CAR CLUB of AMERICA

President Mike de Andrade PSC 557 Box 2015, FPO AP 96379-2015 mikedea@hotmail.com 81 9068605104 Membership Bill Sweeting 38 Honeysuckle Court, Safety Harbor, FL 34695 Bsweeting@AOL.com 727-797-2383 Editor/Registrar David Huddleson 5053 Limebank Rd., Gloucester, Ontario, Canada K1X 1E8 dhuddleson@sympatico.ca 613-822-1315 Tech Rep Woody Cooper 45 First Street, Raynham, Massachusetts, USA 02767 Wedgeshop@AOL.com 508-880-5448 Fuel Inj. James Tencate 542 Todd Loop S, Los Alamos New Mexico, USA 87544 Tencate@mac.com 505-672-1953 Webmaster J.C Vorsterman van Oijen, Anna Bijnsring 97, NL- 7321 HE , Apeldoorn wo@voskotan.com NETHERLANDS TR8 Car Club Web Page: http://www.team.net/TR8/tr8cca

#71 Oct-Dec 2003

REFERENCE

Last Newsletter Index: Issue #71 Dec. 2003 Last Membership Directory: Issue #66 Sept. ’02 _______________________________________ Welcome to the final newsletter for our 20th year of the TR8 Car Club. It was again another exciting year for many people, and the club made efforts to gather members on both the east and west coasts of the USA. It’s not easy to gather the members of a truly International club!!! And even though the majority of members reside in the USA, even gathering people in that vast country is not easy. When we compare ourselves to the UK, and realise that they could find a central spot within a 500 miles of almost anywhere in continental Britain, we should be quite impressed to gather nearly 100 in one spot for a weekend!

NEWS AND CHANGES While it is not necessarily “club” news, the actual production of the all-aluminum Rover V8 engine may soon be coming to an end. Rover has auctioned off the complete Rover 4.0/4.6 liter engine production line, including crankshaft, engine block and cylinder head manufacture and machining. Even the assembled engine “testbed” is included. We should expect that Rover will insist on the ability of the buyer to produce spares for a period of time, but who knows what will really come of this!

Oh, by the way, brand-new Rover 4.0 V8 shortblocks seem to be available at very affordable prices right now, even directly from the Land Rover dealers. Now before I get Peter Rudge riled up about the heresy of such a thought, there are also 3.5 liter engines available from all the common suppliers, on either side of the Atlantic (but predominantly of the UK side!). For those in need of an engine overhaul, but insisting on originality where possible, those engines can be found. However, if you are building a TR7-V8, you may prefer to have a sturdy, cross-bolted, higher compression 4 liter engine to motivate your hotrod. Maybe that’s what I should do with my TR7 Spider!

COMING EVENTS Spring Fling X, Lake Helen, Florida, USA. March 21, 2004. Contact Bob Storke at 386-917-0235 or email at rstorke@cfl.rr.com 7th Annual Britain on the Green, Alexandria, Virginia, USA. April 25, 2004. Contact Charlie Brown at 703-339-5871 or BOG2004@capitaltriumphregister.com Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals, Carlisle, PA, USA. May 21-23, 2004. Import auto flea market with plenty of Triumph parts to dig through. Contact Carlisle Events at 717-243-7855 or via the website at http://www.carsatcarlisle.com

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2004 VTR National Convention, Richmond, Virginia, USA. July 14-17,2004. Contact Charles Reid at 804-267-1995 or by email at mapper55@hotmail.com The British Invasion, Stowe, Vermont, USA. Sept 16-19, 2004. Concours and Participant’s Choice show, as well as parts vendors and British food and clothing/goods. Contact Michael/Paula Gaetano at 508-497-9655 or visit the website at http://www.britishinvasion.com The Nordic TR8 Meet. Sweden…Yes that’s the country. Friday August 26th to Sunday August 28th, 2005. More details to follow, but you have more than a year to think about it!!!!

