12/11/09

I'm beginning to think that Triumph TR-3 engine in KC, MO is the right way to go. OK, in the interest of pedantics, it is actually a Triumph TR-4 engine. That means an additional 200cc displacement! Of course it coming from a running car, if the ad is to be believed, is an additional bonus as I can, theoretically, just slap it in Nadine and be on my merry way. John is not enthusiastic about it, mainly because a Nissan/Datsun engine could be had much cheaper, would be lighter, arguably more reliable, more powerful, and a “known quantity” in that it is ground I have tread before. Having said that, he is also not against it, per se. In fact, when I sent him the answer to my questions of the seller, he replied something to the effect of, “It is sounding better.” While I agree with his points about the Nissan/Datsun engine, the value of the car would totally tank with that conversion. Besides, mom keeps expressing her feeling that the car needs to be made “pretty” again. I'm afeared my “Rat Rod” Triumph TR-3 idea is about to fly out the window. I'm thinking now that a “10/20” paint job is in order, as in “It looks good from ten feet or at twenty miles per hour.” I've already decided that a new set of Rota RB (Panasport lookalikes) wheels are going on the car so some beautification is in order. I know John, you think a set of new wheels on a beater looks good... um, not really. Anyhoo, I feel if I'm putting on new wheels, said 10/20 paint job is in order. Now I need to think interior as well. I don't know what I'm going to do there. Suffices to say, the Spartan Race Car interior is looking a lot less likely. Yeah, a “plush” Triumph TR-3 interior is still mighty Spartan, but not as Spartan as I was thinking before now. John keeps asking the question, “Are you building it to keep or to sell?” I honestly do not have an answer for that question. Obviously I will keep it as long as Nadine is alive. Depending on how involved she gets, I'll probably have to keep it as long as mom is alive too. But, trashing the value of the car to make it more what I want, when to be totally honest I've been “pushed” into being a Triumph guy, makes no sense whatsoever. Had the Triumph TR-3 been my dream car all along, maybe. But with it being, and this is going to sound so much worse than it is intended, foist upon me, I feel I ought to attempt to do it some justice in the eyes of the Triumph community. Not to the point of keeping it a “numbers matching” car, or using a concourse style wiring harness of course. Now I don't want y'all to think I don't want the car or that I resent having been given the opportunity to revive it, far from it. It just wouldn't have been my first choice in the arena. Now that I do have it though, I honestly can't think of what I would have chosen over it. It is a conundrum. Wait, is it? “Co-NUN-drum: a question or problem having a conjectural answer.” Meh, close enough. Well, the point is, I want to bid on that engine in KC, MO but I know I can't afford it if I win. I need to get mom on board with the plan. OK, I guess I need to shut the hell up here and go make a case for that engine. I may come back to talk to y'all later but don't hold your breath. Well, I'm back. But I think I'm pretty much done for the week. I have to go see Ray at the Motorsport Ranch tomorrow to finish paying off my outstanding balance on all that A-series junk I got from him so long ago. I'm not sure from where the money will come, but I'll finger something out. So I guess I'll talk to y'all on Monday.