A New Chapter Begins

I’m up in NH now and starting at the shop. There are three main cars on the restoration schedule. One that has been in the shop for total ground up restoration which is a ‘52TD. A ’53TD “racer” that is going from racing days to a leisurely driver. And my favorite a ‘48 supercharged TC, which is all original and my dad says it’s one of the best cars he’s seen that hasn’t had restoration work done.

Right now work is being done on the body tub of the ’52 TD after sandblasting the rear wheel wells we found rust holes that need to be cut out and replaced with a new pieces of sheet metal (sorry no pic on that one.) The chassis has been done for a while so hopefully this TD will be back on the road in the near future.

Fender well rust on the '52, not far from an old patch done years ago.

The TD racer (at least we think it was) that came to the shop a few months ago, complete with a family of mice , had the wrong carbs (larger ones for racing) has gotten a rebuilt set of original carbs. There was low compression on two cylinders so we pulled the head and did some valve work which solved that problem. After fixing a few minor problems with the distributor etc and a new fuel line and pump she was purring like a kitten. The missing radiator brace (removed for bigger air cleaners) was replaced. Brakes are done. Gas tank will be back on soon after the inside is coated.

The "New" old carbs

Work is being planned on getting the “racer” dash out and an original one pulled together. The scavenger hunt has begun for the center panel guages, the horn button etc. And she’s going to get a new interior.

"racer" dash (wiper motor wires are interesting)

The supercharged TC, “Blown” TC (I’m trying to give each project car a name), is in the parts gathering stage. This week I will pull the shocks and get them sent out with another set to get rebuilt. And somewhere I’m hoping to do a little something to my car. I’d really like to have something to take out on the road this year.