I agree with Chris. The PI systems was shipped to every market except the
US.
Here's what I learned from reading various articles. US Triumph sales had
been slumping for a few years and Leyland was intent upon improving the TR
marketability. The TR5 (TR250) was the first step in the strategy with the
TR6 to follow the following year. Leyland felt that the US dealers would
be reluctant to embrace a new technology (fuel injection) and not order the
cars. Leyland decided to play it safe with its biggest market and use what
the US was familiar with, i.e., carbs, so the dealers would creating sales.
This concern was directed at the training that the mechanics would have to
undergo and the extra expense of the necessary test and repair
equipment/facilities.
The PI systems could have meet US emissions standards by simply
recalibrating the metering unit and taming down the camshaft. Leyland
actually did this around 1973, dropping the 150 bhp to 125 bhp.
After all, its not the PI per se that determines the hp, its the cam and
compression ratio. Those two elements have more to do with what goes out
the exhaust pipe that just the fuel delivery system. The PI can be
calibrated to deliver a wide range of fuel to the cylinder. It would be
easy to tone it down to meet US emission standards.
Just my thoughts...
Dave,
San Diego
1970 TR6 CP51649
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To:
cc: David J Stauffacher/TMG/CSC
Subject: RE: Triple SU's/FI
So, Chris, what was the real reason? That's very interesting, if they
made that up all along.
Jim Ruwaldt
'72 TR6 CC79338U, waiting for FI
Bloomington, IN
On Thu, 16 Oct 1997, Chris Bullock wrote:
> Well ... was it really that these PI cars didn't meet emissions? I'm
hearing more and more that this wasn't actually the reason they weren't
shipped here.
>
> Chris Bullock
> Colchester, Vermont
>
> 1970 RHD TR6 PI CP51686 O
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Charles Ruwaldt [SMTP:jruwaldt@indiana.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, October 16, 1997 4:35 PM
> To: dstauffa@csc.com
> Cc: Chris_Lillja@pupress.princeton.edu; triumphs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Triple SU's/FI
>
> Yeah, well, we'd all have fuel injection, if they'd used a different
make,
> which could have met the emissions restrictions. One more reason to hate
> Lucas.
> Jim Ruwaldt
> '72 TR6 CC79338U
> Bloomington, IN
>
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