SOMETHING NEW

omichaelshar · Postby **omichaelshar** » 29 Dec 2008 02:52

I like the anti-roll bar and diagonal links of the Group 44 setup.

But the issue with it is that in using the original track control arm they have stuck with the original TCA inner bushing (CRC307).

If a rose joint is used on the inner end of the TCA we can have caster adjustment, and this is what I like about the TRS unit:

So perhaps, the best solution of all is yet to be engineered. I think we are all striving for convenient adjustment of:
- ride height
- damping (compression and rebound)
- caster
- camber
- roll centre and force

It's also nice to ponder these things.

Owen

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 29 Dec 2008 11:05

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

... But the issue with it is that in using the original track control arm they have stuck with the original TCA inner bushing (CRC307) ...
... If a rose joint is used on the inner end of the TCA we can have caster adjustment ...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Or adapt the original TCA so you can adjust it and use rose joints ...

Make sure you use a welder who knows how to weld cast iron/steel though.

Fitting adjustable TCA's on my car (combined with a decent geometry check) still rates as one of the best suspension mod's I carried out on the car.

<center>

1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (not very well known yet, but back on the road)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</center>

tr8 · Postby **tr8** » 29 Dec 2008 13:10

I like that mod too, very simple and effective. My race car has a rose joint in the end of the oversized sway bar that was fitted. Also has a grease fitting where the bushing normally goes.
Paul

omichaelshar · Postby **omichaelshar** » 29 Dec 2008 19:46

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

Or adapt the original TCA so you can adjust it and use rose joints ... Fitting adjustable TCA's on my car (combined with a decent geometry check) still rates as one of the best suspension mod's I carried out on the car.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Bean's you are full of surprises. I assume you made this mod to obtain adjustable camber rather than fitting one of the strut top units. Or is there some other benefit to be obtained? Have you also used a rose joint to replace the inner TCA bush? If so, did it make the ride much harsher?

Did your geometry check reveal any discrepancy in caster between left and right? If so, how are you adjusting it?

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tr8

... My race car has a rose joint in the end of the oversized sway bar that was fitted. Also has a grease fitting where the bushing normally goes.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Paul, that looks like an interesting setup. Any chance of some more pics?

Owen

Underdog · Postby **Underdog** » 29 Dec 2008 20:35

I am finding this thread most interesting. Keep the photos coming!!!
Yes, the stock suspension is probably adequate if all the bushings are in good order or better yet, uprated to urethane. I have a set of urethane ready to install, BTW.
I think the desire to upgrade the suspension comes into play after we have installed larger wheel/tire packages and in my case, larger brakes. It then becomes apparent that the anti-swaybar is not quite up to the task of keeping the TCA in position. The added power of a modified 3.9 doesn't help the equation.
I don't have the funds for one of these bolt on conversions but am much interested in what Beans & Paul have done. In the meantime, I'm hoping the urethane bushes will take out some of the slop.
Mildred, I don't want to sound disrespectful but don't waste your money on a strut brace. If you are satisfied with the stock suspension, a strut brace will do nothing. The lower suspension pickups are moving about much more than your strut towers ever will.

72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

omichaelshar · Postby **omichaelshar** » 29 Dec 2008 21:05

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

I am finding this thread most interesting.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Agreed - this thread is good for brain stimulus.

Underdog, like you I have gone to larger wheels (15 x 6.5), wider tyres (205) and upgraded front brakes. I have also fitted 200lb uprated and 1" lowered springs and poly bushes all round.

This certainly removed all the "slop" in the ride. Subsequently, I have installed a Whiteline strut brace and it noticably changed the feel of the car, particularly when entering highspeed sweeping corners. It now feels more certain and precise that it did without the brace, so I think it is a worthwhile addition given the cost was a couple of hundred. (BTW, Whiteline don't seem to list it anymore on their website.)

Something I do regret is my choice of springs; they are too harsh and too low. In future I will get a set of progressive rated springs.

Owen

Underdog · Postby **Underdog** » 29 Dec 2008 21:19

Yes, I agree that a brace may be of benifit. I would like to get one for mine someday or fab one myself. My point was that simply sticking one on an otherwise stock TR would probably be of little benifit. Like most modifications to ANY vehicle, they need to work together.

72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

tr8 · Postby **tr8** » 29 Dec 2008 21:26

Here is another couple of pictures of the front end of the race car. It has coil overs on the front with adjustable spring perches and adjustable camber plates on top.... also has a pretty good strut brace which is tubing connected to the roll cage.

