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A friend with a TR2 in Edmonton, Alberta asked me the following question.  Can anyone help ?

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Does anyone know of any information about the Le Mans head other than what Bill Piggott has in his book? It was a low port head that ran 1 3/4 SU's.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Brian Towne

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Don Elliott, Montreal

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I dont know whether this info. will help, but I found this out some time ago. Note that somewhere there is an error in published info. references.

The Le mans head has a number 503662 and could be described as a semi high port head. It was fitted from engine number 9350 to 13052, so is rare. 503663 is the late high port 3a type head- though used as well on late TR3's. The carb. manifold should be a different 4 stud type (302006) as the larger carbs. are always 4 studs. The high port head used 302119 as the carb manifold.

As there was a power increase using the larger carbs. then it is likely that there was a small power increase using the Le mans Head, though I cannot give you details.  Also note that the TS numbers refer to engine, not chassis numbers - I had car TS 12785, which was fitted from new with engine TS 13386 - a high port 3a style engine.

Further comments from othe people will be of interest to us early car anoraks.

Regards,

John S.

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Thanks to Don for posting my question re: the Le Mans head and thank you John for your quick response. I have recently purchased a low port head that came with the 4 bolt H6 intake manifold. The head does have 1 1/2 in inlets but I think that could be done to any low port head.  Mr. Piggott says " these Le Mans heads had raises bosses around the cylinder head studs, although not a raised as on high-port heads." This might be the only visual  indicator of a true Le Mans head. Is there any "raise" to the regular low port head?  My TR2 came to me with a high port head and H6's so I have yet to see a true low port set up. Thanks  Brian
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well this is weird!  I checked the cast # on the head and I can make out 30211. There is another # after the 1 but most of it is lost in the pushrod hole.  I just reread Piggotts cylinder head information and #302118 is the number for the inlet manifold. ????  Am I not looking at the casting # on the head?

Anyone know where said casting # should be?  Thanks  Brian

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Hi Brian

I have three low-port heads lying around. Two have the 35.5mm inlet ports but no casting number. One has casting number 302114 and 38mm inlet ports. This head has inlet manifold 302118 and H6 carbs. None of the heads, including the one on my car, has raised bosses around the stud holes. All are machined flush with the rocker-cover joint face. I think that " Le Mans " head is a nickname given to all TR3 low port heads with 38mm ports, to avoid confusion with the TR2 head.

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I have an official and original "Master Parts Price List" for "Triumph Models" printed in 1958 (I believe) when Triumph USA were headquartered at 1745 Broadway in New York City.  The following items discussed in this thread and prices in 1958 US Dollars may be of interest.

 

 30211 - Not Listed

301145 - Inlet manifold - Use 203193

203193 - Inlet manifold - See 301145

301145 - Inlet Manifold - Use 203193

302006 - Inlet Manifold   - $14.40 (started at 9350E)

302114 - Not Listed

302118 - Inlet manifold   - $20.00

302119 - Inlet manifold   - $14.50

501415 - Comb Cyl Head - Use 113168 ( Man. Gasket ? )

501209 - Comb Cyl Head - $66.38

503837 - Cyl Head         - $125.00 (Started at 9350E)

503838 - Cyl Head         - $127.50 (Started at TS 1 LO)

503662 - Cylinder Head   - $80.00  (Started at 9350E)

503663 - Cylinder Head   - $83.75  (started at 13052E to the end of TR3A's)

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Thanks Les and Don   I looked very closely at what is left of the last number and all it can be is a 4.  That makes it 302114, same as yours Les. Hmmmm $80.00 to 127.00 for a head.  I wonder if there are any on a shelf somewhere?:D    And two different heads ( by price) starting at 9350E.   One must be the "Le Mans" head.  thanks again guys.   Brian
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Don is right. A part number would not have been "cast in", but stamped on if required. That way the basic casting could be machined to any specification and updated as needed, and then given a different part number.
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Hi Don and Les  You are probably right Don. It would make sense that they would stamp the part number on the head. Les, can you see any such stamped # on your heads? Does not seem to be one on this head.  Perhaps they were just tagged. Don, just compared your list to Mr. Piggott's.....

501209  TR2 and early 3     inlet man. 301145 and 302006 respectivly.

503662 Tr3 Le Mans   inlet man. 302118  TS9350E to 13052E

( he says that some prior to 13052E had the high port head)

503663 TR3/3A     inlet man. 302119

That leaves 503837 and 503838 as complete heads thus the higher price.  Brian

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