Some of us at Buckeye Triumphs decided to make lists of suitable gifts for Triumph Enthusiasts (ourselves).  After some discussions, we decided to merge the lists and then augment the result with some of our favorite tools, etc. and post it on the website as a public service.  Anyone who has a special tool or other Triumph-related item that would make a nice gift, please send a description to the Webmaster for inclusion below.   The Triumph Enthusiast can print the list and highlight items that they'd like to receive. 

Ideas:

The Roadster Factory (TRF) Gift Certificate (1-800-678-8764): These certificates can be purchased now (before Christmas 2001) for 85% of face value and it can be used during the sales to get an additional discount.  I don’t see how the bargain hunter can pass up this one.

Books are good too.  Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) stocks many.  Search by vehicle model: Triumph Spitfire, etc. Examples:

• The Complete Official Triumph Tr6 and Tr250, Model Years 1967-1976 : Comprising the Official Driver's Handbook, Workshop Manual by British Leyland Motors (Paperback - December 1978) $42

• How to Restore Triumph Tr5/250 & Tr6 by Roger Williams (Paperback - September 2001) $21

• The Haynes Weber Carburetor Manual : Zenith Stromberg-Su Carburetor Manual (Haynes Techbook Series) by A. K. Legg, Don Peers, Robert Maddox, John H. Haynes $18

• Triumph Cars in America, by Michael Cook. St. Paul, MBI Publishing Company, 2001. 192 pp. ISBN 0-7603-0165-4. $17.46

The best reference for dealing with Lucas mysteries in the TR250/TR6 is Dan Master's book Triumph TR250-TR6  Electrical Maintenance Handbook  The book can be ordered directly from Dan at http://members.aol.com/danmas6/ ($30 postpaid in US).  We understand a similar book covering the TR3 & TR4 is also available.           

Tools and other support items make a nice gift.  One good source of inexpensive reasonable quality measurement tools is Enco, (www.use-enco.com 1-800-873-3262).  Measurement tools a Triumph Enthusiast might find useful are:

• 0-6 inch Dial Caliper # AN610-5025 $14.99

• 0-1 inch Outside Micrometer #AN600-0021 $16.95

•  0-1 inch Dial Indicator # AN605-4070 $7.99, also need Magnet Base #AN625-3040 $11.89 for most Triumph applications.

• Crescent Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set.  A friend gave me a set of these last year --- love them.  They are fairly rugged and ratchet with a very small arc.  Set of four (3/8,7/16, ½, 9/16) AN890-9653 $24.95

•  2 – 6 inch Dial Bore Gauge #AN612-5920 $49.95

• HSS Tap & Die Set sizes 4-40 to ½ inch (Not a measurement tool, but very handy) #AN310-1311 $79.95.  

Craftsman (Sears) Sockets and Torque wrenches (both 3/8 and ½ inch drives are handy) are preferred.

Jay Welch reports on another Sears tool:  My daughters gave me a "Drill Doctor" for Christmas.  I only got to trying it yesterday.  I gotta tell ya...this is one fantastic  tool!  Got it on sale at Sears around Christmas time for around $75.  Some think that's a lot of money, but if you use drill bits on steel it doesn't take long to dull them.  I don't think you can buy a decent bit for under $2.00.  I did about 25 bits in less than 15 minutes.  You can also sharpen concrete bits.

Harbor Freight (www.harborfreight.com 1-800-423-2567) is another favorite for tools.  These are mostly made in China and suitable for the backyard mechanic (I would avoid their socket sets).  They have free shipping on orders over $50 so if you buy something heavy for $40, you might save money by purchasing small items to get total over $50.  Some suggestions:

• Digital Multimeter (For those Lucas mysteries) #37772-1VGA  $29.99.  (#33499-5VGA at $9.99 is less expensive alternative.)

