Finally, patiently acquired a 1981 Triumph TR8

[nitroman]

NO RUST at all, not even a square milimeter. NEVER driven in the rain (the sorry state of the wiper-blades proves that!) A genuine, provable 14,300 miles. Sadly, a mere year ago it had only 3500k miles, but was passed from father to son who racked-up 11k in the last year!

The main problems seem to be rubber deteriorization. Nothing is currently out-of-action, but the clutch-master slowly leaks and only a fool would drive dry-rotted/cracked fuel-line hoses with 36PSI petrol inside them. The A/C, with a receipt proving it was charged with R12 last summer, no longer blows cold. Basically any part originating on a rubber-plantation needs a thorough inspection.

But all in all, nearly amazingly so, it's a nicer, far more original car than I thought even existed anymore. Thirty year old original, unrestored cars which don't themselves need a restoration are more than a barn-find; they are more like a living-room find! Plus the original asking price was $17,500 and I picked it up for $10k! Yes, the economy is still shite.

[racerstev]

What a great find! Always wanted one of these, something about a V8 in a small sports car gets me going..

I had a TR7 when I was a kid, my 1st real sports car. Be careful of the brakes, so so tiny under those 13" wheels..

Steve

[dapinky]

Be careful of the brakes, so so tiny under those 13" wheels..

Steve

Not sure about the Federal version, but over here they were on 14"......

....still not huge, but by the standard of the day they were okay - Triumph brakes are even more marginal than Elan brakes, so the good news is that you'll soon stop moaning about the standard brakes on the elan!!!!

(I know it's a total sin to destroy originality on a pristine example, but if you find the brakes to be sh1te, i can give you the info needed to change the calipers/discs to get them good - it involves a VW disc, and Ford calipers - all fitted into 13" wheels, so will go onto 14" easily - that said, with 14" there is probably an even bigger choice than i had when i developed the system for use on Dolomites / TR7s with 'standard' alloys (all based on the FIA Homologation spec from 1977)

[John_W]

Matt,
Well done on your find. I know you've always had a soft spot for these.

So much brown!! Very late 70's/80's.

I've never seen a TR8 in the UK, and all the TR7s must have turned into little piles of iron oxide by now, because I haven't seen one for years. No rust? I hope you know how lucky you are living in a nice warm part of the USA.

What's next? Another Maserati BiTurbo?

Have fun with it.

John

[clemo]

i used to have a tr7 drophead with the late nose badge like yours , built at the canley plant (if i remember )
YAC174X one of the last 100 made.

are they the original seats? i thought the late 7 / 8's had the chequred cloth .

have you heard of "rimmer brothers" in england and also "moss" .

rimmers bought most of the old tooling and started making heritage parts.

i got a lovley tonneau coever from "moss" too.

nice car , quite fancy a tr7 spyder ( so called rare , but they only did it as BL ran out of paint and did a ltd edition in black!)

clemo

[nitroman]

Yes, it's the original interior. Ruched velour replaced the plaid interior for 1981 models.

The front brake calipers on a TR8 have a piston area of 4580mm-sq., vs 4085mm-sq. on a TR7; also larger pads, a larger brake-booster and thicker rotors. Plus the rear brake drums are nearly twice as wide as those on a TR7. So, the brakes are not so awful as you experienced. That said, whenever something goes wrong with them I’ll replace the whole thing with the larger master-cylinder/booster from a Freight-Rover Sherpa V8 van, in conjunction with a 4-pot/large-rotor front brake kit. The rear brake cylinders can also be upgraded, when they go bad, with larger-diameter ones.

Dapinky, whatever info you have would be welcome, but there are no tires left worth having that fit 13” rims anymore, and that alone is reason to go to at least 14” rims. If I was in the UK any of the wheels from the MGF/TF would bolt right on, and I particularly like the 15” ones offered on the 2005 MGTF (picture below), but freight would be a killer on getting any rim shipped from the UK.

One good thing (the only one I’ve discovered so far!) about the recession is that two companies which formerly made lightweight fibreglass front & rear bumpers to replace the 80lb “lead weights” which graced the TR8 are now willing to dust off their old moulds and make me new ones, as they are now sitting on their hands for lack of work. Three or four years ago they said they either were'nt sure where the mould was anymore or simply that it wasn't worthwhile for them to make a single copy.

