Question: Just how much horsepower does a stock, US-smogged/carburetted
Triumph TR6 produce?
Good question, I asked. Non-US TR6s received the Lucas mecahnical fuel
injection system which, in the 1969-1970 models, was reputed to develop 150hp.
The 1974 US-spec TR6 was quoted at 104hp. Direct comparisons are not really
possible, because the methodology of quoting horsepower changed over the
years. Through to the late 1960s, engines were placed on a engine dyno,
and stripped of all auxillary items such as alternator, flywheel, water pump
(cooling was provided by an independant pump), dry-sump lubrication,
fan-forced cool air to the carburettor, no cooling fan, no air-cleaner,
leaner jetting, and highly advanced timing, etc. By the early
70's, manufacturers were not allowed to be as liberal in estimating, but
still the motors on the engin-dyno were not the same beasts as would be
pushing around Mum's station-wagon.
The best measure of true horsepower and torque is to measure it at the
rear wheels. This way a real-world estimate can be obtained.
My own TR6 is fairly stock; the engine has never been out of the car
or worked on. It is a tired old donk with 80,000+ miles, so substantially
less than the factory figures were to be expected. However, I have made some
very simple and inexpensive modifications which I believe really helped;
namely, K&N air filters, easy-breathing exhaust, Pertonix electronic
ignition, electric cooling fan (ie, no mechanical fan), removal of all
smog equipment, and carbs rebuilt and tuned by me.
The work was carried out by the helpful guys at the Dyno Shop in Santee,
California (619/562-3933). Air temperature was 74F. I had the car
tested at the same time as my Mates in the Pantera Club, and their big
351 Clevelands were pulling 350-450hp. Their runs on the dyno took only
seconds. When time came to dyno the TR6, the run seemed to take forever,
but everyone remarked at what an gorgeous exhaust note the 6 had. Some
fellows likened it to an older V12 Ferrari, or maybe half a Ferrari!
The results of 91hp at 5,000rpm and 123ft-lbs at 2850rpm are pretty
impressive for an essentially stock and tired motor. What does this equate
to in the real world? At the drag strip, my TR6 will dispatch equally
tired Datsun 240Zs and early 1600 Mazda Miatas. I'm happy with that.
A photo and the dyno chart can be seen at:
http://www.geocities.com/hottr6/triumph/tr6dyno.html
Shane Ingate
Melbourne, FL
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