New Wedgehead...

[Cobber]

<font size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS">If ya can't find a 2litre engine you could always stuff a V8 into it!
Go on ya know ya wanna! [:D]</font id="Comic Sans MS"></font id="size2">

80'Triumph TR7, , 73'Land Rover (Ford 351. V8),
'89 Ford Fairlane
85'Alfa 90, 69'Ford F250.
76' Ford F100

[Dan B]

Take the '81! Put a John's Cars V6 conversion in it. You'll have a reliable runner for not much money.

[GSCReno]

I can't go the conversion route, Guys. Just not my style. I don't have a problem with converted cars, but as for me I like to keep 'em as close to the way BL built 'em as possible. Besides, isn't chasing down the correct parts part of the fun? Cheers, Scott

[Cobber]

<font size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS">The Rover V8 is a variation that the factory did so it's kinda original. But to each his own, it's your car so do with it what ever makes you happy. We will offer support and guidance as you need it along the way. </font id="Comic Sans MS"></font id="size2">

80'Triumph TR7, , 73'Land Rover (Ford 351. V8),
'89 Ford Fairlane
85'Alfa 90, 69'Ford F250.
76' Ford F100

[PeterTR7V8]

The Rover V8 installation isn't a conversion. It's an homage!


Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.

[GSCReno]

It's also very pricey.[:(] I actually have an even-fire 231/auto trans. from a 1980 Buick sitting in the shop. I'm kinda hoping to save that for a late FHC project. Just don't have the heart to modify the Dropheads. Cheers, Scott

[Jolyon39]

Welcome to this forum.

Engines for your 81 are available all over the US and EFI systems come up on Ebay all the time.

I have the email address of a guy with a complete EFI system that he might sell, he is in Michigan. Would you like his contact details?

The Rover V8 is not a conversion because:

1. The standard TR7 5 speed gearbox is the Rover V8 manual gearbox.
2. The standard TR7 diff (your 81 will be one) is the Rover V8 diff and diferent ratio's from SD1 Rover cars bolt straight in. (Your ratio will be 3.45 on an 81 EFI car)

The engine bay was designed for the 3.5 litre Rover SD1 V8 and the running gear supports it.

So it is not a conversion, just an upgrade to the sports model:-)

regards,

Jolyon

[Dan B]

Wow Scott,
You have access to a rust free 81 for a buck and a half and a Buick drive train sitting in the garage just waiting for it? Remember, these are TR7s we are talking about, you're not going to ruin it. I wouldn't do it to a TR3, or my 4A, but 7s are plentiful and not likely to be worth much for a long time. I am running an 80 DHC, which runs fine for now with the 2.0, but when that engine goes, I will be looking at either a 3.8 V6 or a 215.
Just my .02

Dan

[GSCReno]

Thanks for all the feedback, Guys. Here's the thing... This may sound corny, but I feel like I'm the caretaker of these cars. I feel like I'm preserving a bit of sports car history by keeping them as close to original as possible.[8D] As the man says, "they ain't makin' any more of these". Cheers, Scott

[PeterTR7V8]

Originality is a matter of taste. The important thing is to get a car on the road & start using it for the purpose for which it was intended. Unless you build a museum & a large trust fund to ensure it will last forever your cars will be scattered to the 4 corners after you are dead & gone. It is only when you are driving it or when you are preparing it for a drive that you are taking proper care of the car.

Can I get an amen.

God, I am overdue for a long tour in my car. These 100 mile trips to the track I've been doing all winter are only wetting my apetite.


Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.

[Dan B]

Well stated, Peter!

Scott, how about one to restore to concours, and a runner to do whatever you want to to make it more streetable, more comfortable, etc.? If you aren't putting the original engine in a car, it isn't original anyway, be it 4, 8 or whatever.

On the other hand, I understand your reluctance to mess with the original design and configuration. I fought ZS carbs for 25 years or so before I finally decided to make the EFI conversion on my TR4A, based on the success my brother had with his cars. It has taken a year, but I think the car is finally now running better than ever did with carbs.

As earlier stated in this thread, the forum is here for your help, whatever route you decide.

[FI Spyder]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by GSCReno</i>

Here's the thing... This may sound corny, but I feel like I'm the caretaker of these cars. I feel like I'm preserving a bit of sports car history by keeping them as close to original as possible.[8D] As the man says, "they ain't makin' any more of these".
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Couldn't have said it better myself. The rarest of all TR7's or TR8's is an original one. Even barn finds are not likely "original" either because the previous PO's put their own stamp on them or unintentionally botched some thing up trying to fix a problem.

Having said that I can still appreciate that some people will want to put their stamp on their car be it mild or wild. Fine, unless they are painting a Coke car in Pepsi colours or a Shaeffer car lime green.



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

[GSCReno]

I understand where you're all coming from. And I love the passion with which each point is being made. Safe to say that you'll never see one of my Wedges on the lawn at Pebble Beach. To Dan's point (I'm not picking on ya, Dan), for some of us some of the mods disscused here is akin to bunging a Chevy 350 in a TR4. That said, I dig the input from all of you... Keep it coming! Different strokes for different folks![:D] Cheers, Scott

[Dan B]

I wonder if a 350 would fit in my TR4A......hmmmm....[;)]

[FI Spyder]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Dan B</i>

I wonder if a 350 would fit in my TR4A......hmmmm....[;)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I used to work with a guy many years back that put a 350 in a Hillman. Somebody put a Jag V-12 in a Spitfire (they widened the body) so anything is possible. It's all a matter of engineering and money.

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