tr7triumph.com

I was legally bound to title this post the way I did. I have been dreaming of converting my 7 to a V8. Been reading everything I could find and trying to convince myself it was do-able. It was all kinda scary and what not and I was not sure I had the coconuts to try. Then I found this:

The wife (hence the title) gave the green light, and abracadabra, a 1980 TR8 is sitting in my driveway[:D]. It is a little dirty from it's trip home on a truck for 800 miles, but I could not wait to post the pictures.
Took it for about a five mile test drive, and holy moly is this different than the 7!!
As soon as the weather warms up a bit, I am sure I will be wearing out the forum looking for advice. I already have a few questions in mind.

Hiya.

Love those wheels[:p]

Shaun

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12691409@N08/

So, Pup,

Are you going to convert your TR7 or have a TR7 & a TR8?

If you are going to convert, I am going to be doing the same thing. I am trying to come up with a plan of attack, so I can conserve effort and not have to repeat steps.

My sister will get here tonight (YEA!) so I will be off "Mother Watch" and can start working on the car again.

I do have an article on my download site (Can’t find a clean used TR8.doc) with information on the switch.

jclay

[url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Technical/Intro.html"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="http://homepage.mac.com/WebObjects/FileSharing.woa/53/wo/HJMTK8gsojtwKleP.1/0.2.1.2.26.31.97.0.35.0.1.1.1?user=jclaythompson&fpath=Triumph_Articles&templatefn=FileSharing4.html"]Download Page[/url]

Congratulations on your find - wife & car. Does this mean the other one has to go or do you get to keep 2 wedges?

More details please. Condition of body, miles on clock, EFI?

************************************************************************
To do list:
Upholstery/Motor/Gearbox/Suspension/Brakes/Carb/Tyres../Gearbox/Paint/Cam+Motor
Done......./done./done....../done......../done../done/done/redone.../done/under way
Blog: http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8548

Nope, the 7 stays a 7. Another reason for an upgraded date night this weekend is the wife just lost her parking spot in the garage[}:)]. This is not the one by the way that I emailed you (Jclay) about a few weeks ago, but I think I like it better. Thanks for the reply by the way[:D][:D]. After a real brief look-see, I proclaim her 99.5% rust free!! Need a new top, seats have a couple of tears, I have no idea what is up with that steering wheel but I have a couple in the garage to swap it out with. Both lights work and go up and down at the same time, but make a big time "whirring" noise. Gearbox makes a new sound when shifting, but I will ask about that when the time comes. Here is a pic of the engine. Get ready guys cause I know nothing about carbs and I already suspect a slight fuel leak in the vicinity of that big spring[:(]. See told you I know nothing of the mysterious carbs. The meter reads around 3000 miles. Probably not original panel I would suspect[:p]

Congratulations on the TR8. It's a nice looking car. I'm still kicking myself,on occasion - like now, for letting an 8 slip through my fingers. Someday, maybe. [:D]

nice find Pup, congrats on the purchase !!!(makes it so much easier, when the wifey accepts the hobby eh [;)])

I really like the colour combo of your interior, but what is on the panel where the radio/hvac used to live????

Ron.

Those are digital guages for the oil pressure, volts, and water temp that the PO installed. They are kinda neat to look at, but the jury is still out on if they stay or not. The radio/cd player is in the trunk. The control head for that is the little white thing hiding behind the gear shift. All done very professional like, but once I get to spiffing things up I don't know if they will stay.

I like the interior color, too. It's a little worn, but I have been looking around tonight and that green checked pattern is hard to come by. We'll see what happens.

CONGRATULATIONS MAN
it looks good from here.How wmuch was the gift for??

Nice car, you've got a helluva wife![:)]

Bill
1980 Persian Aqua DHC

Thought I saw this car before . Great deal. hope you enjoy it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-Tri ... dZViewItem

Paul

Aaah let's see should I take the 7 or the 8 today. Life's decisions are so hard. I'm jealous. But quick change that steering wheel.[:)]


TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

I had a steering wheel like that when I bought mine except it was worse the contours where your hands grip it were even more pronounced. Fine if you drove in a straight line but horribly uncomfortable when turning. I could never understand what the point of a flat bottom was.

I see the carby is a Holley 4 barrel 650 sitting on a performance manifold so it should have a few extra HP than standard. They say that 390CFM is ideal for a 3500 so it might be a bit over-carbed whatever that means. Holley's are good carbs but the fuel bowls at the front & rear are bolted on the side of the carb body & rely on the integrity of the seal to keep the fuel in. When you unbolt them the fuel spills into the valley which is annoying when you are making adjustments. The metal pipe that runs between the two bowls has a rubber o-ring at each end that may be leaking. Either way it is important to have the floats inside the bowls correctly adjusted otherwise it runs rich & leaks spring from everywhere. I ended up swapping my Holley for an Edelbrock 500 & haven't regretted it.

A quick shopping list for you:
A good quality big pancake or a Ramflo 3-sided filter
A modern electric fan with more but smaller vanes.
New distributor cap & leads.

Looks very nice though. As an owner of a converted car I will always be envious of a genuine TR8 owner.

************************************************************************
To do list:
Upholstery/Motor/Gearbox/Suspension/Brakes/Carb/Tyres../Gearbox/Paint/Cam+Motor
Done......./done./done....../done......../done../done/done/redone.../done/under way
Blog: http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8548

Hay Pup, do you rent that wife of yours out, at all?

I'd like to get her over here, giving lectures to our ladies, on
how to treat your man. Could do wonders for domestic harmony in Oz.

Hasbeen

Nice one! Congrats! [8D]

I'll never forget the feeling of picking up my V8 and driving it the 200 miles home from Warrington - after years of travelling around in the 7 as everyday transport I was convinced the V8 was a totally different car, and that noise!!!!!!

I have to say though that the air filter on your Holley absolutuely cracked me up, has to be THE smallest airfilter i've ever seen - it's shrunk in the wash!!! [:D]

<b>FOR SALE!!!!Purple 2.0 Litre DHC Grinnall</b>
Red 4.0 Litre V8 DHC Grinnall (with huuuuuge arches...!)