67 Triumph GT6 project

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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

My GT6 project is getting a reboot after a long hiatus. Life changes on my part and health issues of the person helping me with the car (Don Cole) brought the project to a halt for several years. Don's passing a couple of weeks ago forced me to make a decision with the car.

After collecting the car and all of the parts (I hope!) that were scattered in various sheds, garage, side of the house, and under leaves, it is time to regroup. Half the parts need to be reorganized, bagged, and labeled. The body, chassis, and misc parts are set to go to the media blaster next week. Still searching for some paper work on the motor to figure out which machine shop has it.

After picking it up this past Saturday, I was feeling defeated as I looked at the mess I had on a trailer and in boxes in the back of a pick-up. Now that the parts are a little more organized and I can see what I have, I don't feel as bad, though there is a lot of work ahead! Big thanks to Martin Keller for the tow and his GT6 knowledge, Dave Wellwood for the temp storage space and guidance, and Jim Belardi for use of the trailer. I couldn't have got the car out of there without all the help from these great people. Rest in peace Don. I'll do my best to get this done!


That's not a lift kit you see under the GT6. The Triumph frame is resting on an old Lotus Elan chassis to allow the car to be moved more easily.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by Larry Kluss »

Patrick, I'm sorry to hear about Don's passing. I spoke with him several times swapping information about modifications to our MGB's. He was a nice guy.

Glad to see you're getting back into the GT6 project. Look forward to seeing it completed.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

Made some great progress this week! The body and frame are being finished up at the media blaster. The body looks great! The only rust is in the battery box. There is some evidence of a dent repair by the left headlight. Other than those 2 things and some minor dents here and there, the body is in great shape! The original floors look like new! All those years in the Mojave Desert have been kind to the metal bits. Next week, the chassis will be painted. Soon parts can actually start going back on to the car rather than coming off! :D

The block will get picked up from the machine shop along with several bins of engine parts from two motors and go to the engine builder next week. Happy to finally see some progress!
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Last edited by rally_x on Tue Dec 05, 2017 2:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by Martin Keller »

Hi Patrick,

Boy the body of your GT6 is in a lot better shape than mine was when I started to put it back together after stripping it to get ready to paint.
Let me know when you want to pick it up.
:drive
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by VWNate1 »

Nice to see this Trumpet coming back to life as it should, not just patched up poorly again :thumbs: .

I'd like to see some links for paint chips, the single link provided is bad .

TIA & keep us posted ! .
-Nate
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

I haven't made a decision on the color yet but have narrowed it down to two options. These pics are the inspiration. I like the BRG used on the Jaguar C Types. It is a really dark green with more black in it than the 60's BRG's had. Hope to have 2 sets of painted wire wheels for different looks - one in silver and one in black.


The other option I'm considering is the DB5 silver with oxblood interior (darker red color than what is in this photo)
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by Steve Simmons »

Those would both look really good on a GT6. If I had to choose one, I'd choose BRG.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by Larry Kluss »

I vote BRG. I think it would look great on your GT6.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by VWNate1 »

BRG is a classic colour that never goes out of style .
-Nate
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

Finally have an assembled motor for the GT6! This car hasn't had a running motor in it since 1974. The motor consists of a MK III GT6 block, TR6 head, spin on filter, oil supply line to the head, and several internal improvements over stock. Getting this together removed several plastic storage bins from the parts pallet :)

The gearbox is next in line.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by VWNate1 »

Atta boy Patric ! .

that's the best way to build engines : cherry pick the best bits and assemble them to a proper " BITSA " :thumbs: .
-Nate
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by Steve Simmons »

I've always thought those engines were good looking.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

Made another unfortunate discovery this weekend. The second used diff I had for the GT6 is also welded. Used 327 diffs are tough enough to find and now I can see why. A lot of them were probably used up in race cars. Unfortunately the GT6 doesn't share many parts with other Triumphs. The 327 was designed to go with non-overdrive cars.


