What to do ...

tipo158 · Postby **tipo158** » 24 Aug 2010 05:43

I am looking for a 5-speed gearbox, driveshaft and rear axle for my TR7 rally car project.

This evening, I looked at a car that I found on craigslist. It is a '81 DHC. The price is under $500. The car is mostly complete (needs seats, a top), but needs significant work. It is a project, not a running car.

The seller is torn between finishing the project and selling it. I am torn between a) buying it for the parts that I need, selling the unusual bits (like the FI stuff) and giving away the rest and b) encouraging the guy with his project and providing him with assistance.

What to do, what to do ...

alan

Marsu · Postby **Marsu** » 24 Aug 2010 06:16

Alan, if you think he's capable enough then "encouraging the guy with his project and providing him with assistance" would be a good and virtuous action. [:)]

But I think we would all understand if you bought it at that price.

tr8 · Postby **tr8** » 24 Aug 2010 14:37

If it is under 500 then he has a lot to go before it is finished. It will probably just go to the next guy who sees it....for parts. Put the guy out of his misery and save him a ton of money by buying it for parts.

V8Wedgehead · Postby **V8Wedgehead** » 24 Aug 2010 15:29

Alan-What rear axle are you going to use in the project car? The later the better for the improvements. I have a smaller upgraded 5 speed drive shaft made for a TR8 I plan on selling. If you plan on sliding the engine back it would be a good fit. The 1981 TR7 will have the good gearbox and the 3.45 rear. I have a set of 3.90 gears you can have and an alloy cover from a SD1.

Michael
1980 TR8 FHC #0020 Rally Conversion

windy one · Postby **windy one** » 24 Aug 2010 15:49

Your in Washington state, yes? I just seen advertised on craigslist, a TR7 spider for about $700.00. Looks to be a good deal.

Id encourage the gentleman you speak of to fix up his 7 with your help. I have had to strip and scrap one too many 7's due to excessive rust. Not something I enjoyed doing. I like to try to save them.

'tr8;I""f it is under 500 then he has a lot to go before it is finished"" '

...not nessesarily true. My current red 7 I can use everyday. I paid $400.00 for it on craigslist, and it only needed an engine. Including the cost of the car, I have under $1800.00 into it to make her road worthy. Its a very nice rust free '79, non-A/C TR7. Deals are out there!!

Johnny

tipo158 · Postby **tipo158** » 24 Aug 2010 18:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by V8Wedgehead

Alan-What rear axle are you going to use in the project car?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Do you mean my rally car? I was looking for a Jaguar Mk II rear axle since they have disc brakes, but they have been hard to find locally and expensive to ship. Kinda got bogged down with that. Then I started thinking about Dana 44. Again, local availability (of the correct length one) was an issue.

Then I decided that I was spending too much time thinking about options and looking for parts and not getting the car together. This was starting to dampen my enthusiasm for the project.

So, I decided to just put the standard 5-speed rear axle in (keeping the diagonal upper links for the time being) and get the car running sooner.

A friend of mine wants the 4-speed rear axle for his Lotus Seven, but I don't want to give it to him until I have another axle for the TR7 because it is easier to move the chassis around when the car has wheels and suspension on it. I hope to be sending the chassis out for a cage soon.

alan

tipo158 · Postby **tipo158** » 24 Aug 2010 18:09

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

Your in Washington state, yes? I just seen advertised on craigslist, a TR7 spider for about $700.00. Looks to be a good deal.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The one that I am looking at now is the red-ish one on Seattle's craigslist. It is in Poulsbo, WA, about 10 miles from where I live. It has been listed many times, just like that spider.

I have seen that spider a lot as well. Is it back up on craigslist now? I would feel worse about buying that spider for the driveline. There is a lot more there than the Poulsbo car.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
'tr8;I""f it is under 500 then he has a lot to go before it is finished"" '

...not nessesarily true. My current red 7 I can use everyday. I paid $400.00 for it on craigslist, and it only needed an engine. Including the cost of the car, I have under $1800.00 into it to make her road worthy. Its a very nice rust free '79, non-A/C TR7. Deals are out there!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

In this case, I think that I would probably be doing him a favor. Still, I can see the enthusiasm and remember the basket case that was my first TR7 when I bought it.

alan

V8Wedgehead · Postby **V8Wedgehead** » 24 Aug 2010 18:22

Alan-I would go with the 5 speed rear, limited slip if possible and weld the tubes to the casing and run 3.90 gears. The dana 44 can be shortend or get one from a mid 70ies jeep and do a disc brake conversion. From what I have been told the length is really close to the TR7. When you get the cage done make sure you can have the upper arm relocation bar installed on the rear main hoop.

Michael
1980 TR8 FHC #0020 Rally Conversion

FI Spyder · Postby **FI Spyder** » 24 Aug 2010 18:36

I the guy's enthusiasm is waining, encouragement will probably only delay the inevitable, unless you plan on lots of hand holding to the completion of project. Something you should think twice about unless he's a really good friend.

John Buffum ran a 3.90 rear end I believe which limited his top end but obviously gave him what he needed elsewhere. He used a close ratio gearbox.

I sure would like to get hold of that 3.45 rear end for when I upgrade my engine to 9.25 to 1 pistons (when ever that happens, no time soon unless my engine blows because of failed chain tensioner or whatever).

Would be interested in some of the FI stuff for spare parts (for spare part prices, of course[:)

I may be going past your way to Portland ABFM if I can get away and the weathers right (this year). Other than that it's a ferry ride and a hop, skip and a jump.

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

windy one · Postby **windy one** » 24 Aug 2010 21:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tipo158
I have seen that spider a lot as well. Is it back up on craigslist now? I would feel worse about buying that spider for the driveline. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

oops. Yeah, I posted that thinking you were looking for a 7, then remembered your just looking for specific items (after I hit 'post'). My bad. Shame its alllllll the way over there, too far for me to buy.

Johnny

Underdog · Postby **Underdog** » 25 Aug 2010 14:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tr8

If it is under 500 then he has a lot to go before it is finished. It will probably just go to the next guy who sees it....for parts. Put the guy out of his misery and save him a ton of money by buying it for parts.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

X2!! TR7 projects are almost worthless over here. As stated the 81 would have the higher ratio 5th and the 3.45. Even if you don't want the 3.45, they usually bring a few bucks more than a 3.90 axle.

Jim Underwood
72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

V8Wedgehead · Postby **V8Wedgehead** » 25 Aug 2010 17:41

The rally cars in the UK and US ran a ratio of 4.XX to 5.XX without the tall 5th gear. Only changes were the close ratio gears, 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th. I would start with a 3.90 with the pre 1981 gearbox. I am using the close ratio box with a Ford 8.8 and 3.90 or 4.10 gears. Only reason is I have one cut and narrowed for a TR8 sitting on the floor of the garage. Rally cars do not do 150mph! Well back in 1980!

Michael
1980 TR8 FHC #0020 Rally Conversion

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