How to Improve Triumph Tr2-4A

by Williams, Roger

• ISBN13: 9781903706800
• ISBN10: 1903706807
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-10-01
• Publisher: Veloce

Summary

Applies to all 4-cylinder TR sportscars. Practical and realistic advice on how to improve performance, braking, handling, reliability, appearance & comfort. The author is a production engineer with real hands-on experience of improving these cars. Step-by-step illustrated procedures, color throughout. CONTENTS:Chapters: 1) First priorities. 2) Chassis strengthening & roll-cages. 3) Handling, suspension & steering upgrades. 4) Live axle & rear suspension improvements. 5) Hubs, wheels & tires. 6) Brakes. 7) Clutch, gearbox & overdrive. 8) Improving the ignition system. 9) Selecting an improved camshaft. 10) Carburettor induction. 11) Potential EFI systems. 12) Tuning engines. 13) Electrics. 14) Body, trim & seat improvements. 15) reproduction cars. 16) Weight watchers. 17) Conclusion. Appendix - Specialist suppliers.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements & about the Author	6	(4)
About the Author	6	(1)
Foreword by Peter Cox	7	(1)
Introduction	8	(1)
Using this book	9	(1)
Chapter 1. Chassis strengthening & roll cages	10	(12)
First checks	10	(3)
Establish what's involved	13	(1)
Should you remove the body?	13	(1)
Strengthening the ladder chassis	14	(1)
Fit a TR4 chassis	14	(1)
Strengthening your existing chassis	15	(2)
Strengthening the IRS chassis	17	(1)
Welding	18	(1)
Safety structures	19	(1)
Rear roll bars	19	(1)
Roll cages	20	(1)
Surrey backlight and roll protection	21	(1)
Chapter 2. TR2-4 handling, suspension & steering	22	(9)
The integrated suspension package	22	(2)
Front suspension	24	(1)
Front wishbone assembly	24	(1)
Front suspension bushes	24	(1)
Front shocks	24	(1)
Front anti-roll/sway bars	24	(1)
Castor angles	25	(1)
Negative camber	25	(1)
Rear suspension	25	(1)
Rear shocks	25	(1)
Rear anti-roll/sway bars	26	(1)
Replacement rear springs	26	(1)
Live rear axle	27	(1)
Steel Girling hubs	27	(1)
Gear ratios and LSDs	27	(1)
Sidescreen steering	28	(1)
TR2/3B spring-loaded steering box top cover	28	(1)
Steering bushes	28	(1)
Castor angle changes	28	(1)
Steering rack conversions	29	(1)
TR4 steering	30	(1)
Chapter 3. TR4A handling, rear drive & suspension	31	(9)
Rear handling improvements	31	(1)
IRS trailing arm improvements	31	(1)
Telescopic rear shock absorbers	32	(1)
Rear anti-roll/anti-sway bars	33	(1)
Rear spring height/ratings	34	(1)
Front handling and steering	34	(1)
Front wishbone assembly	34	(1)
Front suspension bushes	34	(1)
Front shocks	35	(1)
Front anti-roll/sway bars	35	(1)
Caster angles	36	(1)
Negative camber	36	(1)
Rear drive durability	36	(1)
Differential mountings	36	(1)
Rear hubs	37	(1)
Driveshaft details/the 'twitch'	37	(1)
Rear hubs	38	(1)
Trailing arm mounting brackets	38	(1)
Camber	38	(1)
The differential	39	(1)
Limited slip differentials	39	(1)
Chapter 4. Hubs, wheels & tyres	40	(6)
Wheel sizes	40	(1)
Wheel diameters	40	(1)
Rim widths	41	(1)
Roadwheel offsets	41	(1)
Roadwheel options	41	(1)
Steel/disc wheels	41	(1)
Alloys	41	(1)
Wire wheels	42	(1)
Wire wheel hub conversions	43	(1)
Tyre sections and profiles	44	(1)
Tyres	44	(1)
Size limitations	44	(1)
Speed ratings	44	(1)
Caring for your tyres	45	(1)
