[TR] HE 6 cylinder Engine Suffix

[John Macartney]

Hi, Patrick

The suffixes on Standard-Triumph engines can be a bit misleading and prior to *about* 1970 the 'H' part certainly meant High compression but not necessarily in isolation. It also meant that from a leaded fuel viewpoint, this engine really needed at least 98 octane (RM) leaded fuel (100 octane leaded was better) and was offered on cars in markets where this type of fuel was available. Basically, HE engines had a compression ratio of 9:1 and above. Engines with simply an 'E' suffix had a CR of between 8.3 and 8.9:1. Then there were markets where leaded fuel of an RM of between 88 to 95 was only available and these engines would have an LE classification with cr's between 7 and 8.2:1. Cars with these engines would have been sold in the Middle East, most of Africa and South America. While this figure suggests inferior performance, the difference was only slight as they were also fitted with different camshafts and distributors. As I wasn't intimately involved with the cars after 1970, I think it's highly likely that as the 70's progressed with lower CR's for the US/Canada markets as pollution levels became more stringent with fixed fuel setting carbs and air pumps, the 'H' suffix would have been omitted. Hope this clarifies?

Jonmac

-----Original Message-----
From: Triumphs [mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Patrick Huckels
Sent: 03 June 2015 20:53
To: triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: [TR] HE 6 cylinder Engine Suffix

Hello all.
This is my first question to the group and have no idea on how to broadcast it amongst everyone but here goes.
I have been intrigued over the years as to how the suffixed 'H' or 'HE' 6 cylinder engines have made their way to North America. 
Up to now, and according to the Triumph TR6 parts book, an engine with the suffix 'HE" meant that it was a PI (Petrol Injected) high compression (thus the H) Engine (thus the E). I have written to many early TR6 owners which have their engines with this suffix but always have had dual strombergs, not PI engines.
I also know that the Vitesse has the HE suffix as well. There might be other HE engine/car combinations unknown to me.
It appears that the H was dropped sometime in early 1970. I also know that all TR250's have the HE engine suffix. 
Does anyone know anything more about this and do the HE engines have the same horsepower as their English counterparts?
Cheers,
Patrick/BespokeRoadsters


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