Next I tackled the right suspension. I should have called Mike Rowe because it was a dirty job. There were 8 or 10 nuts with cotter pins, all coated with gunk. I had some spring compressors that I got from Autozone but they never fit just right. With considerable caution and a manly chain for safety, I did get the spring compressed enough to get the suspension apart. But that won't do for the other side and the reassembly. I called Chic Fries of the Georgia Triumph Association Georgia Triumph Association. He's the TR3 model expert and he suggested a long section of machined screw and the appropriate nuts and washers. I made a trek to a good hardware store, Live Oak Hardware here in L'ville. Also, later that day I went to Tucker to go to the dentist which is near a big Ace Hardware that has a vary large selection of nut and bolts and many, many other things. Good to know that there are still some decent hardware stores out there.
Any way, I got the suspension all apart and laid out. I've got the parts laid out and I'm doing a basic cleaning and inspection of all of one side before I tackle the left side suspension. I want to be somewhat organized and not end up with tons of miscellaneous parts that I know go somewhere.
So this car is 52 years old. I don't know if it ever had its suspension bushings replaced but I think I will need a complete set of suspension bushings if this photo is any example of the condition of the rest of them.
One other discovery. I had noticed a dent on the right side of the frame up towards the front behind the right wheel. I was doing some measuring to see if the frame was bent any and maybe the right front is a bit out of alignment. I'm not finished with that project something might be amiss. In disassembling the right front suspension I came across this piece.
This is down where the shock adsorber is attached. I don't even know just what it is just yet but it did take a pretty good whack. And it right in front of that dent in the frame. I was glad to be able to get it off easily. Maybe I can scan EBay for a replacement for whatever this is. And I need to talk with Kim Hirsch, the previous owner and see if he remembers some big whack a long time ago.
I am encouraged to be at this stage. It has been very hot and muggy recently and I have not felt like really diving into it the last couple of weekends. However, soon all the miscellaneous parts will be off the frame and it will go get sandblasted and primed. That's a big turning point because from that point forward, I'll be putting stuff back on the car! Cooler weather is just around the corner and the Mitty Classic is 8.5 months away. Tick Tock, times a wastin'.
