>-Top speed- if top speed is a measure of top RPM power, im a bit below spec-
>the car is supposed to go like 102 mph (w/OD), but I could only hit about 90
>ont eh mass pike (big highway) (all you boston guys and policemen on this
>list look the other way)(I dont actually want to drive this fast, I was just
>curious. (was it becaseu the top was down, which makes for more wind drag?)
>Or is something funny with my carb tune, etc?
The 102 top is a function of a new engine in perfect tune and the right tires
and maybe an accurate speedo and tach. Don't worry... 90 MPH is fast enough.
>
>-Oil pressure- once the car gets really warm, my idling oil pressure is
>20lbs...is this too low? Oil cooler?
30lbs would be better... but 20 is OK fully hot. You should be using a 20W50
oil for starters. Try changing the oil.. especially if it now has 10W30 in
it.
>
>-Water Temp- the car stabilizes with teh temp gauge 0.25" to the left of the
>white band near the 100 mark- is this correct? (i heard proper temp is 85C,
>but ther is no mark for that on the gauge)
The water temp needle should ride right on the center white band at 75-85C
area. Higher that that is a problem and will lead to lower idle oil pressure
for one thing. Check thermostat, water level... may need radiator boiled and
rodded out. This is a common TR and LBC issue on any 40 year old car.
>
>-Shift points- where do you all shift? What is your top RPM for engine
>happiness? Engine seems to make noise long before it reaches redline.
The TR engine is a torquey beast and loves to pull hard. The torque curve
peaks around 3300 RPM . In stock trim 3000 is good for normal driving and 4000
for aggressive acceleration. Any higher is a waste of time and noise. The
racing TRs can rev to 6K but the engines have been worked to a extreme race
level and idle at 1800 RPM just keep from stalling.
>
>-Is the ammeter supposed to alway read a little bit positive, or is supposed
>to go to zero once hte battery is recharged? (mine stays postive all the
>time, but the battery may just need a lot of charging)
This is normal
>
>-What is proper idle RPM?
800 is good if you can get it. the tach on the dash is not a reliable
measure. Use a regular tune-up meter the reads off the ignition. Any idle
that feels comfortable with your personal desires is OK. The Zenith carbs
that you have may need a rebuild to get a perfect 800 RPM idle.
>
>-What tire pressures do you all run at?
>
>-is it bad for the motor to decelerate by downshifting (using hte motor as a
>bit of a brake)? Some people told me it was, but i figured the "i do
>rebuilds" crowd would know this for sure.
Bullshit... the best part of a 4-speed gear box is the engine braking that can
be used to enhance the aggressive driving skills. The exhaust sound under
engine braking is part of the magic. I use it fully and have always done so on
manual shift cars. You need to learn the "blip the engine on down shift"
method to get the complete experience
>
>-What eninge oils are you all using? 10W30? Favorite brands?
20W50 or maybe 15W40 on a brand new rebuild. 15W50 Mobil-1 synthetic is
another premium choice.
>
>-Antitheft mechanisms- what do you all use to keep someone from hotwiring
>and stealing your baby? Im a bit paranoid...do people use electricity
>shutoffs, "the club," etc? What options are there that dont require
>openning the hood each time I get in?
If you are concerned... I would wire in a single or double dead ignition
switch.
Have fun,
Brian Sanborn
62 TR4 CT16260L-O - Groton, MA
My TR4 Restoration Web Site
http://www.net1plus.com/users/sanborn
E-Mail: sanborn@net1plus.com
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