karnevil Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Well yesterday saw my first viewing. Went very well I thought,nice car.Not everyones choice of colour I would say but definatley of its time and set the trim colour of it off very nicely. The car seemed nice and solid with just a few silly niggles,which should only take a few hours to sort along with a few quid. The sidelights required the headlights to be raised and on before they came on.Could that be an earth problem or maybe a relay? What a blast from the past .First thing that struck me was how much more solid it felt than modern cars,The panels dont flex at a touch of the finger! How on earth did we all cope without power steering?I can remember when if changing from a non power to a power car then the warning was "Carefull this has power steeing.........it can take you by surprise!" What was the default production setting as to the wheels fitted?I thought the std was steel with the plastic caps with the option being the alloys was this the case? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
amclpreston Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 How on earth did we all cope without power steering? Very easily... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted March 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Yeah we did none of my first cars had it,Marina,Escort,Mini even an SD1 2300! I bet most drivers under tha age of about 35 would have a fit driving an older car now! Very easily... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AnthonyF Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 The sidelights should come on with the first click of the headlight switch, the pods raise & headlights come on with the second click. So if this car you saw was anything different there is a problem. The sidelights & headlights don't run through a relay, but the pod lift mechanism has a separate circuit & relay for each side. Be careful if someone has been messing about with the headlight wiring, it's not actually a complicated system but it can be time consuming to sort out someone else's "improvements". Re the wheels, the very early cars had a steel wheel with a black plastic trim which covered the centre. This changed in about 1977 to a silver grey plastic trim that covered the whole wheel (still the same steel wheel underneath). Although the TR7 alloy wheel had existed since at least 1975, it only became available as an option in 1978 I think, although late FHC cars from the Solihull factory had the alloy as standard. The alloy was always an option on the DHC AFAIK. All the alloys have the year of manufacture cast on the rim. All factory wheels were 13" x 5.5J rim with a 95.25 PCD (which means you can't find many alternatives to fit!). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted April 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 AnthonyF,thanks for that. The lights did work like that(in a fashion)the side lights just needed to be prodded I think to remind them what to do!Once the pods were lowered the sides stayed on fine,so it could be should i choose this car,a new switch would be required? As for the wheels it is an '82 reg (81 model year then I guess) so it is entirely possible it left the factory/dealer with the alloys,it has the alloy as a spare too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR8IAN Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 It is very possible to get the steering feeling a whole lot lighter - on a late car (or any for that matter) first thing is to make sure tha top swivels on the struts are serviced properly. Generally speaking nobody has been anywhere near the struts for years but if you can get them out and stripped down and clean all of the bearing surfaces and re grease - a modification is available from the normal suppliers like Robsport or S&S where you add either a ford focus / sierra top bearing or a roller type bearing will also help no end. As for the wheels - many of the MGF wheels fit without modification and have the correct PCD (also bigger wheel size which will give you a better choice of tyres). Also you will see a fair few "wedges" on revolution wheels or Minilights as well. Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AnthonyF Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 If the front sidelights worked OK once you had "prodded" them, then I would suspect a poor earth - each front sidelight/indicator unit gas an earth wire. In fact most electrical problems with a TR7 can be traced back to a poor earths! If/when you get your 7, one of the first things I would suggest you do is clean all the earths & the contacts/pins in the Ripaults connectors. The front sidelight units also suffer from water ingress which corrodes the bulb holders. Unless badly corroded, a clean up & a new lens gasket will help. You can also carefully dismantle the headlight switch, the contacts inside can get corroded but can be cleaned - just make a note of how it all came apart . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted April 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 It is very possible to get the steering feeling a whole lot lighter - on a late car (or any for that matter) first thing is to make sure tha top swivels on the struts are serviced properly. Generally speaking nobody has been anywhere near the struts for years but if you can get them out and stripped down and clean all of the bearing surfaces and re grease - a modification is available from the normal suppliers like Robsport or S&S where you add either a ford focus / sierra top bearing or a roller type bearing will also help no end. As for the wheels - many of the MGF wheels fit without modification and have the correct PCD (also bigger wheel size which will give you a better choice of tyres). Also you will see a fair few "wedges" on revolution wheels or Minilights as well. Cheers Ian Ian,I guess I pretty soon got used to the heavier steering,just took me back to my first cars,I just cannot imagine any of the new generation drivers getting on with it!They want it all done for them. A refurb/service on the strut tops would probably be a good thing to do tho' in any event,even If I made my own roller top mounts! By trade I am a Turner/Miller so I am able to custom make parts and/or refurb existing ones.I did a pretty nifty brake conversion on my Satria GTI (Ready for the quad throttle bodies) of 3000GT/GTO fourpot calipers and discs picked up off Ebay for 99p!I have also made,for others PCD altering hub-centric spacers and even re-PCD'd