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TR6 TR6 Motor in a TR4?

Lin

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I am a Healey guy, but my brother is thinking of purchasing a TR4. He wants to know if a TR6 motor can be transplanted into the TR4. If so, What are the issues?

Thanks.

Lin Rose
 
I guess he's interested in a TR250 clone? Since they put V8s in TR4s, I'm sure you can stuff a TR6 in there as well - but it isn't a straight bolt on. The TR4 frame is different than a six, so some mods will be necessary - I haven't seen one, but some potential gotchas are: steering rack I think is more forward on a TR6, ditto for the radiator. Also frame crosstube would need changeout, and maybe custom engine mounts will be needed.

I do know that someone has done a complete transplant of a TR4 body onto a TR6 frame, which in the long run may be easier.

Randy.
 
I'm working on such a transplant in my TR4A - and it would be much easier if you use the TR6 frame. Since I have to replace my frame anyway it's no big deal, but if the car your friend is looking at has a good frame already he might be better off keeping the TR4 engine.
 
Both the 6 & 4 are fine cars... but if he is expecting some vast increase in power by transplanting the 6 cylinder engine he may want to take a look at some performance figures.
 
I agree with Geo. I had a 4 and now have a 6. Both are stock. The '64 TR4 would do 132 MPH with the top down, the 6 would barely do that with the top up. The 4, in my opinion, was better balanced and handling better then the 6 which is like pushing a wheel barrow around. I could actually put the 4 into a four wheel drift at 90 MPH and with it's high end torque maintain the drift and actually accelerate through the turns. Something the 6 did not want to do.

A TR4 with a TR6 engine is neither a 4, 250, or a 6. Resale value will be higher keeping it as a souped up 4.
 
I thought I was the only one to think the stock TR4 was better than the stock TR6 in almost every way.
Don't get me wrong, I love my TR6 but would rather have a nice TR4 any day. I probably will own one (again) in addition to the 6 one day.
 
I cant wait till March when I get my TR4, in addition to my TR6 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif

They are just such a cool car!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am a Healey guy, but my brother is thinking of purchasing a TR4. He wants to know if a TR6 motor can be transplanted into the TR4. If so, What are the issues?

[/ QUOTE ]

Why not just find a TR-250?
 
Hi Lin,

I'd have to echo some of the other responses and wonder "why?"

I just don't see enough gain to justify putting the 6-cyl. TR motor in a TR4 (either into the earlier ladder chassis or the later IRS version of the car).

I have toyed with the idea of engine swaps, but think I will continue improving the 4-cyl instead. It has a lot of tuning potential and some advantages over the 6-cyl. These include slightly lighter weight, similar HP in stock form (although it's 2.1 liter compared to 2.5 liter), easily swapped pistons/liners, cam shaft running in bearings rather than straight in the block, and a more rigid crankshaft.

If I were to do an engine swap into a TR, I think I'd look at several V8s.

My first choice would probably be the Rover/Buick all aluminum V8 that's been used in so many different British cars, which is actually lighter than either the TR 4-cl. or 6-cyl. That engine can be found in 3.5 to 4.6 liter versions, some of which were fuel injected. On the downside, the Rover engine and performance parts for it are a less common here in the U.S. than in England.

Probably the easiest alternative to fit, although a lot harder to find here in the U.S., would be the Stag V8. It would be nice to use a Triumph motor, plus it's a dual overhead cam design with some real performance potential. (The Rover V8 also found it's way into the TR8, so some might consider it a Triumph motor, too.) This V8 has some inherent problems that have led to a reputation for poor reliability. But a lot of solutions to the problems have been developed in the years since the engine was in production. There are fewer custom tuning possibilities with this engine, simply because of its relative scarcity.

Probably the easiest V8 swap in the U.S. would be with a Ford 302/4.6 to 5 liter. These are very common and there are gobs of tuning possibilities.

With a whole lot more horsepower and torque there will be a number of other drivetrain considerations: gearbox, rear differential and axles. Steering, balance, handling, frame strength and ground clearance are all possible issues, too.

Any engine swap is unlikely to add to the car's resale value. On the other hand, done right it might add to the "fun" factor!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Alan- You know the Crypt Car has been a jigsaw
puzzle for me from day one.

The engine serial number on my 1969 TR6 is cc4195E
which makes it a TR250. I have received a few comments
that I have mostly a TR250 engine. Last night
I found a very good photo of an original TR250
engine bay.

It appears I had a complete TR250 swap-in when
Wendy bought the TR6 car. I am sure somewhere
there is an interesting story about this.

d
 
Dale, when you're top down at the beaches and those bikini babes are checking you and the CC out, I guarantee that none of them are gonna say: "Hey check this out, Dale's only got a TR250 engine in here. We better move on to a real TR6".

You'll be just fine, my friend.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Dale, when you're top down at the beaches and those bikini babes are checking you and the CC out, I guarantee that none of them are gonna say: "Hey check this out, Dale's only got a TR250 engine in here. We better move on to a real TR6".

You'll be just fine, my friend.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hehehe, and then you can point out that the stock TR-250 engine has slightly more horses than a TR-6 engine. Mwahahahahahahahahaha. I'll consider the Crypt Car to be a long lost cousin of Greenie! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
It took almost 10,000 bucks, but my TR6 finally can kick butt on my friends "improved" stock TR4A (87mm, ported, polished, headers, flowed, cam) When my car was stock, he would walk away from me any day. Even my mufflers scare him now.
Now, his GT6-motored TR3 will give me a run for the money. Now <u>that</u> is a mule.
 
Thanks to everyone for their response to my question about the engine transplant. I will pass the information along to my brother!

Lin
 
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