Paul

omichaelshar · Postby **omichaelshar** » 29 Dec 2008 21:43

Wow! I haven't seen anything like that before. Paul, what does the rest of the roll cage look like? Do you know the history of this car?

tr8 · Postby **tr8** » 29 Dec 2008 22:06

Here is a shot of the trunk/boot area full fuel cell and in the drivers area full cage with diagonal brace acorss where a passenger would sit. It was built from a 1975 car, number ACL512 by a BL dealer. Talked extensively with him. He said a lot of BL racing stuff on the car as he could get it cheap/free. I fell in love with the car just looking at all the modifications. Used to run a fully balanced 8V 4 cylinder with weber side drafts. Close ratio 5 speed. One piece front bumber and spoiler made of light wieght fiberglas, the whole unit wieghs about 10 pounds.

Paul

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 03 Jan 2009 23:56

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

... I assume you made this mod to obtain adjustable camber rather than fitting one of the strut top units. Or is there some other benefit to be obtained? Have you also used a rose joint to replace the inner TCA bush? If so, did it make the ride much harsher?

Did your geometry check reveal any discrepancy in caster between left and right? If so, how are you adjusting it?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Indeed put them under the car to get the camber adjusted properly at -2Âº which suits my set up and driving best. There was a difference between left and right of 1Âº if I rememeber correctly. Made a huge difference in handling [:)]
Adjusted the castor angle with shims between ARB and front of TCA.

Inner bushes are indeed replaced with spherical bearings. Only on cobblestones does the ride become harsh. In all other situations it just handles much sharper [:D]

New set up, which I hopefully will get within the next few weeks, comes with adjustable top mounts for the fronts.

<center>

1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (not very well known yet, but back on the road)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</center>

mikehardwick · Postby **mikehardwick** » 05 Jan 2009 15:38

Underdog, like you I have gone to larger wheels (15 x 6.5), wider tyres (205) and upgraded front brakes. I have also fitted 200lb uprated and 1" lowered springs and poly bushes all round.

This certainly removed all the "slop" in the ride. Subsequently, I have installed a Whiteline strut brace and it noticably changed the feel of the car, particularly when entering highspeed sweeping corners. It now feels more certain and precise that it did without the brace, so I think it is a worthwhile addition given the cost was a couple of hundred. (BTW, Whiteline don't seem to list it anymore on their website.)

Something I do regret is my choice of springs; they are too harsh and too low. In future I will get a set of progressive rated springs.

Owen
[/quote]

Owen - I went down exactly the same route as you, with the exceprtion in the strut brace. I too found the 200lb springs to be too harsh, since reverting to standard (165lb?) rears with the shocks (Gaz) wound up fairly tight, have retained the 200lb fronts with softer shock settings for the time being, but may well revert to standard springs and wound up shocks next time I have occasion to pull the struts.
Feels pretty good for road use, but front end still a bit crashy over broken surfaces (and we're good at them in the UK![:(]

Mike

1981 TR7V8 DHC

TSSC N. Yorks A.O.

mikehardwick · Postby **mikehardwick** » 05 Jan 2009 15:41

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

Underdog, like you I have gone to larger wheels (15 x 6.5), wider tyres (205) and upgraded front brakes. I have also fitted 200lb uprated and 1" lowered springs and poly bushes all round.

This certainly removed all the "slop" in the ride. Subsequently, I have installed a Whiteline strut brace and it noticably changed the feel of the car, particularly when entering highspeed sweeping corners. It now feels more certain and precise that it did without the brace, so I think it is a worthwhile addition given the cost was a couple of hundred. (BTW, Whiteline don't seem to list it anymore on their website.)

Something I do regret is my choice of springs; they are too harsh and too low. In future I will get a set of progressive rated springs.

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

Owen - I went down exactly the same route as you, with the exceprtion in the strut brace. I too found the 200lb springs to be too harsh, since reverting to standard (165lb?) rears with the shocks (Gaz) wound up fairly tight, have retained the 200lb fronts with softer shock settings for the time being, but may well revert to standard springs and wound up shocks next time I have occasion to pull the struts.
Feels pretty good for road use, but front end still a bit crashy over broken surfaces (and we're good at them in the UK![:(]

Mike

1981 TR7V8 DHC

TSSC N. Yorks A.O.
[/quote]

1981 TR7V8 DHC

TSSC N. Yorks A.O.

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 11 Jan 2009 13:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tr8

Here is another couple of pictures of the front end of the race car ...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Just wondering if it is the same car as this one [?]

1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (not very well known yet, but back on the road)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</center>

tr8 · Postby **tr8** » 11 Jan 2009 13:55

Yes, it is the same car. That picture was taken by Ron (silver7) in Montreal around 1982. It is what the car looked like when first built. I plan to finish it the same when I get to the paint work. Still have the two sets of revolutions that were on the car. It also still has the VIN number tag attached at the windshield frame, and I have the BMHIT trust document and original ownership papers from the builder.

Paul

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