350i Vs TR7 V8

[Chris71]

Hi,

Im sure this is a foregone conclusion for Blackpool's finest, but...

Has driven both a V8 Wedge and a TR7 with the same engine dropped in? Curious to know how they compare.

Chris.

[adam quantrill]

The nearest I could get is that a friend of mine who had a TR8 thought that the 350i was quicker. The kerb weight is about 10% worse on the TR8, so whatever engine you have, 0-60 will be slower.

I dunno about the drag coefficient though, which determines top end.

Also on a TR8 your diff ratios might be quite restrictive, compared to the Jag diff on the wedge.

This is all in a straight line, I have no idea how the handling compares.

[chedder]

Strangely, TVR's build quality is better than BL's! having driven a 'proffesional' TR8 conversion a few years back, my preference is definately with the TVR 350.
The TR8 felt cumbersome to drive even though the dimensions are similar, not certain how much weight difference between the two but the TVR feels more 'alive' and better connected to the road.

[Chris71]

Interesting...

I've just searched for any info on the TR7-V8 and from what I gathered there the Triumph is quite a forgiving car to drive (far more power than grip, but quite soft and progressive nonetheless). Reading Matt Man's post on the second page of this thread - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... - it sounds like the TVR is probably a bit more 'lively'.

[gsx600]

Well the TR8 is a lighter, rust free, mean machine with fantastic styling

Sorry 'bout that was just dreaming for a while there.

I once had a TR7 FHC and it was the most appaling thing I ever owned, mind you I bought without an engine and stuck a dolimite sprint engine in

Edited by gsx600 on Wednesday 5th December 14:34

[JR]

Have a word with Boosted re: the TR8.

[tempus]

Driven both and own one,the triumph was a lot down on power in comparison with a wedge and also slower on acceleration and top speed,but felt controlable but the rally cars where a different thing and showed the benefits of an R&D department as opposed to a complaints department.Tempus

[Boosted LS1]

Hi JR,

I'd go for the TR8 over a wedge. It's a car which has been crash tested to meet US legislation and it's safe and strong. Parts are relatively cheap and fairly plentiful. It's got a respectible racing pedigree and is easily converted to different specifications. They do handle well despite what people say. Road & Track recorded it pulling .75g on stock 185 tyres etc. It's got a cavernous engine bay so has room for chevy's or big v8's with turbo's. The tunnel will accept a 6 speed t56. Engine or gearbox can be removed leaving the other half in the car. There are probably 4 axle ratios available. It can be carbed or efi. Oh, the v8's can be had for £2-3k and insurance is incredibly cheap. At that price, you can cut them about if you want to change something. The convertibles are the best looking imo and they don't rattle about like a wedge

Apart from that, the tvr wedge may be the better car.

Oh, the TR Register at Didcot have a magazine which usually has a few TR7-v8's for sale, they also have a website so both are worth a trawl. Most of the dogs were scrapped years ago so what's left should be reasonably good.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Wednesday 5th December 17:29

[combine]

No idea what a Tr7's handling is like , with a v8 in it could be dangerous on the back end , was the chassis/suspension up to it ? Rather have the 350i , wonderful sound don't forget .Just looked up tr7 handling in ' the illustrated directory of sports cars ' and it says 'tr7 had good well balanced handling ' . No mention of noise though !

Edited by combine on Wednesday 5th December 20:28

Edited by combine on Wednesday 5th December 20:29

[Boosted LS1]

combine said:

No idea what a Tr7's handling is like , with a v8 in it could be dangerous on the back end , was the chassis/suspesion up to it ? Rather have the 350i , wonderful sound don't forget .

TR7's handle quite well and were originally built to have the v8, not the 2.0l. Unipart construction, simple axle arrangements etc. They had soft bushes all round (compliant, for the yanks)so tended to settle into a corner but are predictable enough and comfy. Bushes can be swopped for harder items but ride quality will get harsher on bumpy roads. It's all been done before so there are a multitude of options. Later cars are usually the best ones, that said there are some very good early ones left and they cost peanuts due to their age.