I need to jettison the catalytic converters for proper long-length headers to enjoy that V8 sound again. Upgrading the fuel-injection is the one area where I will lack experience, having run a 4bbl-carb during my previous 8-year/80,000-mile TR8 ownership. A Holley 4bbl is a sure-fire way to get good horsepower from the Rover V8, but injection offers significantly improved fuel mileage and at the price of petrol, even US petrol today, it is worth going that route.


Clemo, I too remember the TR7 Spider, and when my Pharaoh Gold fades some, or when I get tired of the door-dings (one of the great advantages of the M100 composite body!) I’ll have the car painted black and put Spider transfers on it, with a couple small changes, including using gold-trim instead of red (probably). I may as well change the transfer color, as the transfer kit offered today, although only $75, is wrong in two significant respects... all the letters are just outlined, instead of being solid red as they originally were, and the "line" graphic was extended around the entire car, but should not extend beyond the front fender panels. Also the original graphics used a big 'TR7' but a tiny 'SPIDER' on the boot (view just below), whereas I'd use the larger side-panel 'SPIDER' graphic everywhere. BTW, Spiders were all 1980 model-year cars, although production was split between Canley and Solihull. They are the only TR7/8 to get silver-painted alloys instead of the awful light-grey otherwise used, even to OEM wheels offered today. Someone should have lost their job over choosing grey. Really? Grey is they best colour someone could think of? The silver wheels had an 'S' appended to the part number (RKC2111S), but are no longer stocked. There were 1618 TR7 Spiders made, of which 1321 were sold in the USA. Approximately 400 were Bosch fuel-injected (1980 California specification) and had the ROW-injected plus 1980/1 USA 3.45:1 rear differential replacing 3.90:1 of the carburetted TR7 (UK-model 5spd included). So for one year only California got the best TR7, after suffering the prior four years with a strangled single-carb model! These two changes increased EPA mileage by 25% to 37 highway, 24 city! As far as I know, LHD-injected TR7s only went to the USA and Canada, whilst RHD-injected only went to South Africa, Japan and Australia starting in either 1980 or 1981, depending on local emission-requirement. The only other black TR7/8 ever made was the “Premium” edition, a UK-only model of which exactly 400 (all hardtops/FHCs) were made in 1979; 380 with gold trim & tan-plaid interior, 20 with silver trim & blue-plaid interior.


The stock suspension is like that of a modern sedan, so I really need to get performance springs, shocks, and bushings fitted to the car as I had my previous one set up, which converts it into a proper sports car. As well, it drops the car over an inch, giving it a more aggressive look.

As an interesting aside, a small note in Classic Motorsports magazine said Mazda made the 900,000th MX-5 (Miata) on February 4th. It claims the title of “best selling two-seat convertible sports car” over the MGB, of which 531,890 were made.

I tell you one thing about the Rover V8: I’ve been reading tonight about some of the upgrades people have made to this engine in their Range Rovers. Man, that sure will make you feel poor in a hurry! However, most of the mods were done via a company called SVC (Special Vehicle Concepts) in California, which is now out of business… a commentary on the current state of things. Seems another company called East Coast Rovers does expensive Range Rover engines and they are still around, although lots of their business is regular repair work too.

[dapinky]

Matt,

Yep, I forgot the brake areas were increased on the federal ones - most of my knowledge on the TR8 is from speaking to Del Lines. the man who did the work to get the cars 'converted' from the TR7, and got Leyland to build them "properly" (He used to be my taxi driver for a few years - well, he drove either the TR8 or the SD1 through the trees at stupid speeds whilst i had my head burried in a road book shouting "Left 5, 100!"), i got my own back by taking him flying at Cheltenham racecourse - over a bridge at 80mph and landing a lot further on than i had intended - in the Dolly.

There were only ever 11 "proper" TR8's built for UK use, and only 2 of those ended up with the final brake system - there have now been hundreds (if not more) of TR7, V8 conversions, but most just go for the later back axle off the TR7 with the 5-speed gearbox, and slightly bigger brakes, and then fit Princess 4-pot front callipers.

Luckilly I can still get a few 'decent' tyres in 13" size (but it is getting harder over here aswell) - unfortunately i am limited to original wheel sizes due to homologation regs, so that buggers up the really good braking too!

If i ever decide to sort the car out purely for fun, not competing, then the wheels/brakes will be the first (and possibly only) change.

