FUEL’S ERRAND
With the TR7 having spent summer inside, Chris enlists expert help
1980 TRIUMPH TR7 FHC
It’s been four months since I last reported on my ailing TR7. The plan had been to get it fighting fit in order to make the most of the balmy summer months. In that regard I failed miserably.
The wheels began falling off the waggon in April following CCW’s trip to the Peak District. It had passed its MoT the day before, though not before flunking its emissions test – local Peterborough garage, Express Autocare, fettled the carbs to adjust the fuelling to bring CO readings within acceptable limits, but freely admitted that, it being a number of years since they’d been required to tune carbs, they weren’t perfectly balanced. Understandably then, my Triumph felt down on power.
What it needed was someone more suitably versed with classic fuelling methods, but with the diary full at busy classic car specialist, Robsport (01763 262263, robsport.co.uk), I’d resigned myself to waiting for an appointment that at the time was several weeks away.
In the interim, I spent an enjoyable day meeting members of the Droop Snoot Group for our feature celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Vauxhall Chevette HS ( CCW, September 19). I explained my plight to HS owner and garage manager, Rob Price, in passing and he offered to take a look at my TR7 to see if he could get its twin SUs fuelling harmoniously.
Soon after, I was driving my Triumph to Price Automotive Services (01536 790901) in Broughton, near Kettering. In spite of its issues, it was still a pleasure to drive LBY 934V, especially after it had been consigned to the garage for so long.
Rob was able to work his magic, balancing the carbs and improving the mixture, so that on the drive home there was a notable improvement in bottomend performance. It was clear that there were further issues to be addressed, though. The throttle stops weren’t working before Rob had made his adjustments and he also reported a tightness in the front spindles. As such, he recommended that the carburettors would benefit from being rebuilt.
However, there were other issues for my TR7 aside from its carbs, which I’d need Robsport to address, the most pressing being correctly securing a support which cradles the back of the gearbox and the front of the propshaft.