Reconditioned Sidescreens

[prb51]

Awhile ago I mentioned I had some old AMCO sidescreen frames (no vinyl material and missing a wedge, cracked ally on the corners) and ya'll talked me into attempting a cheap rebuild rather than a $900 outlay. Thanks.
A friend gave me the 1/8 th inch plexiglass and I used the old PG as guides, just used a box cutter to score and bent them until they snapped, no problems.
The same friend welds alluminum and he fixed the stress cracks and put a new wedge on the one leg (made the wedge).
I made a form out of cardboard to fit the vinyl part and got some top material ($8 bucks a yard). I doubled it over so it would smoothly fit the channel.
I used 1/4 thick leather to fold over and run up into the channel and extended it down front and rear for stiffening.
The local saddle shop sewed it all up for $25.
Someone here posted an address where they sell the rubber channel $18.
So I've about $50 bucks in the deal and a few beers for Roger the welder.
https://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc138/prb51/DSC01055.jpg
https://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc138/prb51/DSC01060.jpg
https://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc138/prb51/DSC01056.jpg

 

[NutmegCT]

Those look great! Did you have any headaches in getting the rubber seals (between frame and top/windscreen) fitted?

And I envy you having a friend who welds ...

Well done!
Tom

 

[Geo Hahn]

Nice work -- you should be very satisfied with the result and no doubt have other ways to spend the 900 bucks.

If you can't think of any just wait a bit and the car will come up with something.

 

[prb51]

The rubber came from https://www.clarkespares.com/carparts.html and is for an MG but is the exact same thing used on the AMCO screens as I had some old hard rubber to compare it to.
Wasn't to hard to fit properly as I just took my time but they're not perfect but will do. I don't know how well originals fit for a comparison but I suspect much better.
I know they're just AMCO's but for how much I don't use them they're perfect and the $900 goes towards an A type OD.
Roger the welder won't take any money, just beer, I like the barter system.
I've ordered some ally tube and he's going to weld up my aftermarket ally valve cover so I can use the original breather. I'll post that when he's done, God love him.

 

[PeterK]

I couldn't tell from your pictures, but the original Amco ones used a square of plexi, maybe 1-1/8" that is glued to the window and acts as a handle to push open the window.
Much easier to open and close plus the windwws stay cleaner.

Really nice work!

 

[prb51]

Peter,
Right, I have 3 of them as one was missing so I'll use two full size and split the third and super glue them on.
Thanks, with the help of some friends thay did come out nice (especially for the cost).

 

[2wrench]

Very nice looking fab. I am impressed. Well done.

 

[Tinkerman]

What a great deal, and they really look great! Gotta make you feel real good right about now.

Good going, Tinkerman

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

Those look great. I recently picked up a set of frames, but it will be a while until I get to working on them. All I have is the frames -no patterens to copy (but I know some people in town that will probably let me refer to their side screens).

The ones I have are the newer dzus type, but I also have a set of door brackets to match. It's not exactly accurate for a 1958, but it's such a subtle difference that I doubt many will notice. (I really don't know of any advantages/disadvantages of wedge vs dzus).

I assume you are pleased with the way they turned out, and should be.

 

[PeterK]

The ones I have are the newer dzus type, but I also have a set of door brackets to match. It's not exactly accurate for a 1958, but it's such a subtle difference that I doubt many will notice. (

1958 is the changeover point from wedge to dzus at TS 28826. So maybe you're more correct than you thought!

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

Ohhhh. So close. TS 27846 is just a tad low...
Where do you guys find information like change over points?

When did the trunk handle change to a single from two dzus and when did the trunk under side change from channels to rods?

-I don't expect my car to be exactly correct, but I do plan to drive it, have it look good, and have it be a fairly decent example of what a TR3 should be (aside from fun to drive).

 

[Twosheds]

Where do you guys find information like change over points?

When did the trunk handle change to a single from two dzus

Bill Piggott's Original Triumph TR2/3/3A for one.

The change from two budget locks and handle (they're not Dzus fasteners, they're more like the spare tire cover locks) is hard to tell because both types were produced for a while. The single handle was fitted starting with TS22014, but cars from TS22014 to TS23920 could have had either type. From TS23920 on, only the single handle was fitted.

My old racecar, TS22312, had budget locks.

 

[prb51]

TK,
What type of frames do you have original/aftermarket? It's pretty easy to make a pattern.

https://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc138/prb51/DSC01062.jpg

Once done trace on the material twice for the fold over and add 1/4 inch for the fold itself, the leather strip worked very well and is also 1/4 in thick, you can see the leather outline in the interior picture and it extends down as a stiffener in the front/back. It was glued in place and then sewn thru.

https://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc138/prb51/DSC01060.jpg

 

[Andrew Mace]

...
Where do you guys find information like change over points?

I don't know if every detail is there, but there's a good list on the VTR web site.

 

[prb51]

That's a good quick reference and just learned that later 3's had a different axle cover than mine.

 

[TR3driver]

I don't know if every detail is there,

Lots of little details missing from that list; like the change in the wiper switch location, change from switch to rheostat for the dash lights, and changes in "Lift The Dot" stud locations; to name just a few.

But it is a good effort; I don't mean to sound critical of Carl Musson. Especially when even Bill Piggott didn't get all of them, and unlike Carl he was well paid for his efforts.

Another good reference (tho still incomplete IMO) is the TRA Judging manual :
https://www.triumphregister.com/TRA%20Guide%20Binder%202004.pdf

Likely no one then or now ever has known the entire story !

 

[martx-5]

... but cars from TS22014 to TS23920 could have had either type. From TS23920 on, only the single handle was fitted.

My old racecar, TS22312, had budget locks.

My TR, TS23677 has both... budget locks AND a handle. I looked at the holes etc. when I took everything apart, and all the holes looked original. I can't positively say that it came from the factory this way, but the only reason to add the handle is so you could lock the trunk. Perhaps that is what a previous owner did. Of course, knowing how Triumph did things back then, it wouldn't surprise me if it came from the factory like that.

 

[Twosheds]

Art:

Do the budget locks on your car have the "fig leaf" covers or the "toilet lid" covers (like on the spare tire cover)? The racecar had the "toilet lids".

 

[mrv8q]

Here's a picture of the original sidescreens on my car, with an unusual owner modification:

Here's a tight shot:

The black window part is completely solid; I'm not sure what the intent was....

This was the only time in the three years that I've had the car, that the sidescreens and top were on; they're doing OK, though for 45+ years. I do use the original tonneau, though.

I do like the sleeker looks of the AMCOs, too.

 

[prb51]

Kevin,
They look in great shape for original and If I had the original frames I'd of probably rebuilt them, or had them rebuilt as it looks quite a job.
So the dark window is opaque? Wonder what kind of illegal activity the PO was up to? With the sidescreens in place it is a private kind of space and totally diff than the open feeling when it's all off.
Very cute young lady in attendance.