• 9 Piece Wobble Extension Set (Use sockets at up to a 16^o angle) #31203-5VGA $9.99

• The following can be used as a substitute for virtually all Churchill Tools: 5 Piece hammer set (8 to 32 oz)  #36523- 0VGA $9.99 and 16 Piece Punch & Chisel Set #00249-8VGA $7.99

• Set of two 3 Ton Jack Stands   #38846-7VGA $17.99

• 2 Ton Compact Floor Jack #36119-1VGA $19.99

•  2 Ton Foldable Shop Crane (engine hoist) #35915-5VGA $249.99

• 4 TON Portable Hydraulic Kit #44899-0VGA $89.99

• 115 pc Drill Bit Set #01611-2VGA $39.99

• 6 inch Safety Wire Twister #45340-0VGA $8.99 with 0.041inch Stainless Wire #33367-1VGA $6.99

• 12 Ton Shop Press # 01667-2VGA $109.99

• 6 inch Bench Vise (great to hold U joints for beating).  This thing weighs 74 pounds. #03796-3VGA $49.99 

• Unibit Step Drill – great for drilling clean round holes in sheet metal 3/16 to 7/8 inch, #5751-2VGA $28.99

• 12 speed Bench Drill Press #31325- 3VGA $125.99

• 20 Gallon Parts Washer #7340-3VGA, $89.99

• Abrasive Blasting Cabinets --- will delight any recipient ------ search the Harbor Freight site for “Abrasive Blasting Cabinet or Blasting Cabinet” and select the largest size that will fit on the property.

Harbor Freight has a neat Portable Garage #42211-5VGA for $259.99.  This gift sends a special message to the Triumph Enthusiast: “here’s a new parking spot --- go find something to fill it”.

Handy tools that can be obtained at Auto Zone, Advance Auto Parts, etc:

•  Timing Light

•  Vacuum Gauge

• Compression Test Gauge  

• Feeler Gauges

If you really want to make the backyard mechanic happy, consider a four post hoist:  http://www.autolifters.com/  or http://www.backyardbuddy.com/ .  As seen from the photo, it can also serve to provide storage for the addition TR if one has a high ceiling.  I'm sure one brand of these is made for British Cars since it comes with three very large drip pans.

An Air Compressor and air tools will delight any TR enthusiast.   The proposed use should be considered carefully when choosing a compressor.  If blasting is not anticipated, then a compressor with 5 to 7 CFM delivery at 90 psi is adequate.  If one intends to blast, then a 12 to 15 CFM delivery at 90 psi is desirable.  The smaller units cost  $300 to $400 and the larger about $600.   If money is no object, then a two stage unit that delivers  17 CFM at 90 psi or greater pressure is an excellent choice.  I purchased a 3 cylinder single stage unit that delivers 18.5 CFM at 100 psi for $599 this past summer.  Caution, the horsepower ratings can be very misleading, use the air delivery specifications to compare units.  Lowe's and farms stores such as Quality Farm & Fleet and Tractor Supply Center (TSC) are excellent sources of compressors.

Once one has a compressor, then the tool hunt is on. Jay Welch posted the following list of his air tools with the priority of use.  Most these tools can be purchased from Harbor Freight  (see above) Lowe's and the Farm supply stores. 

• Eye protection 

• Pressure regulator 

• Moisture filter 

• 3/8 inch ratchet

• Blow gun with extension made out of flexible steel brake line...this works great to get at tough places

• 1/2" impact wrench

• Air chuck for tires

• Cutoff tool

• Grease gun - this is a goodie.  Got it at WalMart for less than $30

• Rapid-Reel hose reel

• Die grinder

• Chisel/hammer for exhaust etc

• Body saw - 10,000 strokes per minute - great for cutting panels

• Sandblast cabinet - see above -- bigger is better

• Paint spray guns

• Pressurized sand blaster

• 3/8 inc drill 

• Dual action sander

• lots of good 3/8" rubber hose.  I have both Goodyear and Makita.  I would recommend using the Makita.  The Goodyear tends to weep an oily substance in the cold weather.  I think it might be a release agent of some sort used in the manufacture of the hose.  The Makita doesn't do it.  The cheap hoses are a PIA in the cold weather as they don't like to uncoil very well.