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What is WRONG with this TR7 V8 Help please?

Posted: 09 Jan 2014 09:31
by bonnietiler
I realise that I must have bought a pup, I paid alot for this car and although it is in slightly tuned Std Stromberg trim (140 bhp at the back wheels) It's proving a difficult conumdrum to positively identify but I'll try to be concise.
When I bought the TR7/8 (last September)I also had my runabout a mint condition 1 owner 40k Rover 45 1.8 auto, I paid £950 for it I changed the cyl head gasket and it has always been faultless. Sadly the Rover in is stunning Metallic Royal Blue sheen had attracted that lowest form of miserable underclass, the very nadir of the concientious motorist,
My Daughter-in-law!
Oooh how she wooed me with those cow eyes and lashes all a fluttering.."Bbbbbut my ppppoxy Peugeot is all but dead in the water and you wouldn't want little Ash n Evie (grand-daughters) being put in any danger by being transported in an unsafe car would you" Luckily, I am made of Stout Saxon Stuff...ohh yes indeed...I don't so much as quiver in the face of emotional blackmail such as this.
So, seeing as I'm down to one car now, i have been using it every day as a commuter and up and down to the Lake District every other weekend, I realise that I must have a serious problem with the car, It returns 21 mpg around town and 33mpg on the M6, so you see my problem..also it starts on the button (key) no matter what the weather and lives outside uncovered..clearly that's not right..Everything electrical works and the brakes after an MGRV8 brake pad transplant are superb..So what the heck is the matter with this car, It isn't behaving at all like the Tr7/V8's that I read about over the internet?

Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:09
by gaz
33 mpg in your V8 hhmmmm.....
I think your not putting your foot down hard enough you should be getting at least 10 mpg if driven properly [:D]

www.classiccarrunblackpool.co.uk

1981 DHC 2.0 Litre
1980 DHC pedal car
1982 DHC TR-ailer in the making


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Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:21
by bonnietiler
I have to admit that in order to get that figure my foot quivers fearfully over the throttle like a tremulous finger on a hair trigger, but with the 3.08:1 axle and in 5th (always) not to mention a parsimonious love for the combination of the atomic deadlock on my wallet clasp...it can be done.[:)]

Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:41
by tr8coupe
[:D]only problem I can see is you not pressing the loud pedal hard as you should [:D]


BMW Z1 ( sold)
Westfield sport carbon (sold)
Eurosport x1/9 turbo (sold)
TR8 coupe
fiat coupe 20vt red wow bargain
Ginetta G27 (sold)
TR7 v8 monster on 245 tyres all round (sold)
TVR VIXEN (sold)
Alfa GTV 3.0 CUP lol(sold)
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Posted: 09 Jan 2014 14:23
by dursleyman
You definitely need to give it more pedal to the metal stuff!

Russ

1980 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

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Posted: 09 Jan 2014 14:29
by windy one
My second TR8 was an absolute mess when I bought it! It was originally gold, repainted to BRG, and the wiring was a complete and utter mess. Once I sorted out all the problems (mostly previous owner related...) I never had any problems or breakdowns in the years I drove it (well, except for one flat tire on a drive) [8D]

Johnny

Posted: 09 Jan 2014 17:01
by kstrutt1
My v8 conversion has also been reliable, in the last 2 years I have done nothing except service it, averages around 24 mpg on lpg so is cheaper to run than many modern diesels.

Mind you I do now need to get a bumper end cap as I smashed it off over xmas. And it will need a couple of tyres this year, hardly the end of the world though.

Given they have a powertrain developed for a much larger car, if the conversion is done properly and they are serviced properly they should be reliable really. I suspect many peoples problems come from lack of use. Years ago I gave up laying my classics up over the winter, I have had far fewer problems since.

Posted: 09 Jan 2014 23:08
by Hasbeen
bonnietiler, I think you should burn that car quick time. It is giving Triumphs a bad name.

Hasbeen

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 02:56
by Cobber
You need to go out and drive it like you stole it......... before someone else steals it and drives it accordingly! [:D]


"Keep calm, relax, focus on the problem & PULL THE BLOODY TRIGGER"

80'Triumph TR7, 73'Land Rover (Ford 351. V8),
'89 Ford Fairlane
'98 MG-F, 69'Ford F250.
76' Ford F100

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 17:20
by j.johnson23
Regarding your electrical problem,you obviously have not bought any Lucas wiring harness smoke.
Once you have some of that your car will be back to normal.

Posted: 11 Jan 2014 13:10
by busheytrader
I may be tempting fate but compared to moderns full of fancy electrics (ignoring the headlight lift mechanisms), a carb'd TR7V8 is a relatively simple beast.

A 7's electrics, especially the connectors and switches in my experience can be fragile. It sounds like the PO kept them clean.

Enjoy it while it continues..........and tell the forum if it does or doesn't, we can all help and learn from it.

I dream of experiencing your mpg, your rear tyres will probably last too long at that rate.[:D]

Adam

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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 courtesy of S&S V8 conversion and big brake kits.