TR7/Rally car HELP

bikerjohn · Postby **bikerjohn** » 19 Nov 2010 11:51

Having got sick of Escort shell prices i've decided to go for a Triumph TR7.

I'm totally clueless with what fits what on these cars and where to upgrade.

I really need specific advise on Axles, LSD, Suspension,Spring rates etc

I hoping to start with the standard 2L engine and then go to a V8 when all the other work is done.

As I'm Based in the Isle of Man the choice of spares is going to mean trips to the U.K. Are there any good triumph breakers who are sympathetic to the rallying cause?

I've found a soft top car and was wondering if anybody has had any experience of converting on back to a tin top for rallying or if not of any cheap shells at a decent price.

Thanks in advance John Iom [:)]

Maxwell · Postby **Maxwell** » 19 Nov 2010 12:13

Welcome

Never heard of a convertible being 'converted' back to a tin-top.
It's a lot more than just a TR7 FHC with a roof chop!

As with Escorts, good Fixed Head Shells with no sunroof are getting harder and harder to find.

Check out the other threads on this site: there's a wealth of educated information from hands-on Rally enthusiasts the world over on here.

IMHO, it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense starting with a 2.0 Slant Four....

What fits? Triumph 16v Sprint, Rover V8s, V6s, even the odd rotary if you feel really brave - and in the US and Oz, all sorts of other things!

Maxwell

3.5 TR7 V8 Drop Head \ Oliver
0.7 Smart Roadster \ Oscar

jclay (RIP 2018) · Postby **jclay (RIP 2018)** » 19 Nov 2010 12:24

This is the best place for information.

As far as ralley cars, look at the Member blogs at the bottom of the home page. There are many biulds chronicled there.

Also, about 3 months ago, Beans completed a total rebuild of a car:
http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8800

You might check out his own blog:
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/

As far as converting to a hardtop, anything can be done if you put your mind to it. Might be better to find a shell.

Seriously, if you can't get the info here, it's not out there!

You can download the ROM from my download site: TR7man.pdf

Clay

[url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/Site/Welcome.html"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Technical/Intro.html"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="http://homepage.mac.com/WebObjects/FileSharing.woa/53/wo/HJMTK8gsojtwKleP.1/0.2.1.2.26.31.97.0.35.0.1.1.1?user=jclaythompson&fpath=Triumph_Articles&templatefn=FileSharing4.html"]Download Page[/url]

birminghamtr7 · Postby **birminghamtr7** » 19 Nov 2010 13:20

contact td fitchett in telford they have some brand new fixed head shells.

if you factor in the earth's rotation, we are all speeding

john 215 · Postby **john 215** » 19 Nov 2010 14:24

Hi,

[8D] WELCOME TO THE BEST FORUM IN THE WORLD EVER [8D]

NOT a rally preperation guide to a TR7 / 8 but race prep but contains some info that may help and a very knowlegeble guy on that subject.

http://www.btinternet.com/~jon.wolfe/

If you look down the left hand side Jon has a book on the subject 'Guide To Racing Your TR7 V8

Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

tr7jim · Postby **tr7jim** » 19 Nov 2010 16:09

Bikerjohn,

Welcome to the forum, like so many rally persons the price of the escort is very high, value for money can be found for example by purchasing a ready prepared car,but depends on how much money you have in your budget.

Jim

RUDDY · Postby **RUDDY** » 19 Nov 2010 18:00

We have two dry climate 2 door mk2 Escort shells available, one is a big tunnel auto shell, the other has just been plastic media blasted and etched primed. Good Escorts are hard to find, just across the water from the IOM on the west coast of Cumbria, shells are about 5k each, failing that the new TR shells from TD Fitchetts are a good start but still require media blasting and prep, plus they all have sunroof apertures.

Cheers, Paul

claypole1360 · Postby **claypole1360** » 19 Nov 2010 19:22

And as if by magic, this one appears on ebay, no sunroof and apparently no rot, i know it's automatic, but it is a lot easier to convert than putting a roof on a convertible.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-TR7-Coupe ... 4154945762

cheers Calvin,
ps, i have no connection with this seller.

