Kiwifrog Posted July 6, 2020 Report Share Posted July 6, 2020 On 6/30/2020 at 2:52 AM, David Owen said: Nice car! Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2020 (edited) My TR3 A was born on March 24th, 1960 and immediately emigrated to the USA. Question, how important is it in terms of valuation not to have the original engine? Edited August 3, 2020 by David Owen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted August 4, 2020 Report Share Posted August 4, 2020 David, the so-called matching numbers cars are theoretically more sought after than the bitzahs but it is debatable if it adds much more value. If you had two identical cars the one with all original bits would likely win but a crappy car with original engine etc would not be preferred to an otherwise presentable car with a non original engine. In my opinion. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidBee Posted August 4, 2020 Report Share Posted August 4, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, foster461 said: The so-called matching numbers cars are theoretically more sought after. 1+ Stan, yes, would be interesting to know how many TR have factory replacement engines. Also, let's say you have a beautifully rebuilt TR4 block and head, as opposed to a very tired original TR2 or TR3. I know which one I'd prefer, and better still if it is cheaper. Edited August 4, 2020 by DavidBee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2020 Thanks guys. The engine is definitely an earlier model being a TS303xx and the car a TS717xx. So now my education begins. For safety sake I had a pro install a new front suspension and steering kit, the parking break and rear lever shocks. There was also a time element to this, it took 6 weeks to get the parts due to Covid and we have a limited driving season here so I am working on my to do list for the winter. I should haqve the car back in the next day or so. I think the frame is slightly bent but the car tracks well. Misalignment of the bonnet and boot on one side is the leading symptom. There are some bangs and messy welds under there but it is in reasonable shape. Live and learn. The biggest surprise so far is the small pebble found in the CARBURETTOR! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 Well success in having the front end completed. Had her up to 75mph on the dawn patrol today. No discernible shimmer. I love this car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2020 So I have decided this one will be a daily driver, at least in the spring, cooler summer and fall. It is too much of a mish mash of parts to restore. I do want to paint it so I was wondering what the optimum strip down would be to do this without doing a complete frame off? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2020 White walls were shipped from the factory so..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted August 12, 2020 Report Share Posted August 12, 2020 On 8/9/2020 at 3:10 PM, David Owen said: So I have decided this one will be a daily driver, at least in the spring, cooler summer and fall. It is too much of a mish mash of parts to restore. I do want to paint it so I was wondering what the optimum strip down would be to do this without doing a complete frame off? It looks pretty good from the pictures and a bit of patina is not a bad thing. You could take off the windshield, capping, easily removable chrome and then mask up the rest. To go beyond that would be removing wings etc and that will likely be a can of worms. Whitewalls are not my cup of tea but they were a factory option so I'm not sure why some people have such a hard time over them. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, foster461 said: It looks pretty good from the pictures and a bit of patina is not a bad thing. You could take off the windshield, capping, easily removable chrome and then mask up the rest. To go beyond that would be removing wings etc and that will likely be a can of worms. Whitewalls are not my cup of tea but they were a factory option so I'm not sure why some people have such a hard time over them. Stan Thanks Stan. Whitewalls are a North American thing I think. I like it both regular and whitewall tires....and my wife pretty much ordered them. I need to think about this because there are some very amateur welds around the passenger door (looks like I did it) that I would like to clean up and some rust here and there. There is also uneven spqacing on the boot lid and the bonnet. Am I being overly finicky on that? I know the hinges are out of alignment and it may be that simple. Edited August 12, 2020 by David Owen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted August 12, 2020 Report Share Posted August 12, 2020 There is not much lateral wiggle room in those hinges without making elongated holes in the bonnet and/or scuttle. I have a similar problem and I have opted not to fix it at this time. life is too short. Door will be easy to fix and repaint. Show us some pictures of the rusty bits. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted August 13, 2020 Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 It looks like the curve on the RHS of the bonnet needs to be opened out slightly. That would close up the gap on that side. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ralph Whitaker Posted August 13, 2020 Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 My bonnet (sorry, Hood) is tight to the bulkhead in the same place, but aligning it with the scuttle throws out the wing and front panel gaps. Early hoods did not have a return edge at the back and could be easily ground back for clearance, but mine is a later type with the return edge which makes it hard to alter. I would do as Ian suggests and bend the r/h side out to close up that gap to the wing. Ralph. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 Thank you. Will try that next week. