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Looking for aluminum valve collar set...

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Flinkly

Jedi Trainee
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well, my valve collar fiasco continued till Nigel called me and gave me the bad news...they don't seem to exist anymore. who knows why, but i need to get my engine back together, so on to new valve collars. two cheers to Nigel though, i'm glad he didn't send me my twenty dollars of random parts i added to the collar to make shipping economical.

but the new question is where can i find a full set of light weight valve collars that aren't red? i've only found one set of aluminum collars at BPNW, but they are red. i know this sounds stupid, but the color really turns me off from getting them, even though i will be the only one to see them. goodparts doesn't seem to have any, and pri is down for an extended period. i could replace all the exhaust collars with intake collars, but i'd rather invest in a better alternative, such as light weight collars.

there has to be a set for the 6 cylinder cars that isn't red...

oh, and why is the forum so slooooooooooow today?
 
Hi Flinkly,

I am also looking for a set for my TR6. Since I am building the engine and installing new valves and springs. I would also like to replace the collars and keepers(split collets).

If I find anything I will let you know.

Tom
 
Hi,

Some possibilities...

Have you checked with APT Fast? https://www.aptfast.com/

Or, contact Ken at https://www.britishframeandengine.com (He lists titanium retainers for the 4 cyl. TR motor, perhaps can get them for other models as well). Ken has extensive background in Triumph engine race prep, so might know of a source even if he doesn't have the item himself.

Also, how about Ted at https://www.tsimportedautomotive.com?

Another option would be to check with some of the online British vendors of Triumph go-fast goodies.

Another possibility... Knowing how Triumph designed cars, I bet the original valve spring keepers were an "off the shelf" standard item that was being used in many other engines. In other words, these parts might be interchangeable with something widely available. Might be worth a trip to a good, local performance parts store that has stuff in stock and would allow you to compare to with one of your originals, to see if you can find something identical or even really close in most respects. If you find something close, a little machining by a good shop might make for a prefect fit.

Finally, go over to https://www.kaskastner.com and ask on the forum there, if you havcen't already. There are lots of performance-oriented Triumph folks there. Kastner's books have a number of specialized vendors listed in them, too.

By the way, titanium is better than aluminum, if you can find em and justify the expense. With strong valve springs/high cam lift/high revs, it's possible to pull the split keepers right through an alu spring retainer. Not good!

For this reason, many alu spring retainers today are being made with a 10 degree angle, instead of the usual 7 degree. Of course, the split keepers need to be 10 degree to match. I don't know of anyone making these specifically for any Triumph engine, though. However, the split keepers are pretty standard items, sized by valve stem diameter. It should be possible to find a set and I had planned to use them in my TR4's engine when it gets rebuilt. I've already got a set of alu retainers on hand. Those would need the angle machined or reamed to 10 degrees to match, of course.

Titanium is as light as aluminum, but stronger and far less likely to pull through. On the downside, it's more expensive material and more difficult to machine parts out of it... and parts will be priced accordingly.

Hope this helps!
 
Thanks much Alan!

I will start checking these sources.

I am also going to see if my builder knows of any sources. He has been doing more Triumphs in the last few years. He did an engine for a TR2 that went to a show in England last year.

Thanks again,
Tom
 
thanks for the links. I'm not used to having so many vendors for parts, i'll have to keep these in mind for later.

you tr6 guys have too many parts suppliers...wheres the gt6 love?
 
[/quote]

Same car with a baby motor [/quote]

I had a 64 TR4 when it was new and now I have a 76 TR6. I don't believe the detuned 6 is any quicker than the TR4 was. Now, when I get my 6 back together it will be a little different story. My friend and his Miata will have a little surprise too! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
i thought the tr4 had more hp than the tr6? all i know is that the smooth 6 in mine is gonna rock, if i ever find collars. back to the point...


i checked the provided companies and none have gt6/tr6 collars, period.

i'm still looking in a few places though...
 
ok, my search is ending, i want my motor back more than i want aluminum collars.


can i for sure use intake collars for the exhaust? i am gonna call nigel in the morning to see what he thinks, then order them from him.
 
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