TR8 MONTHLY GATHERINGS

NEW COLUMN, Send in your local regular gatherings where there are likely to be other

TR8s OR START UP ONE!!!! FLORIDA: Nature Coast English Car Club. Meet the second Saturday of the month at 8AM for breakfast at Nellie's Too Restaurant, 4279 Mariner Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL. Call Bob Shutler at 352-597-7564 for details. FLORIDA: Tampa Bay Area, All British Car Cruise Night, 2nd Tuesday of each Month, Cricketers Restaurant located in Causeway Plaza, 2632 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin (NW Corner Curlew and Alt 19) Right Behind McDonalds For More Info contact: Bill Sweeting at 727 797-2383 email: Bsweeting@aol.com

THE ED's WEDGE David Huddleson

Last issue we discussed the Posidrive screws and screwdrivers. One source of the screwdriver bits was Snap-On, but there are other more common suppliers for such screwdrivers in North America. Sears is one, and a cute “stubby” screwdriver is available which includes a #1 and #2 Posidrive bit. I was made aware of this via an email message written by Jim Stuart to the MGV8 Mailing List. Here is more information on this item: Companion Ratcheting Screwdriver, 12-in-1 Stubby $3.99 Sears USA item #930187000

OK, so the question was then asked “Where do I get the proper screws?” And of course the answer is that beyond our regular suppliers, like TRF, Victoria British, Moss and Rimmer Bros, there are other good suppliers like Robsport in the UK. Robsport, Rimmer and TRF are the most likely ones to keep the proper screws for parts like the Stromberg carbs. Of course, for real Stromberg and SU carb parts, go to Burlen Fuels! They now own the rights to manufacture all Stromberg and SU carbs. But hey, the Posidrive screw is not obsolete or even that odd; it’s just not common to us in North America. So, screws of the proper size and configuration are out there, and good Fastener shops can get what you need. Good luck in ending all the rounding-out of those screwheads!

CARS AND PARTS FOR SALE NOTE: AUTOMOBILE For Sale ads, will be listed for only ONE issue of the newsletter. Ads will only be repeated upon request, and repeats will be for 1 issue each time! TSI Automotive We recently have had several requests for front hubs. The hub is being distorted in the area where the outer wheel bearing and race seat. We fixed this problem in the early 1980's on our showroom stock tr8. With this modification, we never had the problem occur with our tr8 we ran in both the playboy and then the escort pro endurance series. we were racing, and winning, races of up to 24 hours in length. These races were death on wheel bearings.

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We have reproduced the front hub modification used on our race cars. The outer front wheel bearing on a wedge is very small in relation to the size and corner weight of the car. This stresses the outer wheel bearings. We have a modified front hub set up for larger outer wheel bearings. Each hub comes with new inner and outer bearings and races and with a new grease seal. Price is $89.95 ea. Compare this to the price of a new hub - $125 to $200 - plus the benefits of the bigger bearing set. Hubs are sold on an exchange basis. Thanks for your time. Ted Schumacher TS Imported Automotive 404 Basinger Rd. Pandora, Ohio, USA 45877 Ph. 800/543-6648 USA/Canada FAX 419/384-3272 24 hour Ph. 419/384-3022 - tech./general information Web page http://www.tsimportedautomotive.com Here are some Items avaiable from Brad Wilson at Wedgeparts :

UKC6482 accelerator cables, these are now available for $22.95 plus $4.50 shipping.

OEM quality replacement floor pan plugs are now available for $6.95 each or $25.00 for a set of four, plus actual cost shipping. These plugs are produced on new, custom tooling in the USA and are better quality than the originals.

We are hoping that these plugs will be the first of many exciting new remanufacturing projects to restore the availability of parts for our Wedges. However, for this to happen we need your help! Even if you do not have an immediate need for these parts, we are asking club members to purchase at least one or two of these plugs, to justify the feasibility of this project to our bean counters so that other remanufacturing projects may follow. If everyone in the TR8CCA purchases just two plugs, we will easily meet this goal. Thanks in advance for your participation, and don't forget to let us know which parts are on your wish list! Sincerely, Brad

FUEL LINE CLIPS (no picture available )

Hands up how many of you are missing one or more, and possibly all of the special clips that secure the fuel line to the underside of the RH sill on your car? These clips are designed to slide over a rivet head welded to the body thus eliminating the need to drill a hole in the body. They have been unavailable for a number if years but with your help that can soon change. We have located a company (in the USA, I might add for those of you who have been following Lou Dobbs series on ex-porting America) who can mould these clips at a fairly reasonable cost. So here is the deal. We will be accepting advance orders over the next few weeks. If there is sufficient demand we will tell the moulder to 'press the button' and start production. If not, the project will likely be cancelled. The introductory price is $2.50 each. That price will rise after the product release date! Your credit card will NOT be charged un-til the product ships. If we can get a couple of hundred owners to buy a handful of these clips the project will be feasible and parts availability for our Wedges will be improved. In theory, there really is no part that cannot be reproduced if enough people are willing to participate. We also have an expanding range of other new TR7 & TR8 parts, as well as a selection of used parts. Orders can be placed via our web site: www.wedgeparts.com or via telephone at:

