GreenTC Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Hello Guys and Girls, Thought I'd introduce my recently inherited old Triumph. If you'd like leave your thoughts on the discussion thread: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49648-greentcs-1978-triumph-2500tc/ It's a 1978 Triumph 2500TC. This one is an automatic running the twin carb 2.5 straight 6 under the bonnet. These engines made a grand total of 99 Horses at the crank when new. This car has been in my family since new starting its life in Wellington and has been living at the beach in Matata since 1994 (hence the rusty exterior). After my Grandfather passed the car came down to me, I have since relocated it to Auckland to begin tidying it up and bringing it back to how I remember as a kid. A couple of pictures of it being picked up from Matata: The bonnet had rusted quite badly (worse than it looks) , but the oil was fresh and with a bit of fresh fuel and persistence she fired up after having sat for 5 months. I'll update with details of my parts hunt later on. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 I am planning to leave the car original. So the Auto box will most likely stay. The car had a couple of minor flaws. The centre console was cracked around the choke lever and the dash had a crack in the vinyl. The wood around the gauges also could have been tidier. I set out to remedy these little faults. I found a 75 2500TC at a local Pik A Part which is a D.I.Y wreckers. Here she was when I found her, still complete minus the steering wheel. I needed a few things, but decided I'd take many things. I soon had the dash out, bonnet removed, badges stripped, wooden trim removed, side indicator lenses flogged as well as the centre console and a few other things. I got home and made quick work of swapping out the rust free bonnet from the wrecker car onto my TC. Green bonnet being the original. The car will be going in to be be re painted its original colour as well as having some rust repaired. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 I had a call from the painter last night to come and have a look at the old girl. All the rust has been cut out and welded where necessary. She's been filled, primed and will be sanded back this week. Hopefully colour will be sprayed on next week and she wont be too far away from being picked up. (Mark X in the background looking pretty) Still have an oil leak to look at, but that's not a major just yet 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GreenTC Posted August 12, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 12, 2015 Gidday Guys, Wee bit of an update. She is now painted and looking pretty bloody good. Just needs some love and attention to the smaller details from me and it will be looking factory new (or pretty close to it for a 37 year old car). Some pictures below, look forward to better quality ones once I get it in the daylight with my DSLR. What I have planned for it in the next couple of weekends: Affix AA badge to the grille Swap out interior wood for less weathered stuff from the donor car. Swap out centre console for the non cracked one from the donor car. Swap out mint condition dash from the donor car. Repaint the flaking black areas on the hub caps and polish the chrome. Give all the windows a really good clean to get 20 years of salt grime off them. Give all trims a light polish. Replace thermostat cover with a non rusty replacement. Give anything in the engine bay a repaint/polish where possible. Keep an eye out for a very good condition rear bumper to replace the current one. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GreenTC Posted August 12, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 12, 2015 Gidday Guys, Just a little photo update of what I got upto today. Attached the AA badge to the grille. Swapped the side indicator lenses for a pair that were in better nick. Comparison below. And then took it for a cruise to Ardmore. Looking at doing the interior bits next weekend. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 I've sourced a replacement sorround for the gauges as the one in this car is blistering a bit. The one from the donor car was a few years older and had a different brake warning light. May sound over the top but changing the style of light wasn't an option as that's not original for this car. Have also ordered a new Uni-Joint for the propshaft as I've got all the symptoms of a worn UJ. Banging and thudding etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 Today was WOF time, unfortunately the old girl failed on the below: The rear right break wasn't doing much and the handbrake was quite weak. I had a look at the rear right brake first of all. Had trouble getting the retaining screws out meaning I had to drill one of them. Gave everything in there a good clean up and I'll bleed the brakes to check for any air in the lines (no mates around to help me today). Linings look good too. So not too sure what could be causing the imbalance apart from the break dust. Then to adjusting the handbrake, not so easy. The adjuster had completely seized to the thread. Meaning I couldn't adjust it at all. Being directly under the car and subjected to a lot of water and dirt the threads were rooted. So I had to order a few bits from Rimmers. Hopefully it'll be enough to get her roadworthy for another 6 months. