If I may jump in from void...
The differences in the rear body tub are more than a simple matter of
steel vs. aluminium trim pieces (I think). The sheet metal itself, I
believe, changed. Take a look a the TRF catalog and they describe having to
use new forward pieces of the "H" if the rear/center portion are being
replaced on a car with comm #5642 or earlier. I'm pretty sure there was an
actual change in shape.
Also concerning the bonnet, there were 3 rather than 2 bonnet
variations.
The Moss catalog points out that the short bulge hood was used on cars up
to comm. # CT6429. I personally have only seen one short bulge hood in the
8 or 9 years that I've owned my TR4. At the most recent ABFM in Bellevue WA
this summer I talked to a fellow who had one he'd sell me, the sum some
astrnomical figure roughly equivalent to the value of my car (CT1272L).
The instrument cluster surround (as was stated before) would be plain
dimpled aluminium on an early car, it is present on mine but I don't know
when the change over was. I was under the impression that the later ones
were painted but if yours is vinyl that must be what I've been seeing.
Another indicator would be glass shape on the gauges. Early (up tp
CT11307, according to Moss again) had convex rather than flat glass. Also
there were supposedly 3 variations of the lower dash bracket, but some of
the sources I've talked to say they've only seen two. My car should have
variation one, but it's been hacked up in such a way by a DPO it's hard to
tell. One more way to tell could be the presence of a TR4 badge on the deck
lid, but I believe our illustrious Mr. Kelly said they were dealer
installed, so that could be a dead end.
At 02:30 PM 9/11/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>Hi Bruce
>
>> From reading this thread I think we've determined that you have a 1961 TR4
>> with most of a early 1965 TR4 body placed on it. Couple more questions:
>
>> 1. Does the body have chrome plated phillips-headed screws in the rear
>> inner wheel arches, heads visible in the car's inside?
>
>If you're talking about the screws that hold the inner quarter panels in
>place, the ones that are present are chrome plated.
>
>> 2. Does it have a white dash with aluminum instrument gauge cluster
>> surround?
>
>It has a white dash but the instrument cluster has vinyl on it.
>
>> 3. Is your trunk hood held up with a prop rod or that clicking, sliding
>> gizmo?
>
>The trunk prop rod attachment is NOT the same as on my TR4A. It is
>just a little still flange that points down and in.
>
>> My guess is that some DPO switched bodies rather than deal with rot. When
>> he did that he also did away with the early interior. This explains the
>> flip-forward seats and aluminum capping. You will have a good search on
>> you hands for some things, such as the chrome surround and trunk prop rod
>> assembly. Not impossible to find parts, just difficult! The early TR4
>> radiator was the same as the TR3B radiator. If you want to use an earlier
>> TR2/3/3A radiator you will have to elongate the frame mounting holes so
>> the radiator bolts up and won't hit the fan. Forget about crank starting
>> unless you elongate the hole (now you folks know why that hole is so long
>> in early TR4s - it also had to fit the TR3Bs).
>
>I not so sure that the PO switched bodys. I think he only switched the
>comm plate. I also think he kept the parts from each car that were in
>good shape. That would explain the later seats. The rear metal
>cockpit surround pieces, are they supposed be steel on the real early
>ones? Mine are definitely aluminum but the windscreen top piece is
>steel.
>
>Could you explain the difference between the TR3A radiator and the
>TR3B and TR4 radiator? I can't find any info or pictures on that
>subject.
>
>Any idea where I can find a picture of what the trunk prop rod looked
>like?
>
>> Good Luck!
>
>Thanks!
>
>
>
>Brad (Lincoln Nebraska 402-464-1502)
>
>1964 Spitfire4 BFC25720L
>1966 TR4A CT72398L (Now a parts car)
>196? TR4 CT38888LO (Chassis # 0281CT, missing OD !)
>1951 Dodge Truck 82217766 B-3-B-108 (Spring shackle problems)
>
>
Jerry McDonald
'82 Volvo 245GLTi (hers)
'77 Civic CVCC (his, now with ghetto bounce!)
'66 Dodge Dart Wagon (hers)
'61 Triumph TR4 - CT1272L (his)
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