[TR] TR3 Maradyne Heater

William Brewer wsb1960tr3a at att.net
Tue Nov 8 08:28:44 MST 2011


     So last night I removed the heater discharge hose at the through bulkhead 
fitting in the engine compartment. I started the engine and steaming hot water 
shot out through the fitting, showing that the heater core is clear and moving 
coolant.
     I had previously blocked off the coolant bypass (the little hose) using a 
pipe plug. I got the idea from Bob Schaller. I decided to remove that, which 
made no change.
     It looks like something is preventing the coolant from returning from the 
heater core to the radiator. I'll check tonight to see if the line is clear from 
the through bulkhead fitting (on the return) to the radiator. The car has a 185 
thermostat in it and heats up to 185 when driving it on a cold night, so it 
appears the thermostat is working right. I also have the electric fan set to 
185. I am thinking about changing out the thermostat tonight, but I fail to see 
what this would have to do with the heater return line.
     Any ideas?

     -Bill in Tehachapi




----- Original Message ----
From: William Brewer <wsb1960tr3a at att.net>
To: Triumphs <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Sent: Sun, November 6, 2011 11:16:21 PM
Subject: TR3 Maradyne Heater

    A couple of years ago I installed a Maradyne heater in my TR3A. It was 
designed for a farm tractor, but fit in the TR. I got the idea from HVDA who did 

the same. It has worked very well compared to the original TR3A heater or a 
Triumph Spitfire core that I was using before the Maradyne. Anyway, we just had 
our second snow here in Tehachapi and the heater is blowing cold air. I checked 
the valve on top of the head and when the car is running, water is going through 

there. I gently blew the heater core out with a garden hose and it looks clear. 
What could be downstream from this that would block the coolant from going 
through the core? The car is running a 185 thermostat and getting up to 
temperature. I have the radiator part way blocked off to try to keep the heat in 

the engine compartment. The hose feeding the heater core is warm (not hot) and 
the hose leaving the core is cold.
     The last communication I had from FT was that he told me he had a heater in 

his TR that would burn you out of the cockpit it worked so well. I wonder what 
he had. I wonder what happened to his TR, does anyone know?
     Man, I am tired of trying to stay warm in a TR. Driving it to work 
tomorrow, bundled up.
     TIA,

     -Bill in Tehachapi


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