Super Sports ignition timing
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Super Sports ignition timing
Hi All,
Wasn't sure which board to pick so hope it's the right one!
I'm slowly working through sorting bits on my Super Sports and could do with some advise on what people are running with for ignition, from what I can find the TR engine should be timed static 4 deg BTDC, but then I've also been told the Super Sport needs to be set to 8 deg?
It also has a luminition optronic kit fitted any advise on what to replace this with as it seems to have an intermittent fault not always breaking.
cheers
Ian
Wasn't sure which board to pick so hope it's the right one!
I'm slowly working through sorting bits on my Super Sports and could do with some advise on what people are running with for ignition, from what I can find the TR engine should be timed static 4 deg BTDC, but then I've also been told the Super Sport needs to be set to 8 deg?
It also has a luminition optronic kit fitted any advise on what to replace this with as it seems to have an intermittent fault not always breaking.
cheers
Ian
- Philip Tisdall
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Ian,
Might be worth asking Billy or Jack Bellinger at JB Sports Engineering. They both have a lot of experience with Super Sports
Might be worth asking Billy or Jack Bellinger at JB Sports Engineering. They both have a lot of experience with Super Sports
Philip
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Hallo Ian,
As far as I know it's 4 degrees BD.
Machiel.
As far as I know it's 4 degrees BD.
Machiel.
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Thanks for the suggestion Phillip. & Machiel for confirming the 4 deg 
Ian

Ian
- jack bellinger
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
unfortunately this is not an easy question to answer
the most important thing is the ign timing at max revs not tickover
which the engine builder should tell you
normally not much more than 32deg BTDC at 5000
the advance curve on the distributor defines this as to what the static timing runs at
if every thing is totally std super sports 8 deg is a good start point but you must not exceed eng builders max advance
hope this helps
jack
the most important thing is the ign timing at max revs not tickover
which the engine builder should tell you
normally not much more than 32deg BTDC at 5000
the advance curve on the distributor defines this as to what the static timing runs at
if every thing is totally std super sports 8 deg is a good start point but you must not exceed eng builders max advance
hope this helps
jack
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Thanks Jack,
as far as I'm aware it is still standard Lawrence Tune Super Sports, I have nothing from an engine builder to go on!
Ideally I need to get the car to someone who knows Super Sports to get it set up properly
at the moment I'm just trying to get the car running reliably as it's had a few years of not being used.
Ian
as far as I'm aware it is still standard Lawrence Tune Super Sports, I have nothing from an engine builder to go on!
Ideally I need to get the car to someone who knows Super Sports to get it set up properly

Ian
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Hi Ian,
Give these guys a call,
http://www.massracing.co.uk/home/4580266969
There's not a lot they can't tell you about TR engines.
They have built a fair few of the TR engines, under the bonnets of the +4's currently racing.
They also have a rolling road in site.
Cheers Jim
Give these guys a call,
http://www.massracing.co.uk/home/4580266969
There's not a lot they can't tell you about TR engines.
They have built a fair few of the TR engines, under the bonnets of the +4's currently racing.
They also have a rolling road in site.
Cheers Jim
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Hallo,
As Ian told, he has a "standard" Super Sports". I have no idea what camshaft is in this engine. But in my own car I have one made by Iskendarian. If you like I can give you the number. The engine works fine by 4 degrees. With loads of torque!
In an official document from Lawrence Tune, from I think 1961, I read the following for a "Competition prepared Triumph TR3 engine:
Ignition timing should be reset at 16 deg. B.T.D.C. if disturbed, and finally adjusted on the road.
In another document I read: 4 degrees.
All other, more modern prepared engines have, well that's what I think, different adjustments.
Ian if you like I can scan the documents and send it to your Email address.
Best regards, Machiel.
As Ian told, he has a "standard" Super Sports". I have no idea what camshaft is in this engine. But in my own car I have one made by Iskendarian. If you like I can give you the number. The engine works fine by 4 degrees. With loads of torque!
In an official document from Lawrence Tune, from I think 1961, I read the following for a "Competition prepared Triumph TR3 engine:
Ignition timing should be reset at 16 deg. B.T.D.C. if disturbed, and finally adjusted on the road.
In another document I read: 4 degrees.
All other, more modern prepared engines have, well that's what I think, different adjustments.
Ian if you like I can scan the documents and send it to your Email address.
Best regards, Machiel.
- jack bellinger
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
if your not sure about the eng spec
4 degrees would be the safest option
4 degrees would be the safest option
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Digging through the papers from Peter Evans that came with the car it seems he had a 'full race cam MTRF' from I & J Macdonald in 1973!
Machiel - if you don't mind emailing me the documents it would be appreciated, do you have my email address?
I will go with the 4deg as being as safe place to start from.
Machiel - if you don't mind emailing me the documents it would be appreciated, do you have my email address?
I will go with the 4deg as being as safe place to start from.
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Hallo Ian,
Sorry, Ian I don't have your Email address. Can you help me with that?
Do you want a copy of both documents? Or just the one with the announcement of the 4 degrees. The Iskendarian camshaft is still the original 1965 +4 Super Sports. I have the Iskendarian catalog of that time. They even had 2 camshafts with a hotter profile. But, the idea behind the +4SS of that time was that you could use the car for shopping as well.
All the best, I look forward to your reply,
Machiel.
Sorry, Ian I don't have your Email address. Can you help me with that?
Do you want a copy of both documents? Or just the one with the announcement of the 4 degrees. The Iskendarian camshaft is still the original 1965 +4 Super Sports. I have the Iskendarian catalog of that time. They even had 2 camshafts with a hotter profile. But, the idea behind the +4SS of that time was that you could use the car for shopping as well.
All the best, I look forward to your reply,
Machiel.
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
my super sport, 5212, has a D grind cam which as far as I know was the stock cam
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Re: camshaft +4 Super Sports
Dear Arthur,
Good to hear from you? At the end of the afternoon I shall dig in my archive will have a look in the catalog of Iskendarian.
BTW, is your +4 Super Sports registered in the MHR-register?
I'll come back to you as soon as possible,
Machiel.
Good to hear from you? At the end of the afternoon I shall dig in my archive will have a look in the catalog of Iskendarian.
BTW, is your +4 Super Sports registered in the MHR-register?
I'll come back to you as soon as possible,
Machiel.
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Hallo Arthur,
Good news: I found the Iskenderian catalog. If you like I can make a copy of the page with the camshafts for the TR-engines. The one in my Super Sports engine has number TR 555.
I look forward to your response,
Machiel.
Good news: I found the Iskenderian catalog. If you like I can make a copy of the page with the camshafts for the TR-engines. The one in my Super Sports engine has number TR 555.
I look forward to your response,
Machiel.
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Re: Super Sports ignition timing
Jedi Hopeful
https://www.britishcarforum.com/communi ... 20.111021/
found the above in saved documents As far as being registered on the MHR, I doubt it. It's hard to pass up any info! 5212 is the VIN number the engine block has E212 cast on it as well as Brilchrome
https://www.britishcarforum.com/communi ... 20.111021/
found the above in saved documents As far as being registered on the MHR, I doubt it. It's hard to pass up any info! 5212 is the VIN number the engine block has E212 cast on it as well as Brilchrome