Wedge TR7 Convertible chassis strengthening

[TR7/8 TPI]

Anyone know how and where on the chassis to strengthen to prevent the body from twisting from very high torque ?

I put a 305HO with a 700R4 in my first TR that would run low 9's in the 1/8th mile and I did'nt have any problem with twisting but this time with a TT LT1, twisting of the body is a serious concern of mine.

Have any of you guys done this to the chassis or had it done?

[ 02-12-2004: Message edited by: TR7/8 TPI ]</p>

 

[James in Michigan]

No, but I wish I had that problem....

 

[Mark Beiser]

The body shell of the TR7 convertable is actually stiffer than the coup. There isn't really a problem with twisting of the body that I know of, but there are a couple of serious concerns if your putting that much power in.

Sometimes the tops of the front strut towers like to pull in twards eachother.

The more serious problem is that the mounts for the trailing arms for the rear suspension are only spot welded to the sheet metal of the bulkhead behind the rear seets. I have seen pictures where the sheet metal has torn around that area.

Lanocha Racing has solutions for any of the problems, and extensive experience with building high powered TR8s and TR7v8s.

www.lanocharacing.com

 

[TR7/8 TPI]

Thanks Mark,

I did'nt realize the weakness with the strut towers so I'll definitely be installing a tower brace.

As for the weakness with the rear suspension link point, I'm putting in a Jag IRS so that won't be a problem.

I will talk to the guys at Lanocha and see what, if anything, they would recommend I do about the body.

 

[78Z]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Mark Beiser:
The body shell of the TR7 convertable is actually stiffer than the coup.<hr></blockquote>

any idea why?

 

[Mark Beiser]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 78Z:


any idea why?

<hr></blockquote>


When they decided that the US congress was not going to outlaw the sale of convertables, BL didn't just chop the top off the coups and call it a convertable.
There was some real engenering involved and stiffeners ended up being added to the insides of the sills, as well as some other steel box sections behind the doors and such.
The net result was that the convertable has a stronger body shell than the coup. *shrug*

At least thats the story in a couple of books I have on the TR7 development history.