mleadbeater Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 My part-restored Tr2 came with a fibreglass front shroud, which, after 2 attempts to paint it, keeps developing blister marks from the filler used in correcting the moulding imperfections. Before I replace it, I wondered if anyone has an unwanted steel shroud? any condition would do, as I am reasonabley capable of restoring a rotten one. Cheers Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hi Mike ~ Did you use an aerosol primer/filler? These things cause more trouble than they're worth. (Don' ask me how I know! ). Aerosol primer/fillers react badly with the top coats. If you can't get a steel shroud, speak to a qualified paint sprayer who will know how to deal with your situation. My 3A has to go back to the painters due to lifting problems with my paintwork (on my steel bodywork) because I used some poxy aerosol primer/filler! Regards ~ Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hi Mike, I have a tired, all steel front apron, can't remember if its a 2 or 3, and if there is much of a difference. See how you go on, and if you have no success, I'll dig the thing out, and get some pohoto's to you. Meanwhile if any expert can tell me the difference, if any, I'lknow what I've got. John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hi John ~ The only difference between the 2 & 3 apron was that the 2 had a completely enclosed air scoop. The 3 had the top section of the scoop removed thus resulting in inferior cooling. This open scoop was carried on to the 3A so the cardboard air scoop had to be introduced. Anyone who would like to see the modified alloy air scoop I made for my 3A then please PM me your eMail address. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 My 1956 "3" has a complete air scoop, & I believe it to be original ? Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Yes Bob ~ early 3's had the complete air scoop but later models had the top section removed. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mleadbeater Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Tom, the imperfections in the gel coat before painting were filled with fibreglass polyester resin. The surface was then flatted with 2k filler/primer and finished with 2k gloss. It took several months and perhaps warm weather for the pattern of the 'blisters' to be raised, which I flatted and top-coated over, now after a few more months the blisters have re-appeared just as badly in this warmth. No ideat what has caused this, maybe air trapped in the 'wormholes' of the surface. Not sure how to cure, so proppse to replace the shroud with a better fibreglass one or, better still, a steel one. John very interested in your shroud, I could easily collect as I am in York, please send me a PM with a photo and what you want for it. Cheers Mike PS this forum is brilliant! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hi Mike ~ Regarding my spare shroud. I'm seriously thinking of fitting it to my 3A as I really don't like the 3A grill. I've always preferred the TR3 shroud. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 ...Regarding my spare shroud. I'm seriously thinking of fitting it to my 3A as I really don't like the 3A grill. I've always preferred the TR3 shroud.... You and me both, Tom. I fully expect to have my car with a TR3 front apron before too long. But I've been told that if anything, the TR3 style with the cutaway portions in the top of the snout provide better cooling. No personal experience comparing the two, but some knowledgeable folks have reported it to me and it does seem odd that Triumph would have made a change for no apparent reason other than to make the cars worse? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Don, Nobody ever made a mistake underestimating the capacity of a manufacturer to do the right thing ! Just think if any manufacturer makes any product and even if by a miracle manages to make it perfect how do they sell it next year ? Manufacturing reason dictates that a newer product even if altered so that it is inferior to the current product is the one to sell, and so they dissemble what is perfectly functional and "improve" it even making it less efficient and not as good. Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 (edited) Mick, You've summarized perfectly my feelings about the TR3A/B vs TR3 shroud/grille. Mybe it was the correct styling solution for American tastes at the time, but I sure don't get it. I have a lot harder time applying that logic to the upper face of the duct on a TR2/3. The difference takes real work to distinguish. They musta had some technical reason for doing it, right or wrong. There'd have been no way to sell this tiny, esoteric difference in the duct. PS: Congratulations on your 1001st post! Edited July 22, 2014 by Don H. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Crikey how postings fly, thanks Don here's to your forthcoming 1000th post, 113 and counting. Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Mike you have PM. John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 When they omitted the upper section of the air intake this caused the airflow to take the easiest route over the top of the radiator instead of through it thus creating an overheating problem. The TR3A with the 'wide mouth' made things even worse! That is why they introduced the cardboard air scoop but even this had the upper section missing so it didn't cure the overheating problem! If anyone would like to see my aluminium air scoop (complete with the upper section) please PM me your eMail address. Fabricating the aluminium air scoop is very easy to do ~ believe me!! Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Apart from the radiator grill etc., I thought there were changes to how much the headlights protrude between the 2 and certainly the 3a. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Yes that's right, the 3A front is a different shape in many places. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 The change in the mouth on the TR3 shroud was done to allow cool airflow to the carbs as the factory was finding with the fully enclosed aperture the carbs were running on the warm air that had already been through the radiator.So not a retro step. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vivdownunder Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 The TR3 was upgraded to 4 x mount bolt 1.75" SU carbies which were found to absorb more engine heat soak than 2 bolt TR2 carbies. Fuel vaporisation became a problem in hot climates. The TR3 apron no longer carried a grille at the back of the chute, so a cutout was introduced to try and help. They should have also introduced an insulated fuel pipe bracket at the thermostat housing, but didn't get around to that until the post 60K TR3A. Ways of apron identification are - TR2 apron had grille mounts at the rear of the chute. TR2 apron may or may not have holes around the chute entry for a chrome reveal. Reveals differed - early type was a U shaped optional extra. Last TR2 aprons had holes right around the chute entry for the factory fitted full surround TR3 type chrome reveal. An intact badge reads TR2. TR3 aprons with or without the cutout had 4 x holes towards the front of the chute for fixing the egg crate grille. Holes went right around the entry for the two piece chrome reveal. Badge if intact reads TR3. TR2 and TR3 aprons both had the same more protruding headlight pods than a TR3A apron. Viv Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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