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Re: 130 mph TR4

To: Steve Witt <witt@pairgain.com>
Subject: Re: 130 mph TR4
From: Malcolm Walker <walker05@camosun.bc.ca>
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 22:26:48 -0700 (PDT)
Cc: Triumph List <triumphs@Autox.Team.Net>
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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