TR2/3/3A Early TR3 wire wheel set up.

[Marvin Gruber]

After I got the "project TR3 from Mississippi" running today I pulled the wire wheels off, wheels would not turn. I found a different wire wheel set up. This is an Early TR3 with drum front brakes. I thought all TR3's had disk brakes. Also this car has w/w splined hubs like a MG. Not the bolt on adapters.There is a 3/8" plate that fits around the hub to go under the wire wheels. Also had the all in one metal tub master cylinder like TR2's and MGA had. Do you think this car is real early 3 made from left over TR2 parts. Everything else seems correct for early TR3, just haven't seen this stuff on a TR3.

Marv

 

[TR3driver]

All sounds normal for a TR3 with front drum brakes. You should also have the weaker half-floating rear axle, and the Lockheed clutch slave. Might also have the bypass oil filter head, although ISTR it changed somewhat before the brakes & suspension did.

(PS, the commonly available spin-on oil filter adapters will not fit the bypass type filter head. However, the later full-flow head will bolt right on.)

 

[Andrew Mace]

As Randall says, it all sounds right. What's the commission number? Engine number? Oh, and does the commission number plate say TR2 or TR3? I've seen a couple of early TR3s that actually had "TR2" commission number plates.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Andy,

Big square comm plate shows TS 12326 L O, engine number ( from memory) was TS 12234 (or some where close). Other than the egg crate grill, it has all the TR2 stuff. I have another 57 that My father restored that has disk brakes. Don't have the comm number handy on it. I saw the o/d unit from underneath but haven't checked it out yet. The wire wheel hubs have me scratching my head as well. All I have ever seen on a TR are the bolt on adapters.

We are remodeling the house and all my reference books are packed up somewhere.

Marv

 

[TR3driver]

The early TR3s were practically identical to the late TR2s, the grill & carbs/intake manifold were basically the only visible changes. Your car should still have the "low port" head ("Le Mans" version I believe); the non-self-parking wiper motor; and the bypass oil filter head.

Most of the changes are listed at
https://www.vtr.org/TR2/TR2-production.shtml

I owned one about 1000 before that, but decided I didn't like the front drum brakes and sold it without ever doing much except robbing the overdrive from it. Had a lot of fun getting it home, though ... bought it some 1500 miles away "sight unseen". Buddy of mine drug it to his home in Spring, TX from the cornfield it was resting in and made it run, mostly ... we literally did not get out of his subdivision before it broke down the first time! But after sorting that (using a part borrowed from his MGA) and realizing that my er, improvisation for the thermostat housing and bypass was allowing the pump to suck air; it ran the rest of the way to CA with minimal drama. Which more than I can say for his Pinto!

 

[TR3driver]

Big square comm plate shows TS 12326 L O, engine number ( from memory) was TS 12234 (or some where close). Other than the egg crate grill, it has all the TR2 stuff. I have another 57

TS12326LO would have been built fairly early in 56; but might still have been registered as a 57 model. The dealers apparently just wrote whatever number they pleased on the paperwork; and no one wanted to be selling "last year's model".

 

[vivdownunder]

Small mouth TR3's from TS8637 to TS13046 had the same drum brake and Lockheed rear axle set up as the TR2, so your car is correct.

That change midway through the model can be a bit of a trap if you wanted the later disc braked TR3 with the Girling rear axle.

Viv.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Thanks guys, I thought it might go as a 1956. It does have the earlier style wiper motor. Didn't pay any attention to the oil filter head. I can get paperwork changed to 56. For now its going back into hibernation with a late number TR3B that is also squirreled away.

Marv

 

[Andrew Mace]

Heck, if it's titled as a '57 and the number(s) on the title match what's on the car, let it be. At this point, it's part of the history of the car, and it makes no difference to anyone!

 

[Marvin Gruber]

The lady (74) I got it from parked it in a building in 1981. She couldn't find the title. Alabama doesn't title any car older than 1975 so I can go on a Bill of Sale. I'll have her sign a new bill of sale and register it that way.

Marv