My 1962 Triumph TR4

Archive for August, 2009

Found a copy of the Speed Sport booklet from 1968, Tuning and Adjusting SU Carburetors on-line. As you probably know, SU carbs were used on most British cars pre-1975. They can also be found on some motorcycles and other equipment. More importantly, other than a brief flirtation with the Stromberg carbs, most of the TR4s produced used SUs. This book even contains the needle charts.
Tuning SU Carbs

Found this diagram of the TR4 dashboard and all the instruments and switches.  Nice little cheat sheet to the layout. Still looking for an original owners manual – don’t want a reprint.

Figured this site is as good as anywhere to document some of the random notes I need to make.

I went to the storage unit and did some more assessment of the condition of the car and what might be present or missing. Also, just for curiosity’s sake, I used some polish on parts of the body to see how the paint would react. It did come up some and cleaned it up a bit, but no great miracle as to appearance. While there I also sprayed all the hinges and moving parts down with PB-Blaster (like WD40 on steroids but better) to start loosening things up.

And now the notes…

• Convertible top that was on the car, though long since shredded, was white.
• Hood, though from a later TR4, is solid along the front lip. Only one real rust spot and that is easily repairable.
• Carburetors and all linkages are intact and move well.
• Original air-cleaners were in the car, but have rusted and are not worth repairing.
• Tires still hold holding air after being pumped up when moved a week ago.
• All gauges are intact and look good.
• Ignition switch turn with key properly including spring return.
• Fuel pump “feels” good with priming lever.
• Tachometer drive intact.
• Water bottles intact.
• Grill looks good and not bent.
• Non-original scissor-jack in trunk.
• Spare wheel has at least one bent spoke.
• Dash padding cracked and metal dash needs total strip and repaint.
• Glove box works but interior cardboard box is shot.
• Floorpans need to be replaced.
• All lenses seem intact.
• Driver’s sun visor is transparent Plexiglas, there is none on passenger’s side.
• Inner door pulls and out handles intact. Door mechanisms not releasing.
• Window winder mechanisms are stuck, but seem intact. Window cranks missing end piece.
• Seat hardware intact, but seats need repair and re-upholstery.

That is all for now. Hope to be posting some more pictures or a video soon.

Just thought I would include some of the pages on the TR4 from the Triumph Buyer’s Guide. Enjoy!

TR4 Triumph Buyers Guide