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Wedge Tell us about your TR8

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PATR8

PATR8

Jedi Knight
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The TR8 folks seem to be in strength lately. Tell us about your 8.

Mine is a 1980 (build date Nov 1979). I am the third owner. The original owner was from Rochester NY and had it until 1994. In 1994 he sold it to a college student who drove it until 1998 adding a Offy intake, Holley 390, a 3.90 rear axle, and headers with intent to auto cross it. He got married and parked it in his garage after some rust appeared. In 2000 I answered an ad and found the front strut towers rusted out, an A pillar rusted, the rear deck containing the fuel cap, doors rusted thru, engine not having been run in 3 years. He wanted $2500 for the coupe and I begged out but left a business card. His wife called me the next day and asked me is the offer of $1000 was still good. I said yes and she said I had to have it out of the garage by the following evening. I went and scooped it up and drug on to the car trailer as he pulled in. I could tell he was not happy. He asked me what I paid his wife, When I told him he shook hs head and told me the story of how he lost his Harley the same way after his first kid. I got my 8 home and started to price sheet metal, engine parts, and looking for help. I was able to find the TR8CCA who gave me links and advice. I was able to buy two 7s for $300. As I replaced my second tower out and welded a replacement in I wondered why I did not just swap the engine into the 7. I replaced the a pillar, the rear deck.

With the engine I had ted provide me some 10.5 to 1 pistons, Woody gave me a mild cam and replacement headers and roller timing chain. I was ever able to tune the Holley 390 so I was looking for advice adn I had a gentleman in Texas pay me $600 for it so I bought a Edlebrock eliminator (500 cfm). Easy to tune, no problems.

I had a local shop help me put a copper color paint on it. It was my first painting experience and it came out ok. I auto crossed it every year and in 2004 to 2006 I was in Iraq. I came back and had lots of paint bubbles, and two years of sitting. I found with the extreame heat this summer the OEM radiator was not cutting it so I bought a Griffin Aluminum from Woody. Two week ends from now I will auto cross it for the first time since I got back.
 
Mine is an '80. Bought it off eBay, in driving condition, but it had been in a barn or storage unit for quite a while. All in all, it was in fair shape cosmetically, and ran OK, but it replaced the TR3 that I completely restored, and let go. So, I decided to tear into it.

I found a local body and paint guy who has done some fantastic work. Spent way more than I should have, but it came out beautifully. The original color was Poseidon Green, and my first inclination was to stay with that. However, I saw an MGB that had been recently redone with a V8, and had an awesome red metallic paint job. After swearing I'd never have a red British car (there are SO many of them), I gave in. The color is a current Mitsubishi color called Lava Red, and looks fantastic on the 8. The factory offered Bordeaux Red, but it's much darker and more subdued than Lava Red. So, it's not original any more.

Which is just as well, because I ditched the dual Zeniths and bought an Edelbrock manifold and Holley 390. I also have the 10.5:1 pistons going in, and am fitting a street cam and headers, so it's not going to be a concours contender anyway. Not to mention the 14" Panasports that will go on it. At some point (after I same up some more lunch money!), I'll upgrade the brakes, but those are the only mods I plan to make. I will be refurbishing the A/C, and make it a cruiser for my wife and me.

I have redone the seats myself, in the original tan plaid, with a kit from Victoria British, and have new chestnut carpet to go in. At the moment, I have the block, heads and crank back from the machine shop, and ready to reassemble. This week I'll be rebuilding the front suspension, so I can get the subframe back on it. My hope is to have the car completed by the time the Nashville club has its show in October, but we'll have to see.

Can't wait to get it going!
 
OOPS - a few mods I forgot, I went with the Panasports also, I went with the 14 but highly suggest 15s since they provide you allot more tire options. I did make allot of mistakes when I was rebuilding, I sold the parts of the 7s cheap and someone talked me into basically giving away the 8's original rims which I see are worth a ton on ebay. I was also talked out of re-installing the A/C and every day driving to work I kick myself now
 
mine's a parts car. a rusted out body shell, otherwise complete. parts to be used in my tr7/v8 dhc or maybe i'll make use it to convert my fhc into a tr7/v8 fhc?
 
