Has anyone tried making a FHC from a DHC

Maxwell · Postby **Maxwell** » 15 Feb 2015 15:55

Disappointing. I feel for you...

Maxwell [;)][:(]

2.0 TR7 FHC \ Current
1.8 Mazda MX5 \ Current

march · Postby **march** » 16 Feb 2015 12:20

I have just seen another project convertable on Ebay near to me:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/triumph-tr7-sports-convertable-/251841678637

I have managed to contact the chap selling the car and have been told he is listing it on Ebay to see what it is worth and will pull it if it does not reach what he wants for it. Although he has stated that it is advertised elsewhere it is not so I assume that he will use that excuse to pull it from Ebay just towards the end of the auction. After some pushing the best I could get from him is that he wants well over Â£1000.00 before he will let it go.

Is it me or are others finding that people selling on Ebay are getting less and less honest as time goes by. I always thought when you used ebay you have entered into a contract by either bidding or selling - or is it a South West problem.

Not happy - my sense of fairness is seriously being tested [:(] - Why not put a so**ing reserve on it or a fixed starting price so everyone one knows where they stand.

As a note I have never come across this approach with Lotus people selling on Ebay - and I have bought quite a few parts for my Esprit over the years.

02 Range Rover
94 Honda Fireblade
99 Lotus Esprit V8
Space in garage for TR7

John Wood · Postby **John Wood** » 16 Feb 2015 18:25

Out of 10000 items listed under TR7 only 200 are auction, says it all really.

TR7 Sprint & TR8

busheytrader · Postby **busheytrader** » 17 Feb 2015 15:04

When my son and I went looking for his first car, we saw several that were described over the phone as "excellent condition" when they were covered in dents, scratches and rotten interiors. It's pointless misdescribing the condition of something for sale since you lose trust immediately.

If that DHC on ebay needed just a light restoration to make good I would bid on it.

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 kit (built not bought) and big brake kit.

march · Postby **march** » 17 Feb 2015 15:34

Forgot to mention about the DHC:

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have just seen another project convertable on Ebay near to me:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/triumph-tr7-s ... 1841678637
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Just in case anyone is interested in bidding on it. The interior of the car has been ruined by a seriously leaky roof (seats split, knackered carpets) so a new soft top has been fitted. He has another set of seats for it but I would be concerned about the state of the floor under the carpets. Also some holes in back have been filled with fibreglass (don't know anymore about this - it is just what he said).

AS bushytrader hinted at - I suspect it will need a lttle more than a light restoration, but then again I haven't bothered to go and look at it.

Marc

02 Range Rover
94 Honda Fireblade
99 Lotus Esprit V8
Space in garage for TR7

march · Postby **march** » 19 Feb 2015 15:44

I have spent some time ringing around the specialists (S&S, Robsport etc) and they all say this is a bonkers idea and really not worth the effort. I have to admit I am also a bit bored of trying to source a good drop head shell and I can't bring myself to buy a roadworthy convertible and butcher it so I have finally decided to abandon this approach and try to rebuild the FHC donor car I have in the barn.

I think what also changed my mind was a very pleasant morning earlier this week pulling the SU carburettors apart and cleaning and freeing up all the parts. Also I have become rather attached to my little rustbucket (it makes me smile just looking at it).

It's strange but the oddest things can make me happy [:)]

Marc

02 Range Rover
94 Honda Fireblade
99 Lotus Esprit V8
Space in garage for TR7

claypole1360 · Postby **claypole1360** » 19 Feb 2015 16:23

That makes a lot of sense to me.
Coupes are sooo much cooler too. IMHO [:D]

1978 TR7V8 FHC
1962 Herald Coupe 1200
1989 Peugeot 205 xs
2003 Peugeot 206 GTI
2009 VW Passat

FI Spyder · Postby **FI Spyder** » 20 Feb 2015 13:46

When first introduced the lines of the coupe hood didn't match the car body, it's like they came from too different cars (the X 1/9 did a good job of this) and my Architects training couldn't accept the discord. 40 years later this quirk now becomes a "feature" making it all OK.

