> Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1993 08:19:34 +22305931 (PST)
> From: tlr@macsch.com (Ted Rose)
> Subject: Stag engine - answer to questions
>
> I'm new to the net, but I am familiar with the Stag engine (I own one and
> hope to have it running again some day). The Stag engine is a 3.0 liter
> (2997cc) engine. I am not sure if the left head is a mirror of the right
> one, but the head gaskets are identical.
Whoops, did I say it was a 3.5L? Must have been wishful thinking.
I think the heads are pretty close to mirrors, not that that really
means anything :-) Mine are sitting on a bench right now waiting for
one of the combustion chambers to get welded up (quite a bit of erosion
around one of the valve seats from leaking coolant).
> An interesting fact is that the engine was also used by Saab (or so I've
> been told). I think it was in the Saab 99(?). I know they used the TR7
> engine and heard they used the Stag engine also, but didn't sell it in
> America. I have used Saab parts successfully in my Stag.
I think it was the TR7 engine, actually. There was some mention of
the Dolomite/Saab connection on the list. The V8 was only used in the
Stag, unfortunately. Of course, you can use TR7 parts in the stag engine,
and I think the head might even be usable. In particular, the valves,
seats, followers and shims are the same.
> As for the Rover 3500, I wish Triumph had used that engine. I think it
> is a much better engine. A number of people have converted Stags to
> Rover engines (especially in England).
A much nicer engine (I have a TR8 too). Actually, overall, I think I like
the '8 better. But for a unique, cushy gt car, the Stag can't be beat.
I always liked the rollbar. I'll keep the original engine though; it's
part of the cars character :-)
> There is a Stag club (acting out of Arizona) - if anyone is interested
> I can get you a mailing address. Also, there are two companies in Tuscon
> (Stag Specialists and Eight Parts) who specialize in the Stag. (Eight Parts
> also carries parts for the Rover and the TR8).
I actually visited Eight Parts once when I was in Tuscon. I was
singularly unimpressed (actually, I came away with the impression they
were a bunch of nincompoops). I had sent out to the Stag club in AZ,
but I haven't heard anything from them in years. Are they still
around? They never seemed very active. I'm a member of the Stag Owners
Club in England (let me know if you want the address). They're very
active and have lots of Stag specific advertising. Since the Stag was
produced and marketed in the UK until around '79, they have a lot of
them still on the road. There were under ten thousand imported into
the US. I order all my parts out of England - its just as fast and
sometimes cheaper than local stuff. If you need bits and pieces, I
might be able to help - I parted out a Stag and still have a number
of odds and ends around.
> Now for a question - does anyone have a good idea why my Stag is overheating?
> I had the engine rebuilt, replaced the water pump with a heavy duty one and
> had the radiator cleaned out. The car doesn't overheat on the freeway, but
> will head steadily up to the red zone in traffic or idling. I'm open to
> suggestions. (The car didn't overheat before the rebuild)
Boy, that's a tough one. Did you do any of the rebuild yourself? Did
your shop have any experience with these engines? You probably have
some sort of water flow problem in the heads. The engineering in the
heads is remarkably poor. See if you can get a temperature probe and
check the temp at several places, front to back. Do you have air
conditioning? Is the fluid clutch working on your fan blade? Is your
fan in one piece? (really, sometimes they spin off blades). Check your
thermostat, you may want to replace it (again). I replaced the 'stat
on my '8 this year and the cooling system started acting really wierd.
Check your oil pressure (most Stag owners replace the clock with a TR6
oil gauge - fits perfectly). On the other hand, it might be completely
normal. The SOC newsletter recently had a letter from one of the
fellows involved in the cooling systems tests for the Stag. Most of
the time they could get a US spec (auto trans, AC) vehicle to boil just by
idling it in a garage.
good luck
--
Paul Amaranth Manager User Services - office: (313) 370 4541 (also voicemail)
(internet) amaranth@vela.acs.oakland.edu |'70 E-type (body in progress)
(bitnet) amaranth@oakland |'73 Stag (blown engine)
(uucp) ...!uunet!umich!vela!amaranth |'80 TR8 (vroom!)
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