TR2/3/3A Triumph tr3a Apron removal

[aaronf30]

I've got a triumph tr3a apron that I've unbolted all the bolts or killed them with an angle grinder. Still the apron will not budge. Any ideas?

 

[CJD]

Just to be sure, in addition to the side bolts, there are the bumper brackets and the crank guide, and then the long bolts that hold the rear brace.

 

[aaronf30]

Only thing im not sure about is whatever you called the rear brace. I have some pictures. Doesnt look pretty!

 

[aaronf30]

about 2 lbs of dirt and rust came out when i pried with a crowbar. Its still not budging.

 

[CJD]

You removed the long bolts from the brace...

There are bolts that go from the wing side inward, and others...located up and under the apron...that go from the apron side outward. Your one pic shows a caged nut. It's too blurry to tell for sure, but it looks like there is still a bolt there...

 

[aaronf30]

Okay heres a better picture. I thought those two bolts here were part of the apron. According to the manual i got everything, but perhaps its missing things

 

[aaronf30]

One more

 

[CJD]

Did you get the ones straight up in the wheel well?

 

[aaronf30]

Interesting...Yes i grinded off those cage nuts abut my manual said the verticle bolts are NOT to be touched. I got all 6 though

 

[CJD]

There are 6 bolts on each side...

And I was wrong, they all go from outside inward, so they lay horizontally. I hope your PO isn't like mine and brazed the body panels on!

Looking at my own pic, I cannot remember, but the bolt on each side of the fwd wheel well...also shown in your pics, may go through the apron too??

 

[aaronf30]

IF you mean LH and RH side , then yes i got all 12 of those...

 

[aaronf30]

Ah geeze i thought the two side panels would come off as well.....

 

[CJD]

No...the Brits love bolts!

This is the one I question...

 

[donbmw]

Looking at your picture that shows the Apron and the RH finder it looks to me someone welded or body filler the two together. I don't see the gap the pipping covers

 

[aaronf30]

I kinda thought it looked a bit welded. Now how do i fix this? I dont know how to weld...or deweld...ill unbolt that one just to see....It my manual it clearly shoes that the whole thing comes off as one. Very confused.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Looks to me like someone bondoed or welded up the seams along each side:

Originally there would have been a removable beading along there revealing a seam where the apron separates from the wing.

It's not going anywhere until that seam can be separated.

Follow-up since you now know what the hang up is. I would remove the paint along that 'seam' and see what has been done to fill it. If you're lucky it is just Bondo and you will be able to score it and break it without doing any more damage to the apron or wing -- but someone closed it for a reason so you'll also be looking for rust or the remains of corrosion once you get whatever was added out of the way.

 

[Geo Hahn]

...my manual it clearly shoes that the whole thing comes off as one. Very confused.

This is the seam you appear to be missing (that beading covers the actual seam and is secured by metal tabs captured between the wing and the apron):

Separating along that seam, the apron comes off leaving the wing in place:

 

[6TTR3A]

There should be a seam there. If it's Bondo, no big deal;
If it's lead or brazed, :frown-new:

 

[TR3driver]

I think I see the problem. Someone has filled the seams and I'll bet you're going to have to remove at least part of whatever the filler is before it will come apart.

 

[aaronf30]

Ahhhh . Any autobody guys near berlin ma. Ill pay!