Andrew Smith Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 Someone I know is looking to buy a TR6, the seller states it is fitted with flat top pistons to aid unleaded fuel use and gives no other information about what else has been done to the engine - not being an engine guru (as my focus is on originality), I understand flat tops are performance forged pistons and not OEM fitment am I right? Cheers, Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 ALL, every single TR6, were fitted with flat-top pistons from the factory. Dome tops were a clever management wheeze, that enabled the same cylinder head to be fitted to 2L engines, without skimming the head down a lot. They had NOTHING to add to perfomance or unleaded fuel, and everything to do with saving production time and cost. And ONLY on 2L engines. So anyone selling a TR6 that has FLAT-TOP PISTONS!!!!! is to be taken as either ignorant or trying to hide something. JOhn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted July 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 (edited) Thanks John, very useful info and now logged into my 'originality' vault! I have other suspicions about this car which is claimed to be totally original and from the photos I've seen is clearly not and for a car tipping in at almost £30k is one to be inspected very carefully indeed. Cheers, Andrew Edited July 17, 2020 by Andrew Smith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 There are forged and cast pistons that are flat topped so anyone claiming they must be forged because they are flat topped is mistaken or telling porkies. Likewise originality is open to interpretation as few cars will truly original. Standard quite possibly, but a truly original, unmolested TR is a rare beast. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PGB BME Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 Andrew congratulations on returning to the driving seat. There looks to be a totally original UK 75 TR6 (125bhp) on car and classic @£35k only 23k miles. From the photos looks stunning. I would have thought a good buy if you could haggle a bit. Phil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted July 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 Andy, You are correct, a truly original, unmolested TR is a very rare beast - I know, as I owned one of the most original TR6's in the country ('Saffy') and when I was running the TRR Concours and Triumph Survivor events had constant 'discussions' with owners who thought their car was a survivor when in fact they were getting confused over 'original specification' and 'original condition', the two are poles apart. Cheers, Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted July 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 7 minutes ago, PGB BME said: Andrew congratulations on returning to the driving seat. There looks to be a totally original UK 75 TR6 (125bhp) on car and classic @£35k only 23k miles. From the photos looks stunning. I would have thought a good buy if you could haggle a bit. Phil Thanks Phil, it's good to be back driving and feeling part of the TR community again. I've just had a quick look at the photos of that TR6 and whilst it's very nice, it's not as 'original' as inferred - it's been resprayed, plus there are other non-original areas and fitments that I've noticed, so £35k is a bit steep in my opinion - https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1246401 - of course I would need to stand in front of it to make a correct assessment. Cheers, Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PGB BME Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 Andrew how do you know it’s been resprayed, I can’t zoom into the photos, is there overspray ? I would be interested to know the give away sign. perhaps they thought a “Refresh” of the paint was a good idea Phil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 19 minutes ago, PGB BME said: Andrew how do you know it’s been resprayed, I can’t zoom into the photos, is there overspray ? I would be interested to know the give away sign. perhaps they thought a “Refresh” of the paint was a good idea Phil No black behind the grille is a dead giveaway. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted July 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 Just now, stuart said: No black behind the grille is a dead giveaway. Stuart. And no black sills another. Cheers, Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PGB BME Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 Stuart / Andrew Thanks Phil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim F Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 I noticed that the TR6 - https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1246401 - has some form of aluminium or grey plastic shroud around the distributor cap. Was that a common factory or aftermarket fitment? Don't recall seeing one before, (could be my failing memory...!). Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Collins Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 That is an ignition interference shield. There's a chap here in Eastbourne has an untouched TR6, his has one. It was also resprayed when new, apparently the finish was so bad. If you look at the waist seals there is overspray. Mike. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 "Untouched", apart from being resprayed. So that's alright then. The gentleman you quote who says it was done "when new" must be a truth teller, but how would you tell if he wasn't? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 35 minutes ago, john.r.davies said: "Untouched", apart from being resprayed. So that's alright then. The gentleman you quote who says it was done "when new" must be a truth teller, but how would you tell if he wasn't? Come on John don't mince your words. As we say in the trade..there's a lot of b*****ks spoken. Peter W PS As Stated above. Flat top pistons are the correct TR pistons - end of. I now wait for a 'home tuning specialist' to chip in with them having been told by the bloke in the pub that the use of some Honda piston with 1.7cc dished crowns and offset gudgeon pins works precisely to get the optimal CR in their over-bored and stroked 2.98 litre TR5 running 6 Mikunis & delivering 320 bhp (estimated by the rolling road operator) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 34 minutes ago, BlueTR3A-5EKT said: Come on John don't mince your words. As we say in the trade..there's a lot of b*****ks spoken. Peter W PS As Stated above. Flat top pistons are the correct TR pistons - end of. I now wait for a 'home tuning specialist' to chip in with them having been told by the bloke in the pub that the use of some Honda piston with 1.7cc dished crowns and offset gudgeon pins works precisely to get the optimal CR in their over-bored and stroked 2.98 litre TR5 running 6 Mikunis & delivering 320 bhp (estimated by the rolling road operator) Peter strange you should say that but my TR5 is running Honda pistons with 1.7cc dished crowns and offset gudgeon pins and this set up allows for the optimal CR in my over-bored and stroked 2.992 litre running 6 Mikunis and it delivers 348BHP at the wheels. Well the rolling road wasn't actually working the day I took the car in but the rolling road operator said it must be producing AT LEAST that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 (edited) Now, now! Andrew was asked how he could tell that a car had been resprayed, and gave a logical answer. Mike also said how he knew that the Untouched, wasn't. I'm impressed by their knowledge and observation. I wondered if there was a way of telling how long ago a respray took place. After all, as Peter said, there's a lot of Borrocks about. JOhn Edited July 17, 2020 by john.r.davies Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Graham said: Peter strange you should say that but my TR5 is running Honda pistons with 1.7cc dished crowns and offset gudgeon pins and this set up allows for the optimal CR in my over-bored and stroked 2.992 litre running 6 Mikunis and it delivers 348BHP at the wheels. Well the rolling road wasn't actually working the day I took the car in but the rolling road operator said it must be producing AT LEAST that. Which cam did you go with ultimately? Peter W PS this is descending into ATB territory. PPS Clear coat over patina any one? Edited July 17, 2020 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ntc Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 51 minutes ago, BlueTR3A-5EKT said: Which cam did you go with ultimately? Peter W PS this is descending into ATB territory. PPS Clear coat over patina any one? Good idea to move it there, after all it was just a simple question Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 Yes my apologies, thread drift, as this post was a genuine tech enquiry. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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