On to problem number 2. The gearbox I have is basically junk. Several gears are missing teeth and/or are pitted. This has also been difficult to source. Buying a core for a rebuild is expensive and you have no idea what you are getting until it is opened up.

The solution, though more expensive, will be a Toyota 5 speed conversion combined with a Spitfire diff. Spitfire diffs are everywhere and should work well with the 5 speed trans. Many people have done this swap on other Triumph models. I was assured that the kit will work with minimal modification to the GT6 frame.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by Steve Simmons »

I didn't realize GT6 parts were so hard to come by. You can find MGB diffs and gearboxes on every street corner.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

Triumph Spitfire parts are everywhere as well. Unfortunately that's not the case with the GT6. The GT6 shares a lot of parts the the Vitesse and the Herald but there are even fewer of those around here :(
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by HealeyBN7 »

rally_x wrote:The solution, though more expensive, will be a Toyota 5 speed conversion combined with a Spitfire diff. Spitfire diffs are everywhere and should work well with the 5 speed trans. Many people have done this swap on other Triumph models. I was assured that the kit will work with minimal modification to the GT6 frame.
I have a Toyota Supra box in the Peerless (never driven) and in the Healey (15 years now with the Toyota box). The Warwick has a rebuilt TR3/4 box with overdrive in 2/3/4 and new synchros. While the Healey is effortless to shift, there is something very satisfying about the click-snap-mechanical shift in the Warwick. If it is at all feasible to rebuild the original box, I would try to head down that path. The differential is another matter and I would think if the ratio was the same you won't notice the difference.

Dean
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by Martin Keller »

Hi Patrick,

The Toyota five speed gear box will not fit the GT6 frame without a lot of modifications which will also necessitate the trans tunnel to also be modified. The only five speed gear box that will fit with minimal modifications to the trans tunnel is the Merkur five speed which is the T9 gear box. It still requires the modification of the frame and trans tunnel and driveshaft but only a little and the kit is readily available at several vendors for the modification. SpritBits has the complete kit for GT6 MK1-GT6 MK3 Item #: SBKGT65SPEED for the sum of $4,175.00.
Also Remmer Bross UK has the GT6 gear box in stock with and without the overdrive, the overdrive unit is found on the link. http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID008019
The price is $981.37 Exchange Surcharge $626.41 so a phone call to them would be recommended to get the whole description and to make sure that you get the correct parts. The p/n is RG1045R for the D-type overdrive gear box.
The differential you would need can also be sourced from them also. That p/n is 518946R and the price is $542.88 Exchange Surcharge $313.20.
There are other sources for the stock diff and the trans here in the states but they get them from the UK I suspect.
With the value of the dollar to the pound at the present time it is worth the phone call to order them from the UK and know that they are the correct parts that will fit and work I think.
Hope this helps.
:drive
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by tannyo »

It seems like it would be less expensive just to rebuild the current box.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely look into these other options. I have plenty of other things to work on to keep the project moving while I put some more thought into this.

Rebuilding the current box is out. It was completely disassembled and is missing parts. The stuff that is there is not in good condition.
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Tranny Options

Post by VWNate1 »

Even then I'd imagine a used or rebuilt stock box from Jolley Olde Englande might be the thing $ - wise .

As you mentioned : they're good boxes and a joy to drive .
-Nate
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

I need to go through this blog and fix all the missing photos!

I've made some progress over the past couple of months. I purchased a 5 speed Ford T9 trans kit from the UK. Even with shipping, the cost was quite a bit less than purchasing one from one of the US vendors.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

Body work has also been moving ahead. Fortunately other than some small dents and dings, no major body work is needed.
(Thanks to Martin Keller for the pic)
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by VWNate1 »

Good to see progress ! .
-Nate
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

Some more progress pics: The rusty battery box has been cut out and a new metal one welded into place. The rear cross support has been returned into place. Doors now look as good as new.
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Re: 67 Triumph GT6 project

Post by rally_x »

Getting closer to paint!

thanks Martin Keller for the pic
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