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(931) 645-5283 or (931) 801-0509. We accept Visa/Mastercard Thanks, Brad Wilson 1980 TR8 -. Gold on Tan. This is a single owner, well documented car. It is a 49 state, Stromberg carbureted version that I brought with me to California just months after purchasing new in February 1981. This is a rust free car with complete documented maintenance history that has been garaged in California its whole life.

68,000 miles, Gold on tan, black top, original color combination, 5 Speed - Recent paint in very good shape, New Interior panels, (rear firewall, deck and door panels) Extensive rubber trim replacement, finishers, side window, etc. Panasport Wheels with new tires, original wheels included (although faded) Autopower Street Roll Bar, helps to firm chassis, does allow top to close Top is in good shape other than some typical hazing of window Window in top zips down Currently has 3.9 rear gear, Original 3.08 (in perfect shape) included Under hood AC removed but all parts included (very recent new compressor)

The usual gremlins have been dealt with Steering rack seals, Ignition amplifier, luminition Rear trailing arm bushings, Front sub frame bushings, Shift Linkage bushings, Steering bulkhead hardware

Having said all of the above. This is not a perfect car, but it is a very, very good one. There is the slightest puff of smoke on (occasional, not necessarily even repeatable) warm restart although compression is equal all around. It is a strong solid car that has been very dependable over the years, and I've owned it for all of them since new. Email for pictures. $8,000 Gerry Lehmann GLehmann116@yahoo.com, San Diego, CA 858-578-6736 1980 TR8 DHC. VIN TPVDV8AT210540 59,000 miles Gold exterior tan interior. Working AC. Carbureted Looks good and runs great. For more information or pictures contact: Phil Boortz, Redlands, Calif. 909-793-8726. philboortz@earthlink.net 1980 TR8 Roadster Met Green with black top and gray interior. This performance sports car is one of 2016 produced. 230-240 ft. lbs of torque pushing curb weight of less than 2200 lbs. Just finished – all new:

-HiPro Wedgeshop 4.0 Lit, ¾ race cam, ported heads with new valves, guides & springs; lightened flywheel & 10” dia. clutch; Jet hot coated headers; Offenhauser hi-volume intake manifold & holley 4 brl; Mallory magnetic distributor & coil; larger capacity 3 row radiator; rebuilt A/C compressor; rebuilt steering rack & tye rods; newer differential – capable of 140 mph+; Hurst short throw shifter on rebuilt 5sp trans; rebuilt brakes with vented & drilled larger dia. Frt. Disk; 205/15/ZR Yokahama AVS on Compomotive aluminum wheels; gas shocks; rebuilt gas tank; Alpine AM/FM/Cassette, new interior and much more . . . Over $15,000 invested, sacrifice for $9,800. Paul - 610 745-0875 Pennsylvania

TR8 SALES BROCHURE POSTER (Finally…..I started this in 1993)

The 24” X36” Poster contains all the images from the Coupe and Convertible Sales Brochures. The quality is such that you can read all the written words from the brochures NEW LOW PRICE! The Posters are $20.00 for the first Poster + $5.00 for shipping and handling and $10 for each additional Poster, so a total of $25 for one and $35 for two. Shipping and Handling is the same for US or Overseas shipment. See back page lower right corner for order form AND you can just write one check to the Club, for your dues and a poster, if you want. (This is my personal endeavour and the TR8CCA doesn’t benefit from the sale of these posters) - Bill Sweeting Distributor drive gears Now available: distributor drive gears, no drilling required $45.00 plus shipping. The Wedge Shop 508-880-5448 DOOR LIGHTS: Perfect used TR7/8 interior door light (TKC 5051). One light is $40, plus $5.00 for

