Dan Colanero's Journal

Home Page: Dan Colanero
Westville, NJ, USA

Total Posts: 1

Tr6 Upgrades

Dan Colanero — Posted on The Triumph Experience
Monday June 22, 2015 2:46 PM

Over the years I learned, for every benefit theres a price to pay. Lets start with swapping your 28 pound flywheel for a 10 pound aluminium,yes you will get up to speed much quicker and may even keep up with that teenage girl in her Dodge Neon,who is busy texting and thinks her gas pedal is an on-off switch. The price you pay will be the loss of smooth shifting.For a while,your going to feel like a beginner,jerking the car on every gear.Its been 7 years and I dont notice it any more. Now, lets look at the electric fan, benefits are; quicker warm ups,more consistant coolant temp.and frees up a few HP. downside; if the fan motor dies your calling a tow truck, You can no longer turn your engine by hand to adjust your valves,and a drop in idle speed when it comes on.Not to mention,a different nose and bolt for your crankshaft,a fused circuit and relay,and an adjustable thermostat.Mine has been good for 7 years,but I dont drive it much The stock engine has a smooth quiet idle,and temp, is well balanced, a must have to sell a new car in the US. Long duration cams and higher comp.ratios will add power but cyl, heads will run hot as well as the intake and carbs. Take a hot summer day and stop and go traffic, need I say more well thats enough for today..

Member Comments on Journal Entry: Tr6 Upgrades ↵

2017-09-05 04:52:12 # 44422

Comment by Wes Gray

these are very good points. if you stay stock, the engine and rest of drivetrain stay a known quantity.particular on the flywheel issue, keep the original, or at least not go too light, you keep the inertia up. have thought same drawbacks regards electric fan,although will say every machine i drive in past 30 years, electric fans, no failures... but jut takes once, and with a comparatively rare and expensive engine...so yes, be very careful with upgrades and messing with Newtonian Laws... but a spin oil adaptor is ok...

2017-09-05 21:08:18 # 44431

Comment by Dan Colanero

Wes, I bought a new Tacoma and the oil filter has a cartridge just like the old TR. It seems many cars are going back to that type filter. Another thought, we could maybe drive our Triumphs home with no fan, just keep moving. Dan

2017-09-05 21:31:00 # 44432

Comment by Wes Gray

i suppose it can be asserted that the old school cartridge and built-on reuseable canister IS lessenvironment impactful, since you re-use the canisterover and over.(i have considered going back to the TR original side canister, I have the pieces..but it is a messy affair when oil change time comes..., the argument that engine takes time to restablish proper oil circulationowing to position of sidemount canister, wonder if that is overstated...)btw , my car was hit by a sheet of flying plywood in the grille, punctred radiator core real good. I drove a couple miles slowly to a service station, no coolant to speak of , radiator recored within the day and I was on my way, no damage to engine.I have heard you can drive the TR under some circumstances for some distance, as long as you havefull complement coolant, the coolant pump keeps on pumping...not that I want to try it...thxwes

2017-09-06 06:51:12 # 44436

Comment by Dan Colanero

Wes, I think they charge 95$ oil change, and it's a lot of work. If your grill was damaged, I have an extra one. Dan

2017-09-06 15:58:23 # 44446

Comment by Wes Gray

yes , and when I finally take machine to mechanic,(I provide the oil and filter) I'll pay him the 100 smackers...he disposes oil, and checks out a few things, a little advice or revelations...I just thought the downside keeping original canister... you take off block and return to block,repeated... and the seal block to canister gives up and leaks...how often, once in fifteen years oily change... once is enough...I used to do my own oil changes, now car saves me the trouble, chasing that down now...spin on adaptor largely relieves concern of seal to block... it is done...more than all this minor banter, I just caught on to subject line, you, dan and brain aneurism... may I applaud you for survival? I have experience three times circling the drain... never fun, always educational back to subject, I think my two MB C280 2007/C3002011, still used cartridge in canister (I pay MB to do it...),,, but then, to keepr original old parts for the nerw owner, in casde he wants to go back to old style extewrnal oild filte

2017-09-06 16:41:18 # 44447

Comment by Big Chill

There is a benefit to both these modifications that are not being discussed.The TR6 motor produces a lot of vibration in its crankshaft. This may not be an issue with a daily driver. But reducing the weight at either end of the crank will help reduce this vibration.Just my $0.02 -Big Chill

2017-09-07 01:07:35 # 44454

Comment by Wes Gray

Big Chill,reading this with respect. Mine is not really a daily driver, I sneak it out of house when I can..ages ago would drive San Fran to Tahoe weekend ski... and once a longer drive to rogue river oregon steelhead drift fishing...opened her up a few times... seemed effortlessto 100 plus mph... even today around here, to indicated 100moh... but sensible says why do anything that shortens engine life, or mine?If I ever need to replace clutch, I will revisit Flywheel matters... for the fan... I was a fan-man in worklife.I know how they work...A fal can pull air thru a radiator (or filter) efficiently, it cant push air into a radiator/filter...efficinly... but then I wonder... is there room to engineer a fan that sits on front side radiator and hauls enoiugh air thru radiator ...but then you address the general heat transfer provided stock... the crank mounted fanalso throws air over the engine block, carbs etc etc etc... it is not just a matter regulating coolant temp... but of course thanks for your stop si

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