Just one upgrade?

[whitenviro]

I've always been skeptical of making "upgrades" to cars, and when searching for my TR7, finding one that was unmolested was a very high priority. The car I got is as close to unrestored, as-delivered stock as possible. It was very well maintained and the only mechanical modification ever done was to remove the FASD and replace it with a manual choke.

Now that I've driven it for a while, I enjoy it even more than I expected. But I can see why people have upgraded various systems. Parts of the car seem under-engineered, or not living up to their potential. But I'm more of a collector versus looking for high performance and I'm still reluctant to make changes.

Looking for opinions here: If I were to make just one small change that would improve the car, was generally invisible and would make a noticeable difference in the way it runs, drives or stops, what should it be? What would you do if it was yours?




[/img]
1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

[stevie_a]

<font color="teal"><b>Electronic ignition is a must.</b></font id="teal">
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<font size="4"><font color="green"><i>If it's not broke don't fix it.</i></font id="green"></font id="size4">

http://www.smallbiztranscripts.co.uk

[dycecooper]

<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 stevie_a</i>

<font color="teal"><b>Electronic ignition is a must.</b></font id="teal">
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<font size="4"><font color="green"><i>If it's not broke don't fix it.</i></font id="green"></font id="size4">

http://www.smallbiztranscripts.co.uk

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I second that!

[Chris Turner]

Stevies right, the electronic ignition transforms the TR7.

www.triumphtrs.co.uk
THE Coca Cola car
TR7 Premium
TR7 Sprint
TR7V8 rally car

[Workshop Help]

The only small change worth doing is to lock the purists in the trunk until the smell gets too bad. Then start up the chipper.

Abner, nephew of Mildred Hargis

[Beans]

Polybushes and decent shock absorbers ...






... to start with [:p]

<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>

[FI Spyder]

I'm with Beans on this one (or is that two). Mine is original (except for muffler and exhaust tip (new Magnaflow going in to replaced rusted one). It came from factory with electronic ignition (Delco). The only other upgrade would be relays for the lights to take load off the main light switch.

You need the 9.25 to 1 pistons (UK). OK that's four.[:p]



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

[trekcarbonboy]

Yup, I agree with the electronic ignition 1st. Huge improvement! Second would be improving the suspension but I'm not sure if poly bushings would be to your taste. They do make the ride a bit harsh. Might just want to start with springs and shocks.

Craig

[Steve-LPS-Thomas]

The 4 speed is not nice but people keep saying how rare they are now.. So when the time comes for Resto is it going to be the nasty 4 or the much nicer 5 speed box??



<hr noshade size="1">


<b><font color="blue">http://www.croyde-bay.com/triumph.htm</font id="blue"></b>

<b><font color="blue">croydebay@aol.com</b></font id="blue">

[PeterTR7V8]

I've got 2 more upgrades scheduled for next week alone! But if I had to choose one it would be a choice between improving the suspension or making the car more reliable. I suppose the most important thing is that the car starts so I'd go for the leccy ignition. Points are just too flakey. Then do the bushes & springs. [:p]



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

[FI Spyder]

<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 trekcarbonboy</i>

Second would be improving the suspension but I'm not sure if poly bushings would be to your taste. They do make the ride a bit harsh.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

When we say poly bushings we mean the softer coloured ones from europe (blue/yellow/orange/etc) not the hard black poly ones you get in N/A. I just replaced the black poly I had on the rear links at the axle with the matching ones I had on the front half. Definitely better. Sunny clear blue sky so I took it for a drive to pick up bushings and muffler. Forgot my camera.[:I]





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

[whitenviro]

Well, that was a quick set of responses. Thanks! The ignition was also my first thought. But as Stevie's tag line says: if it isn't broke don't fix it, so I don't know which part of his advice to take more seriously[;)]

New shocks, struts and steering rack were done 10 years ago, but since then its only driven 4000 miles. There's no record of bushings or springs being done. If I did them, I don't think I'd go with harder bushings though. I would like to reduce the teeth-jarring in my life.

Transmission is a 5 speed, rebuilt last summer. Very happy with that as is!

I have some ideas of my own, but wanted to hear other suggestions.
Any more?


[/img]
1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

[Workshop Help]

I just came in from some appointments to find my naughty nephew has sneaked in with some rude responses. I must apologize for leaving the keyboard wide open.

We all know the absolute worst thing is to leave meat to rot inside a car. The rancid death odor is impossible to irradicate. Likewise with the chipper. Please, everyone, only grind up items of a flora nature, not fauna.

As for altering a TR7, we hereabouts are most liberal in that regards. Changing our cars is most often done out of necessity rather than choice. What with all the bad press and ancient history surrounding the TR7, we have each chosen to trod the path few others have taken. As a result, the destination we now occupy is far more sublime as to the end result of our toils and the financial tolls.

What you wind up with is your choice. Please review our plethora of topics over the years here in the forums. You may find answers to your future questions.

Mildred Hargis

[Hasbeen]

What you use the car for has a big bearing on what you may want to do to it.

I agree upgrading the ignition system is a good idea, particularly when the disy is such a brute to get out & in.

However, when I ordered my new Morgan +4 in 1961, [62 delivery], I ordered it with such options as a high performance inlet manifold system, & a competition extractor [tubular] exhaust system. That these things were available in the day, & even from the factory, make them in my mind, acceptable modifications, even on a standard car.

In the day there were hundreds of Ford Anglias & Cortinas, & minis running around with dcoe Webers on them, which I think legitimise them as suitable gear on the same restored cars today.

Most of all, I think you should please yourself with what you do to your car, & enjoy it as you like it. However, if you want to compete in competition, you'll have to live by the rules of your sport. Obviously vintage racing will be different to banger racing, as will concourse competition.

Hasbeen

[jeffremj]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have some ideas of my own, but wanted to hear other suggestions.
Any more?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The most noticable improvement I came across was to use 15" wheels and 205/50 tyres. The handling and feel of the car was transformed - much 'tighter' (but not harsher). Alternatively, look to your 185/70 profile tyres as some cheap types will badly affect the handling. Even cheaper, check the tyre pressures [:)]