NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #18/NN_1992_18.iso/spool/rec/autos/tech/11178

Internet Message Format | 1992-08-16 | 3.4 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!waikato.ac.nz!aukuni.ac.nz!mercury!fivegl!derek
Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: '57 TR3 no engine go jap?
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
From: [e-mail] (Derek Tearne)
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 92 04:13:09 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Organization: Fujitsu New Zealand
Lines: 65

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John De Armond) writes:
>hinz@bonfire (David Hinz Mfg 4-6987) writes:
>
>>: I have a '57 TR3 with no engine.
>>: I i thinking about putting a Toyota or Nissan drive
>>: train in it...

>>Keep in mind that some collecter in the future is going to curse you eternally
>>if you do anything to structurally modify the car, so that the original, PROPER,
>>engine cannot be put back in.
>
>>If you don't want to deal with the Lucas electricals and the crappiness of the
>>engine in general, perhaps you should just drive a Toyota or Nissan.
>
>>I personally feel that he is trying to 'improve' the Mona Lisa with
>>a crayon, however.
>
>Ya, I bet everyone who has sat on the side of the road while the Lucas,
>Prince of Darkness, lights forgot to suck darkness and the ignition forgot
>what it was supposed to do because the piece of garbage bag wiretie
>some "Fine British Craftsman" used to make the connection rusted in two,
>would have other terms for this "masterpiece" than Mona Lisa.

So we have both sides of the coin.  If you stay original you have a 1950's
car which has been driven,  possibly quite heavily, for nearly 40 years.
Of course it is going to be unreliable,  rusty, tired etc.
But if you get the 'Tractor' engine professionally reconditioned it will run
for another 40 years.  Will the Jap engine do the same.  Do you think the
engine block will last anything like 40 years,  let alone the engine control
chips.  The car was simple and reliable when new and can be again.

The decision you are faced with is whether to suffer all those things and
strive to return this car to it's original condition,  with all the
faults therein and have a collectible and valuable veteran car which will
increase in value and look really good on those classic car rallies.
Or
Do you replace the engine with a new Jap engine,  hey lets change the shocks
maybe lower the front a bit and put some really BIG wheels on the back.  Some
shiny pipes along the side....


Which gives you a greater feeling of awe when you look at it.  A model 'T'
Ford with original seats, original tyes,  wheels and engine,  lovingly
restored and gleaming under the layers of wax.
Or
A brightly painted, hotted up 'T' bucket with wide wheels and chrome and
enourmous carbs and gleaming under the layers of wax.

There is precious little middle ground.  If you like the looks but can't
hack the effort of restoration buy a Toyota powered replica and sell the
car to an enthusiast.  Ditto if you can't hack the effort of ruin^h^h^h^h
turning it into a Hot Rod then sell it to someone who can.

If you put the Jap angine in it may look right but it won't _sound_ right.

Or you could buy a Toyota for driving to work and use the TR at the weekends
when it doesn't matter if it breaks down.  That is all part of the pleasure
of owning a classic car after all.

Derek "Just my 2 cents worth" Tearne

--

Derek Tearne. -- [e-mail] --  Fujitsu/ICL New Zealand --