1969 Triumph TR6DOOR REFURBISHING

RESTORATION PROJECT-

DOOR INTERIORSOUND AND TEMPERATURE INSULATION

The rear end of the auto is no longer a noise suspectarea but during a test drive both doors of the TR6rattle loudly and make knocking noises with only theslightest of road bumps. It appears the doors must beinspected more thoroughly.

Everything visible on the outside of the doors isinspected, lock washers added where missing and allbolts tightened. The noise comes from within. Drats !!The door must be taken apart and inspected inside.After many futile attempts to remove the windowcrank handle and the door opener handle, neighborEdgardo Hernandez arrives and quickly demonstratesthe “push out the pin” technique.

Every moving part inside the door is in a state ofpoor maintenance. Most of the bolts are loose, rustis developing on the frame and no moving partappears to have been greased in decades.

Six hours of hand labor spent sanding away rustdown to white steel. Every square inch of door framethen cleaned and recleaned. All surfaces washedwith Xylol to remove any oil that might be present.All bolts tightened and the door separated from theauto and surroundings with newspaper, painter’stape and finally drop cloths. Automotive grey primerpaint then was applied.

1969 TR6 RESTORATION

Two coats of high gloss red paint andthe interior door frame is starting tolook like a half way decent amateurrestoration. All the moving parts wereproperly masked against over-painting.

The door latch opener arm was seen to bemoderately rusted once the trim panel wasremoved. The arm was sanded down to whitesteel to remove all the rust. Grey primer paintand one coat red was initially applied. Thenthe arm was masked with newspaper, blackautomotive primer and two coats of flat blackautomotive paint applied.

The passenger door has now been sandedto remove all rust; primer and painted andwith all moving parts properly greased. Allthe door fasteners, bolts and screws havebeen tightened and missing piecesreplaced. The latch mechanism adjustedand the door now stays closed and locked.

Now it is time to install the noise deadeningmaterial.

BUT WAIT !!WENDY IS HOLLERING ABOUTSOMETHING CRAWLING TOWARDME........... BEHIND MY BACK!!!!

1969 TR6 RESTORATION

Sneaking up behind me from the front yard was theMother of all iguanas. The monstrous beast withlashing tail tried to run past me to get to our Koipond in the backyard.

Poor Wendy, cowering in stark fear for her life as thegaping green jaws of death snapped at her. But thistime, no four month ordeal with our swimming poolbeing used as an iguana toilet. The beast attemptedto build it's lair in our garage. This time, the SOB green intruder was quickly caught and sent down theriver.

ORLANDO TO THE RESCUE

The "Beast from Hell " was probably the betterpart of nine feet in length. 6 inch long,powerful claws like a Kodiak bear that can ripa man to shreds in a heartbeat.

Beady, evil eyes that see everything. Jaws sostrong they can crack coconuts like

eggshells.

Finally the Beast from Hell is captured.

Thanks Orlando !!

1969 TR6 RESTORATION

WHEW !! We are all very happy The Beast isback in the river where it belongs. Now back tothe task at hand. Noise abatement of the passen-ger side door.

Dale opted to use heavy grade, medium grey,tufted nylon carpet with polyester backing. Thecarpet was approximately 3/8” thickness.

Newspaper was cut into jigsaw pieces to obtaina pattern shape for the inside shell of door. Thepattern shape was also inked along glue accesspositions. The pattern was transferred to the 4’ X6’ piece of carpet.

The final cut pieces are now ready to insert intothe door shell interior. Contractor gradebonding adhesive was applied to the door shelland carpet pieces with a 5 minute cure timebefore installing the individual pieces. Thefinished sound abatement of the passengerdoor looks neat and trim.

Now the test drive with fingers crossed.

WOW!! Double WOW! The door makes nonoise whatsoever. The rear end is now sporty with the throaty sound of the TR6 exhaust.

A final Note:

This renovation project of the passen-ger side door took approximately 18hours from start to finish. The driver’sdoor will take much less time-- fromlessons learned. Total cost was $31 inmaterials.

This noise abatement project wouldprobably be useful for TR owners wholive in the colder climates. The doorshell insulation will keep the carinterior warmer during the coldweather months.

1969 TR6 RESTORATION