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Reading John's (wjgco) post over in the TR6 section (http://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/53071-it-fits-but-not-sure-if-i-should-paint-it/ ) about making a radiator cowl got me wondering. My 5 hasn't got one and runs great, but was a cowl fitted to 5s as standard?

 

Darren

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I thought, as Niall, that it wasn't a standard fitting, but after seeing John's post and having another 6 owner I spoke to at a meet question me about the cowl (he thought I should have one), I became a little bit more unsure. And then, I also noticed that I do have the attachment holes, as you say Roger.

 

I've been going through a couple of books to find an early photo of a 5 engine. Best I've found so far is in Bill Piggott's Original Triumph TR, where on page 63 it shows an engine without the cowl. However, it's not an old photo and looks to be a rebuilt engine, so I'm not sure that it really answers the question.

 

Darren

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My tuppence worth: at our recent Triumph Day, 2 judges looked under the bonnet of my 250. One noted the absence of the cowl and the other one said that they were never fitted.

 

Having said that, the box of parts the PO gave me had one in it although I think it was a replacement rather than original.

 

On a completely different topic, I am about to replace the rubber coupling on the steering column. The workshop manual shows a star shaped one for the TR5, as per Moss at £25, but a square (-ish) one for the TR6 and TR250 ,as per Morris Marina £10 on ebay.

 

Maybe these things are just there to bemuse and befuddle us.

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Hi Darren, as far as i know its a definite no.

 

I have never seen on on a 5, but unsure why they didnt fit one, but if you fancy one , Why not.

All the best,

Conrad.

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Hi Darren,

AFAIK TR5 did not have a cowl originally but the TR250 had some side pieces fitted between radiator and front panel,but not a complete cowl. To add confusion I think the TR250 parts are shown in the original TR5 parts manual. I have seen the TR4 cowl modified and fitted on some cars.

Regards Ian

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There was a flat board on the left hand side of the rad and that was it as the right side has the air filter box, remember this is the first installation of a 6 cylinder and Triumph were starting to cost cut as well. They obviously learnt and re-introduced for the 6.

Stuart.

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Darren

 

My old cowl has the part number 910442 on it, which is the Rimmer number for what they call the Air Duct

 

If you want to investigate fitting a cowl / duct to your 5, my old one is available, if we can find a way of getting it from Essex to Nottinghamshire.

 

Don't want anything for it, they are less than £30 new and whilst it is complete and virtually undamaged, it was badly fitted originally and is now a little distorted.

 

Not enough to stop it fitting, you would just need to bend it about a bit!

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Thanks all.

 

OK, just to recap - 5s were not fitted with the type of cowling seen on 4s and 6s (as Niall, Al, Conrad and Ian say), but did have a flat board the other side of the rad from the air box (as Stuart says). And Stuart adds that the full cowl was dispensed with as a cost saving measure. When you say, Stuart, that they "obviously learnt and re-introduced for the 6", does that mean that you feel it would be better to have one on the 5?

 

Many thanks John for your kind offer of your old cowl. Not sure yet if I'll go down the route of fitting one, but I'll keep your offer in mind. I'll see what Stuart says about the merits of having one on a 5. All things being equal, I'll probably want to keep it as close to original as I can, unless there's a significant advantage in me having one.

 

Cheers, Darren

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Darrren

No plans to dispose of it, so, let me know

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It certainly wouldnt hurt to fit one to a 5 though you would need to modify a 4a one to fit as the front panel shape is the same (TR6 has different shape) but you need the cutout for the air filter box.They are available ready made by one of the Ebay sellers as Dave IOW has one on his in powder coated Ally.

Stuart.

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Hi, I'm a 2nd owner 4A, & rad cowl was never fitted at factory on mine (owned since 1979)

Doug

I think it would have had one as you dont know what had happened in the 12 yrs or so previous.

Stuart.

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Thank you for the additional information Stuart and Graham, and for the pictures Dave.

As it happens, I've just discovered a thread by Robin (from a search on "shroud", rather than "cowl") about putting a cowl on my 5 - http://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/29066-rad-shroud-for-a-tr5/. I know, I should have asked the "creator" first :).

Robin must have decided against in the end, but he was looking at this supplier - http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/adunn9?_trksid=p2047675.l2559. Is that the supplier you used Dave? If so, then it looks like at present he doesn't have one for the 5 available. Or, is it a case of asking for it to be made to order?

I see that Racetorations also do one (albeit rather more expensive) - http://www.racetorations.co.uk/triumphs-c56/tr4a-c8/tr4a-engine-c16/radiator-air-duct-p70.

 

Still in two minds about doing it, especially as the car's temperature seems fine on hot days and if anything a bit cold on winter days. I'll mull it over.

 

All the helpful information I've gained from this thread reminds me how great forum users are and how on a daily basis I pick up useful tips. It's always a surprise to me when I chat with TRR members at meets and say that I've learnt this or that from the forum, only to find that they themselves do not use it. I do think they miss out. What is really great for me is that the knowledge I pick up from the forum at least gives me something reasonably useful to discuss with members at group meetings.

 

Darren

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Thanks Stuart, there's no markings, clip marks to suggest there was one fitted, it also escaped the factory without having seatbelts fitted. The first time I took it for it's mot, the tester wouldn't issue a ticket until a new set had been fitted (after checking his testers manual on dates)

Doug

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Hi Darren, like you say, if you car is running well and keeping the right temperature, why would you fit one, especilaly as it goes against originality.

 

We all can do do what we like with our cars , and many have , so its a personal thing !

Cheers,

Conrad.

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Got one from Moss many years back . Opened up the package and laughed , throw it in with the spares collection so if it's still there and anyone wants it then i will post it to you .

 

ROY

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