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Re: cutting down cyl head for '74 TR6, octane, etc.

To: Hugh Barber <tr6nut@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: cutting down cyl head for '74 TR6, octane, etc.
From: doug shook <dirtbeard@pacbell.net>
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2003 20:30:23 -0700
> Doug,
> 
> This is a question that is more complicated than it appears on the surface.
> Generally cars with higher compression ratios (even the UK TR6) have other
> engine caracteristics optimised to the higher compression. For instance, my
> TR6 has 10:1 CR.  However it also has a different camshaft, a modified
> distributor curve, triple webers, and a header. The modified camshaft allows
> me to run 10:1 CR without problems - indeed, with that particular camshaft
> you need to run higher compression to gain the whole benefit. I must use
> premium fuel, but rarely have any pinging. Merely raising your compression
> without changing cam or ignition timing can give you negligable power
> benefits along with a tendency toward knocking or pinging. For a good
> synopsis of this, go to: http://www.elgincams.com/campaper.html (its
> primarily about camshafts, but touches on compression ratio and other
> factors)
> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> Hugh Barber
> Hollister, CA
> '73 TR6

Hi Hugh,

Thank you very much for your feedback and 
insightful information.  I have a NOS cam, header 
and will ultimately move over to SK's or Webers, 
but will not do a different cam for the near future.

I do know the more aggressive cams have more 
overlap so that one needs to go to higher 
mechanical compression to retain the same applied 
compression, so that a higher compression with a 
milder cam can lead to detonation.

But what I was hoping to figure out was with a 
basically stock engine (better carbs and freer 
flowing exhaust), was how many thousands should I 
mill off the head without resorting to aviation fuel?

I know that the BP Northwest and others sell 
shorter pushrods for a milled head, but I just 
hoped to hear what others had done to at least 
regain the lost HP form the lower compression of 
the 1970's motors.

Again, Hugh, thank you very much for your 
response.  I really should have included my 
exhaust, cam, carb configuration in the original 
request -- my apologies. I hate it when people 
post questions like:

"My engine won't start, what is wrong?" In 
hindsight, I realize that my initial post is in 
the same category.

My apologies....   :(

shook

los angeles

'72 BSA B50SS
'74 Triumph TR6
'01 HD  XL883
'03 GMC Cargo Van

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