Standard Vanguard Sportsman engine and the TR3

[HalLucy]

Hi Everyone,

I recently bought a barn-find 1949 Triumph 2000 Roadster off of eBay. It needs a lot of work. It was clear from the pictures on the listing that the car did not have the original engine. Except for the valve cover and the thermostat housing it looked like a TR3. Now that I have to car, I have found that it is from a Standard Vanguard Sportsman. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Vanguard says

the Vanguard Sportsman ... was announced in August 1956 with a tuned 90 bhp (67 kW; 91 PS) engine having similar features to the Triumph TR3 sports car. These included an increased compression ratio to 8.0:1, twin SU carburettors, and improved pistons. However, the Sportsman's inlet manifold and carburettors sat at a different angle from those of the TR3, and its engine had the same 85 mm bore as the Vanguard's, not the 83 mm bore of the TR3.

Does anyone know about these engines? Will TR3 parts work?

Thanks.

 

[NutmegCT]

Hal - until a BCF member chimes in, you might want to check out the TR 2000 register (UK).

http://triumph2000register.co.uk/forum-iframe/

I have fond memories of my 1959 TR3.
Tom m.

 

[dklawson]

I will forward a link to this thread to a friend of mine. Until recently he owned one of the very few Vanguard Sportsmans in the U.S. He may be able to answer your questions.

My friend's (former) car is the grey and red one shown in the Barnfinds link below.
https://barnfinds.com/chicken-coop-find-standard-vanguard-sportsman/

 

[HalLucy]

I will forward a link to this thread to a friend of mine. Until recently he owned one of the very few Vanguard Sportsmans in the U.S. He may be able to answer your questions.

My friend's (former) car is the grey and red one shown in the Barnfinds link below.
https://barnfinds.com/chicken-coop-find-standard-vanguard-sportsman/

That would be great. Thanks.

 

[dklawson]

My friend Jamie sent me the following message after reading this thread.

" It's a Vanguard engine with some TR3 parts added, but bearings, hardware, cylinder liners, etc. are all interchangeable with TR3 parts. Head is slightly different but my understanding is that a TR3 head will fit...it may even be the same casting machined differently. Major difference is the intake, compression ratio, and that it's 2,088cc not 1,991 or 2,138. I don't know if it's crank difference but my guess would be bore size since that's how they got below the 2L limit for the TR3.... "

 

[HalLucy]

My friend Jamie sent me the following message after reading this thread.

" It's a Vanguard engine with some TR3 parts added, but bearings, hardware, cylinder liners, etc. are all interchangeable with TR3 parts. Head is slightly different but my understanding is that a TR3 head will fit...it may even be the same casting machined differently. Major difference is the intake, compression ratio, and that it's 2,088cc not 1,991 or 2,138. I don't know if it's crank difference but my guess would be bore size since that's how they got below the 2L limit for the TR3.... "

Thank Jamie for me. Please ask him if he knows whether a TR3's starter will work.

 

[dklawson]

Thank Jamie for me. Please ask him if he knows whether a TR3's starter will work.

I have extended your thanks.

Jamie said that he installed a TR3 starter on his Sportsman and it worked for him.

 

[HalLucy]

I have extended your thanks.

Jamie said that he installed a TR3 starter on his Sportsman and it worked for him.

Awesome. Thanks!