TR2/3/3A 1960 TR 3A windshield frame.

[John_Progess]

Is the windshield frame on a 1960 TR 3A made from aluminum and is it supposed to be chrome planted? Thanks and have a good day!

 

[Tinkerman]

Mornin John, I am in the process of finishing a frame off restoration on a 1960 TR 3A. All of the wind screen frame parts are steel and should be chrome plated. If you have a small magnet try it on your frame and I think you will find that they are steel.

Cheers, Tinkerman

 

[TR3driver]

Some were polished aluminum, although it seems to be a fairly rare option. I believe most were chromed brass. Anyway, the original frames from TS13571L and TS39781LO do not attract a magnet.

BTW, the aluminum frames take a special Tenax peg, which has recently become available again through TRF.

 

[John_Progess]

I checked last night and my frame and stanchion parts are not magnetic so it looks like I have an aluminum frame with chrome plated brass stanchion parts. I don't think I will have the aluminum chrome plated, just try to polish it and see how it looks. It has the tenex fasteners attached and I was able to get them out. Why would they make some from steel and others from aluminum? Do the aluminum frames use the same rubber seals as the steel frames? Thanks and have a good day!

 

[TR3driver]

Were the pegs just screwed into the frame, or was there a piece that came out the other side? If they just screwed in, then you've got the chromed brass frame. That would make more sense, since according to the parts book the aluminum frame was always paired with aluminum stanchions.

I don't know, just always assumed that the aluminum frames were a weight-saving option, like the aluminum oil pan & aluminum brake drums.

Looks like the rubber bits are the same.

 

[martx-5]

...

I don't know, just always assumed that the aluminum frames were a weight-saving option, like the aluminum oil pan & aluminum brake drums.

I always thought that the aluminum sumps and brake drums were designed for cooling more then just weight savings, as they both have fins on them to help dissipate heat.

 

[vivdownunder]

I don't know either, but the factory was always looking for cost savings. Chance the supplier or a different supplier offered cheaper windscreen frames/staunchions in aluminium and they tried them for a while.

viv.

 

[John_Progess]

The tenex fasteners are two part brass. On the inside of the frame the fastners look exactly like a flat head screw. On the outside of the frame the fastener has a thin hex nut with the tenex stud part threaded and it screws thru the windshield frame. My car is number 69859.

 

[TR3driver]

The tenex fasteners are two part brass. On the inside of the frame the fastners look exactly like a flat head screw. On the outside of the frame the fastener has a thin hex nut with the tenex stud part threaded and it screws thru the windshield frame. My car is number 69859.

Those are the pegs for the aluminum frame, then. I'm glad you're not going to try to chrome it, since it is a rare part and would have been just polished originally.

 

[GilsTR]

I purchased TS74568 from the original owner....and it is Alum...and never been changed.
Gil NoCal

 

[TR3driver]

Great, that makes 4 of them now. Maybe they aren't as rare as I thought. But I went looking at the VTR2005 show and didn't find a single TR3 with the aluminum frame. I've lost count of how many TR3s have passed through my hands in one form or another, and none of them had aluminum either. One of our local club members has the first one I ever saw in person, and she found that no one (at that time) reproduced the modified Tenax pegs. That eventually morphed into TRF having them reproduced (which is why they are available now).