TR2/3/3A Ultimate TR3

[pdplot]

I belong to a car club that meets once a month for dinner. We bring our cars and park them on the grass outside. Tonight, there was a green TR3 parked with the hood raised and when I looked at the engine compartment, I couldn't believe my eyes. He had twin Webers with a black plenum chamber, a copper or bronze power brake booster where the battery usually resides with dual master cylinders, a huge distributor with electronic ignition, electric fan and everything immaculate - you could eat off the firewall. I questioned the owner - a vet named Kevin - and he told me he had installed rack & pinion steering from (I think) a TR4A. There was a custom grille with a yellow surround like the LeMans Tr3s and different seats. I didn't have a camera but another member was taking pictures and I asked him to email me a picture. If he does, I'll try and post it here. I never saw a TR3 like it. We had a concours for original cars before dinner and the winner was a 1936 Hotchkiss sedan. Other cars included a 1935 Packard, a 1950 Packard, a 1936 four-door Dodge convertible hot rod, two XK 140s, a 1962 Porsche, a brand-new Boxster, a Bentley, my TR6, a Cobra replica, a wartime Jeep, an Aston martin, 3 Ferraris, an Edsel convertible with only 15K miles...missing were another TR3, my friend's 1931 Model A, an immaculate MGA and a Morris Minor station wagon, all usually seen there. It was a beautiful clear night after three days of thunderstorms.

 

[Bremer]

Please post pictures when you get them.

 

[pdplot]

Here is a picture - if I can upload it...
I can't. "File not found". It's saved as a JPEG. I can access it any time I want but it won't upload. Computers...

PD

 

[DNK]

Email it to me
donnkelly
I am at Comcast
Dot net for the ending

 

[pdplot]

I'll give it a shot. No guarantees...

PD

 

[pdplot]

Here it is.

 

[DNK]

Here they are

View attachment 27782

View attachment 27783

View attachment 27784

Made the engine one the biggest as that seemed the neatest

 

[CJD]

Cool! So, like, where did he find room to move the battery? Interesting brake servo set up...must take a serious alternator to power all those relays.

 

[pdplot]

Battery was placed in the trunk. Owner is a vet and likes to do his own work. I think he has a few other cars. I'll try to find out more of what he did at the next meeting.

 

[martx-5]

...must take a serious alternator to power all those relays.

That's the Advance Auto Wiring system developed by Dan Masters.
https://www.advanceautowire.com/

I have the same system in my TR3. Most of the switch functions are taken up by relays so you only have low currents going through them and thus leaving all the higher current duties to the contacts in the relays. Of course, there are extra relays for for things like electric fans and electric fuel pumps.

 

[TR4nut]

Thanks for posting. I've been thinking of cutting down a windscreen like that - good to see an example.

 

[TR3driver]

..must take a serious alternator to power all those relays.

Relays take practically no power at all, roughly 1 watt each (only when activated of course). I've got at least 8 of them on my TR3 with the stock 19 amp generator, but I keep them hidden.

 

[CJD]

Relays take practically no power at all, roughly 1 watt each (only when activated of course). I've got at least 8 of them on my TR3 with the stock 19 amp generator, but I keep them hidden.

If you only draw a total of 19 amps, then relays really aren't necessary. Headlights and horns are our only stock items using any significant amperage, and that's still below 10 amps each. The implication in the super TR is he plans to use some high draw items to need a gang of 30 amp relays. Even if he uses them to 1/3 capacity, he's got the base for 120 amps of draw in the photo!

 

[TR3driver]

If you only draw a total of 19 amps, then relays really aren't necessary.

Not necessarily. For example, some of us like to relieve the load from the original switches, so they will last longer and deliver more power to the load (ie brighter headlights). Relays can also implement logic functions, like my tail lights that also serve as both stop and turn signals.