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Car feels sluggish, What to test/check[New owner]

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VanHalenMan

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Anyone have some typical places to check or adjustments that I could make. I'm so clueless on this car. I am 19 and have little car knowledge... I know the basics, I can peice stuff together and figure out whats wrong, but I don't know much about adjusting these things. What are some things I should try and adjust/replace/check that may help out.

the motor has a fresh re-build and it runs smooth and nice, it just seems like it sort of runs out of breath up high in first... after 3,500 just kinda falls off...

It has a kent cam in it I don't think anything performance wise has been done.

ANY HELP WOULD KICK ASS.

Thanks.

-Chip Anderson
Kansas City Missouri
 
Start with telling us the kind of car and a bit of basic info about age, condtion and the rebuild. How long have you had it? What did the PO do to it ?

'Kent Cam' suggest mods but also brings out the possiblity the whole thing isn't set up right.

I'd start with a manual and check the timing. Then make sure there are no obstructions around the air filter. Do both carbs open fully?

If there's fuel starvation, you'll know by a certain surging a high revs. Fuel pump or fuel filter in that case.

Have you a similar car to compare it to? A LBC is not as powerful as the standard honda these days so you may be expecting what is not there.

Let us know some more details -- and welcome! There's lots here who started on cars at 19 and knew a whole lot less than you. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Don't worry -- ask away.
 
Everything MichaelF said, plus, check your valve clearance, point gap ( unless it's electronic ignition). And something MichaelF said sorta sounds right to me - partially plugged fuel filter -

He's definitely right about a manual, the best you can afford - Bently would be ideal..

Other than that give your post a day or so and you'll have more advice than you can handle - Forum members are a fountain of info.

Good Luck, and welcome to the forum.

Bob M.
 
You'll also want to check timing. If the timing is too retarded, it will lose some power. If it's too advanced, you'll hear pinging.

Triumph were generally torque monsters compared to contemporaries. While the HP usually peaks at around 4800, the power you'll feel is all down low. If you're used to driving overhead-cam engines, it will feel like the car falls flat on its face after 3500rpms (where modern cars begin pulling.)

My guess is that the car isn't all that off. Most TRs ran 0-60MPH between 10 and 12.5 seconds. (TR5PIs and TR8s could run in the high 8.8ish.) Spits and GT6s were slower, especially in the 70s, when the emmissions equipment took over.

Grab a stopwatch and try to run 0-60 and see what you get. That should give you an idea of where you stand.
 
I can not begin to tell you how AWESOME you guys are, I figured you oldies would be like WTF is this teenager doing here. I'll check my timing... I have the "Clymer" shop manual... I'll see what it takes to do. I'll change the oil... I'll do the standard stuff, plugs, fuel filter, I was expecting it to pull up high, but I do need to keep in mind it isn't overhead cam... and realize that its a 74 and won't be as fast as my old GSX. I will just take care of it and be sure to keep up on common stuff. Thanks again for the help men!

I'll keep you posted on how it goes.


And the stats on my car...

Engine was completly rebuilt 6 months ago, it has 2000 miles on the new engine, the car has 99800 miles on it... so its about to have the big ZERO miles....

It has the "kent" cam which I have no idea what it adds or what, I know my car idles like a dodge charger my dad has and sounds like an exotic. Sounds meaner than its bite. It has a coilpack and excuse me if this is idiotic but that does mean I have electronic ignition. I have a red light that comes on when I start my car that says "ignition" so maybe that helps. haha this car is sooo new to me. I love it however.
 
All TR6s have an ignition light. As for the coil pack, it sounds like it has an aftermarket ignition coil. You will know if you have an electronic ignition if there are little wires running into your distributor cap (other than the coil wire and spark plug wires.)

TRs always sounded mean from the factory. One of the best sounding exhausts. When I lived and worked in Houston, I regularly would set off car alarms in the corporate garages with my TR-250 and then my TR-3. The only other vehicles to do that were the Harleys the sales guys had.

The TR6 won't have anywhere near the same engine qualities (or ride/handling qualities) as your previous car. Totally different beast. The good news: you'll feel like you're going faster -- which is better (you don't have to speed to get that "holy crap--I'm going to die" feeling.) Also, the TR6 will force you to become a better mechanic -- not because you'll break down, but because you'll enjoy getting to know the car. (You'll start out with two bolt projects -- changing the points, plugs, ignition coil, then get into other stuff like timing etc...)

The Kent cam is essentially like what the muscle car guys refer to as a RV cam...just an aftermarket slightly more aggressive cam.
 
I'll repeat what others have said. My 6 doesn't pull very hard above 3500rpm either. It does need an engine rebuild, which will be done soon though. If the timing's off, then correct it. And buy yourself a Bentley manual. Keep it in good shape, and it'll be the most useful $50 you ever spent for as long as you own your car. They tell you how to do absolutely everything.

You gotta love that idle noise! I also love how it changes from a rumble to a howl at higher revs. It's great. Better than any Honda could ever sound.
 
Lots of good suggestions so far. I'd suggest checking static timing (with the vaccuum tube removed and plugged),
make sure the vaccuum advance works (replace the tube), and also check the mechanical advance (spring weights in distributor). Any one of these can cause performnace problems. If you're real unlucky, like I was once, you'll have a partially plugged muffler. This is where the guts of the muffler break loose and collect at the outlet effectively plugging the exhaust. Real bad for performance and even worse for exhaust valves. Enjoy your new toy!
 
My advice is to do all the simple stuff suggested here first. I learned with my corvette to keep it simple, fix the cheap stuff first and see what happens. Best scenario, you get it right. Worst, you spent ten bucks you didnt need, and fixed the more major problem later. But even then you changed the rest of the system and wont have to worry about it later! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

As for the TRs sound, i love it too. A lot quieter than my corvette (which isnt stock) but still very nice and fun. However, i will say this, the TR3 is **WAY** more fun to drive!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
Re: Car feels sluggish, What to test/check[New own

Welcome to the forum, I aslo started young when I bought my Spitfire at 18. Triumphs are fairly basic and not too challenging to work on. Get a good shop manual and try to find some local enthusiasts or a club.
Good luck, Jon
 
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