Pour QC

[Gblake2613]

Anyone experience this problem while replacing inner sills on their TR? The tape measure indicates the distance from the original weld to the correct location. The mounting tabs were approximately 7/8" too far to the rear.

It is a shame when you buy a new part and it takes 2 hours to make it right before you install it.

The same problem was encountered on both sides of the car. I'll write Moss a letter to let them know. I guess I should not complain too much since we can still buy virtually any part for our cars…

Greg

 

[Alan_Myers]

Hi Greg,

I'm not at all surprised about that on a TR3, since they were essentially hand built and there can be quite a bit of variance from one car to the next.

Progressively the later TR models became a bit more standardized. Still, there are some minor differences that show up when replacing panels. For example, Heritage body panels (which are what all the major vendors sell) offer only one version of the TR4/4A/5/250/6 floor pans. This is the version that has three holes at the rear outrigger mounting point. So while these bolt right up to TR4A and later, when being fitted to TR4 an additional hole has to be drilled and a bit of shaping needs to be done (or instead just fit 3 bolts to each, if originality isn't a concern).

Frankly, I think some of this is to be expected with older cars, where for practical purposes any replacement body panels have to be standardized by a manufacturer, in hopes of fitting as many cars as possible throughout the production run.

Some tweaking and fitting isn't at all uncommon. Outer panels can be even more of an issue. A brand new repro can need even more body work, tweaking and fitting than an old one in reasonably good condition. TR2/3 front fenders are notorious at the front lower lip, where it meets the lower front valance. Fenders from one car nearly never line up perfectly when installed on another car, and the repro parts have to try to come as close as possible to fitting them all!

Anyway, looks like you've got it all figured out and are doing a great job with your particular repair!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[Geo Hahn]

By all means let Moss know... in my experience they take fitment and quality problems very seriously but often rely on us to help them identify them.

Let me know if you need an email contact there.

 

[Gblake2613]

I sent them a note last night via email. I assume that they would want this information. I let yall know what I hear back.

Alan,

Although I agree with your statement that we should expect some hand fitting, I would think that the out rigger supports would be a constant dimension from TR2 - TR3B. I could be wrong though, they thought it was a good idea to put SUs above an exhaust manifold???

 

[vettedog72]

Greg:
Prior to the mid 60's all? American cars had the intake on top of the exhaust manifold (except the v configured engines and their derivatives like the 4 cyl Pontiac used in the Tempest.). Frankly, I think that’s why it is so hard to get any real , streetable power out of the 2.5 Triumph.

 

[DougF]

I hate to add insult to injury. But if you study the rocker and then the door, you will notice that the door has a slight curve to it. The rocker doesn't. Many people do not correct this problem, some glaze in the curve.

 

[Gblake2613]

Just wanted to let all of you read Moss's response.

"Greg.

Thank you for your input on this problem. I am sorry for the grief it has caused you. We do appreciate all positive input on our parts, and are very concerned about quality issues. Unfortunately we cannot test fit or check every single part that comes into our warehouse as there are hundreds day, and we would never get them into stock. If not for concerned customers such as you, some of these problems would never get reported and therefore never get fixed. We will investigate this particular part and inform our vendor of any problems that we can document. As you know, all these cars were not built alike, and after market vendors have problems getting a panel made that will fit every car, so on some replacement body panels there will be some tweaking, fudging and some times cutting."

part deleted by Greg

"We do publish a statement on the body panel page to this situation. We do not expect that these adjustments will take 3hrs to accomplish a fit.

Again thank you for taking the time and trouble to report on this body part problem.

Best Regards,

William ( Harry ) Haigh
Tech Services
Moss Motors LTD
805-681-3400 Ext 3060
haighh@mossmotors.com."

Very good. I hope that this might help someone in the future, maybe when I help my 1 year old restore his first 3...

 

[LeeMcKee]

At the British Restoration shop I used to work at we had a saying... "No part shall be used untill properly modified"
It was true for used parts we were refitting on to a different car or parts brand new out of the box. It not only makes life a little more interesting you normally learn something in the process... Like, why British Machanics drink so much! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif

 

[JamesWilson]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif

I don't know which was worse- fixing the old or making the new fit. And as often as not new parts didn't even fit to other new parts. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[vettedog72]

Good body men are artists. It seems they are used to shrinking, expanding recurring and all the other things they have in the skill set. Where the non gifted may want to reskin a door, I suggest you think twice because it will not likely come out looking new. Praise to the body man!