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shipping/handling. CAR JACKET: $195. Includes shipping in USA. Contact Ivan Love, 1834 Dogwood Drive, Holt MI, 48842, 517 694-5009. Lanocha Racing *NEW 4.0 Range Rover shortblocks $1995 Limited supply is available, includes New 1999 Range Rover Factory Fresh 4.0 Liter Aluminum Cross-Bolted Main Block with Stock 4.0 Crank, Rods, Pistons, Bearings and Rings. All components are totally assembled. Non-exchange and No Surcharge. Can be utilized to replace your tired 3.5. Use in conjunction with your existing heads, intake, pan, ect. Depending on your performance requirements Lanocha Racing can supply all the necessary Tech help and or parts to transform your sports car into the fast lane.4.6 and 5.0 liters with 275HP to 400+ are also available. TR8 front strut tower braces $400 Fuel Injection starting at $763 Thinking of injection but afraid to take the plunge? Let Lanocha Racing guide you through the process with the world's easiest Affordable Digital Management System on the market today! We have developed varies Fuel maps for Rover performance engines backed by countless hours of Track and Dyno testing. For complete info on these new products visit us at http://www.LANOCHARACING.COM or contact us at (410)557-0052 The TR8CCA has COLOR reprints of the Car and Driver Road Test from August 1980. This is the one with the Triton green TR8 on the cover. These are a trifold with 6 pages total front and back.

We also have a total of 51 Black and White reprints of the Motor Trend June 1980 road test called “TR8 V-8 A Mighty Triumph”

The Motor Trend is single fold with four pages front and back. They are $5.00 each (including Shipping) and first come first serve!!! Send your $$$$ to Bill Sweeting. See the Order Form on membership application! For Sale: Wedge parts! 1980 TR7 convertible drivetrain. Running engine, 5-speed trans, rear axle. All in rolling (rusty!) car. Was running and driving ok, but body has excessive rust. Cooling system, A/C components, fuel system and emissions are still intact, as well as suspension. As is, with Title: $500. Also, 1980 TR8 parts. Lucas coil and distributor, dual Stromberg intake w/carbs and air cleaners. Cast exhaust manifolds with downpipes and cat convertors. Misc A/C components (incl compressor) all from running car. $300. Please contact John Barruzza at 267-994-2360 For Sale: 1980 TR8. Good driver in original condition. Clean, some minor rust on doors. Needs a top. Starts easy, dependable engine makes plenty of power. Care was well cared for. Garaged. $US 5500. John Jennings in Tenafly, NJ Phone: 201-894-0091

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE WITH MARIO AND EXTASY

Mike deAndrade HO...HO...HO....Happy Holidays to all!!! Hope you all are looking forward to a nice season and all is well. Things for me are hectic as usual as this is our busiest time of year with lots of Holiday Parties. Plus I just moved on base last week so that of course creates added stress and hassles. (Even

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though I'm civilian I still get Military Base housing if I want. Really didn't want to but it's better for the kids now that 1 has started school. We had an awesome off base house with ocean view etc.) As I mentioned in the past I'm going to reminisce a little starting back from the beginning of the Club. First thing that comes to mind was just all the excitement we had when we 1st started to meet up for a local club gathering at Shakey's Pizza Parlor in Tysons Corner VA. We would get around 6 TR8's together and at the time that was a big deal. Who would have thought that many were in the area. As time went on of course the numbers grew as word of the club got out as those existing members woud keep flyers about the club in the glove box to pass out whenever we saw a TR8. Next was my first (and the Clubs) VTR National Convention. It was held in Long Island NY in Sept. '83 and was quite an experience. Highlights were of course meeting great people and fellow TR8 owners but #1 was getting to see the #1 (Orange) & #2 (Blue) TR8's made which Ted Shumacher brought. They were coupes of course. Then seeing Bill & Linda Sohl's '81 Bordeaux Red car. We had 11 TR8's for the concourse. Present were the 1st Automatic I'd seen which was an '81 Platinum as well as other colors '80 Aqua, Poseidon and Gold. It was also my first time Autocrossing and I took 2nd place! Guess that's it for this story but stay tuned for more!! Still don't have my computer hooked up in the house yet so I'm at the Community Center using theirs and time is running out. I would like to wish you all (and me too!) a happy holiday and prosperous New Year. Later............< Mike

REGISTRAR’S REPORT David Huddleson

I would like to point out a particularly interesting Website, one that many of you have probably found already. Well, if you have, don’t skip my column just yet… Richard Connew in the UK is the man behind the TR7 and TR8 website named http://www.tr7-tr8.com On this website, Richard has a variety of things including an on-line Internet TR7/TR8

