The Plunge

After retiring from a harrowing stint in politics as president of ISOA, I wondered what could possibly fill in the hole left after leading this, the top Triumph club on colonial soil. A garage speaking tour? Memoirs with numbered diagrams and detailed illustrations? No, I did what any red-blooded club member would do: I went out and purchased a new Triumph project.

Case in point, a 1968 TR250 purchased locally from a fellow club member. Owning it for about a year, this car had been towed to his garage with several boxes full of parts, the engine started with ether, and then left alone. He also had a very nice white 62 TR3B for sale, and was hoping to sell them both. After a few looks myself and then additional looks with knowledgeable guys Tim Smith, Mark Moore and Ken Crowley, I made the owner an offer he easily refused.

Two weeks later we agreed on a price. Why? His twenty-one year old son, a very nice young man who has two 60's Mustang restorations under his belt, had just won the Menards sweepstakes: A 2003 CORVETTE!! They needed the garage space and the 250 had to go. Their gain was my gain!

Tuesday December 3rd, (the day after a biggish snow), that machine of many body colors was safely in my one-car garage. (Thanks again Marilyn!) A few days later I unwrapped my presents, going through every item in every box. Many new parts, including rebuild kits for the carbs and hydraulics, plus bulbs, lenses, bearings and much more soon were examined and re-boxed. Rechromed bumpers and overriders were unveiled. A look under the hood revealed a new clutch master, new hoses, and an unusual lime green color.

Among the parts were a bunch of Vicky Brit receipts up to 1999, all to the same guy living in the west 'burbs and the receipts included his phone number! A few rounds of phone tag later, we connected and he was gracious enough to tell me all I wanted to know and plenty I didn't think to ask. Throughout this conversation, the First Lady overheard clever incisive questions and thoughtful pauses punctuated with a goodly number of "NO WAYS!", "GET OUTTA HERES!"!, and "YOU GOT TO BE KIDDINGS!" This guy had owned the car for twenty-five years, fixing it up a little at a time, (not unlike how I'd gone about doing DRIVN 62). It hadn't been driven in twenty-two years. Someone had poured a gallon of milk into the gas tank. The short ride home had trashed the engine and fuel system as the milk literally curdled in every fuel passage, ending in the head and cracking it handily.

Consequently a used TR6 head was given the no-lead conversion, and the bottom end received new rings, rods and bearings. The Strombergs had been rebuilt, the gas tank boiled out and a new fuel pump added. Many typical 250/early 6 repairs had been completed and many others had been started.

He went on to tell me the front end and steering hadn't been attended to and needed rebushing and that a piece of clutch linkage was missing. Additionally, the brake pressure differential switch needed rebuilding or replacing. This man (what the hell, let's call him Ollie) clearly still held a warm spot in his heart for his baby, and told me he'd be interested to help with further progress. I AM one stoked cowboy!

When I told Ollie of my intention to get the Brit spec fuel injection set-up and hotter cam, his less than impressed comment was: "The car is plenty fast." When I added, "But imagine it with fifty more horsepower", he repeated: "The car is plenty fast." Hmmm…..I think I'm getting the picture…all of a sudden the rush for TR5 conversion parts got less urgent!

Hopefully this weekend after draining the old fuel from the carbs and turning the engine a bunch of times by hand, that baby'll fire up. Next we'll see just what this missing piece of clutch linkage is all about. And then we'll see about that brake switch. Any 250 or early 6 words of wisdom are hereby solicited and promise to be appreciated. Any ideas of what to do with newly rebuilt hydraulics that've been sitting for twenty-two years, or any direction on rebuilding/replacing the brake pressure differential switch are most welcome. My phone and e-mail numbers are elsewhere in this publication…and thanks in advance!

by Mike "Hands" Blonder