Another project...1962 Triumph TR4

[Roadster]

It's been languishing in the barn at my dad's place for the last 25 years. Finally convinced him to let it go. Being covered all that time means it's remarkably well preserved. Just surface rust on the body. I've always had a thing for barn finds. Should have taken advantage of the one in my own back yard a long time ago...

There aren't too many of these things running around anymore. The current plan is to swap in an all motor KA24E/240 trans. Has a huge, open engine bay, removable tranny tunnel. It's a great swap candidate. And the KA would be a cheap, reliable, carb-able powerplant with nearly the same mount points. Lighter than the old iron-headed pushrod 4 banger, too. The whole car only weighed around 2100lbs. from the factory, so 150hp or so at the wheels out of a mildly built KA would be pretty quick.

Suggestions? Knock yourselves out.












Knock-offs!



Found the grille:



One of the parts cars:

[.:EuRo FLYbOy:.]

Looks good, keep us up with the updates

[d_day87]

your lucky he kept it in a barn. the car looks to be in good shape. keep us updated.

[FasTech]

Has potential, body doesn't look that bad...... but take the ghetto trailer hitch off.

[Roadster]

Lol, will probably be the first thing I get around to doing on it while cleaning it up. It is a pretty beefy looking hitch for a car with 90hp stock, though.

[AnTi-PooN]

lol at the hitch, nice find though

[canadianrcis]

that triumph would be the secks with any new motor.

[Big_Dave]

Man, that's a super rare car and is in great shape rust wise. These cars are usually rust buckets by now. I had a friend with a 1959 MGA and he put a built toyota 4age in it and it was a blast to drive. A KA ought to make this car fast. Another choice could be a ford 2.3 turbo or non turbo they make nice power. I'll bet a 1st gen Rx7 lsd or a corolla gts lsd would be about the correct width for the rear....or is this IRS i forgot most TR's were independent. Cool car! I gotta Sunbeam Alpine that I'm going to do something with when I finish some projects. If we get these cars finished we'll have to meet up for som tea and crumpets! ha! ha!

[Total_Blender]

That car is in too nice of a shape to go all "mad tyte JDM" on. I'd leave the 4 banger in there if it still runs, it might surprise you. You might also be able to get a Trimuph straight six from a TR6 or the all aluminum V8 from the TR7, making it a swap car but keeping it all British would be really cool.

[mushroom_toy]

Pimp little car.

[pankopp]

nice, I always liked the TR-4s, my dad still has his '76 TR-6 that he bought new in college...

[Nissangeek]

F22 from the S2000. That would make for some fun times.

[SixSquared]

F22 from the S2000. That would make for some fun times.

one of the better posts in this thread.

[wantboost]

dang that is going to be a fun project. what you DD'ing now?

[03RCode]

How much for the Massey Furguson? Looks like a fun project... needs a SBC.

[JITB]

Throw a bP in it...

[Roadster]

Rt132-- Cool about the Alpine, I've always been a fan of those and the Tigers. We actually have three TR4's, one of which is a TR4-A with the independent rear, but I haven't been able to find out yet whether the live axle or IRS is able to withstand more power. Not like 150-200 is an incredible amount, but they weren't built quite as tough back then.

Nawz-- Yeah I thought about it keeping it original (we have two engines and transmissions), and talked it over with my dad who is usually a real purist about these things, but the swap seems the most cost effective way to make it quick and reliable and still relatively true to form. At least it'll still be a 4 cyl.


NissanGeek-- If I suddenly win the lottery that'll be my powertrain of choice.

Paul-- Traded the Mustang for an old F-150 and then immediately traded that for a 4 cyl 97 Ranger 5 spd. 30mpg with parts hauling capabilities ftw. You gonna be at the V Thursday?

JITB-- That was actually my first thought. I still have most of the parts from my Miata parts car sitting around here, but trying to figure out a way to replace the PPF with a traditional tranny mount would be less easy than a KA with a 240 tranny, and less able to make power without going ragged-edge on it.

[WalkS]

sweet!
keep us updated mang!
+

[Revmaynard]

Nice man, I might know someone I can get some parts for you from. I'll ask if he still has any of these cars when I talk to him next and let you know what he may have. I'm getting another EE wagon Friday morning! Might sell the Blazer this summer though.

[RUFFIAN]

Nice project. I have a suggestion. Get with Miles from Empire. the 2.3 ford powerplant that we run is 175 hp/180TQ stock. They come with garrett T/3 turbos, and they are very cost effective.I think Miles is putting down considerably more HP's with his Spitfire.

[JITB]

JITB-- That was actually my first thought. I still have most of the parts from my Miata parts car sitting around here, but trying to figure out a way to replace the PPF with a traditional tranny mount would be less easy than a KA with a 240 tranny, and less able to make power without going ragged-edge on it.

see u can throw the BP in it and have a blast...and not worry about it popping..randomly. You wont need much to make that car a rocket!

DO IT FOR MAZDA

[StraightSix]

Nice project.

I'm not sure about the swap, though. I'm a little bit of a purist when it comes to certain cars, and I think that a TR4 is rare enough now to warrant keeping mostly stock. Or, at least all Triumph. I can see both sides of the argument, though, and IMO it's a tough call.

[Revmaynard]

Hey, as long as he doesn't hack it all to death it can always be put back to stock. Now days it makes me sick seeing people turn Cuda's and other classic muscle cars into tubbed out race cars.

[StraightSix]

Hey, as long as he doesn't hack it all to death it can always be put back to stock. Now days it makes me sick seeing people turn Cuda's and other classic muscle cars into tubbed out race cars.

I hear ya there. That's something that bugs me too.

In the case of the OP's TR4, I can understand wanting modern reliability, power and parts availability. On the other hand, there is something to be said for the nostalgia of the original engine and enjoying the car the way it was originally designed.

Classic muscle cars are getting more rare, too, and cutting one up to go in straight line doesn't make much sense to me.

[Big_Dave]

whazzup, Ruff, Hows that JDM Merc doin'. So your crashing the Dam Old School Meet?

[RUFFIAN]

yeah I'm Reppin with my Merkurbishi!

[mogaffar]

ive got a fairly good condition Triumph TR6 with like 50k miles if im not mistaken, gimme a call at 404-247-5677 if you want to pick this thing up from me. Ill let it go fairly cheap.