TR2/3/3A TR3 Headlite Trim Rings and Front Parking Lite?

[oxendine]

I've got the top and bottom part of the headlite ring figured out. It's just how to snap them into place that is a little puzzling. looks like the top slides over the adjuster and the bottom snaps between the ears sticking out. I just don't want to force anything. I have what I believe to be a TR2 front apron
on my car. What turn signals do I use? The one's I have stick out too far from the back and hit the inner fenders?

Thanks, Donnie

 

[Andrew Mace]

I can't help on the headlamp rims, but I think I can help on the side/flasher lamps in front. The TR2 and small-mouth TR3 used the L488 lamp, on which the bulb was quite recessed in the socket and on which the rubber body was rather deep, extending through a hole in the inner fender. On the 3A, the L594 lamp was used. Both the lens and bulb stuck out much more, and the rubber body was not nearly as deep, which is why the 3A inner fenders had only a small depression stamped in to clear the lamp body. It's that latter lamp you'll likely want to use.

 

[Geo Hahn]

...and the bottom snaps between the ears sticking out...

I think you've got it. I put a bit of grease on the tab & 'ears' to help it get home.

 

[CJD]

You know Donnie...I just did mine, and I think it's magic. When I took them off, I just stuck the tool like in the picture, and they popped off. Putting them back on, I lined them up like you mentioned. When I pushed, they snapped right in...although I never could figure out what was holding them!?! I'm not asking any more questions. They're just magic.

Your post reminds me of a question I had...

Are the front marker/turn lights supposed to be white or yellow bulbs?

John

 

[Andrew Mace]

For anything built for and shipped to North America, the front side/flasher lamps usually had white (clear) lenses.

 

[CJD]

Great...that's what they came with, but just seemed odd. Thanks Andrew!

 

[sp53]

Yes Donnie if you want to use the correct running lights for a small mouth on a big mouth body tub you will have to drill a large hole into the tub to hold the larger lights. If you do not want to drill the tub then use the newer lights on the old tub. Head light rings changed over the years and many other model rings would interchange with each other. The correct one for the early TR actually has a set screw on the bottom of the ring.
Steve

 

[oxendine]

Thanks for the replies. No problem making holes in my inner tub as the car is not "correct" anyway. I just prefer the small mouth look with panasports as I have done.

 

[Geo Hahn]

For anything built for and shipped to North America, the front side/flasher lamps usually had white (clear) lenses.

Great...that's what they came with, but just seemed odd. Thanks Andrew!

Seemed odd? I'm guessing you are less than 60 years old, else you would remember when all cars had clear/white front parking lights.

 

[HerronScott]

Geo,

Make that less than 50. Or maybe my taste in cars was always older cars.

Scott

 

[Andrew Mace]

I don't know the specifics of the law/regulation/whatever at the time, but it was the 1963 model year American cars that first had amber front lamps. For whatever reason(s), many British (and some other import) cars stayed with the "white" front lamps until 1967 or so.