TR2/3/3A OD wire routing question

[mallard]

What is the correct routing for the wire off the transmission to the relay behind battery box? My tunnel had a hole in the side with a grommet in it so I was thinking the wire came thru there and up the side. I sure don't like the look of that. Now I have to put a plug in the carpet and relocate the wire.

 

[6TTR3A]

The (plugged) hole on the side is for access to the transmission filler plug. On my 3A there is a grommet ed hole close to the battery box drain tube hole that allows egress for the OD wiring from
the relay.
Regarding the tranny filler plug hole...Why anyone would want to access that nut on the tranny from the cockpit is beyond me ! So you pull the plug, stick your (square) spanner in there to remove the nut...now what? How are you going to check the oil level? And how are you going to top it up from
inside the cockpit? It's enough of a hassle from underneath!!!
FRank

 

[TR3driver]

The hole that Keith is talking about is nowhere near the fill plug, and is found even on cars that did not originally have a fill plug (like mine). I'm not positive what it was for, but I don't believe it was for the fill plug.

I don't like having wires through it either, though, so mine has a blank plug in that hole and the wires are routed through the engine compartment.

PS, perhaps I should explain that earlier cars (before TS50,000) did have a hole for filling the gearbox, but it is over on the right side and near the top directly above the dipstick. Prying out the plug and filling through the dipstick hole was the only method available, as those cars did not have the pipe plug on the side as later cars did.

 

[mallard]

Thanks Frank for the information. My trans cover only has one hole on the top for the battery box drain. Other than going thru the hole on the side as shown I see no other way for the wires to go.

 

[TR3driver]

Other than going thru the hole on the side as shown I see no other way for the wires to go.

Forward under the cover to the firewall, then up the firewall to one of the grommets there. That was the original routing on Stags, and I copied it to the TR.

I didn't have them hooked up yet in this shot, but should give some idea

 

[mallard]

Thanks Randall for clearing that up, I'm going to re-route the wires and put a small carpet plug in the hole over the grommet.

 

[TR4nut]

Keith-

For what its worth, I think the hole you used is correct, strange location yes but I've read before that is where they put it. But I thought they kept it under the carpet to the bulhead and then got it to the relay.

Randy

 

[titanic]

The (plugged) hole on the side is for access to the transmission filler plug. On my 3A there is a grommet ed hole close to the battery box drain tube hole that allows egress for the OD wiring from
the relay.
Regarding the tranny filler plug hole...Why anyone would want to access that nut on the tranny from the cockpit is beyond me ! So you pull the plug, stick your (square) spanner in there to remove the nut...now what? How are you going to check the oil level? And how are you going to top it up from
inside the cockpit? It's enough of a hassle from underneath!!!
FRank

I think the access hole and dipstick on the pre TS 50000 TR3s was the greatest invention since sliced bread. It allowed checking the oil level with the car on the ground, no crawling under the car, and easy filling (a concern if a leaky OD is involved. Much of the same benefit can be had on later cars can be had by cutting an access hole opposite of the fill plug. Filling is easily done from within the car with a pump attatchment to a qt. transmission oil bottle. Using an 8 point socket or replacing the square headed plug with a hex one also make the job easier. An old towel should be placed on the floor to protect the carpet. I can check the trans. oil almost as easily as the engine oil and do it much more often than if it required jacking up the car or taking it to a facility with a lift. Berry

 

[mallard]

Thanks Randy: It was dumb on my part to punch the hole without knowing for sure how things went. Berry I agree it is a great idea for the dip stick, and the zerk fitting on the driveshaft. The two large plugs and the shifter boot are not the best looking things unless you have black carpet.

 

[TR4nut]

Not to steal the thread too much, but I scored a period ash tray recently that takes advantage of the blanking plug over the driveshaft:

The ashtray is designed to replace the rubber plug. Other than making sure it is sealed from drafts, it gives access to the u joint pretty easily - at least that's my hope.

 

[mallard]

Very nice Randy kind of like that purchase of those pistons and rings some time back that you didn't want to part with. I've seen those ash trays before but didn't know they went there, neat idea. I might look for one of those, any idea who made them or what they were called other than ashtray?

 

[TR3driver]

I think the access hole and dipstick on the pre TS 50000 TR3s was the greatest invention since sliced bread.

I rather like it myself. Which is why, if you look closely at the photo I posted above, you'll see a TR6 gearbox with a dipstick.

And FWIW, I carpeted over both that plug and the driveshaft plug. On my car, you have to lift the carpet to get to the plugs. No big deal, since that piece of carpet is just laying there.

 

[TR4nut]

Very nice Randy kind of like that purchase of those pistons and rings some time back that you didn't want to part with.

Oops I forgot about that!

I've seen those ash trays before but didn't know they went there, neat idea. I might look for one of those, any idea who made them or what they were called other than ashtray?

Pretty sure they were made by Jepco Manufacturing Co in North Hollywood, based on this link:
https://rutgerbooy.nl/mga-accessories/blog

If you scroll down you'll see a similar one for an MGA they claim is from Jepco. Other than that, I don't know the source - this one I pried off a very nasty old transmission cover from from a collection of 3/3A cars being parted out here in Texas.

 

[titanic]

Randall-I think I remember seeing pictures of TR2s with the carpets cut out around the plugs. Later cars hid the plugs under the carpets. Berry

 

[TR3driver]

Randall-I think I remember seeing pictures of TR2s with the carpets cut out around the plugs. Later cars hid the plugs under the carpets. Berry

According to Bill Piggott, that happened at TS22014, the introduction of the TR3A. I was somehow under the impression it didn't happen until later, when the gearbox plug was deleted entirely (at TS50000), but I guess TS39781LO had just been modified before I got it.