Hello to all...New guy joining

[64grandsport]

Hello all. My name is Dennis Clark from Tennessee USA. I have owned several Triumphs, MG's and Jags in the past. Just got my first TR7 which I was lied to about the condition. It is really a nice car, but was suposed to have distributor problems, only to have a cracked head and a block that was ruined from antifreeze setting in it. So... I am in the middle of building a new motor and bringing this thing back to life. One day, it will get a V8 and hit the track [:D]
Any tips on a new motor? I bought another wreck that only had 37K on it, but had not run since 1983. The block could be honed and did a valve job. Going to use mechanical choke carbs (had choice) and 47DM coil instead of 47 DE (another choice) Comple engine overhaul and going through all of the motions to do it right. Any secrets or tricks that I need to know?
Also, I will be looking for a V8 bell housing and engine mounts if anyone knows of any available, I would love to discuss this purchase. Great to be here, have many other nice cars in my collection. A 64 Corvette Grand Sport replica, a 1968 427 Corvette, a Kellison x300GT, and a Solstice turbo coupe. Really a car guy, first car was a 1970 Spitfire and have always had something British.

[MickeyR]

Welcome, Dennis! Notice you're in Kingsport - Clarksville here. Have we met? I've been at the Townsend show a few times, as well as the Nashville and Chattanooga shows.

Mickey

[PeterTR7V8]

Welcome to the forum. You can sign out anytime you want, but you can never leave!

I am totally biased towards the V8 so I would question whether it is worth the effort of sorting a 2L engine if you plan to do a V8 upgrade in the future. The Buick v6 is also popular with wedge owners in the US but a Lexus V8 is the real...er...shizzle. I like the old Rover V8 though but then I used to think a straight 6 was all you needed in a car.

Good luck with whichever way you go. Start a thread in the blog section so we can follow the progress.



The map: http://tinyurl.com/wedgemap . The blog: http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8548

[FI Spyder]

Welcome to the forum. When you're doing the 4 engine make sure they don't skim the head or if they do (have to) restrict it to 10 thou or you will have to get an extra thick gasket to get the studs/bolts to line up as one set is on a slant. If your putting in new pistons upgrade to UK's 9 to 1 pistons instead of N/A's 8 to 1.

If you want to keep it in the family a Rover V-8 will work but you need crossmember etc. etc. To keep it a little less in the family (the V-8 was a Buick),a Buick V-6 is the answer. See the V-6 section of this forum. You can get a kit from John's Cars that has everything needed to drop it in. They are plentiful (in US/Canada), cheap, an easy 200+ HP, a better weight transfer to the rear because of a cylinder shorter, easier to take out and put in engine because it's shorter, selection of transmissions available, about the same weight. Here's a picture of Ron's conversion (Orange Rag). As you can see very tidey.







TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[john]

Welcome Dennis

Have to agree with the comments above in general and ask do you want to bring this back to life as an original car and spec or something a little more exciting

[8 whole cylinders worth of punch to ram the world through the windshield and out the rear view mirror. Car & Driver]
1981 Grinnall TR7 v8
1981 Black FHC
1979 & 1980 Black Premium FHC(laid to rest) Sorry


John

[64grandsport]

Thanks to all...
I am in need of a car for gas milage now as I have been laid off for almost a year and things are not looking great in the construction management area and I see no hope in the future. This is why I am rebuilding the 4 cyl now, as a 5 speed, I should get decent gas milage, better than a F150 anyway.
Mickey, I doubt that we have met, unless you do Corvette shows. I have shown at Hilton Head Concours, Corvette Expo, Corvette Homecoming etc with my Grand Sport, and although the last MGB I built was a concours car, It ended up joining the USAF to a friends son that got into pilot training. (exactly where it belonged).
F1... I did skin the head, and now you got me worried that I am not sure how much they cut it. Where do you get a thick gasket just in case I need one? I am staying with the 8:1's, just replacing the rod bolts, but doing everything else, oil pump, water pump, carbs. etc.
If and when I ever go back to work, I will get someone's company truck and credit card. THEN, this thing will get a wide body kit and a Rover SD1 and will go vintage racing in the HSR series. It is a real solid car, fairly straight, but would take a lot of work to make a show car out of. For now it is just a driver, destined to go racing. It came from Ebay for $710. If I enjoy it as much as I think I will, I will buy a good one later to do a show car out of. Then, I will have a show class motor ready to drop in. I really enjoy the people at HSR and am looking to go racing (again) but find that after turning into a Corvette guy, I NEED a V8 to play, and HSR will requier that I use the SD1. Bob Tullius's group 44 car is a very awesome piece. I could drive THAT.
So... I have my machine work done, and rod bolts should be here today. Everything is glass beaded and detailed and ready to re-assemble. Hopefully, it will be ready to go back into the car by Monday... unless I have that head gasket issue.
Again... thanks to all for any help that comes along and I will be a fixture here in the future...

[jbsjim]

Welcome Dennis!
As FI said you do have to watch how much gets milled off the head. I know you can get the thicker gasket from Moss (0.020" thicker) but it comes at a pretty dear price.
Jim

[FI Spyder]

When you put the head on if the bolt holes don't line up you need a thicker gasket. Someone has elongated the holes but that is drastic. You can get a thick gasket from S&S. Download catalogue from here.

[url]C:\Documents and Settings\Merv\My Documents\S&S Preparations TR7 TR8 Specialists.htm[/url]

They also have lots of upgrade stuff to increase horsepower and increase breathing/rpm of the 8 valve slant four.

Do a search on this site for the head retorquing sequence (it needs to be retorqued after so many miles) so you don't blow the new head gasket. Hit refrresh button on your browser if it times out.

If you don't have the OEM manual(1979) you can download it from jclay's website. Much better than Haynes which is only a general guide at best.



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra