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General TR Just Like Christmas!

CJD

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The day started slow. I now know more about TR2/3/4 pedals than I care to admit. My TR2 pedals were frozen to the pivot shaft so badly that I blew apart my (cheap) press trying to free them. It was pretty spectacular. I can't really expain what happened, but after the explosion I remember the large jack flying through the air and doing several flips. Luckily, the garage is so overfilled with TR parts that I had to operate the press from off to the side, or the jack would have hit me in the head.

No big deal...I have Marv's parts car and the $100 "pile" of parts I got from Craig's list last year. 3 pedal sets...No problem! Well, yes it was. It turns out the TR2 pedals have straight actuator levers at the top. The TR3 top levers are bent to operate the dual master cylinders. And, the TR4 set from "the pile" has a different offset to the lower pedals, AND bent levers. 3 sets. None will work. Bummer.

I fired up the torch and welded and whacked on the TR3 pedals...and 3 hours later they evolved into TR2 pedals. Hurray.

Then the Christmas part. I have been slowly restoring all the components related to the dash. I managed to rebuild all the dash switches, but was short the reostat for the heater. In both cars the reostats were total losses. Checked Moss...$98. I mean $98 !!!!! Did I mention !!! $98 !!!!!When I considered that I don't even have a good heater core, (with the TR2 blown out like an accordian and Marv's old heater corroded beyond repair), I had decided to restore the TR2 without a heater. After all, calling the TR2 heater "marginal" is really a compliment anyway.

Now the Christmas part. While I was fumbling for pedals through "the pile", which is 3 feet high and at least 20 sqft around...a lone TR heater reostat just seemed to fall out on my foot. New. Still in the box! This huge "pile" had to come from Santa. I bought it for the transmission parts. It has saved me many $hundreds, and I have yet to even start any tranny work!

Anyway...although I am excited about my find...that is not the reason for my post. The reason I am posting is that "the pile" is mostly TR4 parts. I have no TR4, and I don't know anyone who does. So, if any of you TR4 owners find yourself in need of parts, be sure to fire a PM. The "magic pile" may help you out too!

The best $100 I ever spent!
 
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The heater was also optional on TR2-3; one of my previous cars never had one. The current car appears to have had one originally, but I'm leaving it out anyway.
 
Marginal?
I think sometimes the difference between "bearable" and "intolerable", is "marginal". Back in late October, the TR3 heater kept our feet warm all the way to Pennsylvania from Texas. -Just last night we were driving home at about 11pm with the top down, and my wife could tell the heat was on. I was enjoying the drive so much, I missed my exit on the beltway. (I have never done that in another car.) She didn't notice because she was playing 'words w/friends' and keeping her hands down where the moving air was warm. I think the heater works just fine.

I'm glad you got a pile of Christmas for $100. That is a good deal.
 
Had to smile over this one. I fully restored the pedals that came with my car and only when I went to install them did I discover the straight versus bent difference. Was good training for restoring the proper straight ones when I finally tracked a set down. Cheers, Mike
 
I did a Portland, Oregon / Champaign, Illinois trip middle of winter, 1971 in my 60 TR3. I "plumbed" in an additional heater from a 1950 Ford pick up truck. Same style as the Triumph but with a slightly bigger core and a much better blower motor. It went above my wife's feet on the passenger side. It was at least 10 degrees warmer on her side. You could actually feel the difference if you placed your right hand on her side of the car. PICT0013.jpgBy the way, I burned a valve shortly befor we got there and drove back to Portland on three cylinders. Gas mileage dropped to 13 or 14. Other than that, we made it home just fine. It's memories like these that keep me going on my 57. I hope I live ling enough to finish!
 
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