triumphs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Red-Line Driving teamfat2.dsl.aros.net id f72Ka7T27297

To: Triumphs Mailing List <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Red-Line Driving teamfat2.dsl.aros.net id f72Ka7T27297
From: Pete & Aprille Chadwell <pandachadwell@mac.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 13:35:57 -0700
References: <200108021839.LAA22974@blackie.cruzers.com>
I wrote:
>  >My point here is only to say that Triumph motors in general do not
>>possess the design features that are generally necessary for high-rpm
>>running.  It's not to say they CAN'T run at high-rpms providing that
>>modifications have been made to allow for it.
>
>Kas was getting 7000 RPM out of GT6 engines.

Exactly.  Specially prepared racing engines.  I would suspect that a 
stock or even mildly warmed-over TR6 engine just might become 
shrapnel at those kinds of RPMs.  Hyperbole?  Perhaps, but not by 
much.

>  > In my TR6, for
>>instance, there seems to be no point whatsoever in revving it higher
>>than, say, 4000 rpm
>
>It is all a matter of perspective.  Why not just drive a Cadillac
>convertible and not a sports car?

Because they're incredibly huge, ugly, sloppy and generally 
unappealing cars.  No offense to any Cadillac owners out there
 just 
my opinion!

>  >My contention is that most Triumph motors are happiest in the 2500 to
>>4000 rpm range.
>
>I agree for cruising down the highway.  Somehow I get the impression that
>pushing a sports car towards its limits does not get your juices flowing.
>

While in recent years my driving 'style' has become more sedate, that 
has more to do with the fact that as a practical matter, I cannot 
afford either the money nor the time right now in my life to do much 
in the way of tweaking my TR6.  Right now I'm faced with an 
unexpected gearbox rebuild and as God is my witness, I haven't got 
the time to do it.  I'll have to make time, though, since we only 
have one other car.  What's the point?  Point is, I drive the TR6 in 
a way, hopefully, that will minimize unexpected repairs.  This means 
I have to control my lust for lateral g's.

I have, in the past, hurled that TR6 around corners at speeds that 
would have most people bailing out.  There are few things that are as 
enjoyable as driving at nine or ten tenths on a curvy road.

But the contention that TR's by definition were meant to be driven at 
the red-line all the time is very ill-informed, no offense to Phil 
Smith who was merely passing on someone else's comment.  Triumphs 
were meant, quite literally, to operate anywhere between idle and 
whatever the red-line happens to be on your model.

Much of this issue depends upon how the engine in question has been 
prepared (IF it has been prepared) and how it is tuned.  If you've 
made modifications to push that red-line up, I congratulate you.  I 
have too, with my TR6
 but the particular cam I have dictates that it 
is quite useless, as a practical matter, to rev it much higher than 
4000 rpm.  Not because it will come apart at 4000, but rather because 
it's passed it's power peak and once there, if you truly want to go 
faster, you'd be well advised to shift up!

-- 
Pete Chadwell
1973 TR6

///  triumphs@autox.team.net mailing list
///  To unsubscribe send a plain text message to majordomo@autox.team.net
///  with nothing in it but
///
///     unsubscribe triumphs
///


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
  • Re: Red-Line Driving teamfat2.dsl.aros.net id f72Ka7T27297, Pete & Aprille Chadwell <=