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

silverseven · Postby **silverseven** » 20 Feb 2015 17:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by claypole1360

That makes a lot of sense to me.
Coupes are sooo much cooler too. IMHO [:D]

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

x2!!!

Ron.

john 215 · Postby **john 215** » 21 Feb 2015 05:20

Hi,

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">quote:
Originally posted by claypole1360

That makes a lot of sense to me.
Coupes are sooo much cooler too. IMHO

x2!!!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Have to agree with you gents, my DHC is a great car to drive but find the FHC even better, just lacks the power of the DHC [}:)]

Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!

1976 Speke FHC BEAUTY FITTED WITH OVERDRIVE GEARBOX

1979 3.5 FHC CURRENTLY GARDEN ART !

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6, BUILT NOT BROUGHT !!!!

John Clancy · Postby **John Clancy** » 21 Feb 2015 07:40

A very sensible decision March. The best of luck with the restoration.

With regards to the fixed roof not matching the rest of the car, whilst I never agreed with that I can understand the concept seemed so fantastic (read "implausible" perhaps) to many people. I was into 1970s supercars at the time the TR7 arrived on our roads and to my young eyes it looked just like another supercar. I didn't care much about the performance back then, I just loved the looks... and still do. As time has gone on and so many cars have lifted queues from the TR7 style, it has become increasingly fashionable and is now generally accepted as a ground breaking design.

Considered outrageous in 1975, the styling is now the car's best accepted feature. The interior and spacious boot haven't hurt matters either. It all makes me wonder why anyone would want a conventional looking sports car instead!!!

<center>[url="http://www.triumphdvd.co.uk"]Triumph TR7 and other car documentaries on DVD here[/url]</center>

Peter Nuss · Postby **Peter Nuss** » 21 Feb 2015 17:06

This is what the floor pan looks like with the frame rails all removed in one piece. If you notice the green tape on the front corners of the floor pan, these should be cut off and replace after the floor pan is welded back in. It makes assembly so much easier. It looks quite envolved, but, it took me three days to remove this part pictured. Most of the spot welds were drilled out, and very few were cut with a spot weld cutter. It takes a little longer to remove the old floor pan as I did not want a holes drilled in the body I was using.
Any way, your first idea of changing floor pans and front end from the DHC to the FHC seems more reasonable than your plans to make a FHC out of DHC body. If I continue with this project, I'd weld the parts together with the car upside down. Easier to align the parts and easier to weld.

TR8

march · Postby **march** » 21 Feb 2015 17:49

Peter - That's impressive stuff. The only real difference with my plans was that I was considering keeping more of the back end of the DHC (base of boot etc) and the bulkhead. The main problem I came across was the poor condition of donor shells available and I also did not really want to butcher a good DHC.

Also everyone I spoke to in the trade said it was a bad idea due to the amount of work and that I would be mucking about with a monocock shell. So the plan has evolved back into trying to save the FHC I have. I am a bit disappointed but I was starting to think it may have been beyond my capabilities.

Out of interest why didn't you keep the front bulkhead?

Marc

02 Range Rover
94 Honda Fireblade
99 Lotus Esprit V8
77 TR7 rustbucket [:D]

Peter Nuss · Postby **Peter Nuss** » 21 Feb 2015 19:56

There was no good reason to keep the bulkhead or firewall attached to the floor pan. Also, I wanted to remove the largest section I could in one piece. The bulkhead attached to the floor pan/front end would not allow it to be removed and installed in one piece. Also, bulkhead keeps the body in alignment. You remove too much material and you compound the alignment issues.

I live in the US dessert southwest, i.e. no rust. This piece was to repair accident damage, not rust issues. I don't really see this as a big job. But, it all depends on experience and shop facilities. I would also agree with your trade shop advice. At some point it's just not worth it. I did this more to see if it could be done this way and it can.

TR8

silverseven · Postby **silverseven** » 21 Feb 2015 23:55

those are great reference pics Peter !!

Ron.

Anonymous

Has anyone tried making a FHC from a DHC

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