A Few More Beans

[Colin Lindsay]

3 hours ago, classiclife said:

 

I believe that as time goes on, the skills gap between classic and modern knowledge / know-how will only increase. Classic car wizardry on the commercial front is on the wane unless the business is specifically dealing with classic vehicles, hence the importance of keeping such skills alive to keep passing on up for decades to come.

Regards.

Richard.

I fully agree, which is why I often disagree with the practice of fitting modern engines, gearboxes and the like into our cars, but try to persevere with the original components so as to keep up a demand for specialist services.

[Ian Foster]

Brian

You refer to tuning experiences and your 6-3-1 manifold.

Could you advise make/supplier and possibly post some pictures.

Would also be interested to hear which rolling road. 

Ian

[dave.vitesse]

A rolling road is a very useful way of measuring power improvements. However unless rolling road has a recent calibration certificate the actual power output it gives may not be that accurate. The main thing is you have increased the power output of the engine.

Dave

[Anglefire]

4 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said:

I fully agree, which is why I often disagree with the practice of fitting modern engines, gearboxes and the like into our cars, but try to persevere with the original components so as to keep up a demand for specialist services.

I think there is room for all. It’s not like there aren’t enough people keeping triumphs as original as they can. I probably wouldn’t put a modern engine in mine. But have no intention of pursuing originality to the nth degree. Well given it has a Gt6 bonnet in it and is not as it came out of the factory. Little things like no map light, which is listed on the original spec sheet. And it has none standard wheels and shock absorbers. 

[RayHutch]

18 hours ago, dave.vitesse said:

Computer say's No.

I wonder if they tune SU's, bearing in mind the close relationship between Strombergs and SU's.

Dave 

Hi Dave, they tune every other type of carb, don't know why they specifically exclude Strombergs.

Is there a definitive guide on the interweb on how to tweak them?

 

[Guest]

20 minutes ago, RayHutch said:

Is there a definitive guide on the interweb on how to tweak them?

Ray,

Any decent WSM for your car will provide a step-by-step to setting up & tuning Stromberg's.

This will prove useful:

https://tecb.eu/onewebmedia/Tuning_Stromberg_CD_Carburetters.pdf

Regards.

Richard.

[Colin Lindsay]

13 hours ago, Anglefire said:

I think there is room for all. It’s not like there aren’t enough people keeping triumphs as original as they can. I probably wouldn’t put a modern engine in mine. But have no intention of pursuing originality to the nth degree. Well given it has a Gt6 bonnet in it and is not as it came out of the factory. Little things like no map light, which is listed on the original spec sheet. And it has none standard wheels and shock absorbers. 

That's not what I mean; replacement bonnets, body panels, uprated alternators, halogen lights are all sensible upgrades. You wouldn't fit an MX5 door to a Spitfire though.

It's the major components I'm talking about, and for a long time we had a train of thought that everytime someone wanted a recon gearbox, or a replacement engine the reply was "Why do you want one of those old unreliable things? Fit a type 9 gearbox / Mazda engine / Ford engine..." as if this was THE only way forward, and the impression being given to members, especially new owners, was that it was so much fun, and just so reliable, and really really fast, to fit modern components. Those of us who wanted to use the original units were condemned as Luddites. I honestly couldn't see any more work in having gearbox components remanufactured than in having adaptors and replacement mounts made to take non-original bits.

I've no objection to anyone doing it with their own car, but it was starting to be mooted as the ONLY way to go, and so much better than the Stanpart originals. Consequently there was a fall in the requirement for certain parts, with the result that some of them are no longer available. That's definitely not what I want to see happening.

 

[dave.vitesse]

Richard's very helpful link will contain detailed info concerning the Stromberg and explain how to set them up. 

Additional info on the installation of these carbs on the Vitesse/GT6 is in Factory Repair Manual.

It sounds as if they don't know what Strombergs are. Though, with a diagram, the construction is slightly different than the SU the principles of setting up the mixture are the same.

Dave

[Anglefire]

8 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said:

That's not what I mean; replacement bonnets, body panels, uprated alternators, halogen lights are all sensible upgrades. You wouldn't fit an MX5 door to a Spitfire though.