Tyre technology	45	(1)
Chapter 5. Brakes	46	(10)
What's important	46	(1)
Better brakes	46	(1)
Caliper capacity	47	(1)
Pad area & friction material	47	(1)
EBC Kevlar brake pads	47	(1)
Hawk brake pads	47	(1)
Disc/rotor mass	48	(1)
Front brake improvements	48	(1)
Standard performance TRs	48	(1)
Standard and fast road TRs	48	(1)
Ultra fast road & competition brakes	49	(1)
Other options	50	(1)
Front brake squeal	51	(1)
Brake lines	52	(1)
Dual line braking systems	53	(1)
Brake servos	53	(1)
Rear brakes	54	(1)
Lining materials	54	(1)
Drums	54	(1)
Drum to disc conversions	54	(1)
Slave cylinder variations	54	(1)
IRS handbrakes	54	(1)
Silicone brake fluid	55	(1)
Chapter 6. Gearbox, clutch & overdrive	56	(12)
Clutch	56	(1)
Clutch upgrades	56	(1)
Clutch pressure plates	57	(1)
Clutch slave cylinders	57	(1)
Cross shaft bushes	58	(1)
Strengthen the clutch fork	58	(1)
Modern release methods	58	(1)
Gearbox improvements	59	(1)
Gear ratios	59	(1)
Strengthening modifications	60	(2)
Close ratio straight-cut dog gears	62	(1)
Improving gear selection	62	(1)
D-I-Y rebuilds	62	(1)
Oil retention	62	(1)
Overdrives	63	(1)
Overdrive improvements	63	(1)
Adding an overdrive	63	(1)
Moss overdrive additions	64	(1)
Cosseting the transmission	64	(1)
Uprated overdrive controllers	64	(1)
Five speed gearbox upgrades	65	(1)
The Japanese solution	66	(1)
Other options	66	(1)
Propshafts	67	(1)
Upgraded propshafts	67	(1)
Kevlar safety strop	67	(1)
Chapter 7. Ignition system	68	(9)
The ignition system	68	(1)
Optimising ignition timing	69	(1)
Final thoughts	70	(1)
Summary	70	(1)
Contact breaker improvements	71	(1)
Retro-fitted breakerless systems	71	(1)
Installation	72	(1)
High-tension ignition components	72	(1)
Sparkplugs	73	(1)
Multiple-earth electrode plugs	73	(1)
Plug (HT) leads	74	(1)
Changing the ignition coil	74	(2)
Engine management improvements	76	(1)
Chapter 8. Camshafts	77	(3)
Primary tasks	77	(1)
Duration and power bands	78	(1)
'Coming on the cam'	79	(1)
Hardening the cam	79	(1)
Sourcing a camshaft	79	(1)
Chapter 9. Carburettor induction	80	(8)
Carburettor design principles	80	(1)
SU carburettors	81	(1)
Related components	81	(1)
The SU Garbs	82	(1)
Setting standard SUs	82	(1)
Improving acceleration	83	(1)
Using SUs competitively	83	(1)
Swapping Strombergs to SUs	84	(1)
Enlarging the choke size	84	(1)
Weber carburettors	84	(1)
It's not just the Garbs	84	(1)
Kit costs	85	(1)
Rolling roads	85	(1)
Choke sizes	86	(1)
Jet sizes	86	(1)
Comparisons	86	(1)
Related induction details	87	(1)
Fuel pumps	87	(1)
Fuel hoses	87	(1)
K&N filters	87	(1)
Why a low resistance air filter?	87	(1)
Chapter 10. Electronic fuel injection	88	(9)
EFI - an overview	88	(1)
Pump & pipework	88	(1)
Injectors	89	(1)
Engine management by kit	90	(2)
Conclusions	92	(1)
Transfer a Bosch L-Jetronic	92	(1)
Donor systems	92	(2)
Modifying and installing the system	94	(1)
Getting it going	95	(1)
Rolling roads	96	(1)
EFI help	96	(1)
Chapter 11. Cooling system	97	(6)
Build a good engine	97	(1)
Maximising airflow	98	(1)
Maximising coolant flow	98	(1)
Heat exchanger effectiveness	99	(1)
Electric fans	100	(1)
Other cooling aids	101	(2)
Chapter 12. Upgrading the engine	103	(19)
Fast road engine upgrades	103	(1)
Engine capacity	103	(1)
Crankshaft	104	(1)
Front crank extension	105	(1)
Fast road bolt-ons	105	(1)
