What have you done recently or are planning to do soon to your Triumph?

[iani]

2.5PI Saloon - 2024 was a calamitous year for this car, the engine was tired, a new cam, followers & a reconditioned head were fitted, the bottom end decided to fail in short order, just before the car was due to take part in 10CR. A reconditioned engine was sourced & fitted in two weeks, unfortunately by the time we arrived at the 10CR start point it was clear that this new engine was failing, we turned around and limped home, effectively on two cylinders. The car now has another engine, lightened & balanced crank, lightened flywheel, cam bearings, colsibro guides, ported cyl head & 300 degree cam. I have fitted an altitude compensating metering unit, drilled & tapped to take sender for fuel pressure gauge. The car has now been run in & I'm hoping to use it on RBRR this year.

GT6 Mk1 - I have owned this car for just over 4 years now, when I bought it the paintwork was fairly fresh, over time however the poor preparation that had been done started to show through and I was increasingly unhappy with the car's appearance. The car is now in the hands of JGD Classics for some care & attention, starting with the removal of the bonnet and the trial fitting of a new one, James will let in some new metal around the car, including a new boot floor and front & rear valances. Once the bodywork is complete, the car will undergo a colour change to Royal Blue, I have a number of new trim items & badges which will hopefully set the looks off nicely. Mechanically the rear driveshafts will be replaced with CDD sliding spline units, this requires the conversion to rotoflex uprights & tie rods, the necessary brackets have already been fitted and the wheel arches will be rolled to accommodate the extra 1" length of the shafts.

 

[Tim Bancroft]

On 07/01/2025 at 16:40, GT64fun said:

Hi Tim

Thanks for the fleet update. You sound as though you are/going to be busy in 2025.

I had my inlet manifold modified a few years ago and the result was definitely worth it. I use Stromberg 175 CD2s, which have the same bolt pattern as HS6s.

I'm using a Huco with good results. I found the mechanical pump got too toasty and vapour locked!

I am in year 47 of my Mk2 GT6 ownership...where does the time go?

Ian

Hi Ian,

Yes, HUCO's are good pumps, sadly not being imported into the UK anymore. I have a HUCO on my Saloon that has proved to be excellent over the last 15 years. The NOS pump that I am going to fit to the GT6 will be a trial. Presently, the fuel pipe goes across the bulkhead, so I will keep this configuration. 

Also forgot to mention that I bought some light blue door cards and luggage compartment trim panels, these will be fitted at the same time that I fit the re-built seats. 

I intend to use the car for this October's RBRR, however, if I have too much event gubbins to take to the start, I may have to use the Saloon...hardly a hardship though!

You are correct, the last 41 years have gone so quickly, I would love to own her until I am at least 70.....getting in and out could result in the sale of the car!!!!

They are strange cars these Triumphs, they all offer different experiences. As a driving machine, the Saloon is the best car, open top motoring obviously the TR6, but for looks and being able to place the car on the road, the GT6 is the best....fast A roads are the natural habitat of a GT6.

[GT64fun]

17 hours ago, Tim Bancroft said:

Presently, the fuel pipe goes across the bulkhead, so I will keep this configuration. 

This has been one of my mods also. Why Triumph routed the fuel pipe around the hot cylinder head I can't imagine. Ok when the car is moving, but designed to encourage heat soak when idling or when just turned off.

 

17 hours ago, Tim Bancroft said:

I would love to own her until I am at least 70.....

That'll be two years and six months for me then. I hope for a few more years than that! Getting in and out of the GT6 is part of my keep fit routine.

Ian

[glang]

This is one of the big Triumph mysteries of how on some cars (mine included although its a vitesse) heating of fuel lines, or carbs for that matter, has never been a problem even under the hottest continental conditions. I have the original mechanical pump and pipe route and yet on other cars its a big issue even though in theory fuel, especially pressurised, should be pretty difficult to vaporise!

[Tim Bancroft]

Its weird, but Triumph cars in some way bend science...we have all be told that coils should not be subjected to heat...yet many of us drive around with the coil bolted to the engine block sucking up heat. As Glang states, carburettor float chambers subjected to exhaust manifold heat. Crazy really when one thinks of it.

By the way, I watched 'Number 27's review on YouTube of a GT6 yesterday, was a bit horrified at yet again the untrue myths about the cars were yet again being perpetuated. Thought the mk3 model the presenter was driving looked ungainly and suffered from very poor bonnet fit. Whilst the chap did not condemn the car, he did state that he was wary of the handling and did not immediately feel comfortable...not surprising when the rear wheels at standstill looked like they were about to slip into a positive camber position.....Ah, the joys of the WWW and the continuation of poor reporting!

[Dannyb]

Took the spit out for a ride. Not used it in 2 months. It popped and banged because the fuel must be 3 or 4 months old. Filled up with fresh and it went like a rocket. 

Danny

[mpbarrett]

19 hours ago, Tim Bancroft said:

 

By the way, I watched 'Number 27's review on YouTube of a GT6 yesterday, was a bit horrified at yet again the untrue myths about the cars were yet again being perpetuated. Thought the mk3 model the presenter was driving looked ungainly and suffered from very poor bonnet fit. Whilst the chap did not condemn the car, he did state that he was wary of the handling and did not immediately feel comfortable...not surprising when the rear wheels at standstill looked like they were about to slip into a positive camber position.....Ah, the joys of the WWW and the continuation of poor reporting!

couldnt watch it all the way thru, very poor review, usual crap stuff about handling etc... and something strange with the car, seemed very high maybe the wheel tyre combination...

[Nick Jones]

Saw it, watched a bit, got grumpy and abandoned it. Usual tosh.

[Clive]

On 10/01/2025 at 11:52, glang said:

This is one of the big Triumph mysteries of how on some cars (mine included although its a vitesse) heating of fuel lines, or carbs for that matter, has never been a problem even under the hottest continental conditions. I have the original mechanical pump and pipe route and yet on other cars its a big issue even though in theory fuel, especially pressurised, should be pretty difficult to vaporise!

I had a dig about of the boiling point of petrol. An American did some home expts. on E10 and pure "petrol" Both started to bubble at 44C , boiling away nicely at 54C

My (inherited) Vitesse 1600 had terrible issues with vaporisation. Jon had wrapped all the underbonnet pipes in insulation, but it didn't cure the issue. It all came to a head when we "broke down" having just come off the motorway and into some traffic. I could see the fuel boiling in the pump, which was well over 50c as it was too hot to hold. I bought a motorbike fuel pump, essentially a Mitsubushi made copy of an SU pump. It even has points! Works an absolute treat.

I suspect the pump getting hot was the main culprit, and fuel line routing is very much a secondary issue. Why it affects some cars and not others, I have no idea.

[Tim Bancroft]

Insulating block between the pump and the block?

 

[Tim Bancroft]

Just stripped down the rear brakes on the mk2 Saloon....what a mess, much rather the simple mk1 arrangement.....!

[RobPearce]

23 hours ago, Dannyb said:

Not used it in 2 months. It popped and banged because the fuel must be 3 or 4 months old. Filled up with fresh and it went like a rocket. 

That's nothing. Spitfire is ancient, 2 years (fuel problem). Started fine!

[Dannyb]

8 minutes ago, RobPearce said:

That's nothing. Spitfire is ancient, 2 years (fuel problem). Started fine!

Yeah started ok but as soon as I went over 2000 revs that's when it misfired. I suspect the timing was set at max advance when on rolling road so as soon as the fuel degraded a little it showed up.

Danny