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 I read in another thread (fuel octane thread) that there was an adjustment for the range of movement necessary to fully depress the clutch pedal. I looked in the Service Instruction Manual clutch section and couldn't find any reference to that. Am I looking in the wrong place? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted August 13, 2020 Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 There isn't really any such adjustment - the master cylinder and slave cylinder pushrods do have length adjustment but it isn't for that purpose, it is to set the correct clearances. What are you trying to achieve? The nearest thing to what you describe is the connection of the slave cylinder to the clutch operating arm. There are three holes on the clutch operating arm and the slave-cylinder pushrod should be connected to the middle one. Using the top hole would shorten pedal travel but increase the pedal load considerably, so maybe not a good idea. Using the bottom hole would lighten the pedal load but the pedal travel would be very long and may not be enough to fully disengage the clutch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 4 minutes ago, RobH said: There isn't really any such adjustment - the master cylinder and slave cylinder pushrods do have length adjustment but it isn't for that purpose, it is to set the correct clearances. What are you trying to achieve? The nearest thing to what you describe is the connection of the slave cylinder to the clutch operating arm. There are three holes on the clutch operating arm and the slave-cylinder pushrod should be connected to the middle one. Using the top hole would shorten pedal travel but increase the pedal load considerably, so maybe not a good idea. Using the bottom hole would lighten the pedal load but the pedal travel would be very long and may not be enough to fully disengage the clutch. Short legs. Need to bring the maximum clutch pedal depression about 4" closer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted August 13, 2020 Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 Ah - I can sympathise. In my case the answer is to sit closer to the wheel. More of an old-fashioned elbows-out position than the modern arms-length style. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 (edited) 27 minutes ago, RobH said: Ah - I can sympathise. In my case the answer is to sit closer to the wheel. More of an old-fashioned elbows-out position than the modern arms-length style. I was thinking of having an extension welded to the clutch pedal. Not sure about the safety issue though. Edited August 13, 2020 by David Owen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted August 13, 2020 Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 (edited) Check out what father Murray and daughter joy Rainey achieved with restricted height. I first met them in the late 1970’s When they raced vintage Alfa’s 6c etc https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24120/lot/211/ they used to have modified pedals etc Edited August 13, 2020 by Hamish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 8 hours ago, Hamish said: Check out what father Murray and daughter joy Rainey achieved with restricted height. I first met them in the late 1970’s When they raced vintage Alfa’s 6c etc https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24120/lot/211/ they used to have modified pedals etc Nice. That’s encouraging. An extra brake and clutch pedal assembly just arrived and I will modify that one hopefully successfully, if not I get a practice run. Thank you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted August 14, 2020 Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 I can sympathize. At 5' 6" and shrinking I have the seat all the way forward and I'm fully extended to operate the clutch. I find it manageable but if it was any worse I would bend the clutch pedal arm to move the pedal closer. I blame chain smoking parents and poor 1950's nutrition. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 21 minutes ago, foster461 said: I can sympathize. At 5' 6" and shrinking I have the seat all the way forward and I'm fully extended to operate the clutch. I find it manageable but if it was any worse I would bend the clutch pedal arm to move the pedal closer. I blame chain smoking parents and poor 1950's nutrition. Stan I was 5'9" and refuse to change any vital stats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ralph Whitaker Posted August 14, 2020 Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 8 hours ago, foster461 said: I can sympathize. At 5' 6" and shrinking I have the seat all the way forward and I'm fully extended to operate the clutch. I find it manageable but if it was any worse I would bend the clutch pedal arm to move the pedal closer. I blame chain smoking parents and poor 1950's nutrition. Stan On 8/13/2020 at 3:17 PM, David Owen said: Short legs. Need to bring the maximum clutch pedal depression about 4" closer. I have put my 3a together with a TR4 flywheel which I re drilled to take a diaphram (is that right spelling?) clutch, and find there is no need to press the pedal all the way down as it releases and engages gears easily at 3 inches or so travel and is quite light to operate. Ralph. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Owen Posted August 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Ralph Whitaker said: I have put my 3a together with a TR4 flywheel which I re drilled to take a diaphram (is that right spelling?) clutch, and find there is no need to press the pedal all the way down as it releases and engages gears easily at 3 inches or so travel and is quite light to operate. Ralph. Thanks Ralph, Unfortunately I think at this point that is a little beyond my capabilities. But I will research it and see what it entails. David PS. There was a joke in there somewhere about being saved by a diaphragm in the past. Edited August 15, 2020 by David Owen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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