Cylinder head matters	106	(1)
Upgrading the cylinder head	106	(1)
Gas flowing	107	(1)
Inlet manifolds & air filters	108	(1)
'Unleading' the cylinder head	108	(1)
Cylinder head materials	109	(1)
Cylinder head gaskets	110	(1)
Pushrods	110	(1)
Valve springs	110	(1)
Valve guides	111	(1)
Rocker shafts	111	(1)
Third stage fast road tuning	111	(1)
Timing matters	111	(1)
Summary	112	(1)
Additional home tuning possibilities	112	(1)
Roller rockers	112	(1)
Distributors and ignition systems	112	(1)
Competition level improvements	113	(1)
Forged pistons	113	(1)
Blocks	114	(1)
Low inertia steel crankshafts	114	(1)
Competition camshafts	115	(1)
Assembling the engine	115	(1)
Flywheel options	115	(1)
Clutches & ring gear	116	(1)
Oil filters, pumps and coolers	117	(1)
The oil pump & drive	117	(1)
Oil coolers	117	(1)
Oil thermostats	118	(1)
Spin on filters	118	(1)
Catch tanks	119	(1)
Engine oil	119	(1)
Oil changes	119	(1)
Some additional details	119	(1)
Thin belt conversions	119	(1)
Rocker covers	120	(1)
Exhaust manifolds & systems	120	(1)
Manifolds	120	(1)
Silencers and noise	121	(1)
Chapter 13. Electrics	122	(9)
Generating the juice	122	(1)
Thin belt conversions	122	(1)
Alternator conversions	122	(2)
Connecting cables	124	(1)
Positive to negative earth conversions	125	(1)
Modernising the distribution	125	(1)
Electrical connectors	125	(1)
Wiring	125	(1)
Relays	125	(2)
Supplementary harnesses	127	(1)
Upgrading the auxiliaries	127	(1)
Higher power headlamps	127	(1)
Headlamp relay kits	127	(1)
To fuse or not to fuse	128	(1)
Electric washer kits and jet mounts	128	(1)
Sidescreen windscreen/windshield wipers	128	(1)
Engine cooling fans	128	(1)
Aftermarket starters	128	(1)
Direction indicator audible warning	129	(1)
Audio systems	129	(1)
Immobilisers	129	(1)
Improved switch arrangements	129	(1)
Electronic tachometers	129	(1)
Courtesy lights	130	(1)
Overdrive electrical improvements	130	(1)
Chapter 14. Body & trim	131	(8)
Strengthening	131	(1)
Lightweight panels	131	(1)
Special panels	132	(1)
Cockpit ventilation	133	(1)
Cockpit heating	133	(1)
Preservation	133	(1)
TR414A plenum drain	134	(1)
Paint protection	134	(1)
Interior/exterior trim and fittings	135	(1)
Gearbox cover	135	(1)
Uprated Surrey top	135	(1)
Dashboards	135	(1)
Door cappings	135	(1)
Internal trip panels	135	(1)
Wind deflectors	135	(1)
Hood materials	136	(1)
Improving the seating	136	(1)
Standard & fast road	136	(2)
Improving the sidescreen bucket seats	138	(1)
Competition bucket seats/belts	138	(1)
Chapter 15. Replica & modified cars	139	(16)
Introduction	139	(1)
TR3A Beta replicas	139	(4)
TR4 works rally car replica	143	(1)
Big engines in little cars	144	(2)
Bump steer	146	(1)
Detecting bump steer	146	(1)
Remedying bump steer	146	(1)
Conclusion	147	(1)
Ladder chassis V8 transplants	147	(5)
IRS engine transplants	152	(3)
Chapter 16. Weight reduction	155	(3)
Unsprung weight	155	(1)
Weight outside the wheelbase	156	(1)
Weight located high in the car	156	(2)
Chapter 17. Conclusion	158	(1)
Appendix	159	(1)
Clubs & associations	159	(1)
UK performance specialists	159	(1)
Other specialists	159	(1)
Brakes	159	(1)
SU carburettor parts & services	159	(1)
Safety cages, harnesses & other related equipment	159	(1)
Gearbox adaptation kits	159	(1)
Cylinder head modifications	159	(1)
Index	160