It's the major components I'm talking about, and for a long time we had a train of thought that everytime someone wanted a recon gearbox, or a replacement engine the reply was "Why do you want one of those old unreliable things? Fit a type 9 gearbox / Mazda engine / Ford engine..." as if this was THE only way forward, and the impression being given to members, especially new owners, was that it was so much fun, and just so reliable, and really really fast, to fit modern components. Those of us who wanted to use the original units were condemned as Luddites. I honestly couldn't see any more work in having gearbox components remanufactured than in having adaptors and replacement mounts made to take non-original bits.

I've no objection to anyone doing it with their own car, but it was starting to be mooted as the ONLY way to go, and so much better than the Stanpart originals. Consequently there was a fall in the requirement for certain parts, with the result that some of them are no longer available. That's definitely not what I want to see happening.

 

I didn't think anyone here was suggesting that it was the only way? It might be the easiest/cheapest way of increasing power of a classic - if that is your aim. Or it might be just convenient in that you have one lying about. Or you like to try something different!

Ultimately these cars will die. They are bound to - cost of fuel will kill them for some, people just getting too old to tinker will take others away from them and new buyers aren't about. The skills will die as people get older - though with quite a few people creating youtube video's that time may not come too soon.

[Colin Lindsay]

1 hour ago, Anglefire said:

I didn't think anyone here was suggesting that it was the only way?

What I wrote was: "As if it was THE only way." We had members who had done it, which was their own preference, but almost every thread on gearboxes got hi-jacked into 'why not fit a type 9, what parts to get, what adaptors were required etc. and how wonderful it was. Each to his own, I've no objection to that.

Ultimately our cars will die, that's true, but I want to see them die as Triumphs, not some bitser of a Frankenstein's monster under the excuse that more modern parts are easier to get.

 

[Anglefire]

I do know what you mean Colin. But I suppose there is a risk that there will be nothing available to fix them. Or not at a sensible price?  

I don’t know the answer really. Time will tell I guess. But rest assured that I will keep mine going as long as I can or want to. It might become uneconomical at some point. 

[dougbgt6]

To paraphrase the great sage Clarkson, "Bury me in my blue jeans...…….. and GT6"

db

[dave.vitesse]

A Few More Beans - I try to say off the beans. Why - Global warming!

Dave

[brian GT6.]

On 18/02/2019 at 17:33, Ian Foster said:

Brian

You refer to tuning experiences and your 6-3-1 manifold.

Could you advise make/supplier and possibly post some pictures.

Would also be interested to hear which rolling road. 

Ian

Hi Ian,

 

Sorry for the delay, just checked back on this post. The rolling road was the one that jigsaw use, Lynx AE in Wellingborough. In fact the starting power was 82.4 bhp which shocked me. I hadn't really thought that the car was slow to be honest. It was only when the head came off and was measured that it was the same thickness as a 2.5. I have a note in the history for a Triumph replacement engine very early in it's life, when it was a year old, so wonder if it was a parts special?

It was a full rebuild with a GT6 head and head work. I think jigsaw outsource the block machining and headwork but Mark built and balanced my engine. I can't remember which exhaust manifold he put on but it looks very nice. I don't think it adds to the power very much to be honest. I'm happy with 115.4 on the same rolling road-, although i've only driven it 20 miles as I don't want to get salt on it and it's now in my garage where i'm painting the bulkhead sides.

 

In that short journey it was the smoothness of the engine that struck me, which I guess is down to balancing. Looking forward to taking it out when the salt is washed off the roads and attending a few events. I've done a lot of work on it over thee last two winters:

- CV conversion from doughnuts

- Polybushes all round

- adjustable dampers all round

- new discs, calipers and slave cylinders

- new master cylinder

- recon diff

- new propshaft

- recon uprated engine

- new front suspension arms

- new wheel bearings

- new radiator

The car was ziebatarted from new and doesn't have any rust so I thought it worth looking after. The only thing left I want to do is new bumpers in stainless.