new guy, new car. would love some advice.

[JamesH]

i have had MGs for 12 years...have completely restored....from junkyard salvage....my daily driver '72 MGB GT, so i am not new to the old car game or the British car game. i am new to Triumphs, however. i almost had a TR7 as a teenager, before my mom put her foot down, so its not like i just discovered them. i have a great love for the MG, but am willing to try out this Triumph thing...no hate here for the "flying doorstop."

i have done most of my MG web stuff on the "MG Experience," but i am not sure the Triumph part of that site has enough traffic to give me what i need....so i have come over here to check y'all out.

anyway, i have been negotiating for this thing for a week and actually have it as of friday. i drove it home. first time behind the wheel of a TR. anyway, thats me. i will put up some pics if i can figure out how. anyway, mucho questions coming.

(it seems to be fairly stock...)

lets start with....

1. accelerator hangs up. it feels like the cable. i am ok with ordering and installing a new cable...any other Triumph secrets i should know? it has twin ZS, i assume they are original.

2. it has an aftermarket manual choke installed. the guy i bought it from say that it replaced the water choke. i know what all that means, i just want to tell y'all to make sure there isn't anything you feel i should know....

3. it has the a'c installed and the prior owner says it works...except that he took the belt off because the idler bearing on the compessor made an unpleasant noise. wisdom to give me here? i will look on VB and Moss, but i haven't yet....

4. it still has the original rad fan set up. should i pull that and go with a Hayden design or leave it be?

5. I know that the TR7 had assembly issues (no hate here) and a couple touchy places in the design. my research says that since mine is an '80, i should be past most of that....stuff i should be aware of?

6. while i am ok with stock or mostly, are there common upgrades that i should consider?

7. my idle wanders quite a bit. what is up with that? (bypass valve?)

8. is there a "best" oil brand and type? for an MG, i would never use anything other Castrol GTX 20/50, what about my wedge?

(i am sure that there will be more.)

[saabfast]

Welcome to the forum James, always good to see an MG guy trading up (only kidding ). What year and body is it?
I assume from you list you are in the states? The few things I can help with are:
1. Throttle cables get sticky, particularly if it has been oiled and sitting around. Best to replaced with a lined type if you can get it, smoother operation. Also check the carb linkages are lubed.
4.Stock cooling system works well enough over here, although the viscous coupling can deteriorate and throw into the rad an bonnet. I have an electric fan to avoid that.
5. Assembly issues should have been sorted by now as far as they go. Panel fit may not be the best but they are OK, although after market copies can need some fettling to fit well. SU carbs were used this side of the pond and seem to be simpler to set up although I have not had problems with Stroms on other cars.
6. Most common upgrade is a V8! However, I find the 4 cylinder good with tubular exhaust and cab needles changed (not sure about Stroms). Uprated servo and master cylinder also help braking.
8. Assuming a standard 4 cylinder 20/50 mineral is fine, it is what they were designed for.

Hope you have a good time with it, post some pictures.

[FI Spyder]

4 cylinders are fine for what they are, you can get it reving higher with headers, air filters like K&N's. If you want more power you can upgrade to a Buick V-6/GM trans if you are in N/A, lots of those engines out there, Rover V-8, not as many. If you are going to keep it stock, the clutch fan works fine if the rest of the system is good (rad not blocked, system clean). The fan clutch will give you sound warning before it goes really bad. My temp needle might vary a needle width from cold weather running to hot weather/stop and go driving. If you have cooling problems, it's not the fan. High/varying idle could be air getting after carbs from vacuum lines, gaskets (rubber carb mounts split) or worn throttle shafts.

On our club trip (to Disneyland) from #101 to #1 North (which is a narrow twisty mountain road) the following MGB owner wanted to know if I had a 6 cylinder engine in my car because he could not keep up (he was a professional driver). When I told him no, just stock FI 4 cylinder he had a new respect for the TR7.

[Howard_B]

1. accelerator hangs up. it feels like the cable. i am ok with ordering and installing a new cable...any other Triumph secrets i should know? it has twin ZS, i assume they are original.

This can be the "u" link between the cable and the throttle which wear slots in the rubbing surfaces - feels like a sticking throttle cable, but can eventually cause a total failure

[Beans]

This can be the "u" link between the cable and the throttle which wear slots in the rubbing surfaces - feels like a sticking throttle cable, but can eventually cause a total failure

Howard is referring to the part at the bottom of this picture, the solution I use (at least for SU's) is at the top.

[Hasbeen]

I've had a sticky throttle cable problem with a couple of 7s. It was usually because someone had oiled the cable. The resultant dust/oil mixture becomes very sticky.

Pulling the inner cable out & washing it & the inner clean helps. When dry a couple of puffs of graphite powder will keep them smooth. My last one worked for 8 years trouble free.

When the carb end broke off due to a carb linkage problem, I finally found a source of lined cables. Try the people who custom make cables for throttle & gearshift gear for outboard boats. Those cables are all lined, & many of them have smaller stuff available. That cable has been working for 7 years now. It is as smooth as that proverbial baby's backside.

Hasbeen

[JamesH]

thanks guys. yup. i am in the states, eastern Tennessee. we have a lot of fun twisty roads here. i think this girl will be alot of fun. she feels rather different than my MGB...not better, just different. the 7 definitely feels more modern, that i'll grant you. anyway, she is an '80 drophead. she seems to be pretty original (other than wear parts--tires, belts, hoses, floorboards). i will see if i can figure out how to drop in a couple of pics. (these are the pics that the seller used in the online listings, fyi.)

[Brianc]

She looks very nice james

That black hood sets off the gold nicely

Im having a black hood fitted next week to my light blue metallic

Brian

[JamesH]

yeah, if you had told me "gold and black car" i would have cringed, but the gold is somewhat understated, it looks good together. i drove it about 45 miles today and i have the same amount home later. so far i am impressed. (my other daily...my BGT...is a great car, but it is definitely more of antique....the 7 is more modern.)

[DNK]

Glad you found your way here James

[Maxwell]

Hi James - and welcome!
That's a Great-looking car! When the dust settles and you have more time, 400\1200 words - and a few images - for 'A Celebration of More Things Seven' would be great!
Don't think we've had an anecdote yet where an MG-Owner has traded up!
One other thing - is there a 'TPA-Paint' sticker on the turret top?
If so - be careful!
And Enjoy!

www.thewedgebook.com for an insight to Volume One!

Maxwell