Wedge Why do people hate TR7s?

[DeltaAir423]

Strange no one seems to have mentioned that wonderful engine design; where just not changing the coolant regularly could easily result in a repair bill higher than the value of the car ... not to mention horrible build quality (and attendant problems) in the early years. BL literally had to close the plant, because they refused to build decent cars.

A friend of mine literally sold his TR7 just because of the horror stories about reliability and repair costs circulating at the time.
TR7 is Time Magazine's 26th out of 50 worst cars of all time

Dunno about non-US performance, but the US-spec models were definitely slower than a TR6 or even a TR3. And were a total joke compared to their competition from Ford & Nissan.

But a TR8, now, or even a TR7 ragtop with a 3.5 conversion ... that I'd love to have. Gonna have to sell a Stag or two first, though.

Just looking at the list, the writer is obviously biased. On that list there are some cars that do belong, and some that obviously dont.

Some of the don'ts:

Triumph Stag
Triumph TR7
MGA Twincam
DeLorean DMC-12
Plymouth Prowler
Ford Edsel (sure the thing was UGLY! But it really had noting else wrong with it.)


Some of the ones that do belong:

Corvair (Good idea, bad execution)
Ford Pinto (Prototype was very good, production very poor)
Morgan Plus 8 Propane (What was Bill Fink thinking???)
Chevy EV1 (See Corvair)


I just sense a little bit, ok a lot, of bias in the writer's article. Especially when you reach the Hummer H2 piece where the politics really jump in.


Of course that's just my opinion, I could be sleeping in my Spit!

 

[Mark Jones]

Yes, the increase safety is a selling point

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Mark -

You have a private message.

Mickey

 

[BOXoROCKS]

....I guess it is just my perfect pitch ear....the V8 just doesn't sound like it is enjoying it's self. But I'll believe ya and thrash the sh*t out of it this summer. Does anybody know a good engine builder on the forum whos lookin for work.

 

[kodanja]

I guess plaid can go either way...

I LIKE IT!

 

[DougF]

When they came out, I wasn't turned on by the looks. What began to change my feelings was watching Ken Slagle flying around Nelson Ledges race track. I loved the wedge shaped trailer he hauled the car around in. The shape of things to win. It was good marketing.

 

[swift6]

....I guess it is just my perfect pitch ear....the V8 just doesn't sound like it is enjoying it's self. But I'll believe ya and thrash the sh*t out of it this summer. Does anybody know a good engine builder on the forum whos lookin for work.

Yours could be struggling with flow at the upper end. Especially if the cats have begun to collapse. How many miles on the car? Does it still have cats?

I've been finishing up some work we've been doing on resurrecting a 1977 TR7 FHC. So I've been driving it a lot. My TR8 FHC is my daily driver and was built in December of 1978. Both cars have A/C, have the same springs and shocks. The TR7 has had its brakes upgraded to TR8 rotors and calipers. My 8 has TSI's larger swaybars. They both are currently running the same size tires as well with the TR7 wearing the TR8 alloys. So the two are very close in spec other than the engines. The engines in both are still stock. My 8 still uses the original carbs and air boxes sans thermostatic diverters. Cold air hoses from the inner fender directly to the airboxes instead. The 7 has K&N Filters on it but still uses the stock carbs. The 7 also has a Monza exhaust system but both cars still use standard exhaust manifolds.

The difference in thrust is very telling. The 7 just doesn't have close to the same level as the 8. The 7 is also louder, and higher pitched, with its Monza exhaust and screaming 4 cyl. The V8 has a lower rumble, even at higher rpm. Its been a very fun comparison.

 

[tdskip]

Shawn - does the TR7 feel any more "toss-able" than the TR8?

 

[Guest]

Shawn, do the swaybars make a noticeable difference to the handling?

I can provoke oversteer with the throttle now, so I'm not convinced of the need for a rear unless it makes the whole back end less soggy. I will be at Carlisle tomorrow though, so if they do make a difference I can pick some up easily enough...

 

[swift6]

Shawn - does the TR7 feel any more "toss-able" than the TR8?

No, the steering has a more direct feel. It also requires a lot more effort. It has the needle bearing strut pivot kit installed, so its steering is lighter than standard but my 8 has it as well.

 

[swift6]

Shawn, do the swaybars make a noticeable difference to the handling?

I can provoke oversteer with the throttle now, so I'm not convinced of the need for a rear unless it makes the whole back end less soggy. I will be at Carlisle tomorrow though, so if they do make a difference I can pick some up easily enough...

You already have a rear bar. Front and rear bars were standard on the wedges. I have the TSI upgraded bars, front and rear. They definitely flattened the car out in the corners more. Are they necessary? No. Do they make the canyons that much more fun? Yes. The front bar is a PITA to change. You have to compress the bars ends to get them into the lower control arms. The 34% increase really makes it fun to do that. I used a "come-a-long" to get it done. The rear bar is dead simple to change.

