EdwinTiben Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Well, devil is in details, they say. I'm about the build in the steering box and tube. While looking how, i noticed a little detail in Bill P. book. There seems to be a difference in the grommet used on the cars? I have added a picture and circled the difference in the grommet. Could be this is just an owners own decision, cant find any change in the production number Nothing big, but changing afterwards is a bit of a thing , so do it right first time.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 The left hand picture is correct for early cars though I dont know when it changed to the rubber boot version. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Never seen that early type before, but then my sdescreens have been 3As in the 56,000 range. The later type of grommet needs to be tucked into a slot, formed on the bulkhead with a strip of metal. So - if you have the strip, then the later style grommet will be correct. If not, then you will need to find/adapt a plain grommet that works AlanR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Early cars dont have the strip and the metal plate is shaped with a return round the outside and countersinks for the screws. The rubber is just a flat piece with holes in. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Ah thank you guys ! i have this piece of rubber for the blanking plate on the other side, so will replicate this with a hole for the tube on the steering side. Interesting to see the little details differ from what is know in the books.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Mine being an early car TS 9551 It had the flat rubber seal - held in place by a steel triangular plate with "curled over edges". The car has two of these plates -left & right handed. Include in my "grommet set" from the TR shop was one of the rubber seals (flat triangular rubber with rounded corners) which had a cental hole aprox 15mm dia. I believe this is to allow part of the cable loom to exit the engine compartment on later cars. I ordered an extra seal without the central hole (TR shop) & used that on the passenger side, then used the original - first enlarging the hole - for the steering column. It was tricky to get it all aligned without the column touching the bulkhead, or the metal plate, but just about got there eventually. I suspect that the change to the large funnel shaped seal was to make this fitting easier. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Here's what the TRA judging guide says about the steering column grommet: Steering Blanking Plugs. Two rubber plugs are used where the steering tube enters the firewall. A small roundplug (about 1/2 inch in diameter) is mostly obscured by the large rubber plug that the steering tube passes through.The large plug on early cars has a flat profile with steel cover plate; the later style plug has a boot profile andclamps to the tube with a radiator-style wire clamp. TR2s should have the early style large plug; TR3s and TR3Aswith rigid steering may have either style; TRs with split steering should have the later style plug. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Don't know what the 1/2" plug is, but otherwise, I agree with above. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 (edited) Don't know what the 1/2" plug is, but otherwise, I agree with above. Bob. On my LHD TR3A there is a hole very close to where the steering column goes through the firewall that is covered up by the rubber boot. Probably a hole that is actually used on a RHD car. Grommet is visible at the bottom right of the hole Edited September 4, 2014 by foster461 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Probably for the blanking plate screws? Other question while we are at this spot on the car..: If you take a look at this picture of Foster, just beside the hole to the left, there is a slim metal strip. the other side has the same strip. Any idea what the use is of this ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwifrog Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Hi Edwin That strip is for tucking the edge of the later type seal into cheers Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Hi Edwin That strip is for tucking the edge of the later type seal into cheers Alan Correct, not fitted to early cars. The small rubber grommet is indeed to fill the hole where a sprung spire nut is fitted for opposite hand steering. The hole in the flat blanking rubber is normally used for the vent flap drain for post TS6157 cars. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 You mean the strip that i pointed out with a white arrow? i have build number 4762. I have those strips... this would mean i should use the boot seal in stead of the flat rubber? thats earlier than the car from Lebro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Yes Edwin, that is the strip that the boot style rubber grommet gets tucked behind. There is another one on the other side even though my post 60K TR3A has no means to be easily converted to RHD. Here's a better view Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Hi, Okay, so my mid tr2 number 4762 is supposed to have a boot style grommet? Im a bit confusen that the tr3 from lebro doesnt have these strips... So when did they start with these ? Any details picture how the grommet is tucked behind ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Hang on a minute, My car does have these strips, but I do not know what they are for. I don't buy that they have anything to do with the steering column seal whether the flat rubber type, or the cone shaped one. they are just not in the right place to be of any use there. The cone shaped seal simply pushes against the bulkhead (quite hard) , & is held there by the "hose clip" around the lower circular end. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 @lebro, I follow you. Its not needed for the boot seal.. Its not even in the right place to be used in combination with.. When googling tr2 engine bays you ll. find both.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 I know it sounds weird to tuck the edge of the big grommet into that slot but that is what you do. If you didnt, the edge of the grommet would stick out into mid air. I'm sure someone here has a picture and if not I'll go find my grommet and snap one. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 The boot seal tucks behind the strip, otherwise as Stan has said, the loose edge would be sticking out. For those in doubt read Stuart's post, he's not usually wrong. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 OK i have 2 plates, one for the blanking grommet, is the other one used with the boot grommet? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 The two plates should be opposite handed, one is to hold the flat rubber column seal in place, the other is to hold another flat rubber seal on the passenger side. - it will either have a smaller hole in it for the drain pipe from the fresh air vent, or no hole. see various photos earlier in this thread. Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 I should have the boot grommet so no flat piece of rubber. Is this panel fitted before the boot grommet? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 The pressed steel plate is not used with the conical column seal ("Boot grommet"), only on the earlier flat rubber type. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 The pressed steel plate is not used with the conical column seal ("Boot grommet"), only on the earlier flat rubber type. Bob. Hmmm, so.. Some former owner combined the 2 different options... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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