Stormbear's Weblog

Way back in 1980, my father wanted me to learn how to work on cars. He knew I was a freak about British cars, so he thought a proper car for a strapping young lad to learn automotive mechanics on was a Triumph, TR7. So he bought one that didn't run. It was towed to the house! I was crestfallen, all my friends were already tooling around in their Camaros and getting the chicks! But I digress...

If I was ever to drive a car on my hot new driver's license, I had to get the TR rolling.

Soooooo.......
rebuilt carbs
replaced water pump
replaced thermostat
replaced battery
replaced all hoses
flushed radiator
milled head (work done by machine shop)
replaced head gasket
ignition coil
starter
starter solenoid

Then within 6 months of driving...
replaced transmission
replaced rear end
replaced driveshaft (it fell off the car!)
Installed electric fans (radiator fan fell off and I could not find a replacement)
painted car (idiot hit the car in parking lot)
replaced master cylinder
replaced all the clutch goodies
wore out one Haynes manual

Almost 30 years later, the story continues.

My neighbor is an avid collector of British Leyland cars and GAVE me his TR7 Spider VIN TPVDJ8AA401221 (I helped him out in a family matter and he figured I would be stealing it any day now anyway...)

The car has sat for almost 2 years, I have been the only driver (he collected, but never drove the cars... don't ask) as I drove it a few times a year to exercise the car (not enough) and to show it as the local car shows.

Before he got the Spider, it sat again for 2 years in a tobacco barn after a very thorough restoration (I met the restorer at a show - this guy had one nice Lotus).

Currently, the battery is dead and I see no signs of rust... amazing that.

Other things I have checked so far is the state of rust and to see if there was any sign of "mocha oil" on the oil cap (sign of water in the oil). As long as I have driven it, the temp never moved higher than half, flipped on the car heater and it came under control. I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a heat problem... I can just feel it.

So here in this blog, I am going to detail this Spider's road to recovery.

Pics to come!