wheels. As far as the wheels are concered I think I would want to keep them as original as I could,but it is always nice to know what alternatives there are available and MGF/TF wheels seem pretty plentiful and reasonably priced on Ebay!I've also seen that some people have also fitted MGF/TF seats. If the front sidelights worked OK once you had "prodded" them, then I would suspect a poor earth - each front sidelight/indicator unit gas an earth wire. In fact most electrical problems with a TR7 can be traced back to a poor earths! If/when you get your 7, one of the first things I would suggest you do is clean all the earths & the contacts/pins in the Ripaults connectors. The front sidelight units also suffer from water ingress which corrodes the bulb holders. Unless badly corroded, a clean up & a new lens gasket will help. You can also carefully dismantle the headlight switch, the contacts inside can get corroded but can be cleaned - just make a note of how it all came apart . Anthony,poor earth or a dodgy switch is what I was hoping for.There were no visible signs of water ingress to any of the lights apart from the number plate lamps,which I guess would not break the bank to replace. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted April 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2013 I have a TR7,38 years after seeing my first in a showroom window. I think it has been a club car at some stage. Please don't tell me it has an awfull secret.It scored 180 points,I refused to give any "Excellents" unless the item was new or could only ever be an opinion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
amclpreston Posted April 9, 2013 Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 I have a TR7,38 years after seeing my first in a showroom window. I think it has been a club car at some stage. Please don't tell me it has an awfull secret.It scored 180 points,I refused to give any "Excellents" unless the item was new or could only ever be an opinion. Looks really lovely. Will you be sending the Proton down to the recyclers now ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted April 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 No the GIT will be staying.....it's getting throttle bodies.The TR is for high days and holidays etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR8IAN Posted April 9, 2013 Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 Cracking looking car! Just check the floor panel behind the seats where the rear swinging arms mount and have a look at the petrol tank as well. Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted April 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 The floor etc all looked/felt pretty solid.There is a recipt in the history for a new tank. Cracking looking car! Just check the floor panel behind the seats where the rear swinging arms mount and have a look at the petrol tank as well. Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jothecat Posted April 11, 2013 Report Share Posted April 11, 2013 I have a TR7,38 years after seeing my first in a showroom window. I think it has been a club car at some stage. Please don't tell me it has an awfull secret.It scored 180 points,I refused to give any "Excellents" unless the item was new or could only ever be an opinion. That looks like a really cracking motor car! I hope you have many miles of enjoyable trouble - free motoring. Are you taking it to the IWE? Jo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted April 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 What's the IWE ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimcwestie Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 IWE is the International Weekend at Malvern in August. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted April 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 At the moment I cannot see any reason why not.After all getting oot and aboot is partly what I wanted it for......... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neil_W Posted April 27, 2013 Report Share Posted April 27, 2013 At the moment I cannot see any reason why not.After all getting oot and aboot is partly what I wanted it for......... Try this event for a bunch of TR7's not far away from you at Tatton Park http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17987 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted April 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2013 (edited) Try this event for a bunch of TR7's not far away from you at Tatton Park http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17987 Sounds good,I can put mine at the back,doubt its up to show standard! Edited April 29, 2013 by karnevil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neil_W Posted April 29, 2013 Report Share Posted April 29, 2013 (edited) Sounds good,I can put mine at the back,doubt its up to show standard! Don't worry about being a Show Standard Car - the TR Drivers Club Stand which you are more than welcome to park at will - with open arms have any TR7 - they are an open minded bunch & hold nothing against any rough & ready cars. Last year the TR Register had it's stand next door so it was a good line up of Triumphs - on the other side was the Stag / 2500's Club. Edited April 29, 2013 by Neil_W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR Mitch Posted April 30, 2013 Report Share Posted April 30, 2013 (edited) Nice car there and the colour will help you stand out on the road. One of the big issues I have with driving a classic is that they are much smaller and often lower down than modern cars and other drivers simply don't see you or do but assume "it's old, it's slow". How on earth did we all cope without power steering? By having the correct size tyres on the car. I changed the 195/65 on 6" rims for 165/82 (full profile) and it transformed the steering and the handling of the car. I don't know anything about the TR7 but it might be worth a look what is fitted compared to the original size. More info in the Tyre Size ..... again! thread Edited April 30, 2013 by TR Mitch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karnevil Posted April 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2013 Thanks TR Mitch. Kermit does seem to stand out.I was filmed on the A55 by a passing car on Sunday!. I'm pretty sure it has the correct tyres fitted 185/70 13 but I will double check,getting use to it,the GIT comes as a surprise now! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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