On Tue, 14 Oct 1997, Steve Witt wrote:
> So, how does one get a TR4 to go 130 mph (in street form, with a Triumph
> engine)? And if one is successful, will the suspension and brakes handle
> this speed?
My TR4 has gone 134 mph. PO did it. I can get more info, all I know is
that the carbs had been synchronized and 'set up' the day previous.
The car has a 4A engine. PO claims 2.3L, I think it's 2.1. I haven't had
the head off to check for sure yet.
It's got the SU HS6 and perhaps a lumpy cam. The car had possibly been
raced in its long history (just a guess, the only 'evidence' are the roll
bar, the 3point seat belts and the heel-toe thingy on the gas pedal)
> I ask only because I've been dreaming of getting a sports car for a while
> and have a fondness for Triumphs, particularly TR4's. One of my goals
> is to have a car to tinker around on. I gather that the TR's are
You are heading in the right direction! Don't buy a sports car if you
hate tinkering, and double if you hate maintenance!
> fairly easy to work on as they are fairly simple cars. I've been a little
> concerned that a 30+ year old car might not have the performance that I
> might like. Not that 130 mph is a speed that I attain very often, but it
> (or something in that neighborhood) implies a level of performance that is
> fairly significant. For this reason I've been thinking of a Caterham
> Seven, but this might be too elemental and small for me, not too mention
> too expensive and not appreciated by the California smog guys.
The TR3 is more than capable of keeping up with the 4. Probably more so.
Matter of choice, I'd guess. I like the extra bonuses like roll up
windows and a trunk with "nominal" space in it.
> Is a TR6/TR250 a better platform than a TR4 for high performance tweaks?
> >From what I've read, it seems that the performance of a stock TR6 didn't
> increase a lot from a TR4 (though the onset of smog controls is probably
> mostly responsible for this).
Smog controls, and reduced compression, carbs, many reasons. TR6 still
goes like stink though :-)
-Malcolm
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