V8Wedgehead · Postby **V8Wedgehead** » 19 Nov 2010 23:05

John......wow where to start? Since you are farmiliar with Ford Escorts then here is a secret. The front suspension on the TR7 Rally cars was adapted from Escort MkIIs. All Bilstein did was use the cast stub hub from the TR7 and weld it to the strut cartidge/assembly from an Escort. The rear axle is a Salisbury 4Ha unit or also known as a Dana 44. The rear shocks are a one off for the TR7. The rear suspension geometry was changed and the body shells were seam welded and reinforced. The biggest thing was the roll cage that I just had completed but the original prepared by Safety devices by todays standards is really insufficient. They burried the overhead and front down tubes inside the body work and lacked adequate bracing. Chunk on this forum has an awesome thread on a Rally Car build. I am currently building a Rally TR8 to vintage works specifications using almost 100% NOS or original BL Motorsports or approved FIA Group 4 parts. You have a great source for any answers you need!

Michael
1980 TR8 FHC #0020 Rally Conversion

nadg63 · Postby **nadg63** » 19 Nov 2010 23:31

Assume being over there it is for gravel rally useage!?

We built one from scratch on this side of the world but it was aimed at tarmac rallies so guess things would be different?

http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8675

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 20 Nov 2010 00:05

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

Having got sick of Escort shell prices i've decided to go for a Triumph TR7 ...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
So you missed this LHD Mk1 RS2000 which was sold for â‚¬ 10.000 by a friend ...

As for the 7, bear in mind a few things,
It's much heavier than a Mk 1 or 2 Escort;
Everything to build a proper rally car is available one way or another it's just a bit more of a search and there is the price ...
a few examples (showing off [:D]);

Will visit a local roll cage manufacturer next week [:)] ...

<center>

1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My Weblog[/url]</center>

bikerjohn · Postby **bikerjohn** » 20 Nov 2010 13:03

Thank you everybody for the massive response i'm totally overwhelmed.

I'm going to be tracking down everybody's links they've kindly posted and doing some research before I make a start on the car.

I haven't got the budget for a full work's spec car i'm hopefully going to build it to a Road Rally Spec then M.S.A. log book it when the time and money allow's.

Here's the shopping list so far.

I've tracked down a V12 Jag LSD which i believe will need a spacer between the diff and crown wheel.

I was considering using a Escort 5 link kit but I've seen a thread about using a SD1 Watts linkage which would solve all the problems.
I'm also thinking of boxing the link arms for strength.

I all ready have some Escort Bilstein's in my workshop which can be adapted to fit or even using ford hubs for ease of getting wheels. (Not checked TR7 PCD yet)

As for Engine's is was considering a Ford engine and box again for cost and ease of parts (as I have a few in the Workshop)
Bring on the firing squad for the above [:)]

The other task is Diff ratio's I'm thinking 4.4 of 4.7 for rallying and i'm assuming Sherpa ones will fit.

Thank's again to everybody on the forum for your help please feel free to comment on my idea's.

Right now to have a look at all the links.

John

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 20 Nov 2010 14:51

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

... I haven't got the budget for a full work's spec car i'm hopefully going to build it to a Road Rally Spec then M.S.A. log book it when the time and money allow's ...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
In that case also have a look at [url="http://raidertr7.blogspot.com/"] Project Manx - Raider's Rally TR7 16V [/url].
He's been doing the same over past few the years, happy reading [;)]

<center>

1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My Weblog[/url]</center>

john 215 · Postby **john 215** » 21 Nov 2010 16:44

Hi Beans,

Not to hijack this thread but love those coil overs [8D] Where did lay your hands on them [?]

John,
TR7 PCD is a rare one ( 3.75'' ) but there are plenty of alternative wheel option on including MGF wheels or Dolly Sprints

Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 21 Nov 2010 19:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by john 215

... love those coil overs [8D] Where did lay your hands on them [?] ... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Through a local motorsport suspension manufacturer called [url="http://www.ast-suspension.com/index.asp"]AST Suspension[/url].
Certainly not cheap but improved the handling quite dramatically (and I haven't fitted the rears yet, hopefully this winter).

<center>

1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My Weblog[/url]</center>

Anonymous

TR7/Rally car HELP

TR7/Rally car HELP

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