Scott,
FWIW, the thing that made the biggest difference in the amount of heat I got
out of my meager TR3A heater was flushing and cleaning the radiator core. It
seems I have to do this periodically. I have no idea what's invloved in
removing a TR4 heater core, but I found it necessary to remove the heater,
flush it with a garden hose (with very little pressure), then pour in
various cleaning solutions like Radiator Flush, and vinegar and shake it
vigorously. I kept doing this until I could fill up the radiator core, pour
it back out into a measuring container, and get close to what the book said
was the capacity of the core. I figured this meant all the tubes were free
flowing. What I found was that passing water through the heater core and
seeing it come out clean from the other side did not mean the core was clean
or operating at full capacity.
Just a thought,
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Tilton" <sdtilton@yahoo.com>
To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 9:50 AM
Subject: TR4 Coolant bypass circuit.
> Hey guys.
>
> Im sure you have seen me whine about my cold TR4 every time it gets below
20
> degrees here in Northern, Virginia.
>
> It occurred to me that I had made some changes to the cooling system years
ago
> when the car was only an occasional driver. At that time I was more
concerned
> with overheating on hot summer days rather than driving daily in winter
> weather.
>
> So I popped off the rubber elbow hose and sure enough, there is the large
> stainless steel bolt with a small hole drilled though its center, threaded
into
> the water pump . . . . eh .. um . .. thingie (manifold?)
>
> It did its restricting job very well I suppose. Coolant was just barely
> burbling out of it until I unscrewed it (probably over an inch long) and
then
> the coolant quickly poured out. (guess I should have drained a little
coolant
> first)
>
> I thought perhaps that freeing up this bypass circuit would allow more
flow
> through the heater core, and might make things warmer.
>
> After two days driving back and forth to work (yes, it did snow slightly
> yesterday) it doesnt feel any warmer.
> More than that, the car seems to take forever to warm up now.
>
> I suppose I should just cough up the money and buy a sleeved thermostat.
>
> Anyone want to shed some light on how this bypass circuit interacts with
the
> heater circuit?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
> Scott Tilton
> 1963 TR4 everyday
> Leesburg, VA
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