triumphs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: TR4 camshaft; engine rebuilding

To: Johntr6@aol.com, triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: TR4 camshaft; engine rebuilding
From: iron_horse819@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999 09:00:46 -0800 (PST)
--- Johntr6@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Well, the engine's out and mostly stripped. The major discovery was tappet #8
> 
> stuck in its sleeve and ground through by the camshaft! What a sight! 
> Naturally, the camshaft is a goner...that "lobe" is 1.33 mm lower than the 
> others. Curiously, I then examined the camshaft that came with the extra 
> engine and found that it too was worn at that rearmost point. Then I 
> remembered (it takes a while) that a few years ago I replaced the camshaft on
> the TR6 because the rearmost lobe (lifter?) was badly worn. Is this a 
> congenital flaw in this engine series, due to inadequate oil flow maybe? 

Wish I knew the answer to that question, as I'm about to rebuild the engine in
my TR4A too ...
  
> Anyway, I guess I need a new cam. Should I get a rebuilt one, a new one, or a
> "hotter" one as advertised by Moss? Is there another option?

BFE offers more choices in cams, and I think BPNW does as well.  And of course
there is always TriumphTune and other UK suppliers
 
> I've been reading Kastner's Competition Prep Manual and am intrigued. Or was 
> intrigued. I spoke to the machine shop today about shaving the head and 
> matching the ports. Very pricey and he didn't think it would be worth the 
> money. 

On my SAH tuned engine, the intakes were port-matched and polished, so they
obviously felt the modifications were worthwhile!

> What do you all think? Kastner writes as if the grinding and matching 
> operations could be done by hand; of that I am very skeptical. If I do shave 
> the head, that changes the rocker"geometry" , right?, meaning more machining 
> of the push rods. 
> 
> Am I barking up the wrong tree? Since I've got the engine out, will pay to 
> rebuild the head, will install oversized pistons, and have to buy a new cam, 
> it makes sense to me to do what I can to boost the power. 

My personal opinion is to go for it ... for what my opinion is worth! (that and
a quarter might get you a cup of coffee!)

Raymond Lucas Hatfield
65 TR4A IRS


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>