Triumph Dolomite Sprint/SAAB B engine

[Geoff]

I was looking around the interweb and randomly came across this website about the Triumph Dolomite Sprint, which had the same Triumph engine as the original 99 had (or a very similar variant).
http://www.dollysprint.com/Default.htm
I knew this car existed but I've never seen any pictures of it or the engine before. Look familiar?



The interesting part is that it had a 16v head

Which was run by a single cam, operating the intake valves like a normal SAAB 8v head (cam on lifters) with the exhaust valves being rocker operated.


The manifold even looks like it would fit the cars nicely under a 99/900 hood



I don't ever remember seeing one of these cars (probably not sold in the US?) but maybe FulviaCorsa could find some parts from one and use them for his car in Greece

He's also gone to an electric waterpump

[Geoff]

There's also a company in Australia that specializes in those cars. They sell a reconditioned waterpump kit (earlier 8 cog).



Note the aluminum water pump impeller they sell.. I may have to get one of those!

http://www.sprintparts.triumphowners.com/products.cgi?articleID=480069

[Luke]

Thats pretty neato! and the aluminum impeller is cool!

[sonett]

In standard tune this engine only gave out about 127bhp.
It will only fit onto the early Saab gearboxes, the ones that came with the Triumph engines.

[Jordan]

In standard tune this engine only gave out about 127bhp.
It will only fit onto the early Saab gearboxes, the ones that came with the Triumph engines.

Which the 8v or 16v?

Nice pics Geoff... its like a SAAB B-engines separated at birth twin brother. Were they still 1.7 or 1.8L?

What about the SAAB engine on the RWD transmission? or bell housing etc..

[Geoff]

How about the head bolt pattern? Do you know if you could put one of those heads on a B motor, use the appropriate timing equipment and be good to go (more or less)?

The cam lobes operating the intake lifters and then on rockers for the exhaust valves cracks me up!

This portion of the webpage talks about some 150hp to 240hp engines
http://www.dollysprint.com/GeneralTuning.htm

The Special Tuning page is interesting too
http://www.dollysprint.com/BL_Special_Tuning.htm
Sounds like the cranks weren't as robust, I keep seeing things about straightening the crank and upgraded crank damper kits.

[Geoff]

Which the 8v or 16v?

Nice pics Geoff... its like a SAAB B-engines separated at birth twin brother. Were they still 1.7 or 1.8L?

16v

It looks like they were 1850cc but there were also some 1500 and 1300cc.... (?)

[SaabsBreakDown]

I am not impressed with british engineering

keep that engine away from me i don't want to be anywhere near it

i can't wait to get an H motor into the rally car.

[Crazyswede]

I am not impressed with british engineering

keep that engine away from me i don't want to be anywhere near it

i can't wait to get an H motor into the rally car.

British engineering is interesting but not all of it is bad. The engines in my land rovers are simple and reliable and will run on just about anything.

[Jordan]

Yeah, just look at the Viaduc de Millau Bridge


(Channeling J. Clarkson)...
Not all British engineering is ham-fisted and done in a shed by a man named Steve.

[Neil_G]

The problem with the Triumph Dolomite Sprint engine is that one set of head bolts (studs actually) are slanted. This caused head gasket problems as the clamping forces of the head to the block were not at 90 degrees.

To fit the 16v dolomite head on the Saab b motor would require modification / welding / drilling to the head to fit the 90 degree head bolts.

Once I get the head off of my B motor (seized and broken head bolts that need drilling out), I will offer up a dolomite head (which I have lying around) to see how it fits.

regards
Neil

[DeLorean]

That valve train configuration is not that un common, my Alfa V6 has that exact same set up. Also, interestingly on that sort of configuration typically the exhaust valves are adjustable, while the intake valves are shimmed. Interesting, yes but I don't think the real world practicality is there when we already have a properly designed highly reliable 16V valve train that fits in our cars, and that you can get parts for in basically any junk yard anywhere in the US...

[SaabsBreakDown]

Does anyone remember the old chiltons manual describing how to remove the triumph head?

It's something like:

"Remove the cylinder head bolts and cylinder head. (Actually, this is not as easy as it sounds. Often times the head and head bolts get fused together as one unit, and the bolts break while trying to remove them. If this occurs, prise on the cylinder head until it is aprox. 1/16" away from the block, and insert a hack saw blade to cut the cylinder head bolts.

One of the best shop manual sections i've ever read.

[paulh]

Does anyone remember the old chiltons manual describing how to remove the triumph head?

It's something like:

"Remove the cylinder head bolts and cylinder head. (Actually, this is not as easy as it sounds. Often times the head and head bolts get fused together as one unit, and the bolts break while trying to remove them. If this occurs, prise on the cylinder head until it is aprox. 1/16" away from the block, and insert a hack saw blade to cut the cylinder head bolts.

One of the best shop manual sections i've ever read.

I have that, I think it also describes the "sledgehammer method" of cylinder head removal

Paul

[Geoff]

ha! I remember reading that before I took the first SAAB head off and thought "oh great" Fortunately it wasn't a Triumph head.

I think its neat comparing these engines to ours. If the Triumph people knew what was good for them they'd fit a 16vT from a 900 into their cars! And trash their transmissions too probably....