Even with a Rusted shell Ted at TSI would love to know the info on your car. He is pretty much the keeper of the book on TR8s. If you are not a member of the TR8CCA, you should at least drop them an email so they know about the car. Thanks
 
ok. will do. i don't really have a title either. only a bill of sale. oregon frowns on titling cars with only bill of sale. they gave me a bad time titling my '76 because the clerk didn't recognise UK commision numbers as "VIN's"
 
One of the TR7/8 history books (I think it was Robson's) details the difference between the chassis comission numbers and then when the switch to international VIN took place and showed examples of the two. It helped clarify things down at my county clerks office. As soon as I showed them the passage they stopped refusing and suddenly became very helpful. I guess they just needed some sort of documented proof, the history book was enough.
 
the clerk kept asking me if my land rover was a toyota. when i told her no its a land rover she got kind of aggravated and sent me to the state patrol. she apparently didn't know the difference between a land rover and a land cruiser!? and when the vin wasn't of japanese origination she thought i was trying to pull one over on her. on my '76 (which was after my land rover) she gave in after awhile. I think that I wore her down. persistance usually wins out.
 
remember, they did not get hired for thier car knowledge, it was a civil service test that got them that job. I would be happy if the people at the car parts stores knew anything about cars. I was at the local Autozone looking for a part to my 8, the guy asked me what type of car I was looking for parts for, before I could say anything, the female behind the counter says, it is the copper colored one.
 
After having had several Brit cars, I had sworn off them until the TR8 showed up in a local shopper and stayed there for a full year. The main reason it didn't sell was because it was located on Washington Island at the tip of Wisconsin's Door Peninsula, not an easy (or cheap) place to get to. Curiosity finally got the best of me and I called the guy, known locally as "Crabby Jack" and he described it as running but needing a tune-up, body was recently repainted and I could drive it home for $3300 - didn't sound bad.

Got there and 1.) it didn't run, 2.) it had been repainted a candy apple red that was cracking and blistering all over the place and 3.) the interior had been redone in the most hideous tan vinyl you'd ever seen. To the cars credit, it only had 32K miles and never saw winter. He promised if I came back in a week he'd have it running - he didn't. On the third trip I took a dolly and hauled it away for $2300.

That became my winter project and obsession. I cleaned out the carbs and got her running quite easily but I was a little concerned about the low oil pressure. The oil I drained was thin as water and probably diluted by gas. As a precaution, I changed out the engine with a Buick 215 built up for jet boating, changed out the Stombergs for an Edelbrock manifold/500cfm carb combo, added Woody's headers and pulled off everything that added weight but didn't add HP. Since I also had a Cobra fixation I redid the exhaust to exit out the sides just forward of the rear wheels. I really wanted side pipes but there just was any way to do it without hacking up the body and that I wasn't willing to do.

Cosmetically, I did a repaint to Viper Yellow after getting the dreadful candy apple off. The body was in exceptional condition, even had some original color overspray on the underbody. I did the paint in my garage and it didn't come out bad if I do say so myself.

We tore out the entire interior except for the carpet which was in very good condition and rather than reupholster the seats I installed fiberglass racing shells with black vinyl covers and just enough foam to avoid blisters. They're really quite comfy, even on long trips. My wife sewed up door and back panels with cloth inserts to match the paint and positioned to carry the wedge theme. 14" Panasports with 215-14 Michelin Pilots and a roll bar finish off the exterior. I was careful with all the changes I made to not burn any bridges in case someone down the line wanted to bring the car back to original, even saved the original short block.

This is the third summer we've had it on the road and it's a rock solid performer, except for losing the lights at 10:30 PM halfway across the state (Thank you Mr. Lucas!). With my recently completed Cobra, it's become my daily driver in the summer months, but I fear it's feeling a bit ignored. They're two different cars but like your kids, you love them for what they are.

TR804.jpg
 
Sweet color on the car, I love yellow on others people cars. I am always drawn toward them (almost bought a yellow H3) but I am afraid that I will tire of the color but I never do. The Panasports always looks great. I really wish I had gone with the 15 inch instead f the 14s. so many more tire options
 
I agree about going to the 15" wheels but I think they would be a problem with the front fenderwells. Right now I have a bit of chafing on hard left turns with my 14's and can imagine 15" would only be worse.

By the way PATR8, great post. The stories of how people come by their cars is often as interesting as the cars themselves. The book, "Cobra In A Barn" is full of these stories and if I ever have time to actually sit down and read a book, that's on the top of my list.
 
