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Re: Plastigage and GT6s at Le Mans

To: triumphs@Autox.Team.Net
Subject: Re: Plastigage and GT6s at Le Mans
From: James Sudduth <james.sudduth@autodesk.com>
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 1997 14:33:15 -0800
At 04:30 PM 3/7/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>Chet asks:
>>Ok  I've done alot of things to my TR-6, but with the recent posting
>>concerning losing a block due to thrust washers bathing in the oil
>>sump!!!!
>
>>Can any body walk me thru this check??  What the heck is plasti-gauge,
>>and how do you use it?
>
>Plastigage is a measuring system used to check clearances for the plain
>bearings used on cranks and rods.  You can buy it at parts stores, racer
>shops, etc.  It consists of a thin piece of plastic string and a paper guage
>marked in .001's of an inch.  You cut a piece of the string and place it
>across the bearing journal to be measured, then install the bearing shell and
>cap and torque to spec.  The plastic string is smashed from round to flat. 
>Think of a steam roller running over a snake.  Now you take the bearing
>apart and compare the paper guage markings to the smashed string to
>determine the clearance.  The wider the smash, the less clearance (and the
>less room for oil).  Have fun!
>
>Now for my question- Does anyone know of any literature about the
>appearance of any GT6s at Le Mans?  A couple of years ago I attended the
>vintage races at Watkins Glen and camped next to a blue/yellow striped
>race prepared GT6 that had plates in it indicating an appearance at Le
>Mans.  Although I photgraphed the car I never spoke to the owner.  I
>know spitfire coupes went to the race and the GT6 came from this I've
>never seen anything about GT6s there.  I wonder if a list of
>entrants/finishing positions exists from the late '60s that covers the
>smaller
>teams.
>
>Larry Bickel
>ljbtvr@aol.com
>Lancaster, PA
>'68 GT6, my racer
>'71 TVR 2500 (TR6 driveline), my street car and sometimes racer
> 
>
>

The most well known book on this is probably Graham Robson"s "The Works
Triumphs", which covers GT6's at LeMans as well as the whole racing and
rallying history of Triumph both pre- and post- WWII. Its emphasis is on the
postwar history.  If I remember right it was around $30.00 US but it's worth
the money - order it from:

Classic Motorbooks 
P.O. Box 1
Osceola WI 54020-0001
1-800-826-6600

I have no financial interest in this cmpany blah blah. . . :-)


Jim Sudduth
jims@autodesk.com
'74 TR6 CF20076U
Berkeley, California USA


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