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 So I've pulled the old dash out, and centre console out. Bit of a pain in some respects. Didn't realise these newer cars had a one piece choke cable (knob welded to the cable) for example which means the whole cable has to be removed to get the centre console out. The wrecker car had a different setup. Pulling the dash gauges As she sits now Really hoping to have it all back together and working on Sunday. Then just to wait for the brake bits to arrive so that I can take it for a re-check and hopefully to its (and my) first oldschool meet Wednesday night later in the month. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 Progress hasn't been quick as I've been doing other things, bloody job gets in the way a bit. Anyway, parts to hopefully get her through a WOF have arrived from both Rimmers and Hawkswood Classics. Also gave the new dash a clean up and did a bench test fit. Looking better thank the cracked and weather one of the past. Then got the centre consol installed and hooked back up. Being crack-less really makes a difference to the look of the interior. Also, the gauge trim from the 75 2500TC (which has the wrong brake light) is up for sale. I'd consider giving it away to an OS member with a need for it. Otherwise I'll poke it on TradeMe for $20 or so. She's in really good nick! Pictures below: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GreenTC Posted August 20, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2015 After seeing a post from SOHC earlier I was really keen to find some photos of the car in its original ownership by my Great-Grandparents. I've just been slowly working away at the interior. The dash is now bolted in. Just need to install the gauges and reconnect the choke cable. On Saturday I'll have a go at replacing the hand brake cables (front and rear). Hoping to then get a WOF and then come along to the Auckland meet on the 26th. A couple of photos from the late 70's when the car was in Wellington. 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Turns out the reason I couldn't get the shoes compressed was that I had a spring flipped and it was fouling on a nut. Mph lack of experience with drum brake shows. Flipped it around, put everything back together and the tried to bleed all the air out of the replacement cylinder. All was going well until this happened The back of the cylinder sheared off completely. Always a risk with 40 year old bits. I've decided to buy a new one. Hoping to get one asap. ZebraDude recommended Strong Brothers on the shore. Anyone know what time they open on Monday? Or anywhere else I can get a replacement cylinder?! I'd love to get one on Monday or Tuesday if possible. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 Popped in to see Sterling Clutch & Brake, good bunch of lads who got one of these for me Hoping to pop it on tonight and take it in for another re-check on Tuesday or Wednesday morning, and then come to Wednesdays meet! Where do you guys get your WOFs? I'm guessing not the VTNZ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 Just installed the new wheel cylinder and took the car for a road test. Braking is feeling a lot more firm and I can lock up the affected wheel under heavy braking. Hopefully this will mean a successful re-check. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted August 29, 2015 Author Share Posted August 29, 2015 Picture-less update. Managed to get the imbalance down to 23% (has to be 19% to pass). After further investigation one of the Pistons had siezed in place , meaning the rear shoe wasn't getting much done. Back to Stirling Clutch & Brake on Monday it is. Hopefully the new part bring the imbalance right down. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 Replaced the right rear wheel cylinder. Imbalance dropped to 11% which is good enough for a pass. VTNZ WOF attained, happy owner. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Not a lot has been happening on the Trump recently (probably a good sign). All I have done is replaced the rear hand brake cable as the last one had stretched, the Triumph can now be left on hills unsupervised. Unrelated, a couple of photos of GreenTC and VKZAC out in Maraetai. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 Any of you blokes know where to find a set of reproduction or used but in very good condition hub caps for one of these? My search has been fruitless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 I'm slowly tidying up the very sad looking engine bay one piece at a time, replacing/polishing parts and painting where needed. Iwill probably get the intake side all professionally polished when I figure out how to take it off. Half way through polishing up this rusty wiper motor cover my Dremmel died. That must mean I can justify buying an air compressor and all the gear that comes with. The car will be at the Auckland Triumph Car Club annual Show 'n Shine in St Helliers this Sunday morning. Could be worth a look if any of you guys are keen on your Triumphs. Expected turnout is about 50 cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted November 14, 2015 Author Share Posted November 14, 2015 Thanks to Threeonthetree I have got a second set of hubcaps to play around with. After a rough masking job and an even rougher rattlecan spray here is the result: And a before and after: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTC Posted November 15, 2015 Author Share Posted November 15, 2015 Pretty good day out at the ATCC show n shine today. A fairly decent turnout of about 35 cars at a guess.My TC was lucky enough to come away with an award for best 2000/2500. Was only marked down for the rear bumper, drivers seat and the general untidiness of the engine bay. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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