Great stories all. I also have a 1980 TR8, and will post my story later when I am not at work and have more time. I have a quick question for all my fellow 8 owners. I need a new radio, mine is shot. What do you recommend? I want something that will not require a lot of modifications, I do not want to tear up the dash. I do not need anything fancy. Just something that works. Maybe even something that has been discontinued that I could find on ebay that would not require me tearing up the dash?!

Thanks!

Rod
rsm@loumarks.com
 
I have 205 14 on mine and they do occasions catch the lip if I am braking hard in a turn but Woody and most of the hard core guys all make 15s work, I imagine they just turn the lips up in the fenders. As far as radios I bought a small sony that slipped right in from Wal Mart. I do not have the model right now but will look when I get home, I am sure it is out of production though. I can not tell you the last time I really listened to it I love the sound of the car. (and oh yeah, if I turn it up to loud it fries the fuse my brake lights are on) another thread there on trying to swap out the fuse boxes. I thinks the stories about how people came about the cars add personality to the cars. I really like the "found it in a barn while looking for Owls with my daughter for school report" stories (my brother found his 68 chevelle convertible that way). I have never had that luck but I am sure there is a Cobra out there waiting for me to find that way
 
I have 205 14 on mine and they do occasions catch the lip if I am braking hard in a turn but Woody and most of the hard core guys all make 15s work, I imagine they just turn the lips up in the fenders.
As far as radios I bought a small sony that slipped right in from Wal Mart. I do not have the model right now but will look when I get home, I am sure it is out of production though. I can not tell you the last time I really listened to it I love the sound of the car. (and oh yeah, if I turn it up to loud it fries the fuse my brake lights are on) another thread there on trying to swap out the fuse boxes.
I thinks the stories about how people came about the cars add personality to the cars. I really like the "found it in a barn while looking for Owls with my daughter for school report" stories (my brother found his 68 chevelle convertible that way). I have never had that luck but I am sure there is a Cobra out there waiting for me to find that way
 
If it can be done, Woody can do it.
I've got an off-brand radio from Wal-Mart just cover up the hole in the dash and it fits just fine. It sticks out a little past the dash face but I just cut a piece of aluminum sheet to wrap around the exposed body, painted it black to match and nobody knows the difference. I think aftermarket units are pretty much standard size so you can probably pick your brand and make it fit.

However, having gone to the effort of installing the radio, I hardly ever turn it on...I've got stereo exhaust for entertainment.
 
I bought my TR8 2 1/2 years ago from Sportscar Warehouse in Arlington, Texas, and everything on the engine was still original. Had a very helpful Texas BCF member preview it for me before I spent the airfare to see it. Only rust was a few pinholes in the driver's side floor. The car apparently sat in a garage for some years before SW got it, so they said--the mileage was 96,000 when I bought it. It is a light steel-blue 1980 convertible with the original wheels painted the body color.

I drove it 800 miles home in June 2004 with the air conditioning going full blast and still averaged 26.1 mpg. Only problem was, of course, electrical--the windshield wiper motor overheated in a rainstorm and decided to quit working (thank you, Mr. Lucas!) only 30 miles from Arlington. Fortunately, I quickly realized that the wedge-shape and the hood louvers were wonderful "wipers." As long as I kept the speed above 50 mph, the wind blew the rain off the glass due to the windshield rake and the heat from the louvers dried it.

The only change I have made to it is to replace the 80 mph speedo with a 140, so the original mileage is now gone. It still has the twin Z-S carbs, but I am considering an upgrade to a 4-bbl. Now that it is officially 25 years old, I don't have to get an emissions inspection again until 2009. I would also like to upgrade to 15-inch wheels, but haven't decided to spend that money yet.

Although I was looking for a Tiger, I bought it for the V-8 (for me) and seats and AC (for my wife). My wife never goes more than a few miles with me in the MGA (too much heat and sun) and a Tiger would have just been a high-powered MGA as far as she was concerned. But she rode in the TR8 to the MG Club's Glenwood Springs Rallye with me in June, including a 200-mile stretch after the Saturday rally with the top down! Heh, heh--I knew I could find an LBC she would enjoy without sacrificing my driving fun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
A two seat British roadster that a wife could love, now that's great engineering!

Tom
 
Please, I found the best way to enjoy your Triumph is to get divorced... leaves an empty seat for you to fill. No fighting over the car needs time compared to her needs... just mostly joking
 
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