Owners Club. However, of interest to me, particularly for this column, is the extensive Registry that is being built. Richard has had the great fortune to view the Triumph archives at the Gaydon museum, on more than one occasion. Richard’s first efforts of interest to us, was to get information on the 1981-1982 TR8’s, specifically all the TR8’s with the SAT prefixed VIN required in North America. Richard has recorded not only the VIN of all these vehicles, but other details such as the exterior and interior trim codes, as well as the engine number and whether the vehicle had A/C or not. It is a tremendous collection of information, and it reveals all sorts of interesting facts on things like colors of vehicles built, and finally the actual build date. Not just the month, as on your door VIN plate, but the actual day of the month the vehicle was completed on. As I stated, Richard has only documented the “SAT” series TR8’s so far, and those vehicles number around 400. For the rest of us, with about 2000 TP (TPZ, TPL, TPV) vehicles of 1980, I can imagine that will take quite a while for all the microfiche and printed records to be transcribed. Of course, many of us really want to see further details on the 1978 Coupes (ACN vehicles) and the 1979 & 1980 Coupes (TCN vehicles). In any case, Richard has amassed quite a bit of info, and it is available for browsing on his website. Check it out!

INTERNET STUFF Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 09:22:39 -0500 From: William Mccauley <triplesn8s@neo.rr.com> Subject: [Wedge] Avoid the Falkens Listers, I just put a set of 205/60-13 Falkens on my 8. they ride great & handle great but the noise level is something else! I initially thought my rear axle bearing & diff gears had simultaneously bought the farm until I realized everything quieted down nicely in a medium hard turn. Weird. They are very loud and the harmonic vibrations can be felt through the seat & steering wheel. I should note that my car has polyurethane bushings anywhere & everywhere they will fit, shorter firmer springs & shocks set stiffly. That probably contributes to the vibrations but I guarantee you won't like the noise level in a DHC at least.

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Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 08:19:47 -0800 From: "Ray...." <illuminance@comcast.net> Subject: Re: [Wedge] Avoid the Falkens Bill is sooooo right. I got a set for my Mazda and I thought my transmission was going out! AVOID! Bill Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2003 15:32:54 -0700 From: "Walt Fogle" <lbc4me1@comcast.net> Subject: [Wedge] Remanufactured OEM TR8 air pump For those so inclined I located a replacement air pump at NAPA. I ordered mine through my local store but it's also available on line at: http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/NAPAonline/search_resu lts_product_detail.d2w/report?prrfnbr=15560127&prmenbr=5806&usrcommgrpid=29080590 It's listed for the Jaguar XJ6 and it's an exact replacement with a small difference. The pivot bolt mounting is different and the mounting tabs have to be ground off a bit in order to fit in the TR8 bracket. I found a local machine shop that was able to remove the distance tube from my original pump and refit it to the new one. The machinist also ground off about 1/8" from the mounting tabs. It fits perfectly. Hope this is helpful to someone with an original emissions set up. Walt Fogle '80 TR8 FHC '69 TR6 Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 13:58:54 -0400 From: "Paul MacDonald" <Paul.MacDonald@PWGSC.GC.CA> Subject: [Wedge] Velour Seats I just thought that I would tell you about a car that I saw this summer. It had seats in blue velour that had been reupholstered. A really nice job and an incredible match for the material. He had it done at Standard Auto Glass in Kingston Ontario. Said that the guy at Standard had no problem finding the material, that it was 'in their book' or something like that.

