THOSE TERRIBLE 2s & OTHER RESTORATION TIPS
                               By Bill Lynn ; Technical Consultants: Bill Redinger and Tom Householder ;

Bonnet springs and guide pins were present on the front left and right of the underside of the bonnet through commission number TS-4228. The bonnet prop rod and safety catch lever through commission number TS-4228 were different. The safety catch lever pointed to the left as you faced the vehicle.
The bonnet prop rod receiving end bolted to the front top of the nosepiece and did not include a spring through commission number TS-4228.

The bonnet latching mechanism for cable release was present on inner wheel arch on the left and right sides through commission number TS-4228. The bonnet release cable was present on the inner left wheel arch (as you faced the vehicle) inside the engine compartment. The cable looked like a choke cable, protruded through the bulkhead, and attached to the wheel arch with a single wire clip.

A  second cable ran between bonnet latches from right to left. The radiator had no neck extension on commission numbers TS-1 through TS-1200. A special thermostat and radiator cap housing located on the engine block was used on commission numbers TS-1 through TS-1200. Beginning with commission number TS-1201, a radiator with a neck extension was used. TS number on the engine block should be within approximately too of the vehicle commission number but higher, as some engines in sequential order were used for other purposes, e.g. the Swallow Dorettis. The engine block was painted gloss black.

The oil filter canister was painted sea (AC-Delco) green. (Black and silver may have also been used.)
1 1/2 inch SU H4 carburetors were standard and were bolted to the intake manifold with two bolts rather than four bolts. The air filters were black or silver and appear to be the same as those used on the TR3A but had a smaller opening on the rear to match the smaller carburetors. The bolt pattern on the rear of the air filters caused the filters to be centered on the carburetors rather than offset forward like on later models.

A round sticker on the air filters said "AC". The intake manifold was unique to TR2s to accommodate the smaller 1 1/2" SU carburetors and the different (low port, 1 3/8") cylinder head. The cylinder head was unique to the TR2 and was used through engine number TS-9350E. The valve cover was painted black rather than chrome plated.

A taller oil breather cap was used with a unique decal. The oil breather cap was painted black. A decal on the right side (as you face the vehicle) of the valve cover gave "cold" valve clearances in white letters (see picture in service manual for exact words). No cam bearings were used in TR2 engines until engine number TS-8997E. Thus, no front cam bearing housing was present on the front of the engine nor were retaining bolts present on the right side of the engine (as you face the vehicle) for cam bearings.

A unique distributor was used on the TR2. It is indentifiable only by the part number stamped on the side of the distributor and different breaker points (engine numbers TS1E through TS8212E). The windscreen wiper motor mounted on the left side (as you face the vehicle) on TR2 and early TR3 (commission numbers TS-1 through TS12567).

The brake pressure electrical switch was located on the left upper frame (as you face the front of the vehicle). A Lockheed combination brake and clutch master cylinder was used on the TR2 and TR3 through commission number TS-13045.

The battery cables were Lucas "helmet" variety at the batter terminal end and attached to the batter with a single metal screw through the top of the lead "helmet" (see owner's manual for picture). The word "Lucas" was cast into the batter cable terminal ends. The positive ground battery cable was uninsulated, braided, steel wire (see owner's manual for picture). The negative battery cable was insulated with braided solid black cloth exterior. The wiring harness was covered on the exterior with a solid colored black braided cloth. The battery hold-down bar was attached with tall shoulder wing nuts (see owner's manual for picture).