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Bolt Identification?

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White79MGB

White79MGB

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I was driving my '56 TR3 today (Yes it is 75 degrees and sunny here in the SF Bay area!) Hit a speed bump a little too fast and I heard the sound of hardware hitting the pavement. I stopped and went back and found this bolt - perhaps someone who is a TR3 expert can identify where this might have fallen off from? It is a 5/16-24 x 3-1/2" bolt.
 

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Yep, that's my guess too...
 
I'm not a TR3 expert--I don't even own one--but that reminds me of the bolts that attach the water pump to the pump housing and the block, at least on a TR250/TR6. I've never heard of one backing itself out and falling off, though. The intake manifold has some long ones like that, too.

Air cleaner?

Suspension?

Oil filter?

This probably does not help you one bit!
 
How are the rear shocks mounted to that chassis? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif
 
The bolts holding the rear shocks on are much shorter. The generator on the TR3 is held in by two short bolts, so it's not that. I would look where the brackets for the bumper bolt onto the frame. They are about that length. There are two on each side.
 
I'm going with front bumper bracket-to-frame.
 
Right, checked the generator and it is OK. I will check those bumper brackets next. Thanks to all for your help.

Reminds me of the old bumper sticker: "All the parts falling off this car are genuine British..." Or something to that effect.
 
Hope I'm wrong,

5/16ths by 3.5 inches long could be one of the two idler bracket bolts or the rocker shaft clamp bolt. Both of which are directly responsible for holding the steering assembly to the car. Other possibility may be one of the two bolts which hold the tie rod lever to the vertical link which is also very important to steering. I am doubtful about the latter because they should have lock tab washers holding them in. Not to scare you but I would jack it up and take a good long look at those areas before driving it. Give it all a good shake to see if anything loose.
 
i hate to seem hopeful, but does it have to be part of the car? i'm all for giving it the once over to make for sure it isn't, or even twice, but don't lose alot of sleep over it.

then again, i'd rather spend hours now then thousands later ($).

keep up the search.
 
As Harry says, it might be one of the two bolts holding the steering box to the frame or one of the two bolts which secure the idler arm to the frame. Also check the bumper irons which are bolted to the frame about 1" back from the front end of the frame with a second bolt about 4" further back. Check both sides.
 
Places to look

Dual piston type Brake/Cluch {early TR-3`s} mastercylender mounting bolts.
The exaust pipe clamp and exaust pipe hangar.
The motormounts to chassis.
Tub to chassis mountings.
Stering box to frame mount.
Bumper brackets to frame mounts.
Aframe bump stop mounts {Rubber Rebounds}
Check the front aframes over carefuly { I can`t remember any long bolts
there other than the shock mounts}
Last but not least the possibility exists that your tire fliped that
bolt up off of the road and it doesn`t go to your car at all.
Indeed! a THOUROUGH INVESTAGATION IS IN ORDER!
 
There is a box-like thingy that is located under the front shock and suspension assembly. It is bolted to the frame with long bolts like these. It also supports the rectangular rubber bumper stop for the vertical motion of the front A frames.
 
I'm with Don. Each side has two 5/16-24 3.5" bolts attaching the rebound stop bracket assembly (box-like thingy is better!) to the frame. TR4 is the same.

Randy
 
Afraid I don't know much about TR3's but it kinda looks like one of the bolts that mounts the body to the frame on the front out riggers of my GT6.
Either way, I would get it on a lift an take a good hard look

Mikey
 
Yep, I just concluded a complete chassis restoration on my TR3. The bolts that hold the steering box and idler bracket, along with the front bumper brackets to frame, are all 3/8's, not 5/16ths. Besides, absent significant heat from an acetylene torch, the bumper bracket bolts were rusted solid. Maybe yours is different, but no amount of pounding with a hand sledge would remove those devilish bolts (I thouroughly coated with anti-seize on re-assembly).

Your best bet is with the rebound bracket. There aren't too many other places on the TR3, where 3.5" bolts were used, so give that a good look. Beyond that though, the only thing I could think of is a body mounting bolt that runs through the floor pans through a long collar on the frame (to the left and right of the transmission bellhousing). I'd be surprised if this was it, as most of the time these are rusted solid, and the bolt would have to have been originally upside down to fall out.
 
OK, everybody, after inspection I found it. The entire rebound bracket (front left) is missing! I went back to the spot where I heard something fall off but naturally I could find nothing.

This part is no longer available from Moss or VB as far as I can tell. How important is it? Any ideas on where to find one? Thanks!
 
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