Man, few things in life are as pathetic as a TR3 heater. I may have these
true words inscribed on my tombstone when they find me frozen to death in my
car.
I flushed out the heater core with Prestone flush and another time with
vinegar. I flushed it out holding rightside up and upside down. It doesn't
leak.
I put in a ball valve and 90 degree elbow where the heater comes off of
the block so I could get more flow. I put in bigger and more direct wires
through the rheostat so it could run more current. I is still just pathetic!
I may have overdone the radiator. It is a high efficiency core with no
crank hole. It is like the car rarely gets all the way warmed up on my 20 mile
drive to work. It is possible that the thermostat is stuck open. It is about
15,000 miles and one year old, so I doubt it.
The car has a thermostatically controlled electric fan that rarely comes
on during the cooler months of the year.
I put in little 90 degree (bulkhead fitting hoses) bent hoses where the
heater hoses connect to the original heater core, to prevent kinking. No
improvement.
I had the thermostat bypass blocked off with a pipe plug (ala Bob
Schaller) to increase cooling. I tried it with the bypass out, no difference.
The heater hoses feeding the heating and leaving the heater are
pleasantly warm . The air coming out of the heater is like 85 degrees at best.
This tells me that the heater core is not doing its job.
The bulkhead fittings and hoses are essentially new.
I am considering trying the Bob Schaller Triumph Spitfire heater core
trick, but don't know if it is worth the trouble. Have any other listers tried
it?
Is there a modern heater core that can be used?
I have a more powerful fan motor that I am considering replacing the
original with. That way I can have more cold air blowing out on my knee.
I am thinking about making a TR3A grill shaped wooden cover with a union
jack on it that I can slip it in front of the grill to get the engine good and
hot.
What else is there?!?!?!?!?! Does anyone have a way to get these cars
warm in the winter? I've been driving TDR (Top Down Regardless) for years, but
now I don't have anything to prove.
I wear these on cold days and they work great!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8735575795&ssPageName=MERC
_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT
Someone help tell me how to make my TR3 heater run better?
Bill Brewer
Tehachapi, CA
PS - My personal record is driving the 20 mile trip to work TDR in 16
degree weather.
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