[clemo]

As a kid i used to go to the tr register weekenders, where the tr2 to 6 officinado's looked down their noses at the 7 and 8 , but i loved the wedge shape. i also loved the works car that were there . the 7 fixed head british airway colours , the leyland works car , and grinnal conversions stand. at the time these were all current cars! even met tony pond , not that knew who he was at the time.

as it goes my 7 drophead was pharoe gold too , i just wonder if they were close of the line!

could and would enjoy another 7 or maybe even an 8 .... for me much the same as our elan the rear lights once again let it down. but i look back with fond memorys of my 7....

edit , found this ..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-TR7-V8-Gr ... 500wt_1156

this is not the front end one remember BUT it is a 1994 !!!!!! version ... awesome .. triumph was long dead by then....

pinky ... your mates motor?
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C163656

[dapinky]

Nope - not the one I remember - it was on a W plate, and ended up in small bits after falling off the tarmac (not with me in it).

[nitroman]

could and would enjoy another 7 or maybe even an 8 .... for me much the same as our elan the rear lights once again let it down. but i look back with fond memorys of my 7....

edit , found this ..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-TR7-V8-Gr ... 500wt_1156

this is not the front end one remember BUT it is a 1994 !!!!!! version ... awesome .. triumph was long dead by then....

That is an example of the final, ultimate development of the Grinnall TR8. The body style was referred to as "Ramstein", though I've no idea why. It was a top quality, all-steel body; no cheeply grafted-on components. The electric mirrors (an option not available on the TR8) were from a 1989 Ford Orion XR3I cabriolet, a body style never offered in the USA, so it will be a bee-autch for me to acquire here, especially because I need the inside-car side of the mirrors as well, you know, whatever plastic finishing pieces give it a factory appearance.

Notice on the engine-shot the cabin fresh-air duct is missing. That's because the Range Rover induction system was too big to allow them to keep the fresh-air intake. It's a universal problem for anyone grafting a V8 to a TR7, not just the Rover V8. Both the carb & injection intakes originally designed for the TR8 were "low & forward" to account for this.

pinky ... your mates motor?
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C163656

Del Lines was the other company besides Grinnall which was known for selling "enhanced" TR7 V8s. The advertiser is wrong on several details though as the car is not a 1981. The boot pressing/stamping was changed for 1981; this one has the old stamping. Ditto the inner door panel and components. Maybe Del Lines received the vehicle from Triumph in 1980 and was done changing it in 1981 and allowed to title/register it as such... I don't know enough about how those matters work over there. Also, 155BHP was the standard output for a UK-spec TR8, whilst 135BHP was the output for a low-compression, carburetted & smogged USA TR8 (with 148BHP a low-compression but injected USA car).


Here's the most impressive aftermarket engine fitment I've ever seen done on a TR8, but even it too wouldn't allow for the fresh-air intake. http://www.britishv8.org/Triumph/RodneyWells.htm

[dapinky]

I don't remember that particular TR7/8 - it is worth bearing in mind though, that at various times Del Lines was working either for, or in direct competition to, Leyland.

Mighty BL took exception and tried to supress his activities, hence at various times, in various buildings in the town of Weston-super-Mud, there were various companies (Atlantic Garage, Victoria Motors, Ian Lines Racing, Del Lines, Unit 16 Knightcott, Brian Kitley Triumphs) which had a certain gentleman working from them - he was (alledgedly, and according to local rumour) last seen fleeing toward the Balearic Islands with a bag of cash!!!! (but i've seen him since then!)

That white one with the Toyota/Lexus (and therefore, sort of Lotus) V8 is a nice bit of kit.

[texas2201]

A TR7 to V8 conversion in classic cars Mag - professionally done the ad says - £2950 ono

[nitroman]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROVER-V8-ENGINE-T ... 45f7b70f82
Here's the bit of kit to have, a complete supercharger conversion kit. Note they have nine of them to sell. The kit has the parts used on the facory-issued TVR "specially made" understroked 2.0L V8s that were installed in TVRs sold on the Italian market. They used a standard Eaton blower, size unknown, and it certainly looks like it was intercooled (else you could just do a 180-deg bend from right to left). I do know that even though it was tiny it made 48HP more than the NA 3.5L V8. And only having a stroke half the bore size it revved like the dickens. A picture of one is below.

