For most people, classic Triumphs end with the TR6 so as far as I’m concerned it’s not a serious crime to customise a TR7 a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Wedge and wouldn’t want to turn it into something it’s not – so I’m not aiming for Grinnall Ramstein style body kits (although I do think Grinnalls are fine looking cars). I’m also trying hard to suppress any subconscious Max Power tendencies (so who remembers Max Power magazine?) Below is a short YouTube video illustrating some aspects of the project.
The need for an engine upgrade probably goes without saying. The Dolomite sprint engine is, perhaps, closest to the car’s original DNA. However, I wanted to fit a Rover T-series turbo (I already had one) but the car I bought came with a 3.5 V8 and I decided to stick with that. I upgraded to SD1 Vitesse spec with a Holly, tubular manifolds, Megajolt lost spark ignition a Davies Craig electric water pump and an electric fan etc. On a good day that might make 170 – 180 hp which is plenty for me. Anyway it makes a nice sound which is the main thing! There are a couple of custom mods: a cold air intake and an automatic cold start device. More about these on other pages (in the fullness of time!)
Chassis mods are modest and include Spax shocks, polybushes and Rimmer’s front brake upgrade which involves a ventilated disc and a slightly modified SD1 Vitesse 4-pot calliper. This requires slightly bigger wheels to clear the calliper. I went for 15×6 inch 5 spoke Revolutions which look reasonably period and are quite cheap. (They do require a 5mm spacer to clear the calliper.)
The interior has been up-specced a bit with Recaro seats from my defunct Rover 800, custom door cards with pockets, an improved storage cubby and a few other odds and ends including central locking, electric windows, “proper” gauges and improved switchgear. I’ve also tidied up under the dash, plugged various gaps and tried to replace the varios bits of trim made of vinyl-covered hardboard with better quality materials.
Hidden behind various panels and in the engine bay are a number of bits of electronics featuring several Arduinos controlling amongst other things the central locking and alarm system, the electric windows, the windscreen wipers, the indicators, the cold start device and the cooling system. Some of this improves the car, in my opinion, some of this, I guess, is me overcomplicating things but at the same time combining two of my favourite hobbies!
This car is LHD (from California, I think, so less rust). LHD because I wanted to go on a Continental road trip. I even fitted a tow bar for a tiny teardrop caravan. Sadly, thus far, after more than ten years, I have failed to achieve this ambition!
See this page: Upgrading the TR7. More details on other pages in the fullness of time!