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Quick racks are rare to find, but S&S do sell them new (I got one last year and installed in my TR7V8). Not cheap, but since installing and replacing the original brakes I've now got solid steering without any wobble.

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TD Fitchett used to offer a 'quick rack', and may well still stock them.

 

There were a number of variations of the TR7 'quick rack', I have a couple of ratios approx 3:1 and 2.4:1 respectively, both original ex-works items, but I suspect you may find other ratios offered as aftermarket fitments.

 

Original 'quick racks' are few and far between, and no I don't have any spare before you ask !

 

Cheers

 

Alec

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Roger Williams' 'Improve TR7' book, p60, says standard racks up to 1980 were 3.75 turns lock-to-lock, the later racks were 4.5 turns. I had read somewhere else that all TR7 racks were the latter ratio, and I'm sure I had seen the S&S quick racks advertised previously at over 3 turns (Mr Williams quotes 3.2 turns), so I was thinking that the modified racks were a big improvement over 4.5 but maybe still not quick enough in competition terms. However, I see that S&S are now quoting their racks as 2.7 turns, which is more like it if rather pricey at over £400. The pinions are still available separately for self-build though and I realise that low volume specially-manufactured parts always cost a lot more.

 

Fitchett's are still listing their TR7 quick racks on the web at £140, but don't quote the actual ratio which isn't very helpful, I'll have to give them a ring.

 

I then checked my own cars, which all have the ribbed casing racks; my very early 'P' reg is 3.75, so is my 'R' donor car, but my May 1980 reg DHC has just over 3 turns lock-to-lock! As it is a bog standard, slightly scruffy car with no special history and has been off the road for the last 13 years I see no reason why someone would have fitted a quick rack and cannot find any steering geometry faults that would cause that much difference. As none is currently roadworthy I can't do a road test comparison, but whatever the reason, in the interests of initial economy you can guess which rack I'll be using! Naturally the higher ratio racks give heavier steering; a roller top mount kit will help but at the end of the day it's a rally car so performance takes priority over comfort.

 

Nigel

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

The TR7 scene has been dying for many years Peter.

 

This summer there were not many more than 1000 Wedges of all versions still licensed for the road, of which no more than 30% were fixed heads. That's one third down against the roadworthy cars of a decade ago . . . . and three quarters gone of the cars still on the road 20 years ago . . . . .

 

Something over 1500 still on SORN, relatively few of which, to be realistic, are likely to ever return to the road.

 

There are few 7s, 7V8s or 8s competing now - the remaining 'important' cars mainly collectors' rather than competitors' cars, the less significant race and rally cars of yesteryear have mostly been scrapped.

 

It takes time, effort and patience to find what few competition components still exist. I have a few, and with luck I'll get round to sorting out the surplus later in the winter or the spring. Can't help with polycarb glazing or sumpguard though.

 

You could try http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/login.asp?target=default.asp where there are more of the Wedgista than on here.

 

Cheers

 

Alec

Edited by Alec Pringle
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Peter

 

I fear you will have little luck finding second-hand rally parts; as Alec says TR7 competition cars are thin on the ground nowadays. Those which have been previously scrapped have had their component parts scattered far and wide and probably lost or now incorporated into the few surviving cars which seem to be mostly mothballed. Unlike Escorts and other popular rally cars, there is virtually no second-hand market for used rally parts for TR7's.

 

You will still be able to source many new parts though, just try an internet search - here's a link for your polycarbonate window kit for example: http://www.lexan-windows.com/window-kits-windscreens.html?model=456 They can supply the MSA-correct mudflap material as well.

 

However, even new TR7 competition bits are not thick on the ground. No problem with the V8 engine of course, and brakes/suspension/roll cages are available. Things like seats and harnesses, extinguishers, trip meters etc are common to most cars anyway. But many serious competition mods will have to be fabricated from scratch or modified to fit from parts supplied for other cars, eg Escorts. Your shopping list will also be very different depending on whether you intend your car for road rally or stage rally purposes; neither will be cheap but if you are going for stages it can get very expensive. Also, if you are aiming at historic rallies, there are strict limits in just what you can and can't do to your car..... exactly what are your plans?

 

I'm playing around with a TR7 fhc for road rally use but wouldn't even considered using it for stages - that's the province of my TR4, for which every serious tuning and rally part is available off the shelf. But even for that, in six years I have had to buy pretty much everything new - I can't remember getting hold of any rally bits for it second-hand. Sump guard and similar items I had made to my design - there are companies who understand the requirements and will have one made up for you, a TR7 item can be very simple unless you are heading for the forests! TR Enterprises of Blidworth, Notts (01623 793807) have previously built and rallied two TR7 V8's to a very high standard and I'm sure they will be pleased to help you.

 

Have you seen the Club Triumph website? There are some very good blogs on the building of a sprint-engined TR7 stage rally car at:

http://raidertr7.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Rally%20Prep

 

Nigel

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  • 1 month later...

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