 62 Front suspension checks 65 The TR4 (live axle) ladder chassis 65 The TR4A (IRS) chassis 68 Examining and repairing the IRS chassis 69 Modifying the IRS lower wishbone mountings 75 Chapter 6. Painting, plating and rust prevention 79 Galvanising 79 Painting your chassis 80 Powder-coating 81 Painting bodytub and panels 81 Step 1: zinc primer 82 Steps 2 and 3: etch priming and final gloss finish 83 Doing your bit 84 Other painting detail 84 Stone-chip protection 85 Bright metal finishing 85 Chrome plating 85 Component preparation 86 Rust prevention 86 Chapter 7. The four-cylinder engine 87 Background 87 First checks 88 Removing the head 88 The cylinder liner and lower seals 89 Oil leaks, circulation and containment 90 Other bottom-half suggestions 92 Cylinder head matters 93 Assembling the four-cylinder engine 94 Fitting the engine 102 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ancillary equipment 103 Distributors 103 Inlet manifolds 103 Exhaust manifolds. 103 Some cooling detail 104 Chapter 8. Modern oils and fuels 105 Running-in/breaking-in and engine oils 105 Oil thermostats 105 Using unleaded fuel 106 'Unleaded' cylinder head 107 Anti-run-on valves 109 Chapter 9. Clutches, gearboxes and overdrives 110 The clutch 110 The gearboxes 112 Overdrive matters 114 Problems and solutions common to 'A' and 'J' types 114 The 'A' type overdrive 115 The 'J' type overdrive 116 Chapter 10. Carburettor induction 118 Identifying your carburettor 118 Identifying your inlet manifold 120 Preliminary operational checks 121 Adjusting the idle speed 122 Balancing twin carburettors 122 Replacing the throttle spindle 123 Chapter 11. Front suspension and steering 124 Reasons for a suspension rebuild 124 Improving handling 125 The TR4 125 The TR4A 126 The upper fulcrum pin 127 Improving the steering 127 Additional tips and suggestions 129 Front coil spring compressor 130 Chapter 12. Rear suspension and 'live' axles 131 Rear leaf springs 131 The Girling rear axle 132 Removing and reassembling the -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- hubs 132 Chapter 13. Independent rear suspension and differential 135 Triumph's IRS system 135 The trailing arms 136 The differential 138 The driveshafts 139 The universal joints 140 Rear hubs and bearings 141 A brief summary of the major upgrades 141 Spring compressors 142 Chapter 14. Brakes 143 Background 143 The brake lines 143 Flexible hoses 143 Brake servo performance 144 General brake tips 144 The handbrake 146 Chapter 15. Miscellaneous matters 147 Electrical suggestions 147 Improving security 149 Bonnet release cables 150 Chapter 16. Interior trim 152 Restoring the wood veneer 152 Sound deadening felt and carpet fitting 152 Internal trim panels 157 Seat belts 160 Rebuilding the front seats 160 Re-covering pressed steel TR4 seats 161 Re-covering tubular framed seats (late TR4 and TR4A) 162 The rear seats 164 Chapter 17. Hood/soft top 166 The differences 166 Rebuilding the hood frames 167 The hoods 170 Fitting the TR4's frame and hood 171 Fitting the TR4A hood 172 Hood maintenance 174 Chapter 18. Lefthand drive to righthand drive conversion 175 Predominance of LHD cars 175 Preparation/stripping 175 The steering 176 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author Biography
Roger Williams was born in 1940. Aircraft became his first love & he joined the de Havilland Aircraft Company where he quickly added motor cars to his list of prime interests. During the ensuring six years he not only completed his apprenticeship & studies, but built two Ford-based 'specials'. Family & career interests took pride of place for the next few years but in 1986 he started his own consultancy business which allowed him to restore numerous MGBs, a Triumph TR6 & a Triumph Stag & to write two MGB books.