However, I'd rather have the kit which made up the aftermarket (TVR dealer commisioned & sold) Sprintex supercharger, as it uses only half the power to drive the blower as an Eaton, which consumed 28HP at idle, causing the idle adjustment to be raised by a significant amount for the factory blower. The Sprintex-type supercharger also adds less heat to the compressed air. TVR "Sprintex" 350SX:

[nitroman]

I'll tell you an interesting story about the Rover V8. In 1999 Range Rover hired Reeves Calloway to make a special top-of-the-line "Calloway" Edition with increased HP, brakes, etc. As Calloway is an engine builder he concentrated most of his efforts in that area. RR had advertised the 4.6L engine as making 222HP. The first thing Reeves told them was "Gents, that engine only puts out about 174HP. He ended up getting 240HP out of his version.

This was a major PR embarrassment for Range Rover and their new BMW owners, so most of the internal engine changes which the Calloway version got in 1999 were also put into 2000-2002 models, and they continued to advertise 222HP, as always. But the 2000-2002 models actually make that power.

The problem was thought to be a combination of 1) The engine was always overrated, and 2) When BMW forced Range Rover to adopt BMWs corporate Motronic Thor injection for 1999, after RR had just (in 1996) designed their own Saigem/GEMS unit for it, they caused a half-assed effort to be made at that point.

The takaway from this story is try to buy a 2000-2002 RR, and especially NOT buy a 1999 RR. For the entire history of the 215 aluminium engine the "firewall to power" has always been the head, as you just can't flow enough air through the head. Supercharging gets arround this as it speeds-up the gas-flow through the otherwise undersized passages. There are aftermarket heads, like Wildcat, which will solve the head problem, but they're expensive!

To perform due diligence in completing this story, beginning in 2003 RR had BMW engines installed, and somewhere down the line they were replaced with Jaguar V8s when Ford bought Range Rover. Though they've been sold-on to TaTa, Jaguar engines are still used.

[nitroman]

Man, I've never seen such "cock-fighting" competition over ordering autoparts! Putting in an order with TSI I mentioned i needed to call Rimmer next and he said, very dissapointingly, "Why would you do that, I get a shipment from them every two weeks and you'll save shipping? Tell me what you want & I'll get back to you in 15min with prices." It wasn't the words he said but the sound in his voice, like he was saying, "I need that income." Which was probably true.

With people no longer pulling money out of their mortgages to finance car hobbies, etc., I image parts-sales for restoring classic cars have suffered a huge slowdown.

[DeanG]

The TR8 have interested me since they were announced. It looks like you are well on the way to a very nice car.

[nitroman]

Now there's a heapin' helpin' of aluminium. See how shiny the factory paint in the engine bay is? Just your typical 1981 Triumph I guess. Notice how much rust there is? Unforgiveable!

I've had this car for 13 months and only put 1500 miles on it. MORE than half of that was showing it to my step-father in Pinson, AL (northern Alabama is beautiful). Anywho, my friend, it shows old age brings restraint.

So, is it a sacrilege to modify such a thing? It doesn't matter. I may not believe in God or heaven, but I've no doubt it's been decided where I'm going.

===========================================================================
I've a strange question. Do you Brits think internally that you live on an island, or do you see Great Britain as too vast? I mean, it's not the Faroe Islands, is it? Islands not in the name. I'm asking for what YOU THINK, not the technical facts; for in a larger context EVERY land mass is surrounded by water. Same question for Ireland.

[abmunro]

Its in really good condition and in years to come will surely only appreciate in value..

I'm sure you will have plenty on fun with it too!!

I've never liked them myself but loved the TR6.

I did however consider building a Kit Car a long time ago....

How cool is this!!!


NOT!!!


I didnt in the end.

[nitroman]

In my youth I remember dozens of kits based on the old Mini, such as the Mini Marcos. Of course, Minis were a rare thing stateside.

Once you've actually ridden in a kit car, the luster will wear off in about 2 miles. That was my experience with a Bradley GT II.

Its in really good condition and in years to come will surely only appreciate in value..

I'm sure you will have plenty on fun with it too!!

I've never liked them myself but loved the TR6.

I did however consider building a Kit Car a long time ago....

How cool is this!!!


NOT!!!


I didnt in the end.

[theelanman]

How cool is this!!!


NOT!!!

stunning