TR2/3/3A Wood pieces under dash of TR3

[tinman58]

Does any body have any info on redoing the wood supports under the dash? Are they avaible? or do you have to fab a new one out of oak?
Dan

 

[Geo Hahn]

I'm thinking that the Landrums tackled this in their recent resto of their TR3.

Okay -- found this in the archives...

https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf...rue/Re_Wood_under_from_dash_cappin#Post461912

 

[CraigLandrum]

I was also under the impression that I needed to put wood under the steel dash capping, but as it turned out I was wrong - it didn't need any. The passenger grab handle attached with four large machine screws into clip-on nuts, and the tonneau cover pegs screwed down through the capping and into pre-existing holes in the metal top of the dash - they are mainly what holds the top of the capping in place. Underneath - in addition to the oh-god handle screws mentioned, the underside was held on with 4 or 5 additional small machine screws. No wood was involved or needed. Our TR3 VIN was 42071. If wood was used, it may have been on earlier cars.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect ash might be better than oak?

 

[BillBTR3A]

Andy,
You are correct, Ash is the wood for under the dash and also the doors. Morgan is even more fond of the wood than Triumph!!
BB

 

[TR3driver]

More out of curiosity than anything else, I went out and felt under the dash on both cars. TS13571L definitely has wood where the grab handle screws in; while TS39781LO does not. Maybe this was a TR3/3A change?

 

[martx-5]

My original body, TS23677L had the wood, so it wasn't a TR3/TR3A change. Another of those "when did it happen" questions!

 

[angelfj1]

We searched for a source of these pieces with no luck. My car must have been mistreated in its early history because most of the wood (we believe this is ash or yew) was in very poor condition. We carefully removed the wood from under the scuttle and traced out new material using glued-up laminations of marine plywood. All of the edges of the plywood were sealed with marine varnish before the wood was replaced. Note: we noticed that without reinforcement in this area of the car the sheet metal had a tendency to 'drum". What I mean is that there were definite waves (peaks and valleys) in the surface. These leveled out when the wood was replaced. Unfortunately I don't have many good photos of this aspect of the restoration.

As an alternative to wood, you might consider a stiffener made of mild steel. This can be attached to the underside of the scuttle with industrial grade adhesive. You can attach this temporarily and mark the stiffener for the necessary holes. Then you can use speed nuts for all the attachments.

Good luck

 

[tinman58]

I think that I can use the old peice as a pattern and try out my carpentry skills, Paul (apbos) has the same condition. so we will be working together with the information.
Dan

 

[PeterK]

More out of curiosity than anything else, I went out and felt under the dash on both cars. TS13571L definitely has wood where the grab handle screws in; while TS39781LO does not. Maybe this was a TR3/3A change?

Early TR3A TS29694L still has wood in the dash and in the doors as well.

 

[tinman58]

TS37148L does not have the wood.
Dan

 

[TR4nut]

The door wood I think stayed until the change at 60000. But the dash wood appears to have disappeared pretty early in the 3A life.

Randy

 

[martx-5]

I was just looking through Bill Piggott's book, he he mentions that at TS32833 they deleted the pre-drilled bolt mountings for fixing the aeroscreens.

This seem like the logical point at which the wood was also eliminated, and corresponds with the info given in this thread as to which commission numbers had it and which didn't.