Video

I had to laugh at that pile of luggage! When I was in college, one snowy January evening I drove my TR4 from Boulder CO to the Denver airport to pick up my girlfriend, who was returning from a month-long holiday break between semesters. I had no idea how much luggage she had brought! Fit what I could in the boot, strapped more on the rack... but still had to put the top down to fit the last two or three bags! It was January, it was night, it was cold, it was snowing a little, there were a couple inches of the white stuff on the roads, and we had a 30 mile topless drive home! But we were young and fearless! We survived!

One CZcams certified mechanic calls the pinch bolts that retain the joint on the steering shaft the "bolts of death"... if left out or not properly tightened! 🙄 (He's not talking about Triumphs, either... most cars have at least one.) Over time the all metal, TR6 style joints will wear and get sloppy... occasionally need replacement. Of course the rubber ones harden with age and eventually need replacement, too. Latet TR4, TR4A and subsequent models mount the steering rack in rubber, so there won't be a whole lot of additional road vibration felt through the steering. The early TR4 had a solidly mounted steering rack, so at least one of the rubber "donuts" is a good idea. I can't tell from the images, but would hope the nuts on those pinch bolts are the locking type. The stronger all-metal locking nuts would be ideal (instead of Nylock).

I never trusted that rubber joint on my TR6. One of the English suppliers sells a solid shaft with u-joints at both ends. I replaced mine with that. Like you, I didn’t notice any extra harshness in the wheel after replacing.

You are so lucky having this happen when it did. I'll have to check my joint tomorrow. Funny you didn't feel any play in the steering before it failed.

Dave the clamps that hold the rubber joints are notoriously poor. They have a design flaw. The point where the bolts go in cannot exert enough clamping pressure. There is a fix by cutting a deeper slot for the bolts to clamp on. The UK Triumph Registry forum has several topics on this. I also fitted a TR6 universal joint to the lower shaft, but kept the rubber donut on the top (after doing the modification to the clamp.

Dot 5 and speed bleeders for the win!

Hi Dave in the group there is a light yellow TR6 with 5 bolt wheels. Can you pass on that persons name please. I’m interested in contacting him regarding his conversion. Thanks

Good video Dave. I noticed my 65 TR4A doesn’t have that spring mechanism. Just the cap and no seal at all. Where did you get that o ring?

Nice job !

Way to go Dave👏

Fantastic!! Luckily I’ve never been caught in the rain.

Do you have cruise control on your TR4A?

Great job Dave!

Love the car Dave… what size tires are you using please.. thanks

Is this for sale?

Good thing I am not close to Cincinnati to drive on this tour. Because I am in the process of breaking in the restoration of my TR4 with a Judson supercharger. So far about 250 miles into the break in period, the car stalled out and I was NOT out of gas. So I sat alongside the road for about an hour and could not get it started . Called a towing service and got it back home! The next day the car started up and I managed to go about 50 feet and the car stalled again!! So I suspect something is causing the Holly carburetor to fail or flood. So if I was on this tour, your group would have had a mechanical failure! The tour was a great drive and I yearn for the day to successfully finish one with this car. Thanks for the video. Is is very entertaining.

Dave, did you see that red brick building being built when you were a kid? 😉

Look forward to your next posting. Nothing like a drive with friends.

Outstanding results, Dave. Thanks for the video.

South Main Auto is a great channel. I get a lot of tips from him. Is that a HF blast cabinet in the background? I have one and have done a number of mods to make it work.

If you need more projects, you can come help me 😉

Keeping busy, thanks for the update.

Great ride, thanks for sharing!

I ordered a new top that had a zippered rear window much like a TR6 style top which will make driving in hot weather much more comfortable. It should be here in a few more weeks (hopefully). How about you?

Nice day for a drive. Thanks for taking us along. Do you have any plans for the Triumph this summer as far as modifications? /

I haven’t got anything out yet…rotten weather this week so maybe next week!

Stunning!

some good advice here. thanks Dave

Dave is excellent to deal with. Amazingly fast service.

Great group to travel with Dave.

Thanks for the honorable mention. It indeed was a catastrophic internal engine failure. But, all the parts are back from the machine shop, and I am looking forward to completing the engine rebuild in time for spring motoring.

Thank You for taking us along! Like they say it's not the destination it's the journey that you will always remember!

I missed that trip from Toronto due to the need for back surgery. That also meant I missed the chance to visit the Roadster Factory. (But, my back is fixed! )

Dave, I was only a customer, never a visitor. I had an idea to go there, but not in my TR6, as it is a long way from being on the road. Whenever I was in the general area of TRF, I was on my way to Michigan for a fishing trip. Thanks for posting this video, I will miss TRF and their will stocked warehouse.

Thanks for the video. I have never been there but it is such a sad loss. I've been ordering from them since 1988 up until I sold my car to Ashford in 2014.

Thanks for the memories! I hope they come back better than ever !

Never had a problem with a part I bought from them. Shame what happened.

i sure hope they rebuild or reopen some where! TRF will Rise Again!!

I had never been there before and I am really glad I got to go. It is really hard to tell, but the place was huge. It felt like it went on for miles, with parts everywhere. Dusty in places, but well organized. The dashboard and upholstery areas were also well stocked with tools and materials. Lots of nice packaging materials too. It was readily apparent that this folksy company was still very professional. But we also saw a graveyard of office chairs and CRTs, indicating that TRF employed a lot more people in its heyday.

After the fire, I relooked at pictures I took when I visited it back in 2006. So much lost forever. A huge loss for the Triumph community.

Thanks for posting this Dave. Also was that Tush and Elin on the tour with you?

Agreed Dave. Very sad turn of events. I am glad we got the opportunity to visit…I’m hoping that it wasn’t for the last time, and that the Roadster Factory will rise from the ashes…

Dave, i just discovered your site. Great stuff. I totally agree about making upgrades that improved the drivability of the car while still remaining true to its character. I've done similar upgrades to my 1970 TR-6; fusebox, alternator, volt gauge, radiator,...). My wife and I took it on the car train from Virginia to Orlando FL and then drove the 800 mile (round trip) to Key West a few years ago. It was a great trip but a little nerve wracking since it was the car's first long distance trip.

I meant Shine

You can usually count on the Corvette folks to hog the air in the room. But, what a tremendous effort and beautiful presentation of your cars. I sure wish my car had the shin that yours has. Well done Dave. I see the wipers worked flawlessly too. Great collaboration on that improvement. I'll send you an email on my latest project and NOS find. Best to everyone. JVV

I’ll take the TR for best in show 😉

Thanks for the video!!!!!!!!!!!!!

✨ "Promosm"

My dad had a Tr4 with knock off wire wheels.

Lovely car. What type of wheels does for car have? Are these wheels still available to your knowledge?