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Hi all side screen owners,thinking of getting a TR3 just wondering what wet weather protection is like in the real world with properly fitted side screens and hood.I've had 3 TR 6's and a TR 5 so had a bit of experience with soft tops,just wondering what my expectations should be can they be made water tight...ish.

 

Thanks Andy

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I think if everything is fitted perfectly (a challenge) the weather equipment can be effective although I suspect in the worst rainstorms some water is going to find a way in/under something so have a towel handy.

 

Unlike the TR6, putting the TR3 top and sidescreens on is a project so you need to plan ahead and also the top and sidescreens pretty much fill the boot so additional planning is needed there.

 

Stan

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My 3a is much more water tight than my TR4a was many years ago and withstood the "Harrogate Deluge" a couple of years ago with the only ingress being between the top of the windscreen and the soft top and dripping onto our knees. Our TR4 with TR6 windscreen capping and header rail on the Surrey top has been known to leak in the same area during downpours.

All in all ......not a problem.

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Andy

 

If your hood has that extra piece that goes over the Tenax pegs, then there is no way water will get in over the windscreen.

Erecting the hood and side screens can be quite a lengthy task as opposed to windy up thingies and yes they take up boot space,

but that is what sidescreen cars are all about (proper sports cars).

Here in Spain it don´t rain that often, but we had some two weeks ago in the Sierra Nevada, a bit claustrophobic I thought, but without the sides in, it´s great motoring.

 

Dave

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The worst downpour I've had was back around 1980 in France. I had to stop, not for the rain getting in, but because the wipers became useless. You'll get a drop or tow but nothing to worry about if the hood and sidescreens are properly fitted.

 

If you're travelling, and sense some rain might be coming drive without the sidescreens but with the hood in place. I often do that, not because of impending rain, but to keep out of very hot sun.

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I pretty much agree with all the above. I had to drive my TR3a for about 150 miles of torrential rain last year and the only leak was a drip down the windscreen wiper spindles - they need new O ring seals.

 

Rgds Ian

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I've have driven sidescreen cars for 48 years. They just ain't waterproof and to my mind are meant to be driven with at least the roof off all the time. Best insurance is to carry your sailing or golfing gear in the boot if you want to stay dry and if a few drips or many get in it's only water!

 

James

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Andy

A trick I learned at Morges is, when the hood is up fix the tonneau cover to the scuttle pegs and spread it out over the cab when parked. When driving fix the tonneau to the passenger side only to keep the Boss dry or drier.

 

Dave

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Compared with a MX-5 my TR3 is leaking "like hell" but to pin it down:

 

- Light rain: No problems at all

- Medium rain: Some drops coming from a still unknown source in the scuttle - dripping slowly on the gearboxtunnel and/ or leg below the knees

- Heavy rain: The seal at the top of the windscreen gets wet/ soaked. When driving fast there is (little) water coming in at the windscreens lower rear edge (at the ellbow piece). There seems to be some drag into the cabin there & a lot of water in the air that low above the road.

- Very heavy rain: Adjust (reduce) speed so that dripping from the top of the windscreen stops - then the speed is still similar to all other cars on the road.....
​ Little leckage at the channels of the sidescreens: The water is trapped in there and has to leave somehow

 

No Leckage between sidescreen/ windscreen although there is a gap of 1/4...1/2

 

So to put it in a nutshell: A TR3 is not watertight, but if you get wet inside the TR3 then you should better not drive under these conditions

 

Regards, Johannes

 

 

 

I do not have this additional flap at the front of the hood - this would help probably

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i have stopped the ingress between the top of the windssreen and hood using WHSmith bulldog sationary clips...very effective. I also have some clips on the hood which hook onto the sidescreenS to stop hood lift .When all that is done its pretty good.

Tom

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I opt (not in this particular order for:

- Musto foul weather gear (pref the HPX version - Southern Ocean proven gear)

- Driving in sunny weather

- Use another car

 

Seriously, I have no idea if my car is weather proof and I don't intend to try it. Perhaps the TR is built for driving in the worst weather, I am not. Afaik, there's only one classic -non 4x4- car capable of beating any kind of weather: Saab 96, with a heater under the bonnet that takes half the engine bay's space! My 96 is an Artic Version with reinforced rubber seals around the door, engine heater and a triple speed heater fan (most had a double speed fan).

 

Menno

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getting a sidescreen car rain proof is impossible, but there are some things to do to get the least wet possible:

 

- softtop with extra flap between windscreenrubber on top and sofftop. Works great ! Example:

20121207_075547.jpg

 

 

- get the softtop to flip over the sidescreens (you can flip it outwards when in the car)

- sidescreens neatly in line with the windscreen stanchions, with the little flap in the stanchion

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- rubber strip in the doors. I retrofit it to my tr2, but the later cars have them. keeps your leegs from getting wet. I dont have a picture from the rubber strip itself, but you can see the holes for the clips:

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- the rubber seal between scuttle and screen the right way so it really seals in stead pointing upwards

 

- some kind of towel to fit in the corner of your sidescreens and the scuttle, see the room /gap on the lower right corner

Wwvdy2Kpb1RY5F167jSYnsbLpQ2uhblwTxN1ZIuK

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In my youth the simple answer was rubber mats, tonneau, waterproof seat covers, and 'bike leathers.

 

That way you could drive on aeroscreens regardless.

 

The Doretti was a great improve, anything over 30 and the rain just went over your head - windscreen at the right angle.

 

Cheers,

 

Alec

Edited by Alec Pringle
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Edwin ~

 

You seem very lucky in having a 'Fawn' coloured hood! Where did you get it from? Are all your weather equipment 'Fawn' coloured?

Lucky you!

 

Tom.

 

Tom,

 

The fawn hood is a sample i got from internet, The Blackberry trim pictures is my TR2.

 

John Skinner did my hood and the extra flap was a special order. my previous hood had such a flap and it works great, it was a robbins softtop: http://www.robbinsautotopco.com/toppings-sf.php

 

But im sure john skinner can find you a fawn material te make a top ! ask for the extra flap !

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That fawn is available from Motobuild in the UK. My weather gear is all a similar colour. They make everything including sidescreens

I had my sidescreens done by them after Skinner shipped the same material as the tonneau to them. Very Nice sidescreens only the lower part is a bit too large, so still have to have that done.

Edited by EdwinTiben
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Re; the gap at the lower front end of the sidescreen I normally give that bit a little bend to conform more to the shape and fit a strip of memory foam just along the bit that isnt in contact with the scuttle, cures all that.

Stuart.

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