Simplify and add lightness

Not content with looking like a JPS Lotus, now the TR7 is shedding weight

CHRIS HOPE It’s been said that with its black bodywork and gold decals, my Premium special edition TR7 is copying the wellknown Formula One livery of a certain Norfolk-based sports car manufacturer. Well, it would seem that my Triumph has now taken things a step further by applying the equally famous ethos of Lotus’ Colin Chapman – the only problem is that it decided to do so at the most inopportune moment possible.

With its twin carbs barely balanced, following hasty work to get it through its MoT the previous day, the CCW team drive around the Peak District hadn’t exactly gone swimmingly for the TR7 in the first place. But minutes into the two-hour drive back to Peterborough, there was an almighty clatter and the disturbing sight of Mike Le Caplain’s MG Midget behind me swerving on to the opposite side of the road to avoid the unidentified part that had fallen off my car.

I was able to retrieve the offending part – some sort of bracket and a large bolt – from the road a hundred or so yards behind us.

Nothing appeared to be obviously amiss, so we tentatively set off again and I retired the TR7 to the garage.

I got the car up on axle stands the following weekend and having made my way past the engine I arrived at the point where the back of the gearbox joins with the propshaft. Within the small subframe supporting this assembly was an exposed rubber bush with a hole in. That’ll be where the bracket came from, then.

I removed the four bolts securing the subframe in place, having realised prior to doing so that I might need to support the gearbox – and so used a car jack. It was a good thing I did, too, because the back of the ‘box was clearly loose and resting on the subframe. Further parts inside the subframe (an inconceivably thick washer and the bracket that pins the rubber bush in place from the other side) thankfully stayed put during the journey back from the Peak District.

I tried to refit the subframe assembly, but the bolt refused to secure the parts in place. It was hard to tell, given the limited clearance, but I’m fairly sure the thread inside the ‘box has rounded. I was able to secure everything minus the bush, but I’m hopeful it’s enough for the short drive down to Robsport (01763 262263, robsport.co.uk).

Fingers crossed it doesn’t turn out to be an expensive fix...