Reprofiling TR cams & milling Deck Height

I have heard of one or two people regrinding cams for more performance, with modest results. For more compression the way to go is new pistons, and leave the block and cylinder liners as they are. I have a friend who was working on a twin-turbo set up for the TR motor...that he planned on marketing at some point - not sure where he's at with it right now. But he achieved great results with just turbos....getting a bit over 600 horsepower with very little boost. Of course with power increases like that, the differential carrier should be upgraded to a one piece billet unit from Mr. Newman. I too would love to hear some actual experiences from those who have hot rodded a TR motor. Anyone.....

 

You've probably seen Carobu's dyno page? They don't get into specific details, but the general comments and the dyno curves are interesting: http://www.carobu.com/html/boxer.html

This page about their project Boxer gives a few more details about cams. Not a TR, but close: http://www.carobu.com/html/bb512rr.html

 

One need only look at the BBLM and 512 S to see that the potential is there but those are race cars, not street cars.

Milling the deck?! You have been reading too many hot rod magazines! That may work for a Chevy or Ford but in this market it amount to the destruction of a perfectly good engine. You want compression, buy pistons but leave the block and head surfaces alone.

Chain drives...?! There is sound reasoning used when Ferrari chose to use belts for these engines.... leave that alone and yes, be grateful Ferrari chose to use rubber bands on these.

You want handling and a well balanced SuperCar? Make it mid engine. You want it to have incredible performance? Make it so the entire power plant comes out as a package so it can be maintained to a high level of perfection while timing 4 cams that are right in front of you with the engine on the table. Folks gripe about an absolutely brilliant design that allows for complete power plant removal as a package. Make no mistake, it is brilliant!

Things change completely when you get into the SuperCar world over domestic production based muscle cars. There is little left on the table in the way of performance and design as Ferrari was shooting to take back the Worlds Fastest production car trophy at the time.... and got it. The entire car is a well designed Package and quite reliable when used as intended. Adding substantially more power will amount to an exercise to locate, identify and destroy the next weakest link in the system..... exactly what building a race car from a production based car amounts to, the ultimate exercise in compromise! Hell, 9/10's of the cars on the road don't run a fraction of what they did when new... I suggest that is a better place to start before going into destruction testing of driveline components.

Just one doorknobs opinion....

 

Very well said Dave!

 

I agree too !!!

 

I surely find no fault with the want and desire for more performance, its why we purchased these cars in the first place. The simple fact is, at best, the TR's are difficult to "Enhance" and still maintain any degree of reliability. It was designed as a GT car, not a Sprint car and what it does, it does very well when everything is as it should be.

CIS injection does NOT like big cams, never did, never will. Find your way around that little fact and then figure out a way to transfer the newly found power through a driveshaft the same size as your little finger.

Build a bigger, bulletproof shaft and then test the longevity of the transaxle components. Say you find a way past all of these small details and you can get the power to the ground..... now you have to stop it which involves new wheels so larger calipers/rotors can fit...... Its a long, expensive road that few take the time to finish properly.

One person that did it correct........... Rick. A beautiful TR in correct GT form sitting along side a 355 B that can be used when in the Sprint mood. Each one designed for the application and each doing what they were designed to do, quite well. Not only is this the correct way to deal with the urges, it is also by far the most inexpensive method.

 

Any model where the driver could hold a Coke between their knees while eating a Cheeseburger, doing 150 MPH plus.......That has to be considered a, exceptionaly well tuned design from the onset. Very few owners have felt what a perfectly tuned and sorted TR really feels like, there is plenty left on the table to be had for most.

If running stop lights defines the best, your Pantera holds the title in this race. Over 80 MPH or in the twisties....... it is but a fleeting memory in the RV mirror!

 

I love Dave Helms.......and I'm not ashamed to admit it!


"Not that there's anything wrong with that!" ME

 

Its just the age old debate Kerry and I happened to have lived long enough now to be the Kergugen on the other side of the arguement. Like it was yesterday I can remember telling my mentor in this business how I was going to redesign this and that on the 250 GTO I used to maintain and campaign at the race tracks.

"So you little pissant... you think you know more than the team of World Class Engineers that spent the better part of their lives designing and building what they considered the most flawless design to date......Talk it up doorknob and lets hear your brilliance come forth...."

I have lived both sides of the debate, wear the shirt proudly and paid for it in full.

Do we get to sit on Pearl Street Mall sipping Scotch together this Fall or will Winter coats be required? Is you project all together yet?

 

I don't know I certainly like mine.

John
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Wow....wow.....JRATCLIFF's car is worthy of it's own thread. How about it? A thread showing all of the mods you've done? Or at least some more pics!

 

Thanks Jeff and I would be pleased to get a thread started once I get some time. I went for controlled power and not ultimate (no turbos,etc.). Motec system with the 512TR intake runners, Brembo big brakes all around, rebuilt all the suspension pieces, power steering, and several other mods.

John

 

Have been following this post with great interest. Would love to hear a bit more in detail the mods made by jratcliff.
Have a spare long block sitting on the bench for a very long time which need some attention.....

 

Hi John
The car looks stunning buddy !! I would love to hear more of the engine conversion as I am considering something very similar

Tr boy