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GT6 upgrades?

Posted By : Martin Robinson, 27-Mar-2003, 09:02am

Hello all,

What would consider to be "recommended upgrades" to someone buying a GT6 Mk3 for the first time? I'm not talking super racing spec, just stuff to increase useability, drivability and reliability (can't think of any other "ilities"...) like electronic ignition, headlights, interior, carbs or whatever you've learnt from your years of experience!

Thanks in advance for your tips!

Followups :

GT6 upgrades?

Posted By : Martin Robinson, 27-Mar-2003, 09:10am

oh yes ... and what sort of things would you definitely not recommend a possibly ill-informed newbie does to his GT6...? :-)
- GT6 upgrades?
  
  Posted By : Andrew Lewis, 27-Mar-2003, 01:48pm
  
  I hesitate to say this, but the Club sells a lot of shiny stuff that I would steer clear of until you have the real meat and potatoes stuff sorted - as a new owner myself a year ago it was far too tempting to pick stuff out of the Club catalogue that looked good. Six months down the line I had a much better idea of what the car _really_ needed. For example my Bell manifold is ok, but I wouldn't have gone with 6-2-1 after what I know now, and it's had a pretty negative effect on my torque.
  - GT6 upgrades?
    
    Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 27-Mar-2003, 08:04pm
    
    Hi Martin,
    
    The flowed manifold isn't really any good for the engine until you also add free flowing filters and re-set the carbs.
    
    If you simply bolt a modification to an existing set up (carbs, needles, filters, cam etc) you will get a detrimental effect. The reason your losing torque will be because you have increased the flow of gases through your combustion chambers (by making it easier to get out) this will mean that your mixture will now be wrong (if you didn't reset the carbs - hence 'bye-bye' power). The only true way to get the benefits out of these kind of modifications is to get the car to a rolling road and properly set up. Even, fitting the recomended needles isn't the best solution as all engines are different and all driving styles differ too. A static set up isn't tested under load and it's when under load that the conditions need to be right.
    
    NiG
    http://www.niginthecar.net
    - GT6 upgrades?
      
      Posted By : John Davies, 27-Mar-2003, 11:35pm
      
      Andrew,
      
      Nigel is right - up to a point.
      
      The point is that the six cylinder engine is like two three-cylinder engines, mirrored at the middle. Pistons 1/6, 2/5 and 3/4 go up and down together, with one of the pair on the exhaust stroke and one on the ignition. This means that if the exhaust primary tubes are joined together in these pairs, 6-3-1, the exhaust pulse of pressure is reflected from the junction with opposite phase (ie, the positive pressure pulse from one opening exhaust valve reaches the other as a negative pulse). If the primaries are just the right length, then this negative pulse reaches the other exhaust valve just as it opens, for most of the rev range any way. The negative pressure pulse scavenges, or assists the cylinder to empty and encourages more mixture to enter the cylinder during valve overlap. Thus it works even better if you go for a camshaft with increased overlap.
      
      The 6-3-1 style of manifold is called an interference, or scavenger manifold and achieves a classic 'something-for-nothing' performance benefit. This is impossible with a 6-2-1, for which the only benefit is easier installation between the chassis rail and the sump.
      
      As I said with the Nig, there more improvements to be got from other tuning, but as you have discovered, a 6-3-1 is a good way to start.
      John
      - GT6 upgrades?
        
        Posted By : Don Cook, 29-Mar-2003, 07:54pm
        
        Gordon Bennett...
GT6 upgrades?

Posted By : Michael Russell, 27-Mar-2003, 01:04pm

Hi Martin,

I have only owned my GT6 Mk3 for a few weeks but the first time that I drove it in the dark I found that the original headlights were rubbish. I got a halogen headlight upgrade from Paddocks which has greatly improved things!

Mike
GT6 upgrades?

Posted By : Martin Robinson, 28-Mar-2003, 08:54am

Hello again,
I think talk of manifolds is a bit out of my depth at the mo! What about simple service stuff? I've gathered a Kenlowe fan is a good addition if one isn't already fitted. What are your views on electronic ignition - I've noticed a few out there but are they worth it?

Also, I live in Cheshire - any recommendations for parts and service places? I'm willing to travel but anywhere south of Birmingham is a bit too much of a hike!

Thanks again,

Martin
- GT6 upgrades?
  
  Posted By : Graham Reeks, 28-Mar-2003, 10:28am
  
  Well you live in a very handy part of the country! James Paddocks in Chester is very good in my experience.
  
