Has anyone tried making a FHC from a DHC

[FI Spyder]

I always thought there were some strengthening plates welded in to the floor area on the convertible to lessen the flex. I remember seeing them when I had the Spider interior out and assumed the coupe didn't have them, not needing them or was that just the later convertibles?

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

[busheytrader]

Back in the mid 90's I exchanged emails with a guy who'd had his FHC converted to a DHC by Grinnall. He'd posted the experience up on his own webpages........

IIRC it was Inca Yellow but he wasn't happy with it and sold it to buy a genuine UK market TR8. This was then sold to make way for a TVR Cerbera



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.

[john 215]

Hi,

It sounds one hell of a lot of work to me, it way be a lot easier to repair your FHC shell IMHO but I do admire your sense of adventure though and PLEASE run a ' blog ' on her as will be very interesting to see.

Not sure how easy it is to alter the details on your V5 from DHC to FHC ( if you want to stay 100% ' legal ' [;)] ) I know a few years ago when I dropped the V8 in, I had jump through all sorts of hoops, they wanted receipts, who carried out the conversion etc. may have relaxed a bit now, so just a thought before you get too deep.

As I said don't want p155 on your bonfire BUT -


And I quote -


<font color="red">Changes that may need to be inspected

Your vehicle may have to be inspected after reporting any of the following changes:

##body type (DVLA give a body type description based on the vehicle’s external appearance)
</font id="red">

More details here -

https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-detai ... ertificate


If done correctly and safely then inspection shouldn't be a problem, good luck in whatever you choose.

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 !!!!

[march]

John,

I am hoping that as the final version should be identical in appearance to the FHC I started with (Will be using the FHC registration) it should not need inspecting, but I must admit I had not thought of this aspect. If it needs inspecting then so be it, I will cross that bridge when I come to it - I have no wish break any laws / requirements.

I am more than happy to run a Blog (should this go ahead) but I am not the fastest person in the world and will need to learn a lot of things in the process (such as improving my welding skills) so progress in all likelihood will be slow. Anyway should be fun whatever happens[:)].

Thanks for the info.

Marc

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

[seven]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">............but I am not the fastest person in the world and will need to learn a lot of things in the process (such as improving my welding skills) so progress in all likelihood will be slow. Anyway should be fun whatever happens[:)].
Thanks for the info.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That makes two of us [^] I have made some major alterations to cars in the past and 'Ruby' is no exception, my blogs are a bit slow too but since being on the forum I know other forum users love pictures [;)]
The project I am on now has taken nearly 4 years and I do as much on her as I can and when time allows. There will be plenty of help with ideas too from other members which I find very useful. If you do decide to go ahead with your conversion I for one will be keeping a keen eye on progress [;)]
My advice or shall I say my two pence interference [:D] would be to buy another TR7 to do your transformation on, it is a good idea to have one to look back at for those.....'Where the hell does this bit go' situation, and the fact that you can have 2 TR7's [^]

Triumph TR7 DHC
Triumph 2.5 Estate
Triumph 2000 Saloon

Mercedes 320SLK
Jaguar X-Type Estate

Kawasaki GPZ

The car is unable to handle my driving capabilities

[march]

[quote] .... My advice or shall I say my two pence interference would be to buy another TR7 to do your transformation on

Two TR7's [:D] - I have gone from 'Your not having another bloody car' from my better half to being allowed to have a TR7 and possibly another bodyshell - I am not sure another TR7 (however much a good idea / essential it would be) will be allowed. I have already filled our garage with a Lotus, A Fireblade, a very big Radio Controlled Helicopter and will need to start work on the TR7 in one of our barns - possibly pushing my luck a bit [B)].

I know - I could by Carina a TR7 for Valentines day [:D]

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

[busheytrader]

Wow John,

When i dropped the V8 into my car I sent off the V5 with the new engine no and displacement and that was it, updated without any questions, job done.

How times have changed.

Adam

[spanner]

We were well into kit cars and kept one running on the road for free by buying and selling other examples.we changed quite a few engines and always tried to update DVLA as in many cases it did not tally with the car. Most of the time it was Ok but occasionally we would get a stroppy letter demanding all sorts of vehicle inspections and letters from garages on headed paper. One car we popped in a smaller engine than the original and as that had implications for the amount of tax payable they were very excited. A couple of photos and some chat on the phone and it turned out OK
I would advise setting aside half an hour to speak to someone at Swansea about your plans get their name and send them all the paperwork.
atb
Mike
P.S. when it's done spray it TRITON green#128522;

Near Penrith and the Lake District
Triton Green convertible
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211 ... C14977.jpg
White Speke FHC
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211 ... C14975.jpg

[march]

Back in the mists of time the coonvertible I had was Triton Green - From the comments I used to get I think Triton Green must be a bit of a Marmite colour. I like it, not sure many others did.

Just looked at your photos - didn't the Triton green cars have a black flash down the sides?

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

[Maxwell]

Triton? Typical of its time, now making a comeback in certain quarters..

Maxwell [:D]

2.0 TR7 FHC \ Current
1.8 Mazda MX5 \ Current

[seven]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">

I know - I could by Carina a TR7 for Valentines day [:D]

02 Range Rover
94 Honda Fireblade
99 Lotus Esprit V8
Space in garage for TR7
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Don't tell her it was from you [:D][:D]

Triumph TR7 DHC
Triumph 2.5 Estate
Triumph 2000 Saloon

Mercedes 320SLK
Jaguar X-Type Estate

Kawasaki GPZ

The car is unable to handle my driving capabilities

[saabfast]

<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 Maxwell</i>

Triton? Typical of its time, now making a comeback in certain quarters..

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

My father had a VX2300 estate in the colour back in the 80's and there are quite a few VW Sirocco's around in that colour now. Always quite liked it on the TR7 myself.

Alan
Saab 9-5 2.3t Vector Auto Estate
'81 TR7 DHC

[Maxwell]

Another Drop Head that might fit the bill...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-TR7-C ... 6016.l4276

Maxwell [;)]

2.0 TR7 FHC \ Current
1.8 Mazda MX5 \ Current

[march]

Nice find Maxwell - wasn't even coming up in my TR7 search when you found it, just come up this morning (Devon really does appear to be a bit of a backwater, even on the Internet). Unfortunately it is right the way across the country from me so rather a long way to pick up a shell. Will keep an eye on it though. - Thanks.

I am hopefully going to look at the shell in Bridgwater this weekend as it is just up the M5 from me. I am just waiting for a time from the guy selling it.

Marc

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

[march]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Marc - Drop Head Shell just been relisted on eBay if that's the way you're heading...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barn-Find-Tri ... 1e9999cc42

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

Have just got back from looking at this shell. Unfortunately its pretty rotten (he omitted to tell me this when discussing it on the phone). The boot floor is rotten along with left and right sides of the bulkhead (big holes), the base of at least one B post (had given up on it at this time so wasn't looking properly any more), the flitches closest to the bulkhead on both sides and the sills which I was told were good have had cover panels fitted (so probably a bit of a mess inside) and probably more if I had looked any further.

Overall a bit of pain, especially as the Sat Nav with his directions took me to a resevoir and when I tried to ring the chap he did not have his phone with him. After 20 minutes of random driving actually found his industrial units (no signs) and was told if I had been any later he would have left!! - and I wasn't even late.

Disappointing Day

Marc



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