John Walsh's 1981 Triumph TR7 with Buick 231cid (3.8L) V6 Engine

John Walsh's 1981 Triumph TR7 with Buick 231cid (3.8L) V6 Engine

as published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XX Issue 2, December 2012 (updated: 4/3/2015)

Owner: John & Becky Walsh
BritishV8 UserID: JohnMWalsh
City: Roseville, California
Model: 1981 Triumph TR7
Engine: Buick 231cid (3.8L) V6
Conversion by: owner

Engine: 1981 Buick 231cid (3.8L) V6, completely stock except for the addition of an MSD ignition controller.
Cooling: custom radiator. Oil cooler.
Exhaust: cat-back dual exhaust system.
Transmission: Borg Warner T5 5-speed (from a Camaro).
Rear End: Ford 8.8 (1986 Mustang GT). 2.73:1 gears. Limited slip differential.
Brakes: (master) SVO Mustang.
(front) Wilwood 4-piston calipers and 11" vented rotors.
(rear) Stainless Steel Brake Co. calipers and 10.25" vented rotors.
Front Susp.: competition springs. Koni adjustable shock absorbers. Polyurethane bushings.
Rear Susp.: competition springs. Koni adjustable shock absorbers. Polyurethane bushings.
Wheels/Tires: Konig Lace aluminum 15x6.5 wheels. Kuhmo Ecsta 205/60x15 tires.
Instruments: Smiths speedometer (0-140mph) and tachometer (0-7000rpm). VDO oil pressure (0-80psi), coolant temperature (100-250F), voltmeter (8-16V), and fuel gauges.
Electrical: battery relocated to trunk. Sony stereo and speakers. LED brake lights and third brake light(s).
Weight: 2080 pounds.
Completed: still a work in progress.

Engine Installation

1981 Buick 231cid (3.8L) V6, completely stock except the addition of an MSD ignition controller.
This 1981 Buick 231cid (3.8L) V6 is stock except for the addition of an MSD ignition controller.

John fabricated the strut tower braces.
John fabricated the strut tower braces.

Suspension and Brakes

Wilwood 4-piston calipers and 11 inch vented rotors.
Wilwood 4-piston calipers and 11" vented rotors.

Stainless Steel Brake Co. calipers and 10.25 inch vented rotors.
Stainless Steel Brake Co. calipers and 10.25" vented rotors.

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Interior

Custom instrument cluster featuring VDO gauges.
Custom instrument cluster featuring VDO gauges.

Illumination.
Illumination.

earlier custom instrument cluster
(Earlier custom instrument cluster.)


Exterior







Huffaker Engineering fiberglass body panels give this Triumph TR7 a distinctive look.
Authentic Huffaker Engineering fiberglass body panels give this Triumph TR7 a distinctive look.
John says: "She is good looking, fun to drive and she does turn heads!"

Triumph TR7 convertible top.
A roll hoop has been installed. It fits neatly under the Triumph TR7's convertible top.

Huffaker Triumph TR7/TR8 air dam.
Huffaker Triumph TR7/TR8 air dam.

LED brake lights and third brake light(s).
LED brake lights and third brake light(s).

Konig Lace aluminum 15x6.5 wheels. Kuhmo Ecsta 205/60x15 tires.
Konig Lace aluminum 15x6.5 wheels. Kuhmo Ecsta 205/60x15 tires.

This is what John's TR7 looked like when he purchased it.
This is what John's TR7 looked like when he purchased it.

This is what John's TR7 looked like a year ago, before he repainted it.
This is what John's TR7 looked like a year ago, before he repainted it.


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