TR-7

[cobra427]

I traded an engine for this TR-7 like 7 or 8 years ago, after getting it runing, I parked it in the back yard and it had been there all the time. I put a battery in it yesterday and with in a few minutes it fired up and ran. I drove it to the front yard and washed it and then drove it to get some fresh gas. The lights came on and they both came up nicely. I can't find out how to turn on the interior dash lights. Also this is a 4 speed car, I think it is a very early TR-7 75 or 76. My plans are to use it to as a daily diver, any idea on how much the car is worth? I am a Mustang guy so I don't follow these cars.
Thanks
Gary

[KRenken]

The interior dash lights come on (or should come on) when you turn on the running lights with the headlight switch. Their "brightness" is controlled by the dimmer switch in the center console. Chances are you have some corrosion in either the headlight switch or the dimmer switch.

Kimmit

1980 DHC
GM 3.8 v6 fi

[bmcecosse]

The dash lights are very dim at best of time - you will only really see them in darkness as a 'glow' - but it is enough.

[cobra427]

Yea, I found the owners manual and it show me where it was, but it won't turn.

[Rblackadar]

Hi Cobra! Unfortunately these cars are not the kind you get great returns on financially. They are considered undesireable by many so the values remain low. I however love thses cars and will likely sink 5 times the value of the car to keep it running. But I'll never get rid of it. If yours is a 75-76 keep it in good shape...they are getting rarer and rarer....I have a 76' Victory Edition and am trying to keep it as original as possible.

[fiveliters]

Hi Gary and welcome to the group...there seems to be a few of us with a Mustang and a TR7-I'm one! (75 and 80 TR7s and 89 Mustang) The switch for the dash lights, can you remove it and see what is causing it not to turn (may be just corrosion)? If it truly is bad let me know,I have an extra one you can have if you want. I'm in PA,by the way,where are you located at?

[bottomtop]

Given that the dash lights are so dim anyway, would a quick option to be to bypass the tempramental rheostat altogether (but leave it in the dash for looks sake)?

[FI Spyder]

rheostat (dimmer control) is a contact on a coil resister wire. Take out of consule and flush with contact cleaner while turning it. Any resistance in dash light circuitry will do the same job of lowering light intensity. I took out dash, removed plastic circuit and cleaned all bare copper surfaces with metal cleaner. I then put thin layer of dielectric grease on them to prevent it from oxiding over again. I did the same with all light bulb sockets and dash gauge connections. My dash lights are as bright as I would want them.

[cobra427]

I am from Ga but original from PA, Yea I need to clean the switch, I work in electroincs so I think I can handle that. Today I put 5 gals of gas in it and found out the gas tank has a small leak, well the more I clean the tank the more it leaked. I put some sealer on it, maybe that will work. The engine runs good but can't get it to idle very good. Once it get warm it wants to die. This car is very stock with only 43K on it. If I had engine problems, I would drop in a 302 that I have here.
Thanks fo all the help.

Gary

[fiveliters]

There was a guy on eBay that had one with the 302 in it,it was a project car. The thing was,he put the engine and tranny in it with the resulting rear axle/4 bolt Mustang wheels,but he never converted the fronts, so it had two Mustang wheels in the back and two TR7 wheels in the front![:0] I like the idea of a 302 in one of these,because anything I do to my Mustang,I could theoretically do to the TR7,not to mention if out on a long drive,and something malfunctions,I could swing into a Ford dealer and grab the part.

Then there's the power...[:D]