• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

TR2/3/3A Found my overflow problem from the radiator ,

Jerry

Darth Vader
Gold
Country flag
Offline
I am disappointed. I kept boiling over when the temp gauge said it was not quite hot enough (new rebuilt from Valley west). The cap I put on is only 3/4 inch so I had no back pressure. I would have thought I should have measured that prior to starting the engine. Too eager . Anyway, on the way to NAPA for a cap. Anyone know the numbers?

Jerry
 

TR3driver

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
You're not likely to find a 1" reach cap at NAPA. Stant used to have a listing for it, but the listing was wrong and the actual cap was only 3/4".
 
OP
J

Jerry

Darth Vader
Gold
Country flag
Offline
You are correct again Randall, NAPA listed one but did not have it in stock. I will put an old one on I found in the barn till I find a replacement.
Jerry
 

TR3driver

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Probably have to order one from the usual suspects. Or, if you feel like driving over to San Rafael, you could probably pick one up at TRfest tomorrow.
 

tinman58

Jedi Knight
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Triumpfest will be good this year. I will be Sonoma Race track on Thursday for the Le Mans start. Also on Friday and Saturday, I will bring a spare with me. Hope to see you both there.
 

TR3driver

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Sorry, I'm not going this year. Combination of family complications, no vacation time, and the TR3 is still wrecked.

I know, I could go without a Triumph, but I know from experience that I get to thinking "Why aren't I home working on the TR?"

But thanks for reminding me, I need to call someone about a front apron. Hopefully he hasn't left yet.
 
M

Member 10617

Guest
Guest
Offline
I asked a friend who knows a lot about radiators and caps. Here is what he wrote:

"The cap MUST match the depth of the hole. You should first order the cap that the manufacturer of the radiator suggests. Then you should measure the amount of 'squish,' that is the amount of spring so that you are sure that the cap can release and is not bottomed out. Lastly, a 4 lb cap is what I believe they recommend, but it is not as critical as the depth."
 

TR3driver

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
FWIW, I found it difficult to measure the cap accurately. The sealing end flops around, and is not flat; plus it's tough to measure accurately how far the top of the cap is from the top of the filler neck when installed. Ultimately it was easier for me to rig up a pressure gauge and Schrader valve (tire stem) on a tee to the heater valve fitting on the head, and inject small amounts of air until the radiator cap started to vent. Then I could watch the gauge to see how much pressure the cap would actually hold (and that I had no leaks). The gauge did drop a bit more overnight, but I think that was because the engine got colder during the night than it had been when I started.

More of a hassle if you have a heater (I don't), but might be worth considering if you want to know exactly what the cap is doing.
 
M

Member 10617

Guest
Guest
Offline
Randall, I don't think I follow you on the reported problem with measuring the cap accurately. If you measure the underside of the top of the cap to the sealing end, you should get the accurate measurement. I measured mine and it is exactly 3/4". My sealing end has a metal ring to stabilize it, so it doesn't flop around.

One of my problems is that nowhere in any of the descriptions of radiator caps for sale do I find depth measurement. All they provide is overall measurements and pressure. Seems to me they would want to distinguish 3/4" from 1" depth.... or perhaps they are all normally 3/4" now???
 
OP
J

Jerry

Darth Vader
Gold
Country flag
Offline
I will be at Triumphfest. Look for the TR3A in a Tangerine color. NO fenders, doors etc. It should be the only one there. It has lights, turn signals and such that I can drive it but the fenders and such needed repair from my painting experience. I have not decided if I will drive it to the Sonoma raceway, it does not have any break in miles yet. But maybe that will be a nice 18 mile drive that will be good for it.

Jerry
triumphfest 2013.jpg
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
S TR2/3/3A What are some unusual places you've found parts for your car? Triumph 11
mezy Just found this on ebay UK, Other British Cars 1
Popeye Wanted WTB: two speed wiper motor TR4A / 75568 - Found Triumph Classifieds 2
DrEntropy MGB And now, NO ARP head studs to be found! MG 13
Rob Glasgow Finally Found It (Original License Plate Number) Austin Healey 3
Rob Glasgow Found Original Owner Austin Healey 2
J Walnut veneer for the dash, Look what I found! Austin Healey 12
2 TR2/3/3A Headache: Magnaflux found a crack Triumph 5
Editor_Reid Oddities Found During BN2 Revival, Part 2 Austin Healey 6
Editor_Reid Oddities Found During BN2 Revival, Part 1 Austin Healey 4
B Lost & Found FORUM Navigation Questions 3
B Wanted FOUND. TR10 Fan mount Bushings Triumph Classifieds 3
AngliaGT MGB I think I found the Cause MG 5
1 MGB Found the leak, now what? MG 11
C MGB Found this spring in my gas tank MG 8
jackq MGB MGB Roadsters with a V-8 found. MG 1
M General TR Found on Google books Triumph 0
J Found something new on a Healey engine Austin Healey 3
Michael Oritt Strange debris found in sump Austin Healey 19
J Found a 1963 BJ8, by the serial number, built in October of 63 Austin Healey 26
jackq TR2/3/3A TR3s found Triumph 5
Popeye TR4/4A Found this odd long bolt in my fuel tank... Does anyone know what it is? Triumph 17
PeterK General Tech I've found the light Triumph 8
Number_6 TR2/3/3A TR1 Prototype found Triumph 2
K TR4/4A Look what I found in a 4A oil filter? Triumph 14
Patrick67BJ8 Healey Abbott Found Austin Healey 8
M TR4/4A More Commission Number Questions. Mine is nowhere to be found! Triumph 6
drooartz Finally found one Spridgets 8
anarchy99 Found the only other British car at the show Spridgets 2
T TR2/3/3A Finally found and fitted paper carb air filters on my TR3 Triumph 28
Steve P. Finally found a RWA Midget Spridgets 1
J BJ8 windshield-shroud seal installation-found way to help keep ends from popping out Austin Healey 1
N TR6 found a Soft top frame from a 1972 for sale Triumph 2
LarryK Found MK2 parts in cavern. Jaguar 3
TulsaFred Fixed One Oil Leak, Found Another! Spridgets 12
H Aston Martin DB4 converible found in UK awhile back--what was paid for it? Other British Cars 0
CLEAH Found another number on my frame [BJ8] Austin Healey 6
PAUL161 Found My old 60 midget engine Racing 6
J Found an oil leak Austin Healey 7
J Found an E Type in a Barn. Bought it. Let's Make it Run Jaguar 15
germanmichel Horror story what I found below the battery... Austin Healey 9
RickB Found on Craigslist - 2 Midgets, one is RWA for $600 Spridgets 1
C Mystery Parts found in intake. What are they? Austin Healey 21
J Funniest thing you found working on your car Austin Healey 32
RickB Found this on Ebay - NFI Spridgets 2
YYCDave TR2/3/3A Lost Triumph Found Triumph 5
Jim_Gruber So who has found Basil's Holiday surprise? Spridgets 8
Boggsy64 MGB Found parts at local auto store MG 4
Gliderman8 TR6 Oil Leak found! Now what? Triumph 26
glemon I think I just found my new deifinition of Cajones Racing 3

Similar threads

Top