TR2/3/3A Survivor TR3B

Hi All,

I'll be asking for advice as I'm back in the British car club again. The new addition is a 1962 (titled as a 1963) TR3B that is in decent original shape. It is mostly original paint and mostly original interior.

Most pressing need is a leak from the settling bowl area at the fuel pump. I can't seem to locate a settling bowl gasket on the websites of the various suppliers.

Also, I'd like to round up an original jack, some more original tools.

Anyway, this is my first TR3 after many other British sports cars (owned one at a time). Wow what a fun driving experience. These are surprisingly fun to drive!

Thanks, Jeff

TR3B

Congratulations ... looks very nice. Not sure about the gasket ... might be possible to make one? Cheers, Mike

Hi, Jeff -

Pretty car! Always loved black/red, and white/red.

The jack and tools usually pop up on ebay. As for the gasket, Moss has them - at least I think this is what you want. Check item # 37 here


Mickey

Thanks very much. Mickey it looks like that is what I need for the fuel bowl. May as well pull the pump out and put in a kit while I'm at it.

Also, I'd like to post some more photos, interior etc., and get some thoughts on what is right, what is wrong.

Jeff

Your local Tractor Supply Co will have the bowl gasket in stock. NAPA too. I wouldn't pull the pump and rebuild it unless it's necessary.

PeterK said:

Your local Tractor Supply Co will have the bowl gasket in stock. NAPA too. I wouldn't pull the pump and rebuild it unless it's necessary.

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Thanks much- I think I'm going to like the simplicity of this little TR.

Welcome....and good to see another Virginia member, Where in Va are you located....the car looks great!

Here she is;



Very nice!

Hmm, guess my first reply got lost.
First of all, welcome to the asylum, Jeff! Nice looking car!

The gasket is on sale from TRF (The Roadster Factory) at the moment, PN 500418 on sale for $1.80 (although you could probably still do better at your local TSC). Assuming it's the same one they put in the rebuild kit, it's a nice soft nitrile rubber that seems to work much better than the original cork.

TRF carries a lot of parts that are hard to find on their website (and not included in their catalogs). But they mostly use factory part numbers, so the best way to deal with them is to get a copy of the factory spare parts catalogue. They will sell you a paper reprint (501653), or there is a PDF you can download at
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B2H2NJt...Y4&hl=en_US

PS, if the car has recently been put back on the road after a long rest, it might not be a bad idea to rebuild the fuel pump. The original diaphragms would not stand up to ethanol and can start to leak if run with the E10 that is sold in most places as gasoline these days. The rebuild kits (at least the one from TRF) have an ethanol-resistant diaphragm.

PPS, the factory unfortunately never updated the SPC for the TR3B. So for some things, you can look in the TR4 SPC instead. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...Y4&hl=en_US

Fairview said:

...Most pressing need is a leak from the settling bowl area at the fuel pump...

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I use a homemade cork gasket there though the Moss part (probably 'rubber') should work well. Either way, I use Hylomar to help it seal againsnt the glass bowl.

One thing to consider is that the thumbnut on the bail should not be over tightened. I all the parts are striaght and square the thing will be leak free with only reasonable tightness. If it leaks tightening more probably won't help.

In fact, I have encountered pumps where a PO (or maybe me) was overly enthusiastic tightening that guy and bent the soft pot-metal lid a bit. Once that has a curve in it nothing is going to seal it against the glass. I was however able to bang it back into a flat plane and all was well.

<span style="font-style: italic">PS -- Beautiful TR! </span>

TR3driver said:

Hmm, guess my first reply got lost.
First of all, welcome to the asylum, Jeff! Nice looking car!

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Welcome as well - or welcome back anyway - I seem to remember a very tasty TR4 that you had before. I need to live closer, you seem to be near some nice cars!

That's a sweet ride and I am pi$$ed.

Beautiful, and a 3B to boot! Nice Find

Wow! What a beauty.

TR4nut said:

TR3driver said:

Hmm, guess my first reply got lost.
First of all, welcome to the asylum, Jeff! Nice looking car!

