Am I expecting too much??

[REPLIC8]

Took the TR8 out today for it's first proper drive, did 80 miles with no real problems. [:)] No leaks, no breakdowns, temp guage stayed at just under halfway all the time. no warning lights came on, pulls really well, steers straight, brakes straight, even the rebuilt seats are nice and comfy.
I think I'm a bit OCD and looking for problems, but I've not had a V8 or a convertible before so I'm not sure what to expect as regard to ride, handling etc. My car is on standard springs but still crashes over pot holes & has quite a bit of skuttle shake / rattly interior etc. There's no problems with the engine but to me it just sounds a bit rough, The whole driving experience seems very unrefined an a bit agricultural. I've nothing to compare it to,(Apart from a new VW GTI - which isn't exactly a fair fight) so does this sound like a normal DHC/ V8 driving experience? I hope so, coz that means my cars OK & I'm just expecting too much!

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8
[img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/small_175-2.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/pics005.jpg[/img][/img]

[staningrimsby]

It just sounds like good old DHC motoring to me my friend.[:)]



1980 2.0 DHC (soon to be 16v) - Polly.

[PeterTR7V8]

Even the FHC will crash around a bit especially if you have stiffer springs & performance tyres? You need to compare it to another wedge. Choose a rubbish one & after a few minutes your appreciation of your own car will increase. [:)] The important thing is that you look good.



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

[Beans]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by REPLIC8</i>

... The whole driving experience seems very unrefined an a bit agricultural ... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
First; bear in mind that the TR7 is an almost 40 year old design.
Second; a well sorted (standardish) TR7 should be fairly comfortable and rattle free, even compared to modern standards ...

But maybe I am biased as my daily driver is a bit agricultural [:D]

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
<b>[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]<u><b><font size="2"><font color="red">My Weblog</font id="red"></font id="size2"></b></u>[/url]</b></i></center>

[busheytrader]

Hi Andy,

Scuttle shake - Yes there is a bit. Grinnal fitted those big sills to help stiffen things up. Jack up a DHC at one corner and watch those door gaps move about a touch.

Pot Hole Crash - The soft std front springs and bump stops have limited travel compared to the rear. You may mave lost some ride height if you've still got the original springs and they've sagged. Back in the day TriumphTune marketed shorter cone shaped poly bumpstops to give more suspension travel and a more progressive bump when the soft 7 springs and weak shocks bottomed out. I've got those bumpstops and stiffer springs and shocks yet the front still bottoms out at occasionally.

Ride and Handling - Our cars were designed in the early 70's for a more <s>interactive</s> agricultural experience.

Rattly Interior - That'll be all that 70's plastic with a touch of scuttle shake. I'm sure some of the restorers here have sorted it some of the sqeaks and noises though.

A new Golf Gti - isn't a fair fight refinement wise against a vinyl hooded car designed over 30 years ago. But isn't that why you spent time refettling yours? These cars are more involving to drive. The V8 should feel really smooth and torquey but the gearbox, brakes and steering won't feel like a modern. A vinyl hood or no hood lets more road noise in too.

It sounds like your 80 mile event free shakedown was a reward for all your work - enjoy the car now!


Adam




TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, S/S Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & PolyBushes all round, Anti- Dive, Strut-Top Roller Bearings, Capri Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AT 14" 5 Spokes or Maestro Turbo 15" Alloys, Cruise Lights, S/S Heater Pipes, Replacement Fuel Tank. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991

[Stag76]

I have had the exact same experience. I have owned TR7 Coupes previously, and found them to be very solid bodywise. I have a 1989 Mazda MX-5, and bought a TR7 Convertible thinking that, since it was also a monocoque convertible, it should be like the MX5. They are worlds apart, despite only being 10-15 years apart in design. I built a Stag type T-Bar connecting the top of the windscreen frame to a roll bar, and this transformed it completely. Gone was the scuttle shake, and, along with it, the squeaks, rattles and groans. All that is left is to make the hood and windows go up and down and seal like the MX5. Power Steering and upgraded brakes also made it feel more modern (safer?) to drive. I realise now that comparing it to the MX5 was not fair, as the Mazda only costs half as much as a TR7 convertible in Australia.

TR7 Convertible
Sprint Motor
MegaSquirt EFI

[Hasbeen]

Andy, further to Busheytraders comment, do you have any bump stops. Unless they have been replaced they are probably nonexistent by now. The only one of my 7/8s that had any when I bought them had new ones, recently replaced. If they are not there the car does crash badly.

As for the scuttle shake, it is no where near as bad as that in my Ford Capri & that's 15 years younger than the 8. If it's worrying you, go rent an old MG, Morgan or Triumph. After driving one of them, you'll be surprised how little shake the 8 has. [:D]

For rattles & squeaks I use a thin strip of single sided stick foam neoprene rubber tape, [1/2"by 1/8"] between things when assembling, & get a much quieter car. Particularly effective on the big plastic bits.

Lastly, fit a strong radio, & big speakers, or a bigger exhaust with smaller mufflers [}:)], either do wonders for rattles.

Hasbeen

[trekcarbonboy]

Mines a rattle-trap! [:D][:D] Doors and dash mostly. I'm sure I could quiet it down quite a bit but it's not on top of my list.

Craig

[SimonO]

Mines also a rattler - mainly because I have only trial-fitted the dash after checking the electics over. I think I'' try the tape idea and re-do everything.

I've also started to put lubricant on the hood frame as that's bad too!

http://persistentworktriumphs.blogspot.com/

[john 215]

Hi Andy,

Thats about how they are, as my learned friend Beans says its a 40 year old design, drive any car off that age and they are the same.

I know not everyone taste but the roll over bar stiffens up the chassis and almost stops the scuttle shake. I work on and drive BMW's every day of the week and love the difference my 7 has over Germany's finest. When i rebuilt mine, used lots of tricks of the trade to stop dash rattles ect so not to bad.

Dont be to crtical just enjoy your car , looking forward to seeing it this year.

Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

[REPLIC8]

Cheers everyone, sounds like mines about average. [:)]
I did get more used to it as the miles went by, should have worn a sweater though, it was a bit chilly down by the coast! But the sun was up, so the hood was down. [:D]

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8
[img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/small_175-2.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/pics005.jpg[/img][/img]

[busheytrader]

Hood down, windows up and heater on full blast to the feet should keep you warm from the shoulders down.

However, if you're over 6ft tall like me your head and especially the ears will be a bit chilly.[:)]

[FI Spyder]

For cool top down motoring I find wearing a hoody over baseball hat works good.


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

[prlee]

Got my TR back on friday, it feels great. You can feel the road, you do get thuds but nothing bad or uncomfortable. Not soft and remote like a modern car - feels like a sports car [8D]

Pete
81 Red DHC
79 Blue Spitfire

[slider]

if you want a BMW/Mercedes style of comfort and refinement buy one, TR's are a old design and go-cart comfort/handling i:e an aquired taste for proper drivers with NO driver aid's, A MANS CAR, just enjoy!! and welllllcome [:D]