If you are interested, I can dig up his coordinates. Paul MacDonald Further to my e-mail Above, I did a bit of checking for the material used on the car that I saw and here is what I found. He had his seats upholstered at: > Standard Auto Glass > 940 Gardiners Road > Kingston, ON K7M3Y9 613-384-1710 > Toll-free: 800-800-2727 > Cost $333 in 1998 -- Canadian > On his bill the following was written (apparently two different types of material were used): > 461 BC same as D 4317 > 4715 BC same as D 412 > I phoned the local Standard Auto Glass and talked to the upholsterer (works for a separate company) Jerry at 613-260-5400. Says BC stands for Body Cloth and D stands for Delayo (or something like that) -- theses are two standard sources for automotive upholstery fabrics. He phoned for availability and price.. both were available , one for $89 and the other $103 a yard. He told me that the book they were out of was from the 1994 model year (important if you go to an upholsterer to see the samples in their book) and the fabric was originally used on a Buick Century Custom and a couple of other variants. Also said that the fabric came in blue per the above numbers, and in two colors of beige and burgundy. He also mentioned that another sample, 4716 looked a bit like corduroy. With this information you should be able to go to an auto upholsterer (in North America at least) with an old seat cover to confirm that the fabric matches. Paul MacDonald Richard TRuett Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 21:16:43 -0400 From: <rkantner@bellsouth.net> Subject: [Wedge] FI problem and imtermittent sensor Thought I'd throw this out to all, its been a headache of mine for some time. The car: '81 TR8 with FI Symptoms: Car starts cold fine, and runs for a block or two, then begins to die when RPMs are low, like ata stop sign. If you get it started again and again until it warms up, it seems to run more or less fine after that. After warming up the car even passed emissions standards here in NC without almost

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perfect readings. Another symptom was the plugs showed signs of running very rich. Of course after all the hard times trying to restart the car, this could have been expected. The answer: Its in the coolant temperature sensor. Although I checked it many times, and it seemed to have a valid resistance reading, or I assumed I wasn't making good contact (cause of its tight location); it turned out to be the culprit. Even after replacing on a wim, the old sensor seemed to read fine, until I monitored it while immersing in hot water. The readings continually dropped as should be, however an occasional open reading occurred. It seems that this causes the computer to enrich the fuel mixture, causing the engine to die. Just hope this give others a clue, before struggling too long. The car runs great now! Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 18:38:56 -0400 From: Dave Massey <105671.471@compuserve.com> Subject: [Wedge] Power Steering Pump Part Number Message text written by "James Henningsen" Anyone have a replacement part number for a TR8 power steering pump????? I am looking for a GM replacement at your local NAPA, Pepboys etc. Here's what I archived from some years back. I have no experience with this pump but someday I will. Dave Power Steering Pump Line# UPS Part# SP17253 List# 12089 Unit# 9313 The pump appears to be your basic Saginaw SAE pump. Part number cross at Checkers is 20840 AutoZone 7253 Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 17:57:05 -0700 (PDT) From: Collins White <ww111@yahoo.com> Subject: RE: [Wedge] Power Steering Pump Part Number

I knew it was an early 80's GM unit and the guy at pep boys sold me one for well under $40. He said it was the same part for ANY large 80's GM car. Sorry I don't remember the PN but it was years ago. Good Luck Collins Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 11:32:53 -0400 From: "jays" <jays@paonline.com> Subject: RE: [Wedge] Power Steering Pump Part Number I have a note from a few months back. Autozone PN 7253, Powercraft #18811 $40 I haven't had need to check it out yet. Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 17:01:13 EDT From: Tr8ron@aol.com Subject: [Wedge] Power Steering Pump YO Jim, Here is the scoop regarding Autozone PSP. I bought one last Oct 2002 for $44.99 and with the $10.00 core charge it then came to $34.99. But you have to be very assertive and have the counter person look up a cross reference # of 18811. If they look up under Triumph you will not get one that will fit right on. And it has their lifetime guarantee! I was able to use the cross reference number because there was a post on this list a while back and had saved the info, so thanks to the person who posted it before! There are 2 numbers below where my receipt says Power Steering Pump : ATSCO and 7250 but do not know if this is Autozone's part numbers? Hope this helps, let us all know how you made out. Regards, Ron Bonelli TR8 81 Fi DHC AC TR3A 62 Las Vegas, NV AMCO TOP INSTALLATION UPDATE (see TR8CCA Newsletter Issue #52 page 12) Last February, I reported on my experiences with installing an AMCO top. I indicated that I had selected to use Weldwood Contact Cement to attach the bow cover. That was not successful as the bow cover came unglued during the summer heat. I tried attaching it a second time with Weldwood, but it released again. As soon as it gets cool enough (currently 104F-- 120F in the