Click to expand...

Welcome as well - or welcome back anyway - I seem to remember a very tasty TR4 that you had before. I need to live closer, you seem to be near some nice cars!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the very warm welcome, and the good information. And TR4nut yes, you've got a great memory. A couple years ago I owned a TR4 surrey top. It eventually went from Virginia to Athens, Greece.

Here's a photo link if any of you are interested in seeing.
I've rotated a couple other sports cars through the garage in the meantime, keep coming back to the British though.

Best to all, Jeff

1963 Triumph TR4 Surrey Top

Very nice car Jeff. May I ask where you found that one? It looks like somebody put a lot of work into it.

Congratulations Jeff - a late TCF series TR3B is a great find and very smart with the chromed wire wheels. You'll appreciate the extra grunt of its 2138cc TR4 engine and the all synchro gearbox.

One other thing different to a TR3A is the front brakes - if ordering the rotors or calipers, you need to specify TR4.

Only 2804 TCF series cars were made, less a few frames that went to Italy to be made into Italia coupes, so it's indeed a rare vehicle.

I had TCF2650, the 154th last sidescreen TR made, and it was a very enjoyable car. In fact it was the first example ever imported into our State - proving the sceptics wrong about the "mythical" TR they didn't think really existed.

You mention being interested in finding out what is right or wrong, so when the time comes, the apron badge would have originally been the blue and white version.

Regards,

Viv.

vivdownunder said:

Congratulations Jeff - a late TCF series TR3B is a great find and very smart with the chromed wire wheels. You'll appreciate the extra grunt of its 2138cc TR4 engine and the all synchro gearbox.

One other thing different to a TR3A is the front brakes - if ordering the rotors or calipers, you need to specify TR4.

Only 2804 TCF series cars were made, less a few frames that went to Italy to be made into Italia coupes, so it's indeed a rare vehicle.

I had TCF2650, the 154th last sidescreen TR made, and it was a very enjoyable car. In fact it was the first example ever imported into our State - proving the sceptics wrong about the "mythical" TR they didn't think really existed.

You mention being interested in finding out what is right or wrong, so when the time comes, the apron badge would have originally been the blue and white version.

Regards,

Viv.

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Viv,

This is TCF2719L, so I'm not sure where this figures in the TR3 chronology. Mileage at the moment is 59,707.

I bought it through my friend Mike Gassman, who has a well-respected shop here in Waynesboro, and the car has been known to Mike for a decade or so.

Let me share a quick story. Last night our 16 year old, Emily, was driving in the Land Rover with me, coming back from a teen party. She is finishing up her learner's permit. In Virginia, she needs 45 hours of behind the wheel and with last night's ride, she would be only 20 minutes from completing her hours for a full license.

Well it occurred to me to make the last bit memorable for her, so I suggested we go by the hangar at the airport where I keep the TR3. (She does have some clutch experience with some of my other old cars). So her last 20 minutes of behind-the-wheel training was driving the TR3 up and down the taxiway on a cool Virginia evening. Her happy smile was worth what I paid for the TR! (By the way, a TR3 is a fun ride as a passenger, too).

Best regards, Jeff

That's a lovely story Jeff and typifies the enjoyment of a TR. Small world as my daily driver is a Land Rover Discovery.

Our two daughters are a bit frightened of Dad's precious TR, but occasionally take the 66 Mustang vert out for a spin.

TCF2719L would be the 85th last sidescreen car built of some 85,681 examples including the TR3B's, so no doubt it's one of the youngest still surviving.

The owner of my TR3B stays in regular contact - maybe one day he'll sell it back to me.

Cheers,

Viv.

Jeff,

Welcome back to owning a Triumph again! Beautiful looking car.

Unfortunately, my son (17 now) will probably be close to 30 by the time I get any of mine back on the road.

We did pick up a 1997 Miata as a modern alternative so he'd at least have the convertible experience which my wife and I have always enjoyed and which I grew up on in high school (Mom's car was a 1976 Fiat Spyder and then I got my TR4A senior year).

Scott