[TR] TR3 Alternator Conversion

[Jim Henningsen]

Tom and others:

Thank you and all of the others for your comments. I love our group of experienced opinions.  For simplicity and time, I am going to install the three row aluminum radiator (got a great deal on it), yellow TR6 fan on backwards that I already had (free!), and the electric fan that came with the car as a pusher from the front.  The fan is wired by switch and only comes on by manual operation.  Just cleaned up the whole front of the engine with apron off, a little touch up paint, new fan belt, new engine mounts.  Will put some radiator cleaner in system when I test the cooling system and fans.  See if I can get any residue in the engine out.  Will top up steering fluid but no adjustments as it is already very tight in use.  Not going to touch the timing cover gasket or oil seal as there were no leaks in that area.  I may have to pull engine in the future depending on the severity of the rear oil seal leaks.  Haven't gotten a good road trip out of this car yet and am eager to do so even in the heat and humidity down here right now.  

Still researching the alternator conversion.  Spoke to Moss yesterday and they will sell their mounting kit separately from the alternator conversion kit.  They don't list a kit part number but they could put it together custom.  I asked them if they could tell me the alternator used because I would prefer to buy one at local parts place with lifetime warranty.  The gave me the unit part number so I am going to call around today.  They said it is a freely available alternator.  They just didn't have the  name or car application.  Will keep you posted if I find out what it is.

Cheers and thank you all again.  I almost left the Triumph world a couple of years ago at a weak moment, but have since seen the light (or scotch and exhaust smells) to refuel my passion!  Without this group, I may not have come back.
Jim Henningsen

-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas Fansher <tfansher at comcast.net> 
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2018 8:18 AM
To: TERRY SMITH <terryrs at comcast.net>
Cc: Jim Henningsen <trguy75 at gmail.com>; Triumphs <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [TR] TR3 Alternator Conversion

I vote with Terry.  I have two TR3A’s. My first one, a 1961, I’ve had since 1972 and it was modified touring - with alternator, no manual fan and a puller electric fan, electric fuel pump, lightened flywheel and slightly modified cam.  I also went with the longer TR4 intake manifold and the HS6 (TR6 SU carbs).
That was somewhat of a pain to rig up the choke that would look good and work.  The end result ( I measured) is that the distance between he carb throat and the head is the SAME for both setups, so at least for street use, the conversion to the HS6 cars and longer intake manifolds yields NOTHING.  TO use the longer manifold with the stock carbs would require reworking the inner fender to allow them to fit and could interfere with that tire....
The latest one, a 1960, I’ve tried to keep stock and really like the original better.  In Florida, the need for headlights and heater is rare.  Few owners down here drive their TR’s after dark on a regular basis. The LED conversions are pretty easy and with them the need for the alternator is way less.  Oh, I do have gear reduction starters on both.  I have a pusher electric fan on the newer car and I’m getting ready to drive it to the gym and it will be 90+ degrees on the 10 mile trip home in traffic and the temp gauge will not get over the magic number of 185 degrees.  I’m happy with both and will probably keep the modified one forever and need to sell the newer one - who needs two white post 60,000 build numbers TR3A’s??
With a 1962 TR4 down for rebuild and I need the room in the garage to start that....will post a Stag question in a few....
Have a great Thursday everyone
Tom - now retired


Sent from my iPad

> On Jul 18, 2018, at 7:11 PM, TERRY SMITH <terryrs at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> I'm likely in the minority here, but I question the need for an alternator in conversion at all.  Now, I do realize that the generator doesn't keep up with stock electrics.  (Lucas:  Prince of Darkness, with the theme of "dim, flicker, dark."  My experience is, it's not as bad as all that.
> What I've done, after having to recharge my battery from driving in deep fall with headlamps and heater going full for several days, is switch to LED for headlamps, turn signals, brakes, parking and instruments. So far the generator I re-installed after doing the alternator conversion, is keeping up rather nicely. The plus is, probably due to my own ignorance, I don't have to deal with alternator pully alignment issues that kept breaking the adjustment bar.
> Terry Smith, '59 TR3A
> New Hampshire
> 
> 
>> On July 18, 2018 at 12:55 PM Jim Henningsen <trguy75 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Ok, since I'm on a role and off work, how about another question to 
>> the collective.  I see various alternator conversion kits out there 
>> including an alternator in a generator case (very cool).  I would 
>> prefer to use an alternator that I can get at a local parts place and 
>> has a lifetime warranty.  The GM 10SI is installed in my 6 but I had 
>> to do modifications to the ears to make it work.  That kills the 
>> warranty.  Has anyone come up with a spacer/install kit so you can 
>> hook up an extremely common alternator like the 10SI on the 3 or 4.  
>> I really don't want to make my own mounts and this has to have been done by someone in years past.
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Jim Henningsen
>> Ocala FL
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ** triumphs at autox.team.net **
>> 
>> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
>> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
>> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
>> Unsubscribe/Manage: 
>> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/terryrs@comcast.net
> 
> ** triumphs at autox.team.net **
> 
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage: 
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/tfansher@comcast.net