Mission Accomplished – Nick’s Triumph Stag is Back on the Road

I am pleased to announce my most ambitious restoration project of late has finally been completed. And, no --- it wasn’t anything remotely involving HF radios or electronics. After 3+ years, my 1973 Triumph Stag’s restoration is complete!

Oh, what an adventure this has been. Back in July 2024, the goal of having the 'nearly complete' Stag ready for the March ’25 British Car Show in Covington, LA was an absolute certainty….nope…. A steady, serial progression of unusual mishaps (also known as ‘snake-bit’ bad luck) kept cropping up. The most perplexing issue saved itself for last and involved smokin’ front brakes.

Triumph Stags utilize a dual-channel brake system, coupled with a vacuum-assisted brake booster. Early in the restoration, the brake booster was sent out for repair and testing by an experienced firm that specializes in those sorts of components. The front brake calipers were sleeved and rebuilt, the rear brake shoes/wheel cylinders replaced, the original brake lines converted to stainless steel, and a brand-new dual master cylinder installed. Brake lines bled using synthetic brake fluid, all was ready for the exciting first test drive.

I managed to get five blocks from home before the two front brake calipers locked up, with copious amounts of smoke billowing from both red-hot brake rotors. (And I mean locked up solid…the two front wheels refused to roll since the brake pads had the rotors squeezed in a death grip!) After a cool down -- it and me --, the Stag managed to limp home…barely. Believing the rebuilt front brake calipers were the ‘obvious’ culprit and in a valiant effort to get the Stag wrapped up and done, a brand-new caliper set was next expressed shipped from Rimmers Brothers (England), installed, and soon ready for the next ‘smoke test.’

Yes…more smoke and soon found beached on the road’s shoulder.

Piece-by-piece, the brake system was again dissected until the only part left to question was the brand-new (and very costly) Lockheed Brake Master Cylinder. Of course, it was defective…allowing the front and rear brakes to engage but not allowing pressure in the front brake circuit to bleed off when one’s foot was removed from the pedal.

I won’t elaborate on the many weeks and piles of money wasted tracking this last ‘defect’ down…let’s just say birds, pets, and people had ample sonic reasons to steer clear of the Stag’s garage -- while the brake system ‘onion’ was peeled back, layer by layer. The net result, though, has been well worth the effort. And, is quite the beauty.

So, back to radios, right? Nope, my XYL's vintage Triumph GT6 Mk3 is already snugged up on a "body rotisserie' and so, the next British car restoration begins. Oddly enough, my two best car restoration helpers are also Ham radio operators... 73 Nick

This beautifully restored Triumph Stag, featuring a striking paint job by Inferno Customs, showcases meticulous craftsmanship with every component painstakingly refurbished and reinstalled to perfection.

A 1973 Triumph GT6 Mk3, secured on a body rotisserie, sits in my workshop ready for restoration. This setup facilitates easy access for essential tasks like sheet metal replacement and dent removal, paving the way for a flawless finish.