During the restoration of our 1976 FHC TR7, we obtained a little orange 1981 DHC TR7. About two or three months ago we finally got a chance to start taking a good look at what needed to be done to get it on the road. The previous owner had told us it had been sitting for about 10 years, so we had a lot to look over!
(Picture taken while trying to teach my brother how to drive a stick [8D]
While in the care of the previous owner, a tree had fallen on the car shattering the driver's side window and damaging the frame of the top. But, since those aren't THAT important [;)] , we decided we would take a look at the engine first.
So we checked the oil, water, and all the other necessities before trying to turn the engine over. Those all looked fine (well, the water didn't "look" fine, but it was there!), it seemed that the oil had been changed shortly before putting the car into storage, so that was still good as well. We also charged the battery, which was also new.
So, time, of course, to start 'er up! (or at least thats what we did)... but of course it wasn't that easy now was it? haha. The engine turned over just fine, but for some reason fuel wasn't getting to the engine. So we removed the hose going from the fuel pump to the carbs to check if the fuel pump was working (it wasn't). After removing the fuel pump, we realized why... Either someone had tried to use oil instead of gas to run the engine, or something was seriously wrong with the fuel pump! For a good 2-3 feet up the fuel line (going to the fuel tank) it was completely and utterly clogged with oil! Thick thick oil! To make a long story short, my dad cleaned it out as best he could with a drill and some weed-eater line so that the gas could get through. We had a spare fuel pump from the work on the FHC, so we stuck that one on there, put a new fuel filter on, and hoped for the best (it worked!). Well, at first it didn't, we had to fill the bowls of the carbs and get a little fuel for the pump to play with before it actually started (as we have learned since then, it doesn't like to run out of gas!). So, first problem solved, woohoo!
As much as I'd like to say everything worked perfectly from there, we all know that would have been almost too good to be true! While I was at school the next week after that, my dad had since started the engine and realized some leaking water around the water pump weeping valve, gah! Why oh why, always the water pump! [;)] After starting it up a few times and getting it to operating temperature, it didn't look like the leak was going away, so it was off to replace the water pump! Out with the old!... but wait...a 6-vane?...From everything I've read on the forums for the past year or four. 1981 DHC 2L had 12-vane pumps? Well by golly mine is going to too! So I ended up getting a 12-vane pump (time will tell whether this was the right thing to do hehe [B)]). As another indicator for my decision on getting a 12-vane pump, I realized that the water pump cover was indeed different than that of the '76 2L we had rebuilt. That was what made my final decision. Anyway, we replaced the pump, and once again we had the engine up and running to test everything out!
After that, the engine seemed to run ok, but there was definatly some tweaking that needed to be done... carbs, distributer, and that fun little thing that needs to be removed: the automatic choke!
Oh, and then there's the brakes! Those would be important huh? The previous owner had said the left rear brakes were locked up, so he had taken it apart. While he didn't put it back together, all the parts were in the trunk for us to stick back on, which we did. New brake pads/shoes all around, and we were good to go!
We finally got insurance, new tires (the old were nice, but dry rotted), and a tag on it about two weeks ago (YAY!). From this point, we have fixed a lot of the major issues, and it does run. It's so fun to drive!
Things that still need to be fixed:
-Vacume advance on the distributer (the diaphragm is broken [:(] does anyone know where to get another??)
-Emergency Brakes... something tells me I put them on wrong?... I pull up the emergency break all the way, but it barely gives any stopping force. From what I can tell, the rear brakes do work, just not the emergency brake? maybe I'm wrong.
-The top! Yes, in the summer heat here in Georgia (the state) we need a top!... or our next "thing to fix"..
-Air conditioning! soon? maybe? it's hot! but this won't help the nice sunburn I got last Sunday from driving it around! (note: use sunscreen)
-Tune the carbs
-Put new windows in (maybe this weekend?)
-Various electronic things including:
--The left headlight won't raise (thinking it's the relay)
--Temp gauge (we have another one, but I'd like the one on the dash to work...)
--Fuel Gauge (new sender?)
--turn signals work... occasionally [;)] (blinker fluid? [:p])
I think that's about all for now. If you see a little orange DHC in North Georgia that still uses hand turn signals occasionally honk and wave!
