TR2/3/3A TR3 Radiator overflow Q

[mrv8q]

Ever since I had my carbs and distributor rebuilt, and going through the hydraulics a couple of months ago, there's been a slight "tinkling" sound coming from the front of the car. At first, I thought it was the timing chain tensioner, but the sound would come and go, intermittently. It sounded like a bolt that hadn't been securely tightened, and a lock washer was loose and vibrating. The sound would appear at higher revs, all gears, but never consistently. Except for replacing the oil pan gasket, I couldn't think of anything remotely related to my work, and the occasional sound. Strangely, I thought I heard it more often going around corners; try chasing that down!

After breakfast with the local club, and being in the middle of a huge downpour over Burbank, (see Triumph guys scramble for tonneaus and convertible tops), I sat and looked at my front end:

There's a little divot on all the fan blades. At first, I thought it was the fan hitting the cross tube, but its on the wrong side. Here's the culprit, I believe:

Can any '3 owners tell me where the overflow tube attaches, or will it be apparent tomorrow when I jack up the car?

Hopefully, I've found the source of my tinkling, and the fan won't detonate until I replace it eventually.

 

[angelfj1]

Ever since I had my carbs and distributor rebuilt, and going through the hydraulics a couple of months ago, there's been a slight "tinkling" sound coming from the front of the car. At first, I thought it was the timing chain tensioner, but the sound would come and go, intermittently. It sounded like a bolt that hadn't been securely tightened, and a lock washer was loose and vibrating. The sound would appear at higher revs, all gears, but never consistently. Except for replacing the oil pan gasket, I couldn't think of anything remotely related to my work, and the occasional sound. Strangely, I thought I heard it more often going around corners; try chasing that down!

After breakfast with the local club, and being in the middle of a huge downpour over Burbank, (see Triumph guys scramble for tonneaus and convertible tops), I sat and looked at my front end:

There's a little divot on all the fan blades. At first, I thought it was the fan hitting the cross tube, but its on the wrong side. Here's the culprit, I believe:

Can any '3 owners tell me where the overflow tube attaches, or will it be apparent tomorrow when I jack up the car?

Hopefully, I've found the source of my tinkling, and the fan won't detonate until I replace it eventually.

Yes, the overflow hose is securred at two points. The first photo shows the upper point where the 'P' clip is fastened and the middle shot shows the other point where a hose clip is pushed into a hole in the sheet metal of the inner wing. Looks like you have both clips! The bottom clip is shown in the last photo.

I think your plastic fan may fly apart now that it is most likely unbalanced. Lucky it didn't puncture the rad!

 

[mrv8q]

Frank, thanks for all the excellent pictures; they were perfect! I must have never properly replaced the P clip, and my bottom hose clip is missing a tooth; a cable tie will suffice until that gets ordered, too......

While I was down there, I renewed my ground strap connections; good preventative maintenance for another couple years....

Again, thanks for taking the time to snap the pictures.

 

[angelfj1]

Kevin: You will find that the lower clip in not available. Someone in TRA is having some made - don't yet know the cost. There may be something else that you can use in the mean time. When I know more about availability I'll send a post.

Frank

 

[mrv8q]

Great, Frank, let me know....