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garage) to work on it I will attempt to find something else to attach the cover with. I'll keep the list posted if I find something that really works well. H.D. Valliant Austin, Tx 1980 TR8 1983 VW GTI From TRRON@aol.com Sun Aug 22 10:10:03 1999 Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 19:22:46 EDT From: TRRON@aol.com To: valliant@bga.com Subject: Re: AMCO Top Installation Hi Herbert, I used a Scotch Super Strength All Purpose Adhesive made by 3M on the drivers side part of my top above the door because the PO had let the top get caught in the door when closed. Used it in Portland, Maine before the concours showing & it has kept the left top corner up so it does not get caught in the door & my garage gets really hot like yours this time of year. Directions tell you to put a thin film on each surface,then wait 15-30 seconds until it gets tacky & press the 2 together for a few minutes. Then wait 24 hrs before using. Mine has still stayed where I glued it after the long ride home with the wind & all. Got my small tube in a drug store. Hope this helps. Take care. Ron Bonelli TR8 81 Fi DHC Las Vegas, Nv. From scvalone@voicenet.com Sun Aug 22 10:10:09 1999 Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 22:50:25 -0700 From: Gary Valone <scvalone@voicenet.com> To: "Herbert D. Valliant" <valliant@bga.com> Subject: Re: AMCO Top Installation I've always used 3-M spray adhesive and never had a problem with it coming loose in the heat. Gary Valone

MEMBERSHIP Bill Sweeting

Send your dues in for 2004 and 2005! If your mailing label shows 2003 above your name then you will get the next newsletter #72 (Jan/Mar 2004) and then a friendly reminder card in lieu of issue #73. I can accept dues down here in Florida so

send them to me here in Florida: Bill Sweeting 38 Honeysuckle Court, Safety Harbor FL 34695 We are finishing up 2003 with 425 Members our largest size ever!!!!

MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS Bill Sweeting

I got to Florida in October and my 1980 Convertible really started hard!!! Almost ran the battery down and overheated the starter but it started and ran TERRIBLE! Apparently here in Florida, it is MANDATORY To use Stabil Gas Additive when you store a car for 5 months in the summer time. I drove it for about 100 miles and filled it up with fresh High Test and it ran better but still couldn’t get it to run above 3,500 RPM. Drove it some more and finally had all new fresh gas in it and it ran better but couldn’t get it to rev over 4,500RPM. Talked to numerous people for opinions and was also putting in Carb cleaner as I was running out the old gas. I had always heard that the Strombergs were hard to work on etc etc. so didn’t relish the thought of trying to take them apart. In the Monthly British Marque Car Club News I found an Advertisement for Joe Curto Inc. Specializing in S.U. & Zenith-Stromberg Carburetors, In College Point NY 718-762-7878 www.JOECURTO.COM. He gave me great advice over the phone so am publishing his name and number here!!! I called him and told him of my problem with the old gas and he told me how to take the Carbs apart and that there is a moulded in “key” in the rubber diaphragm and alignment marks on the top and body of the Carb. He said take the top off & carefully remover rubber diaphragm and attached piston being careful not to bend needle valve at the bottom. Clean the needle valve with steel wool or scotch bright and clean off the piston. Inspect Rubber diaphragm for any tears and if I don’t remove the rubber diaphragm I can put it back in aligning the little moulded-in rubber raised alignment part. This keeps the Piston holes aligned too. If you replace the rubber diaphragm you need to note the position of the piston holes so it goes back in correctly. I did what he said and car is running perfectly!!!

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Here is the rubber diaphragm & Needle Valve

Alignment marks on top and body and my carb didn’t have Pozidrive screw???? And the carbs have never been touched

THE PETER RUDGE CORNER Bill Sweeting

Peter has been busy writing gibberish again ranting and raving and he even accused me of buying my 1967 Lincoln Convertible and not a BETTER….1956 Premiere 2 DR Conv. Once again Peter…. the magnificent….the all Powerful &…. all knowing Has Declared that the best post war Lincoln is a 56 Premiere 2 Door Conv. AND I didn’t buy one of those because: “You did not want the best post war Lincoln, and you did not want the best TR8. Do not apply your lower standards to the rest of the TR8 Owners” Once again Peter proves what an Idiot he is as I bought my 1967 Lincoln Convertible BECAUSE: I liked the styling! Much too simple a concept for Peter to comprehend. Oh and I bought my New 1980 TR8 because I test drove it and had to have it. That simple!!! Didn’t even know a thing about British Cars.

