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Gordo

Jedi Hopeful
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I bought a frame to replace the original on my TR3A. Due to my lack of experience with this model car, I made what I think is a mistake.

The original frame/car has a split column with a bracket attached to the frame to support the column about 18 inches up from the steering box.

While tinkering in the garage this morning, I realized that the new frame does not have this bracket on the frame. There are actually 2. I guess for R.H.S.

So, my question is: should I cut the bracket off the old frame and attach to the new or look for a one piece column.

Did the one piece column require this bracket?

Thanks, Gordo
 
There is a different bracket for the one piece steering column.

You didn't make a mistake if the frame is better that the one you want to replace. All you need to do is fabricate the bracket you are missing. I had to do just that on the late TR3A that I restored recently and I had to use a rust-free frame that came from an early TR.

I assume that your TR is an early car with the one-piece steering column. Like mine.
 

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You know, Don, all those wonderful photos may convince me yet that I want to do a frame-off ! I've always wanted to get the car back on the road ASAP so I've never actually seen my frame from that vantage point.

Gordo, I agree with Don. Just fabricate the bracket (or cut one off the old frame) and weld it to the new frame. It doesn't really take any force, just keeps the lower column from vibrating. But don't forget it all has to line up, and there isn't a lot of room for adjustment in the stock bracket. You need to get it positioned both up/down and left/right.
 
Thanks guys,

I have TS56698L. Just like the second of Don's pictures. I guess we're talking about the same "U" shape turned on its side. I have the 2 piece column. Is that right for this number car?

I took some good measurements, got out my die grinder cut it off the old frame. Will be welding it to frame this weekend.

Something else I did not pick up on when I disassembled the car is that the steering box seems to have a larger hole in the bottom bore. I'm assuming it is to play with the angle or I am missing a bushing. Looked in the parts and shop manual but couldn't seem to locate anything.

Gordo
 
Gordo said:
Thanks guys,

I have TS56698L. I have the 2 piece column. Is that right for this number car?

Gordo
Click to expand...

Yes the split column or what you call 2 piece is right for approx. TS - 42000 up to 3B.

added,

There is a bush and seal for the rocker shaft if that's the bore on the end you're talking about?
 
Gordo said:
Something else I did not pick up on when I disassembled the car is that the steering box seems to have a larger hole in the bottom bore. I'm assuming it is to play with the angle or I am missing a bushing. Looked in the parts and shop manual but couldn't seem to locate anything. Gordo
Click to expand...

The purpose of oversize hole is so that one can adjust the angle of the steering unit upon istallation. The two halves of the split column must align or the steering will bind and the wheel will be hard to turn.

We have experimented with the effect of misaligned steering column halves here at HSTRL.

Your car is within 200 of mine.
 
Randall - The photo of the black steering column is from my 1958 TR3A. I took this photo in May, 2007 when I pulled the engine to rebuild it. What you see in the photo is the condition of the paintwork, etc., 16 years after I did my total body-off restoration from 1987 to 1990. This photo shows very little "wear" after the 94,000 miles I drove during the period 1990 to 2006. If it's done right, it will last a long time.

BTW, with the engine and gearbox out, I decided to have the car re-sprayed including the engine compartment. It looks like it did back in 1990 - or better. 94,000 miles of touch-up dabs over the stone chips on the valance and the front fenders revealed that there was about as much "dab" paint as the smooth paint.
 
Twosheds said:
The purpose of oversize hole is so that one can adjust the angle of the steering unit upon istallation.
Click to expand...
Exactly. The steering box can also turn in the lower bracket to adjust in the other plane. So both of these and the upper bracket should be left loose until you have the upper half of the column installed and coupled to the lower half.
 
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