[adam quantrill]

Some nutter in Oz has stuffed a 5.2l V8 into his TR7... (George Cameron, are you watching?), I wonder if that goes....

[Boosted LS1]

adam quantrill said:

Some nutter in Oz has stuffed a 5.2l V8 into his TR7... (George Cameron, are you watching?), I wonder if that goes....

I know him, it's bound to go

I had a 5.0 TT in mine and now it's jigged up for a Chevy lsx 427 TT I just need to assemble it properly and restore it (: If I had doubts about the chassis I'd have bought something else to play with.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Wednesday 5th December 22:01

[jon haines]

i have had a tr7/8 and now a 350i and can say that 350i is a better car except for the brakes. you can mess with the diff to make a tr7/8 accelerate faster than 350i as i did but then runs out of steam at 120 were as 350i carries on,so i beleive obviously never done than kind of thing officer.then there is the rust issue with anything made by bl.

[adam quantrill]

I'd be in a 350i any time over a TR7 in terms of crashing it! The wedges are _very_ strong.

jon haines said:

i have had a tr7/8 and now a 350i and can say that 350i is a better car except for the brakes.

The brakes are easily sorted on the wedge. Even in my 350i with standard solid front discs I can induce seatbelt-bruising injuries in my passenger with heavy braking. Rule number one with the wedge is to use the brakes hard and regularly, and they will come to you.

[JR]

Quinny said:

Boosted LS1 said:

Hi JR,

I'd go for the TR8 over a wedge. It's a car which has been crash tested to meet US legislation and it's safe and strong.

I was under the impression that the Wedges also passed US Crash and safety checks of the time.

True, that's why wedges have a steel gate in their doors.

[Boosted LS1]

JR said:

Quinny said:

Boosted LS1 said:

Hi JR,

I'd go for the TR8 over a wedge. It's a car which has been crash tested to meet US legislation and it's safe and strong.

I was under the impression that the Wedges also passed US Crash and safety checks of the time.

True, that's why wedges have a steel gate in their doors.

JR, That was to stop you getting into them but somebody at tvr accidentally covered it with gelcoat

[Boosted LS1]

jon haines said:

i have had a tr7/8 and now a 350i and can say that 350i is a better car except for the brakes. you can mess with the diff to make a tr7/8 accelerate faster than 350i as i did but then runs out of steam at 120 were as 350i carries on,so i beleive obviously never done than kind of thing officer.then there is the rust issue with anything made by bl.

True, you can play with TR8 diffs but you can also fit a long legged 2.84 from the rover vitesse auto. Stock federal TR8 clogged with anti smog devices does/did a true 117 mph with only 148 bhp from it's 3.5l engine. If it had a tuned engine I'd expect it to make up to 200 hp.

As for the brakes, they're rubbish on a tr7 as well, especially with v8 power but there are several conversion kits.

[Chris71]

I suppose one of the main factors is that TR8's vary - some will be very good (possibly better than the equivilant wedge) some will presumably be a bit agricultural (and vastly inferior to a well screwed together wedge).

Never thought I'd say this about a TVR, but the insurance may actually be easier too, as opposed to declaring a very substantial (V8 sized!) mod on a TR7.

[Boosted LS1]

^ My specialised classic insurance via the TR Register was £400 p/a for a TT v8. I was restricted to 3000 miles pa but could have paid for a 5000 mile allowance. That was a good few years ago but a fraction of the usual quotes.

[Chris71]

Sounds ominous. 'A good few years ago' I wasn't even driving (I'm 24 now). That said, I got a quote with a company recommended here (may well have been A-Plan) for a V6 S-Series out about £650 when I toyed with the idea last year. Even though I could probably stretch to an average example now I'm planning to save up for a few months until I'm over the magic 25 and I should then have a lot more insurance options.

Having discussed the TR7 V8 - if it's not a cheeky question - what other cars would you be looking at if you were thinking about getting a wedge. The only other serious contender for a low volume everyday sportscar I can think of is the GTM Libra. Rather a different car I know...