Engine & Handling Improvements

[stustag]

Hi Guys

My engine is standard 3.0L V8 with a Borg Warner 35 gearbox, the engine and gearbox were fully rebuilt 7000 miles ago and are both it fine fettle.

I have been thinking about improving the engine but without detracting to much from the original look, otherwise I might as well stick a Edlebrook V8 in!:P

What have you found to be good improvements to your engines?

Are tubular manifolds and a big bore stianless system worth the investment? ( I already have a standard stainless system fitted with standard manifolds)

Has anyone tried the K & N or other airfilters that fit in the standard airbox?

Is it worth lowering the Stag with Tony Harts kit?

My brakes are really good but in this months mag it shows some Jaguar calipers are these better and do they just bolt on?

I would like to improve the car but keep the outward appearance fairly standard.

Sorry for so many questions but hey thats what a forums for isn't it

Stuart

[dogsnadgers]

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As far as I am aware the bore on the exhausts are the same, it is only the tail pipes that are larger. I would imagine tubular manifolds would make quite a difference, the original design being pretty poor, I would love them but can't justify the expense. (to me or my wife!)

How about a Holley Carb to go with them?!

I have heard the K&N does make quite a difference too but again no experience myself on the Stag.

If you're brakes are really good why waste money on new calipers?!

Merry Christmas

Dave

[TimShoubridge]

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I've got the K&N filter and I did notice an improvement. It's not mind blowing but it ticks over better and has slightly more pull. Well worth it, but only if you buy from the US in dollars. The prices over here are a rip off for the same product. There are a number of suppliers, all willing to send stuff over and take our money.

I've heard the jaguar calipers are not worth the money, I think there's an article on the Monarch website but can't be sure. I went through the whole "change the brakes" thing myself and decided that give the driving style & usage it wasn't worth it to me.

I will eventually go for tubular manifolds when I can afford them as I believe they do make a difference.

I'm also going for a holley (again from the US) but this is for my spare engine as I need some carbs and I think the holley is a good bet.

[mjheathcote]

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I've done a fair bit of modification to my engine.

Gas flowed heads

Holbay fast road cams

Holley carb

Tubular exhaust manifolds

Balanced with plenty of time consuming internal polishing & tear dropping of oil ways etc.

I think it is worth it, especially if you are building the engine yourself like i did and can spend the time 'doing it right', calling in the pro's and then bringing it all together at the final build.


I have fancied changing my brakes, but really if you rebuild your standard calipers with new cylinders, new brake master, new rear cylinders with new drums etc, goodridge hoses...basically a complete replacement of original equipment...they are very good as is!

[stustag]

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mjheathcote wrote:

I've done a fair bit of modification to my engine.

Gas flowed heads

Holbay fast road cams

Holley carb

Tubular exhaust manifolds

Balanced with plenty of time consuming internal polishing & tear dropping of oil ways etc.

I think it is worth it, especially if you are building the engine yourself like i did and can spend the time 'doing it right', calling in the pro's and then bringing it all together at the final build.


I have fancied changing my brakes, but really if you rebuild your standard calipers with new cylinders, new brake master, new rear cylinders with new drums etc, goodridge hoses...basically a complete replacement of original equipment...they are very good as is!

Yes I agree my brakes have been rebuilt and have goodridge hoses and apart from not having ABS they are better in regards bite and feel than my year old Mondeo!

Would you say it was better to get a spare engine and built it to my spec rather than trying to mod my engine whilst at the same time trying to use the car?

Do have any recommendations for suppliers of the cams, carb etc.

If modifying the engine would you suggest uprating to the seperate header tank or not?

Stuart

[Guest]

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Oh oh, Don't let the gangsters over at the Triumph Torque Stag forum catch wind of this topic, they will bludgeon us senseless with leaded clubs claiming it is impossible to improve the performance of the Triumph V8 even one iota without it flying apart!!

I believe for engine performance, the comments so far are spot on: fast road cams, headers (tubular exhausts), enhance the breathing by flow balance of the heads and enhancing fuel delivery, full rotating component balance to race specification.

But do not forget precision combustion chamber balance (cc'ing the combustion chambers), larger intake and exhaust valves, and the benefits of electronic fuel injection and electronic engine ignition management.

For suspension, full poly bushes and mounts, lowered spring setup, some wider rubber on the road, beefier front swaybars and addition of rear swaybars, dampers set to medium firm greatly enhance the Stag road manners.
To top it all off, a great set of CV jont driving half shaft axles in new preloaded bearing housings, coupled together with a limited slip differential.

If you check with the people who have been there and already done all that repeatedly, the partial list would include Faversham Classics, Jonathan Finis at Monarch, Tony Hart, EJ Edward Engineers, Tickford, a few other noteables. And don't forget that fabulous Targa Racing Circuit Stag Down Under!

[Kevin Garrod]

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StagByTriumph wrote:

Oh oh, Don't let the gangsters over at the Triumph Torque Stag forum catch wind of this topic, they will bludgeon us senseless with leaded clubs claiming it is impossible to improve the performance of the Triumph V8 even one iota without it flying apart!!

Glenn,

I read some of the threads on the TTS forum and you did get a rough ride, although some might say you didn't do yourself any favours.

I reckon you got off quite lightly here recently by comparison

Keep up the good work!

Kevin

[Guest]

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Kevin Garrod wrote:

StagByTriumph wrote:

Oh oh, Don't let the gangsters over at the Triumph Torque Stag forum catch wind of this topic, they will bludgeon us senseless with leaded clubs claiming it is impossible to improve the performance of the Triumph V8 even one iota without it flying apart!!

Glenn,

I read some of the threads on the TTS forum and you did get a rough ride, although some might say you didn't do yourself any favours.

I reckon you got off quite lightly here recently by comparison

Keep up the good work!

Kevin

I'm innocent!! :P

At least I got in a few full contact blows over there in my defense, ...
but it really was supposed to be a friendly discussion on performance tuning the Triumph V8.

Basically I was jumped in a dark alley and escaped with only a few minor cuts.
Had I known efore hand, I would have been better armed for the fight.

See what they did to John Parker who helped build the Targa Stag! They showed no mercy, and he is a "been there, done that" guy who actually knows what he is talking about from experience.

Anyway, lets stay on topic here, because it can and is already being done.