FI Spyder's weblog

Having successfully driven my TR7 home I discovered a few issues to be taken care of. No signal lights, no dimmer, no rubber on tie rod ends or ball joints, no sifter bushings, no steering column firewall bushing, weak front springs and all rubber to be replaced with poly. And that's just the start.

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Took out struts, sway bar, steering rack, crossmember. Painted everything with POR-15 including the inside of stuts (with toothbrush tied to bamboo stick.)It's expensive but goes a long way. Replaced tie rod ends, ball joints, shocks with KYB gas, springs, shock gaiters, bump stops, installed needle bearings in struts, gaiters for steering rack, grease rack, all new poly for rubber parts, poly steering column (tuff to install) as is compressing strut spring. Installed new dimmer, horn, signal light switch. While I had the struts out I cleaned the area behind them and sprayed it with rubberized undercoating. Will do the rest of the area later. Mounted 5 new Kumho tires on factory alloys. Not many 13" 185 70 series tires made now but these are inexpensive and have good customer ratings. Installed shifter poly bushings with stainless inserts I got off eBay. Replaced rear tranny mount which was totally disintegrated due to oil pump leak. I discovered signal lights still didn't work although I got a weak signal once. I have checked all bulbs and grounds at the rear of car cleaned those connections and lubed with dielectric grease. Problem lies with wiring under the dash and needs to be diassembled and cleaned. I am running out of summer time driving weather so I have decided to do a major detailing over the winter and go for the safety check in the spring. Then apply for Collector Plates (insurance about $136.00 per year plus $50 for preset valuation of car.)
Some of the things that lie ahead is pulling dash, clean all switches and connectors, Dying car carpet grey (faded in areas), pulling engine and transmission so I can clean and repaint engine bay, paint under side of hood (bonnet), paint air intake plenum and valve cover, fix oil pump leak, replace timing chain and tensioner, replace valve cover and oil pan gaskets, replace all hoses, change tranny oil to GM synthetic. Next blog will report on dash removal and findings under there.