VITESSE 1600 Engine revision - Details & Specs

[LOTUS54]

A joyful 2023 to all colleagues!
We are considering a complete revision of our Vitesse 1600 Convertible.
Unfortunately information and parts for the small engine are extremely rare. However we do NOT want to convert to 2 litre...

Thus please provide hints and tips where to find
a) exact engine specifications / sizes (pistons / bearing / crankshaft ....) - and/or
b) sources for spare-parts (oversize..) or hints what parts of other enines (1300 / 2000..) may fit?

Thx a lot for support!
 

[RobPearce]

The crank and bearings are common to the early 2L Mk1 but only up to HC4500 (early 2000 saloon had a longer production run of that spec). The pistons are unique. Herald 1200 pistons are a significant overbore and I've seen references to potential problems with the water jacket between bores.

[glang]

Have you got the free to download Triumph workshop manual for this car? Courtesy of @vitessesteve

[thescrapman]

That doesn’t look like a UK number plate, whereabouts are you?

Oddly some 1600 parts are easier to get than 2 litre parts, due to lack of demand.

Ask away, and don’t forget that Rimmers are not the only UK supplier of parts.

[Guppy916]

This might be usefull 

http://www.triumphspitfire.com/Ref.html

also try https://www.canleyclassics.com/?catalogue=triumph-vitesse&diagram=catalogues

 

[ahebron]

Hi Lotus54.

There are at least 2 versions of the 1600, one with Solex carbs and rated output of 70hp and those with Stromberg carbs with an unofficial 85hp. I own a 65 1600 saloon which has the later Strombergs. The 1600 is a sweet engine that can be tuned to decent amount of reliable power, its all about the breathing.
Pete Lewis is the man with the 1600 knowledge but I do not know if he frequents this forum.
A lot of Mk1 2000 ancillaries will fit the 1600 but if swapping inlet manifolds from a saloon remember the saloon engine is canted over on an angle and the inlet is cast to counter that angle.
For parts I nearly always Canleys
As has been mentioned above Vitesse Steve has a fantastic site that has copies of Triumph manuals.

http://vitessesteve.co.uk/

I have a spare short block but whether it will turn is doubtful and I have a NOS bare cylinder head. Keeping then as just in case as these are becoming the rare Vitesse even though it was the most built model.

I am in New Zealand

[LOTUS54]

Dear Friends,

thank you for the useful hints!
Will have a look at the manuals and links provided.
I am in Vienna / Austria (not Australia...) and own this beauty besides some other sidekicks (XJ6 S1/ 300CE ) since 1975. My son has a LR S1 SWB from 1955 etc...
The Vitesse so far was completely restored, only the engine is untouched and slowly fading out...

My main brand actually is Borgward, if that rings a bell?

All the best!
LH

[LOTUS54]

PS: Since owning the Vitesse since 1975 - it still carries "black-plate" Viennese plates!
So not only California ... 🙂

[ahebron]

Borgwards are beautiful cars.
They imported them to New Zealand and I recall seeing the coupes as an enthusiast who collected them lived about 20 minutes away. Also a work colleague owned an estate
I have owned Landrovers and my parents owned a 1954 SWB but what is the 4wd truck in your photos.

Good luck with your Vitesse.

 

[Clive]

Dave Pearson at Canley Classics will know plenty about the 1600 engine. He has been involved with some of the factory rally cars, so will have real knowledge of what made them effective. Of course, you may not want to go that far.