  Further from home, Canley Classics (Filongley, Warwicks.) is good too.
  
  Have a look at their websites.
  
  Kenlowes split the Triumph fraternity: Canley Classics w-site has some details on the argument, I believe. John Kipping doesn't think they're worth bothering with apparently because they can end up blocking air as much as supplying it ... but I'm sure there are plenty of people who'll disagree with that.
  
  The only performance 'upgrade' my Mk3 has is a 3.27 diff matched with an o/d box, and uprated suspension. For the gnarly roads of Lincolnshire it's more than dangerous enough.
- GT6 upgrades?
  
  Posted By : Andrew Lewis, 28-Mar-2003, 11:12am
  
  Electronic ignition - definitely a good idea.
  
  http://www.newtronic.co.uk - formerly known as Piranha is what I've got, excellent trouble free unit.
  
  Nigel and John thanks for comments. For info I have K&Ns and 7B needles in my CD150s. To be honest I'm not 100% convinced about the K&Ns - I'd rather have a constant supply of cold air through pipes to the front as the performance noticeably degrades once it hots up under the bonnet.
  
  The plus side of the Bell manifold is that the engine is a bit is a bit more revvy at the top end, but for ordinary driving I would've preferred to keep the low down torque of the cast iron unit. Of course a quick look at the competition prep book graphs would've shown this would be the result of fitting the tubular one.
  
  Who makes a decent 6-3-1 unit?
  - GT6 upgrades?
    
    Posted By : Martin Robinson, 28-Mar-2003, 12:03pm
    
    Ok... what's this Aldon system that's sold by the club shop?
    - GT6 upgrades?
      
      Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 28-Mar-2003, 01:32pm
      
      I use the Aldon system in my racer...
      
      It's a magnetic system rather than optical and for our cars they are prefectly fine. The bonus of the aldon system is it all fits inside the distributor and so you don't have to install extra boxes anywhere - it's also cheap.
      
      Installation of the system will give you a more accurate spark and 'claims' better fuel economy but you'd hardly notice. The electronic ignition is at it's best at high revs - say above 7,000rpm where points bounce can kill your power curve - but a GT6 doesn't get that high.
      
      You also won't need to change the points ever again, but will still have to check for arching in the distributor.
      
      NiG
      http://www.niginthecar.net
GT6 upgrades?

Posted By : Don Cook, 29-Mar-2003, 08:06pm

Well, I got my GT6 Mk 111 last June and very quickly got fed up with the static seat belts i.e. put the belts on and then unable to reach the ignition! So I paid huge sums of money to the TSSC and now have inertia reel belts - a really good investment as was the stainless exhaust system.

You have to ask yourself if you want it to remain in standard condition or whether you want to benefit from the upgrades to make it a more usable car than it already is. If you use it a lot it might be a good idea to get it undersealed; it doesn't look nice though. I fitted a smaller steering wheel but that was a comfort thing.

Course, Martin, the best upgrade is someone pretty in the passenger seat!
- GT6 upgrades?
  
  Posted By : Martin Robinson, 29-Mar-2003, 10:57pm
  
  I've already the passenger seat sorted out - in fact I was surprised when she liked the idea of me getting a GT6!
  
  I'm not a purist, so I'm not desperate to keep the car in exact factory spec; I intend to use it as a daily driver so i'm just after suggestions to make it usable.
  
  Thanks!
- GT6 upgrades?
  
  Posted By : Ian Southwell, 30-Mar-2003, 09:33pm
  
  What did you do with the static belts? were they any good? I'm after a pair! Thanks
  - GT6 upgrades?
    
    Posted By : Don Cook, 31-Mar-2003, 00:01am
    
    The static belts are perfect - trouble is that I'll hang on to them, as I will the original steering wheel and either re-fit or pass them on with the car, if ever I sell it; which I won't!
    
    There were loads of decent belts at Stafford but honestly think about inertia reel - so much better.
    
    I have a load of secondhand car seat foam (not in tact you understand but in a zillion crumbs)that's fallen out of the seats and piled neatly on the carpet; the replacements aren't cheap either!
    - GT6 upgrades?
      
      Posted By : Dom Weaver, 31-Mar-2003, 02:22pm
      
      Don,
      
      I heard at the weekend that someone managed to sell a bucket of tap water on E-Bay for over Â£100....
      
      Maybe your squab crumbs could be worth more than you think...