For those considering oversize liners and similar sporting modifications
in their vintage cars, another approach yields nearly stock apearance
and sound and enhanced reliability:
Procure 5" oil well pipe and oven braze into block in place of the cast
liners. Mill top of block not only flush but additional 1/2 inch. Bore
pipe to 4-1/2", use Chrysler hemi pistons, Moldex stroker crank to get
327 cu in displacement. Shorten rods cryogenically and quench in hot oil
to maintain new shorter length to go with decked block. This yields
block, crank, pistons and rods suitable for high rpm.
Dolomite head (staying with Triumph products) with its wonderful valve
and port arrangement will give hemispherical combustion chambers and
good breathing. Dual Webers can be disguised under an all enveloping
cold air box fed by NACA ducts on fenders cleverly disguised under TRF
decals. Crank triggered fourcoil ignition will take care of the sparks
to about 12,000 rpm. Use two mufflers to disguise sound, install Bose
sound system obtainable from resident teenager playing CD of normal
Triumph four cylinder noises and you are all set to beat the sox off
unsuspecting TR3 racing brethren. All in good sport.
Be careful to not let out clutch suddenly within sight of grid stewards
for they might notice the wrinkled pavement immediately behind the rear
tires. And yes, long Iowa winters do strange things to the mind....
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