Hello fellow Triumph folk everywhere:
Further to my earlier postings subject Leon's Vitesse Drives,
I can now report that After teething troubles with the fuel system caused by
using incorrect specified Jaguar/Stag S.U. fuel pumps,which are not
self-priming,and solved by using the excellent (American) Facet Silver-Top
electric Pumps instead.
After putting the first 500 miles on my 2.1 Litre,(1998cc+60thou rebore)
Vitesse Convertible,I drove the approximate 375 miles from London,England to
Arcen,nr.Venlo in SE Holland to attend the Standard Triumph European
Rally,with some 1700 other Triumph folk,it was a terrific event,with
Triumphs/people from The Netherlands/Belgium/Germany/Great
Britain/France/Luxembourg/The Czech Republic(a
Spitfire),Sweden/Norway/Denmark/Finland(a Stag & a
Herald)/Austria/Switzerland/Italy and South Africa(he flew!)etc from about
100 participating clubs. But,best of all,My Vitesse won the major trophy,(a
big engraved silver cup),for best Herald/Vitesse.What a surprise,and how nice
to get some recognition for my 13 years of dedication (obsession?),and hard
work in finally getting it to this stage,from all those pieces lying around
our home! But like most of our dearly beloved cars,it is not (yet) perfect!My
Vitesse is fitted with a gearbox that is not original to the Vitesse,this is
because I decided that original Vitesse 'boxes are just not stong enough for
160+bhp,(not sure exactly of the power yet?),but it's got triple weber 40DCOE
carbs fitted with the same jets etc as in Chris Kantarjarvies' GT6,at least
until it gets to a rolling road/dynometer for final tuning work.(when I've
paid off my Vitesse incurred debts!).It also has a 'warmed over' engine with
Holbay Camshaft,fully flowed cylinder head and TR6 tubular PI type exhaust
manifolding(headers).It seems to run pretty damn well,makes a fabulous noise
from its' twin stainless steel 2" bore (TSSC full sports) exhaust system!
(direct third gear through the Kennedy tunnel at Antwerp in Belgium with the
roof down=pure bliss).
However,my gearbox is basically TR6 with late J-type Overdrive and Dolomite
Sprint Close Ratio gear-set,the gear-lever(shift stick) is a shortened TR6
(lower half ) with GT6-3 (upper half) and overdrive switch mounted on top,the
input shaft (joining gearbox to engine) is the big TR6 item and the (heavy
like a Porsche) clutch is TR6 white spring cover plate & bonded friction
plate. It all works together really well,the O/D engages/disengages almost
imperceptibly,the gear lever does not rattle/vibrate/shake or anything else
untoward.BUT,(isn't there always a but?),there is a loud whine from an
indicated 40 mph-65 mph in top (4th) gear and O/D top only,and only under
acceleration!!! The true speed is probably nearer 45 mph-70 mph,(speedo
calibrated for 60 profile tyres,but 70 profile fitted due to clearance
problems.
Sometimes it seems to come from Gearbox,sometimes the Differential,(new Quaif
3.63:1 LSD),sometimes both,or neither! I've checked the gearbox oil
level,(Castrol EP90 GL4),OK and the O/D has worked perfectly all the time.
Does anyone,especially TR6 drivers have any suggestions?
It stated to make the noise,or I started to notice it around 600 miles from
new,and the car has now done 1300 miles,and the noise is still just the same?
I've taken a couple of experienced Triumph owners out in it,and one said it
was an "air noise",the other described it as a "resonance" ???
There is no appreciable vibration/balance problem from the propshaft or wire
wheels,although,there is some scuttle shake at around 100 mph,although I was
able to drive past that,(not necessarily recommended on chromed wire
wheels,they look stunning,but drive horribly:-) perhaps I'll try my Herald's
Alloys?
Best Regards to you all,
Leon F Guyot
Triumph Sports Six Club International Liaison Secretary
London,England.
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