© 2018-2024 - Macy’s Garage, Ltd.
Blog
WHAT we’re doing, and HOW we’re doing it!
October 14, 2024
The decision to repair the damage rather than replace the whole apron was helped by the fact
that the “bad” stopped just before it reached over to the spare tire compartment opening or the
turn signal plinth. Had it been mangled just another inch or two over toward the center, we’d
probably be well along toward a new apron install by now. As it worked out, we were able to
slice the damaged area away from the apron just outside of the spare tire opening, and remove
the “bad” section as a single chunk. Not accessible from the rear? Problem solved! There is a
small rust section in the lower left corner, and the presence of some brazing indicated that it has
been worked on before. For now, we’ll concentrate on repairing the crumpled part, and save the
fabrication of a rust repair patch until all of the major damage has been repaired. Then we can
base the new rust repair patch on the position of our straightened metal and the location of the
left rear fender where the two will join. It’s really going to be easier that it looks right now!
October 7, 2024
As if we already don’t have enough work to do repairing rust in our old Triumph sports cars, then
there’s the damage caused over the last 40-60 years by abuse! This week, along with the start
of a new calendar quarter, we’re also going to start a small series of the repair to the left rear
corner of this TR3A. Rust and damage in the rear apron area is just about the hardest to repair,
as several panels come together in this area and it’s all sealed up with zero access to the back
side. While some would almost avoid restoring a car like this, many more would opt to install a
new reproduction apron with a base cost of $1700. While the new aprons look nice when you
open the box, we know from past experience that it will take many hours of work to make the
new pieces fit. After carefully considering our years of experience with these Triumph cars, our
talented metal shop crew felt that this could be repaired in about the same amount of time it
would take to make a reproduction apron fit, and save our client the $1700 cost of a new part in
the process. While the actual repair only took a couple of days, check back over the next few
weeks to see how we were able to economically save this mess from the scrap heap, and do so
without gallons of bondo as with the previous “repair”.
BLOG
2024-Q4
America’s BEST Triumph Shop