TR4/4A tr4 engine block lightening-how much? where?

[trfourtune]

hi all,
does anyone know how much and where the tr4 engine block can be ground to lighten it? these suckers are heavy! i will do the usual prep of polishing the lower block area below the crank to the pan and around all the mains and cam to aid oil return with windage and crank scraper and remove notch sensitivity.
rob

 

[GB1]

Not a TR guy, but

suspect the cylinder walls would be a good place to start

hehe

 

[trboost]

Hey Rob,

I'm pretty sure the weight of the block is the least productive place to look for weight savings. These lumps are heavy. Some obvious places would be headers over the cast manifold and using an aluminum flywheel. You could lighten the crank & knife edge the enormous counter balancers. That would take some stress off the crank and quicken throttle response.
I would be more inclined to lighten & balance all rotating parts internaly. This might give you the performance gain the weight savings would.

I would ask that Simon TR4a chimes in on this one.

 

[trfourtune]

hi,
i'm way ahead of you,those mods are already in the works. i would get an aluminum head also if i won the lotto! i think the block is plenty regid enough so i'm sure there can be some weight shaved off.
rob

 

[Simon TR4a]

Sorry, I really don't know!
I also tried to suggest some other areas to look at that might be easier. They do this in Nextel Cup, but I've never heard of anyone doing it to a Triumph.
Simon

 

[billspit]

I've heard of folks "cleaning up" the interior of the block that has a rough casting finish, but I think that's more to get the oil to flow back to the pan faster of you're racing. I agree with the others about it being a waste of time.