Triumph Dolomite/Spitfire Engine numbers?

[adrian sandbach]

I've just acquired a 75 Spitfire 1500 which has had an engine swap earlier
in its life. Does anyone understand the Triumph engine serial number
prefixes? Original Spitfire 1500 engines are numbered FM******* HE but
according to the log book the one fitted is YC63017HE. Is YC the prefix for
the Dolomite 1500 or does it have some other significance? (and will it
have a different compression ratio, timing etc.)

Thanks for any assistance,

Adrian

[Robert Pearce]

In article <01bfc979$378a4ea0$ee8b...@xka07.dial.pipex.com>, adrian
sandbach <xk...@dial.pipex.com> writes

YC is a 1500TC saloon engine - same shape as a Dolomite but earlier
model. The engine is basically the same, but may have smaller valves.
Originally the TC had smaller carbs and a single downpipe exhaust
system, but these may have been changed.

--
Rob Pearce
(Former) Club Triumph Herald derivatives consultant

The above views and opinions are mine, and do not necessarily reflect Club
Triumph policy.

[adrian sandbach]

Thanks!
The car has late Spitfire/Midget Waxstat carbs and a Spitfire exhaust
manifold - I'll try to dig out a Dolomite manual to check valve sizes etc.
It was only spotting the engine number that made me suspicious.

Regards,

Adrian

Robert Pearce <classi...@bdt-home.demon.co.uk> wrote in article
<VtbqtjA0...@jonah.huneausware.local>...

[Andy]

adrian sandbach wrote:

> I've just acquired a 75 Spitfire 1500 which has had an engine swap earlier
> in its life. Does anyone understand the Triumph engine serial number
> prefixes? Original Spitfire 1500 engines are numbered FM******* HE but
> according to the log book the one fitted is YC63017HE. Is YC the prefix for
> the Dolomite 1500 or does it have some other significance? (and will it
> have a different compression ratio, timing etc.)
>

> Thanks for any assistance,
>
> Adrian

YC is the prefix for Dolomite 1500 engines.The Spitfire and Dolomite engines
were identical.
-Andy.

The Triumph Dolomite Homepage:
http://go.to/triumphdolomitehomepage

[dav...@ecid.cig.mot.com]

In article <VtbqtjA0...@jonah.huneausware.local>,

Robert Pearce <news_...@bdt-home.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> YC is a 1500TC saloon engine - same shape as a Dolomite but earlier
> model.

Sorry to disagree Rob (doesn't happen often!), but the same prefix was
used on the Dolomite 1500. By this time the specification was (I
believe) identical to the Spitfire in each year - ie., when the
Spitfire had Waxstat carbs, so did the Dolomite 1500,
Cheers,
Bill.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[Robert Pearce]

In article <8h0e8e$6c1$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>, dav...@ecid.cig.mot.com
writes

>In article <VtbqtjA0...@jonah.huneausware.local>,
> Robert Pearce <news_...@bdt-home.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> YC is a 1500TC saloon engine - same shape as a Dolomite but earlier
>> model.
>
>Sorry to disagree Rob (doesn't happen often!), but the same prefix was
>used on the Dolomite 1500. By this time the specification was (I
>believe) identical to the Spitfire in each year - ie., when the
>Spitfire had Waxstat carbs, so did the Dolomite 1500,

You're right, I should read more carefully. However, YC was one of three
prefixes used on Dolomite/Toledo 1500s but the only one used on 1500TCs.
My old 1500 Dolly had a DM prefix. I _suspect_ that YC was used only on
export 1500 Toledos, which would have had the earlier 1500TC engine, but
I don't have positive proof of that.

[adrian sandbach]

>
> Sorry to disagree Rob (doesn't happen often!), but the same prefix was
> used on the Dolomite 1500. By this time the specification was (I
> believe) identical to the Spitfire in each year - ie., when the
> Spitfire had Waxstat carbs, so did the Dolomite 1500,

That makes sense as the car has Waxstat carbs which I don't think are
correct on an April 75 car. Someone probably swapped the engine and carbs
complete.

Thanks to everyone,

Adrian Sandbach