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Triumph TR6 - Cruise Control??

OK...so I'm softening in my old age, but I'm thinking about putting cruise on our car. I remember well how my right leg cramps after a couple hours in the MGB. Anybody got any advice (on the cruise that is!)

happy moToRing!

Rod
Rod Nichols

How many continuous hours are you driving the TR?
Other than Don E who drives his car on these marathon drives I don't know many that drive their car on the highway more than 2hrs continuous. If anything that causes a pain in the leg is the overly heavy clutch...continuous parallel parking will cause severe pains in the arms and shoulders.

There are some retro kits but mostly for more modern cars with automatics.
Steven

That cramp might be caused by the seat squab of the MGB- compressing the upper thigh locally. Try altering the seat height or tilt, or maybe replacing the rubber membrane if the seat has collapsed.
P H Cobbold

Peter nailed it....no support for the mid thigh. The seat in the B (car sold last Sept) was modified somewhat, but not enough to help. The last two summers, my wife & I took extended trips with the B to the Oregon coast, up to NW Washington & home, then a trip to BC (Cranbrook)and back thru Glacier Nat'l Park.
1600 & 1800 miles, respectively. The TR6 isn't running yet, but I'm pretty sure what's going to happen. The cruise would allow me to move that right leg to a different position, giving me more wheel time. (I have to share?) We love to take long trips, and during the warmer months of summer & early fall, driving a British roadster is the best way to travel! (although our Acura is pretty comfortable over the long haul) New seat diaphragms are on order from TRF. Back to the original question, anyone got advice or experience on the cruise?

Rod
Rod Nichols

In 1990, I put cruise control on a Bronco II with manual tranny - the important part is to wire into the brake switch, so unit disconnects when you press the brake. The control unit had a RPM sensor (read the coil pulses), which turned off the unit when you pushed the clutch in. The kit I used was universal, so it would read the fuel injectors, but it also had a transducer that could be installed in the fuel line for a carburetted engine. The speed sensor was a magnet that attached to the driveshaft with a magnetic sensor that read the rate of revolutions. The only other thing was calibrating the unit. I used interstate mile markers, which are surveyed posts and are very accurate. I don't remember what brand it was, but it was a common aftermarket manufacturer. Never had any problem with it, and the display unit would calculate MPG, average speed, ETA, amount of fuel in tank (based on MPG), and a bunch of other stuff.
Bob

Bob....I know about the brake switch...we had an 86 Bronco II with a 5-spd & cruise. one day on the freeway, I went for a downshift as we were approaching a hill, and the clutch switch did not cancel the cruise. No damage, just scared the be-jabbers out of me! Got it back in gear fast.
I will have to find a kit that accommodates the manual trans & build a bracket for a switch on the clutch pedal. Couldn't be that difficult, considering I'm doing nearly ground-up on the rest of the car. (not frame-off, but everything else.) I know Audiovox builds one, Dana does (or did) and others) I'm just looking for the best one to fit.....

Thanks........Rod
Rod Nichols

Hi Rod

OLDS makes some nice cruisers fully equipped for your driving pleasure. This sounds like some of the young Rod fellas I know going down south running 4 link systems and Micky Thompsons. Some things are designed for this some designed for that. TRs are designed for "roads" windy uphill downhill villages and stop signs.

My opinion is the TR was never made for freeway cruising at maintained set speeds. You might try road maps for the off the beaten track roads. Lot more fun in a sportscar.

But if I can't talk you out of it?

This sight will give you all the info you need for installs / choice etc. They like Rostra. I believe they invented cruise. But Tech. info works for all. You might get some seat heaters and obstacle detector info as well. Napping off in comfort:)

http://www.the12volt.com/

Sight is large may take a minute to come up.

Freeways should only be used for off ramp tests of rear wheel slide in hard cornering.


Bill
Bill Brayford

Sorry I asked....although I never bought the car to autocross, I do enjoy spirited driving. Even on the secondary roads, there are a lot of long, straight stretches between the twisty ones. I hate driving on the freeway, and will take the secondary roads whenever possible. There's a lot more fun out there...but try going anywhere from Boise, and yer faced with a purty good stretch of flat land before you get to the good stuff. Stay out of the sand on those off ramps...........

Rod
Rod Nichols

I have experience in this area for exactly the reasons quoted in the original question .Had MGBs for years and concluded that the designer had legs of different lengths. The gas pedal is designed in such a way that it can be cut and threaded to a coupling (available at any hardware store) to adjust (read 'reduce')it's length so the thigh is supported by the seat squab. This makes a huge difference in long distance driving. Before this modification, a half hour would tire my right leg, now I can drive for hours in comfort. Will do the same to my TR if it seems necessary. Driving comfort is ALL. Peter G
Peter G

This thread was discussed between 29/01/2003 and 31/01/2003

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