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TR2/3/3A Attempting to install a heater in my TR3

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Russ Austin

Russ Austin

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I am in the process of restoring my dash and fascia panel; while the fascia panel is out I thought I might install the heater that I’ve had for a while. It seems that there is little to no room to attach the hoses to the inlet and outlet of the heater maybe an 1 ½ but no more than that. Looking at the heater the inlet and outlet is to the right as is the air outlets that go to the vents. Any hints would help.
 
Assemble the mounting bracket to the heater, then the hoses on the heater, then install the assembly with the hoses attached. Page N13 in the workshop manual.
 

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Mine is setup like the photo, when I try to get the heater in position the hoses do not allow me any room to attach the front bolt on the bracket to the bulkhead. There just is not enough room!
 
<span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #003300">Randall's picture from the Bentley Manual shows the layout of the hoses but needs to go one step further. Item 7 in the instructions "Remove trimmed glove casing after the withdrawal of the 4 P.K screws". There appears to be a slight editing oversight here. Translating that instruction to "American" means...<span style="font-style: italic">Remove the glove box !</span> On page 14, instruction 17. states "Replace the trimmed glove box casing" (Now #7. makes sense.) Bottom line Russ, Remove the glove box & it becomes a simple matter to install the heater!!
FRank </span></span>
 
Good point about the glove box; I tend to forget since I've never had one.

But JIC, there should be a stud on the front of the bracket, it just pushes through the hole in the bulkhead. There really isn't room to get your hand in there, or even see; just move it around until it hits the hole then either have a helper start the nut, or jamb a piece of wood under the heater to hold it in place. If your stud has somehow been replaced by a bolt, you'll need to find some way to anchor it in place.
 
Headway, I have the heater in place attached via stud to the bulkhead with the hoses on the inlet and outlet attached. Now just attach the air outlet hoses to the vents. Sweet as always a big thanks to the BCF family, why I say family is because you’re always there to help. Removing the glove box was the trick!
 
6TTR3A said:
Randall, You've never has a glove box? Where do you put your gloves??
Click to expand...

Generally on my hands. Bada-bump

When not on my hands, they reside in my leather jacket. Since I haven't had a top or sidecurtains either (for the past 20 years or so), the jacket is a requirement any time it's cool enough for gloves.

The area where the glovebox goes was occupied by the CD-MP3 player in my TR3A. Haven't installed one in the TR3 yet, but I plan to.

I really like listening to audio books on long trips, they make the miles just fly by. And with the CD-MP3 format, I can get 2-3 books on a single CD, while the originals stay safe at home.

But this time, I'm going to block off the defroster vent hole in the body first, so the stereo doesn't get rained on. For some strange reason, they don't like that.
 
Russ Austin said:
Headway, I have the heater in place attached via stud to the bulkhead with the hoses on the inlet and outlet attached. Now just attach the air outlet hoses to the vents. Sweet as always a big thanks to the BCF family.
Click to expand...

Russ, I'll be curious to see what you think of the heater “output". I know I' ve always been <span style="text-decoration: line-through">undewhelmed</span>, underwarmed.
 
Tom I think both of those "unders" fit, I do remember went I had my first TR3 it was a 1960 and if I recall I got a little bit of heat or warmth but it was just a little bit!
 
I thought it was just to keep your hands warm for shifting...was it supposed to do more?
 
TR3 heater running full blast is like having a little old breathing on your leg.
 
Group,

I am about to start on a new TR3A restoration and expect the heater core to be toast. On my last core, we solder for an hour trying to patch it and it still developed a leak. The cores I have seen for the original are very expensive. Has anyone found an aftermarket that fits and works well?

Jerry
 
Geo Hahn said:
The question is: 'Where does Randall put his cubby?'.
Click to expand...

Who said I had a Cubby?

Cubby%20O%27Brien_med.jpg


It's been a long time, but my heater used to put out plenty hot air, just not very much of it. My leg next to the heater would get uncomfortably warm, while the rest was still cold.

One thing I didn't know about at the time, there are rubber seals under the front fenders. If those seals are rotted out or missing, it allows cold, cold air to blow into the cockpit.

This is where those seals go, sorry I don't have pic of them installed.

DSCF0012-2.jpg
 
TR3driver said:
One thing I didn't know about at the time, there are rubber seals under the front fenders. If those seals are rotted out or missing, it allows cold, cold air to blow into the cockpit.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I didn't know that, time to investigate!
 
One of the guys in our Triumph club, Gavin who is also a member of the forum under the name nemexTR3, just bought the uprated heater for the TR3 from Revington. He's going to bring it by at the next tech session so we can check it out, and maybe stuff it in. He's hoping that his wife will like the upgrade. :smile:
 
Jerry said:
...Has anyone found an aftermarket that fits and works well?
Click to expand...

Here is what I used:

Maradyne Heater

12 V 5000 Specs

May be able to find it cheaper with some searching. Okay here's one for $140: $140 Heater

The mock-up I used for fitting (while waiting for delivery):

Heater1.jpg~original


Had to rotate the core 180° and make some new holes to present the connections to the rear of the car:

Heater2.jpg~original


Installed:

Heater3.jpg~original


Works well -- would probably be better if I wasn't driving with just an aeroscreen in 30° weather.
 
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]
Works well -- would probably be better if I wasn't driving with just an aeroscreen in 30° weather. [/QUOTE]

This is why only real men drive TR3s
 
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