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Transmission tunnel removal

M

Member 10617

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Can someone give me instructions on how to remove the transmission tunnel on a 58 TR3A, including any tips or precautions I should be aware of? Many thanks.
Ed
 
First of all - welcome Ed.

Make sure you clean all the underside of the bolts - will make removing them much easier and less likely to strip. Seems obvious, but...

Take pictures from all angles - which you probably already have done anyway.

Other than that, I can't remember anything peculiar.
 
I just did this on my TR3A. I didn't run into anything complex, just put penetrating oil on the captive nuts and turned the bolts really carefully.
John
Carbondale, IL
 
You may want to begin removing one or both seats, the car's top, and place plastic over anything you don't want scratched or dirty. Then simply remove the sixteen or so bolts, your shifter knob and retaining nut, and the four machine screws that hold the rubber seal around the emergency brake. Then lift the back of the tunnel up enough to clear the shifter and pull the whole section toward the back of the car.
 
Welcome aboard Ed. Great to see another TR3 guy hop on the band wagon.

Removing the tunnel is pretty straight forward, and as others have mentioned, the biggest problem is rusted screws in the captured nuts. All of those nuts can be accessed from underneath and on the firewall, so several application of penetrating spray should make them movable. The two products that seem to work best is PB Blaster (available at most auto stores like Pep Boys) and Kroil, which I had to buy online. WD40 just doesn't do much in these situations.

BTW, why are you removing the tunnel?? Clutch time, or are you just starting a frame off restoration? Inquiring minds want to know. And we require pics of everything! :laugh:
 
Thanks for all the good information. I'm just getting back into TR3s after nearly 50 years living without one. I have much to learn and relearn.

My shifter detents may have to be adjusted to get rid of some chatter in the gearbox, and someone has told me that I would need to remove the tunnel to get at the shifter mechanism.

Ed
 
Welcome back, so to speak Ed.

Any pictures of her to share? (we run the range from definitely scruffy to amazing, so no worries about what she looks like)
 
There's a small pin and spring assembly at the bottom of the 3's gearshift lever; replacing it didn't seem to make much difference in the general quietness of the gearbox. I did smear some lithium grease between the shift gate and the cup under it....
 
Sorry about no photo. I don't have a personal webpage and don't know how to place a photo in this message. The car is a 1958 Triumph TR3, white with black interior (nice paint job), wire wheels. Nothing unusual about it's looks except that the TR3 is, in my opinion, one of the best looking cars ever made (with the exception of the MG-TC).

Ed
 
Ed, you can use a free site like photobucket.com, to hold your photos, to then post at BCF......
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]TR3 is, in my opinion, one of the best looking cars ever made[/QUOTE]

I'm pleased to hear this. I've thought the same on a regular basis for over fifty years.

You can also post photos by selecting the "Enter a Image" icon when posting or replying, and then using "File Manager" at the bottom of the posting page to pull a photo off your computer.
 
Perry,

Thanks for the guidance, but when I tried to add a jpg photo, I got a message that it was too large. This, even though the site says jpg will work.

???
Ed
 
If you'll use tinypics.com you can upload a pic it then gives you an option to choose from a number of things. Copy the IMG option, after that use the full reply option on the post. There is a box to post an image. Choose it and paste the IMG line into the option.
 
The photo of my 58 TR3 is now on the Members' Pictures page of BCF. I couldn't find a way to attach it to this message.

Ed
 
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