Peter is still adamant about his opinion: If the original dealer painted a TR8 Pink than it would be considered an "original" car for Judging. See.......... Idiot!!! Thank heaven he has nothing to do with Judging Criteria & Standards for ANY Triumph cars. Maybe we could get him to join the MG club and keep them entertained for awhile ☺ MANY members have said: Stop giving this guy a Forum he is a jerk don’t waste anymore newsletter space on him!! We are not printing his letters as they are worthless ramblings. Here’s is David’s 2 cents: Peter Rudge wonders if there are many authentic all-original, or properly restored cars out there other than his own. Well, it is unfortunate that Peter didn’t take the 600 mile trek to the VTR National Convention this year. In attendance, there were some superb cars, and just to name a few of the owners of award –winning cars, I see the following: Ivan Love, Rob Bonelli, Sue Kistler, Bill McDevitt, Joe Worsley, Jack McGahey, and Tim Buja. These people are all TR8CCA members, and I am quite positive they are also VTR members. The VTR (Vintage Triumph Register) is an all-model Triumph organization, with members predominantly in the USA. In Canada, the biggest similar type of club is the Toronto Triumph Club (TTC), and TTC are in fact a registered VTR Zone. In any case, the VTR is a North American organization that caters to the true concours Triumph crowd, and the VTR Vehicle Consultants and Concours Judges are true experts in their specific vehicles, when matters come to originality. It was quite interesting to watch a Concours Judging training session at the 2003 National Convention, with Daryl Floyd and Ivan Love pointing out some extremely interesting original features on the red TR8 convertible used for the training (it happened to be Ivan’s of course!). Peter may disapprove, but this vehicle has logged significant mileage over its lifetime, as it is driven to all the VTR National Conventions (have you missed any Ivan?) and always looks perfect. Ron Bonelli lives in Las Vegas, and he was at VTR in Maine a couple of years ago, and again this year in Pennsylvania for the VTR show. Not to drag this on, Joe Worsley had just finished a total restoration on a TCN series TR8 Coupe in white, and he drove it to this year’s VTR. This is a magnificent car, and

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was rewarded with 1st Place in Concours with 384 points out of a possible 400. Ron from Las Vegas received 391 points in 1999 in Maine with his silver convertible. Now these are VTR member, but they are also TR8 Car Club members. They are here to actively participate and share knowledge, and they are members because they want to be. However, we do not get any condescending tones about destroying our vehicles because we want to try some stiff springs or a Holley carburetor, or a brand-new Rover 4.0 engine, as an improvement. This is still a hobby (well most of us hope so), and this is a hobby club. The concerns of being able to return a future valuable and rare vehicle back to its original state are certainly well addressed by some folks I know. I have seen organized and labelled storage racks, and many labelled drawers of nuts and bolts in Todd Kisbaugh’s garage. You would not like to see the current condition of the ACN00008UA Coupe, as it is a race car! However, Todd has carefully kept all the important pieces should he ever decide to restore TR8 #8 to showroom condition. I have enough bits, stored and stashed inside the house and garage, to restore about 1 ½ TCN Coupes back to original, and no, the parts are not rusting away in a damp corner. If we looked around, I am sure we will find many more similar situations. Even Woody Cooper, or as you called him the “King of Bastardization”, has hoards of pristine original TR8 parts. Maybe his prime interest is in the hot-rod performance aspect of our hobby, but Woody has interest in, and caters to the originality crowd too. Oh, I suggest in future that, if you wish to place such aggressive monikers to people, that you should first address such to them directly. Taken out of context, such a remark may be construed as slanderous. Let us please try to remain positive and constructive in our hobby. And we can all continue to enjoy these vehicles for many years to come.

SHOW REVIEWS Bill Sweeting

I flew out to California for the West Coast Triumphest event in October and had a wonderful time!! You really don’t need to be driving a Triumph to attend a Triumph event!!! I was driving a Mercury Grand Marque!!! ☺ . I handed out our commemorative magnets to all the TR8 and TR7s: 12 TR8s 7 TR7s 3 spiders, 3 TR7 Coupes

I had never seen a Harold station wagon!

TR8 IN THE NEWS? Dave Huddleson

As some of the Canadian members are already aware, one of the major Canadian newspaper

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chains has been running a series of adverts over the last year or so with an interesting vehicle in them. See a sample below! Hey, 23 years on and we still get press! But it’s interesting to see that this photo is actually produced in reverse. If you could see the TR8 badge on the front, as I can on the original, you would see that. This photo, and a few others have even appeared in color, and the car is Aqua blue.

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