Hi Darrell
I'm the original owner of a 63 TR4, CT19207L, build date about Jan. 14.
It has the long neck radiator. It also had the small 4 blade "spatula"
fan and the brass plug in the rocker cover.
Cheers
Pete Fullam
TR250Driver@aol.com wrote:
>Hi Guys,
>I am trying to help the Triumph Register of American improve or at least
>verify a few things in their Judging Standards and Restoration Guidelines
>Manual.
>For those of you who are not familiar with this publication it is IMHO by far
>the most well written and authoritative document in existence for an owner of
>a TR4 or TR4A who wishes to restore a TR4 to original specifications. It is
>available from TRA for a nominal fee (NFI) and used in the judging process at
>their annual National Convention.
>
>As with most reference guides on originality some aspects must be called into
>question to verify if they are correct when discrepancies exist. I believe
>that the best way to accomplish this is a survey of the owners of original
>TR4's. Having gone thru the Underhood section of the Manual I have the
>following
>questions:
>
>Triumph used the "long neck" radiator in early TR4's. The header tank
>extension was a carry over from the TR3A & B where one could not get to the
>top of
>the radiator and really served no purpose in the TR4. At some point early in
>production the header tank was removed and the cap relocated to the top of the
>radiator. The manual puts this change at Commission # CT9553. I believe this
>is possibly way to early in production to mark this change. I know of one
>original car, CT13917L, that has a long neck. Any other post CT9553 TR4's with
>long necks?
>
>Cooling fans were evidently a major headache for Triumph. Some TR4's
>received the improved 4 blade fan with large rectangular blades. Others
>received the
>optional "Tropical" 6 bladed fan. The manual recognizes these two types. My
>car, CT5521LO was cursed with the famously inadequate TR3A & B fan with the 4
>smaller spatula type blades. CT13917L referenced previously also has this
>type of fan fitted. Any other TR4's with spatula fans?
>
>Triumph was using their engines outside the TR line and due to the
>requirements of another vehicle a hole was drilled in the center of the rocker
>cover.
>Since the TR4 did not use the hole a brass plug was put in it. The manual
>places this change in the rocker cover at engine #CT14234E. Some evidence
>suggests that the brass plug appeared much earlier in fact some TR3B's have
>the brass
>plug. In my experience a cover without the plug is rarely seen. Can anyone
>help with this?
>
>Thanks in advance for your responses. As I said the TRA manual is excellent
>for reference and these are the only questions I could find in the entire
>underhood section. If I can clear them up I will relay your responses to John
>Gable the TRA Chief Judge.
>
>Best Regards,
>Darrell Floyd
>VTR Chief Judge
|