1969 Triumph GT6+ build

So my grandfather left me a !969 Triumph gt6, he was into using whatever parts he could get his hands on to fix cars and make them go fast down the dirt roads he lived on. So not that it made the trip from his home in Missouri to New Jersey, it's time to start rebuilding her after 33 years of sitting. First things first, time to strip her down.

Cool!

Following along - got a buddy who bought one that's been sitting for 9 years -- after getting it running/short drive to see what he's got, he's started the teardown. We have a play date to re-assemble the tranny next Tuesday.

[URL=http://s937.photobucket.com/user/MichaelYount/media/Various%20Other%20Cars/72GT6_zps7e343378.jpg.html][/URL]

I've always liked these cars but I don't think I'd fit in one.

I've also got a '69 GT6+, loads of fun to drive, not so much to work on ;(
(step 1: replace rotoflex axles with CV axles from Canley)

Nice, will be watching. Mine is sitting in the shed right now as I work on other projects. But if you're interested, I do have a build thread from a while back when I did the "first refresh"

http://club.triumph.org.uk/cgi-bin/forum10/Blah.pl?m-1206842587/

Man that kit is expensive, and you're right this car hasn't been terribly fun to work on so far. It seems as though my grandfather thought bondo was the be all end all in body repair and just slathered this thing in it. not to mention that I found some pretty nasty frame rot by the frame vin,

It's worse underneath, however I have it down to the frame plus motor, trans, and rear diff. So next on the list is to get to cleaning up the frame and weld in new metal to save it. Oh for anyone that might want to get down to the frame, you're going to need atleast 4 strong guys to lift it, It's terribly heavy. Here's where I'm at now.

Also with the Canley CV kit, you will likely have to take your hubs to a machine shop to get clearanced, since they're not centered on the hub for some reason. FYI.

I always love see other GT6 builds. Keep up the good work! What are your plans with the car? Just straight restoration?

Here is a link to my GT6 build: http://www.theturboforums.com/threads/365625-1967-Triumph-GT6?highlight=gt6

I'm actually not sure as of now what the plan is. I'm waiting on a call from the machine shop as to an estimate for the engine rebuild. If it's way out of line I might go looking for something else fun to put in the car. At one point I did see someone had put a 4g63 into a spitfire. Maybe it's time to put one in a gt6.

The best part about the GT6 (aside from its looks) is the old-school six (especially with some larger SUs or Webers on it). The chassis, suspension, and interior are certainly not high points...The engine is what give the GT6 its character, IMO.

irish44j wrote: The best part about the GT6 (aside from its looks) is the old-school six (especially with some larger SUs or Webers on it). The chassis, suspension, and interior are certainly not high points...The engine is what give the GT6 its character, IMO.

I agree. I just ran into the problem of having a motor that needed way to much machine and parts work to be worth it. Hopefully BroncoEvolution doesn't run into the same thing. But if you do, check out http://www.britishv8.org/Photos-Triumph-Conversions.htm for some really cool ideas.

I'd rather just keep the original engine in there and just go with it, its just after 30+ years of sitting in a garage I don't trust it not to need something major. I'll probably end up doing the bottom end myself, the head I want to have hardened valve seats put in so I can just use unleaded gas. well that and it needs some long overdue cleanup.

BroncoEvolution wrote: I'd rather just keep the original engine in there and just go with it, its just after 30+ years of sitting in a garage I don't trust it not to need something major. I'll probably end up doing the bottom end myself, the head I want to have hardened valve seats put in so I can just use unleaded gas. well that and it needs some long overdue cleanup.

believe it or not, the engine in mine has NEVER been rebuilt or even the head taken off....since 1970. And for the last 15 years it even has a corner of the head attached with JB Weld (long ago, dad dropped something heavy on the corner of the head and cracked a piece off). Still runs like a top, and it was on unleaded gas for 10 years or so of daily driving duties in the 90s, as well as my occasional driving during the last decade.

Also at least two times in its life it sat for 5+ years without being driven. After both times I just primed the oil pump, shot some marvel mystery oil in the cylinders, and cranked it up It's a pretty stout engine I'd say :)

So the motor shop quoted me $3600 for the full motor rebuild and just $300 plus parts for the head. So it looks like I'll work on some of the other problems while he rebuilds the head and I gather the parts to rebuild the bottom end.

take a look at TSI Automotive in Ohio. Ted Schumacher there is one of the real GT6 engine building pros, and he may give you a better quote.