When I go to a 15" wheel and lower profile rubber, I'll also have to look into upgrading the front hub to a larger bearing. Mostly for the added safety margin and decreased wear issues.

I also have poly bushes front and rear. The new bushes, new uprated springs, larger sway-bars, new strut inserts and shocks had me harassing motorcycles in the canyons right away. I can say that the uprated sway-bars do make a difference. I fitted them about 2 months after doing all of the other suspension work. They did tighten up the whole car a bit. Nothing dramatic though.

The stock 3.5l V8 can easily balance the factory under-steer with the throttle. Begin to build up the engine and unleash some more ponies, the throttle steering turns into power induced over-steer. Which can contribute to a huge grin factor.

You can hunt down Ted (TSI) at Carlisle and talk to him about it. Tell him I said hi. I don't know if Woody will be there or not. Ted did just announce another run of sway-bars though. I bought mine when he had them on sale. The price was too good not to fit them. Otherwise I probably would have waited a while.

 

[Guest]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]You already have a rear bar. Front and rear bars were standard on the wedges. [/QUOTE]

You can tell I haven't looked underneath it yet :blush:

I know I have poly, uprated springs and adjustable shocks. I also have 15" wheels.

I've been too busy driving it to look at what else I have. It corners ok now, it's just soggy and hates bumps.

Since I want it to feel more like my 6 (which is a rollerskate), I'll probably get the swaybars regardless. Then if the weather sucks on Sunday perhaps I'll try to fettle the handling properly by fitting them and firming up the shocks - a lot...

 

[tdskip]

Alana - I fitted Ted's uprated springs and went with Poly bushings from British Parts NW and it TRANSFORMED the handling. Hard to believe it was the same car afterwards.

I'd strong recommend that you look into this if she currently feels soggy.

 

[Simon TR4a]

The older I get the more I appreciate the TR7, not as "pure" a sports car as the earlier models, but a roomy, comfortable car, safer in modern traffic and better handling.
With gas prices as they are the 7 makes more sense to me than the 8, only thing I don't like is the vague feeling of the 5 speed box, and possibly the troublesome pop-up lights.
Simon.

 

[KLUTZ]

Mark.. If you keep emailing Ads for TR7's for sale, to my Wife, I am sure I will have another one in the driveway eventually. :laugh:

The one that shouldn't have gotten away:

Thomas is on the correct path with his choice.

Paul

 

[swift6]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]You already have a rear bar. Front and rear bars were standard on the wedges.

You can tell I haven't looked underneath it yet :blush:

I know I have poly, uprated springs and adjustable shocks. I also have 15" wheels.

I've been too busy driving it to look at what else I have. It corners ok now, it's just soggy and hates bumps.

Since I want it to feel more like my 6 (which is a rollerskate), I'll probably get the swaybars regardless. Then if the weather sucks on Sunday perhaps I'll try to fettle the handling properly by fitting them and firming up the shocks - a lot...


[/QUOTE]

I was begining to wonder about that Alan. :wink:

The suspension desing on the wedge is quite different than the 2-6. Mostly, it is a 'long travel' design. So they are much softer in their spring rates than the earlier cars. Doesn't mean they don't grip, they do, they just have a bit more travel and body roll. The increased rate bars help the body roll. Your kidneys will thank you for the softer ride over your 6.

 

[Guest]

Its the way that the rear bottoms out when it gets within sniffing distance of a pothole or a bump that bothers me more than anything else. I'll take some time this weekend to try to see if it's fixable.

Back to the OPs original question.

I guess not <span style="font-style: italic">everyone</span> hates them. fwiw, I hated them when they came out. Now I own one...

 

[Mark Jones]

Well, we may be getting two, one to fix up and one for parts and maybe sell pieces on ebay to finance the rebuild.

The more I read, the more I think getting a TR7 is going to be a good choice.

 

[KLUTZ]

Well, we may be getting two, one to fix up and one for parts and maybe sell pieces on ebay to finance the rebuild.

The more I read, the more I think getting a TR7 is going to be a good choice.

Just don't break it!!! :laugh:

 

[Mickey Richaud]

With gas prices as they are the 7 makes more sense to me than the 8, only thing I don't like is the vague feeling of the 5 speed box, and possibly the troublesome pop-up lights.
Simon.

Last trip we made, over to the Smokies (250 miles each way), I got 27 mpg, doing 70 on the interstate.

The vague feeling can be fixed with poly bushing replacements for the spongy rubber ones.

And the pop-up light problems are almost always due to poor connections/grounds (like ALL LBC electrical woes).