Tonneau Fixings

[Graeme Robinson]

I've seen previous posts in relation to the type of tennax fastener (self tapping or nut) for use with the tonneau but I have another query which relates to the location of the fixings. My 59 3a has a single hole in the drivers door which corresponds to the lift the dot fastener that is on what I have been told is the original tonneau cover. Conversely, on the passenger side there are a number of fasteners but owing to the fact that I've had to replace my passenger door during my rebuild holes will need to be drilled to accommodate these. I've tried to attach images to illustrate this in more detail but my issue is that from the numerous photos that I've seen of other 3a's, both doors have the same line of tennax fasteners which would mean that the single hole in my original door will become redundant and doesn't explain why the original tonneau has the lift the dot fastener in the same corresponding location. Is it possible that the car was originally supplied with this arrangement or is this likely to be an afterthought at some point in its history.

My other query (and please excuse my ignorance with this) is do you only require the tennax fasteners on the door for the tonneau alone or are they also required for the sidescreens? I ask this as my sidescreens which I had recently refurbished by TR Trader do not have any holes for the lift the dot fasteners and I've seen various photos of 3A's with sidescreens fitted, some which show the tennax fasteners below the line of the sidescreen and therefore not being used as a fixing for the sidescreen itself and others which are clearly used as a fixing for the sidescreen. As a result I'm not sure what to do as I'm keen to try and maintain originality.

By the way, please ignore the state of my door cappings, safe to say I wont be using the same trimming "specialist" again!!

 

Thanks

 

Graeme

[Graeme Robinson]

Apologies, I'm actually refurbishing 2 3a's at the moment (one 59 and another 60), its the 1960 car that has had the passenger door replaced not the 59 car as I suggested in the post.

 

The doors on my 59 are both (I believe) original; the passenger door has the line of holes ready for tennax fasteners with the single hole is in the drivers door (as per the photos).

I'm reluctant to drill the drivers door to accommodate a line of tennax fasteners as this will make the single hole redundant and I'd really have to get this filled and re sprayed although if this is what I need to do for originality sake and that the sidescreens themselves require the tennax fastener then so be it.

 

Sorry for the confusion

 

Graeme

[Don H.]

The Roadster Factory has some useful background info on tonneau/Lift-The-Dot stud positions and how they evolved over time.

http://trf.zeni.net/wc/specials11.20/9.php

 

There should be four LTD studs on each TR3A door, and two on each dogleg (one at the top, one at the bottom). The Lift-The-Dot fasteners are used only for the tonneau. The sidescreens fit into the Dzus brackets on the inside, in theory with a snap fastener on a strap

 

There should be Tenax fasteners only around the top of the windscreen -- none at all on the tonneau or sidescreens.

 

 

It's quite common for people to orient the Lift-The-Dot fasteners "sideways", one presumes in the belief they're easier to undo. Originally the LTD fasteners were all oriented with the "dot" away from the center of the tonneau (or soft top). This is most likely as it provides the most secure attachment and clear release feedback when the dot is lifted.

 

Edited August 2, 2017 by Don H.

[Fireman049]

Graeme ~

 

My '60 TR3A is fitted with dZus sidescreens but both doors have four lift-a-dot pegs fitted for the tonneau cover.

 

Tom.

[TR 2100]

Graeme,

 

The L-T-D studs in the doors were (I think) used for

early TR3A sidescreens that had a bottom 'flap' with

L-T-D fasteners, but after that, with the solid bottom

skirt, the sidescreen fitted above the L-T D studs.

 

TR2/3/3A hoods and tonneaus were supplied (by the

factory) without any fastenings - these were fitted to

the car in-situ.

 

I would expect all TR2/3/3A doors to have all the L-T-D

studs fitted to the doors but possible, for later 3As with

hardtop specified, they may have been deleted by the

factory (but I suspect not).

 

I would use your tonneau as a guide and fit L-T-D studs

to suit.

 

Agree with Don H except (sorry Don) dog leg is a quarter

panel!

 

AlanR

[Graeme Robinson]

Many thanks for the replies

 

I was keen to use my existing tonneau but as you can see, the drivers side just has the single LTD fixing; If I maintain this one hole and drill new ones the line would be different to the passenger side and to what I've seen on other 3a's which seem to have a gentle curve leading up to the front. I cant see any other option therefore other than to fill the existing single hole, re spray and drill a new line of holes to mirror the other side?

[Don H.]

...Agree with Don H except (sorry Don) dog leg is a quarter

panel!

 

AlanR

 

Hah! I'm perfectly OK with that, Alan. It IS a quarter panel. Just happens to have a dog leg sorta shape to it.

 

PS: I should have been more clear in that the LTD fasteners on the rear capping are used for the soft top too, of course.

Edited August 2, 2017 by Don H.

[iain]

As stated earlier 3a's had LT Dots in a different place on the doors to late. This was because they used flappy bottom sidescreens. Once dzus sidescreens became standard the position had to be lower in the door skin otherwise the sidescreens fixed lower frame sits over the ltd's. My car was supplied with permanently fixed (GT kit sidescreens, sliding windows flappy bottom) the ltds were removed and a chrome strip fixed through the LTD holes right through the sidescreen and door frame. This rendered the screens immovable and hence the cars were eligible for the GT classes in rallies in 1958.

When sold off the fixed sidescreens were removed and replaced with Dzus sidescreens which don't fit as the lower edge of the frame sits over the LTD's for the tonneau! PITA!

Edited August 2, 2017 by iain

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

To me the tonneau of the OP is a TR2-3 or early (wedge sidescreen) 3A as it has rounded front corners and is not as deep fitting on the door. Don's photo is a late 'Dzus' sidescreen type tonneau with square corners and gussets.

 

What I had always thought was that once Dzus sidescreens arrived (TS28k ish) the LTD pegs moved on the door to stop the sidescreen rubbing on them and the tonneau with gusset at the B post/1/4 panel was introduced. That statement is of course wrong as the parts lists says the tonneau changed at TS41K some 13 k after wedge sidescreens finished. - I need to do some more reading.....

....to confirm when soft tops and hood stick covers changed - according to the parts lists.

 

Peg movement on the 1/4 panel I thought was only to do with the Dzus sidescreens, which, when fitted stretches further rearward above the B post on the 1/4 panel - hence peg moves to stop the thing poking a hole in the sidescreen. Softop rear edge here also changed as did the hood stick cover.

 

Cheers

Peter W

[iain]

 

.

 

Peg movement on the 1/4 panel I thought was only to do with the Dzus sidescreens, which, when fitted stretches further rearward above the B post on the 1/4 panel - hence peg moves to stop the thing poking a hole in the sidescreen. Softop rear edge here also changed as did the hood stick cover.

 

Cheers

Peter W

 

 

Peter absolutely, again this another PITA with my sidescreens and peg positions!

 

Iain