The revival of 650143R, 1970 with TS.

[Richard48Y]

One of those no-win situations.
New 78mm sleeves are available at Euro 57 ea., plus shipping from France.
I prefer to go with 77.8mm but those are not available new.
78mm pistons raise the compression even more due to increased volume.
I also like remaining just under 1600cc, not sure why.
Maybe because I hope to retain my current Weber jetting.

I will be waiting for the pistons and clearance specification before sending the sleeves off to be done.
Wossner do not supply sleeves.
The Renault sleeves have a pretty hefty diameter at the top and two flats.
If that may be used to hold them for boring I would not expect a special fixture to be needed.
Might still have to do something to prevent the thin portion from chattering.
I am very surprised this has not come up more often as 77mm performance pistons appear unavailable without having them custom made.

[GavinT]

Have you tried MECAPARTS?

Cast iron shirt 77.8mm - 47,95 €
The FX conversion must be close to 1:1 for you US guys.

https://www.mecaparts.com/product/chemise-fonte-77-8mm/

The R-12G was originally delivered with 77mm pistons for 1565cc. I suspect this was just a Renault performance package based around existing sleeves already available in the early 807's.

The 77.8mm pistons came later, presumably as a means of increasing capacity while remaining legal for 1600cc class racing.
The real question is; why go to 78mm for 1605cc and be suddenly illegal for a poofteenth of capacity. 

[Richard48Y]

Did not see those at R16 Shop.
Emails sent in an attempt to get more details.
Not too heavy so maybe shipping will be reasonable?
But the other question becomes if they are ready to use, or require a hone to final size?

[Richard48Y]

Okay, I am told they should be good to go. 
I do have the measuring tools to confirm once they get here.
Still looking at one last possibility for matched sets of piston and liner.
Seller says "R12 Gordini" are highest (Factory) compression but failed to reveal just what that compression ratio would be.
Or to confirm displacement.
I do not want to end up with 10.5-1 and only 1400cc. 

[Richard48Y]

R12G was 10.25-1 and 1565cc.
Probably what my engine had at its previous incarnation.
This may be much less expensive than the A-La-Cart approach I thought unavoidable.

Not finding the web based translation all that good.
I think this is a complete set of pistons, rings, pins, and sleeves?
https://www.mecaparts.com/product/kit-complet-4-chemises-pistons-avec-axes-et-segments-2/
Euro 433,26 plus shipping.

Now, does anyone have a clue for Beehive springs to fit a TS head?

[jbcollier]

Yup, includes rings.

Why beehive springs?  The stock springs will rev to 7500, no problem.  At which point, you are just shortening your cam and follower life.

[GavinT]

R12G was 10.25-1 and 1565cc.

That's the cooking version.
There was also a 'BIG' compression version (11.5:1 or whatever it is) and your link isn't clear about that.
I expect either of these sets will use 21mm fully floating pins.

Piston/liner sets usually come with a set of base seals as well.

[Richard48Y]

Beehive springs for less spring mass and lower seat pressure.
Which should extend cam and follower life.
With cams being around $700.00 landed, plus the cost of lifters, they need to last longer.

Still waiting for a reply to my last enquiry regards confirmation of CR and material.

[Richard48Y]

Rear suspension almost fully apart.
And I will be buying more parts. 

Incredible what some folk will do to keep driving.
For those of you competing, buy your tech inspectors a after the event.
If they are sharp they may save your event and even your life from the possible result of some folk skirting safety.

[Richard48Y]

Sold my TR6 project at a sacrifice price.
So should now have the funding to complete purchase of all the critical imported mechanical parts.
Looking forward to those yellow DHL boxes.

[Richard48Y]

  Seems I cannot get Mecaparts to respond to my emails.
I know there is a language issue, I even sent a pre-translated message.
Neither my VOIP or Apple phone is working for international calls.
I may be able to remedy that in the morning.

[Richard48Y]

Wiped out from the efforts to load up the TR6 yesterday so today I took it sort of easy.
Got a good start on my rotisserie spindle.
Had to scrounge metal as the price for new material is "OMG!" high.
I may have to cut it apart to remove but that is not a disaster.
I am sleeping on it and hoping to dream up a better solution.

[Richard48Y]

FYI on Mecaparts pistons in case anyone else plans to build a TS head engine.

"Bonjour,
Le taux de compression du piston 1565cm3 est de 10.25 et pour la version 1596cm3, il est de 11.5."

In English: Hello The compression ratio of the piston 1565cm3 is 10.25 and for the 1596cm3 version it is 11.5.

Still not sure if they are forged or cast.
I will visit their site again.
From past visits I know some pistons are only available in cast and others are available forged.
I am getting more proficient in using the on-line translations. 

The £ to $ exchange rate is rapidly changing for the worse. 
Has anyone crafted an alternative to the @$170.00 transmission mount?
I wonder if we could pour our own rubber to rebuild the original?
I know room temperature mixes are available in varied durometer rates.
But I am not certain how durable they are.

It still seems strange that so many parts for engines produced by the tens of thousands in relatively recent times are so hard to get already.
I was told again today that TS cam cores are "Very rare".
So I will almost certainly have to buy the expensive "Billet steel" cam.

I am about to place parts orders concentrating on the bulky items first.
Bracing myself for shipping cost.
I may have to forego the RS fuel tank which would be very disappointing.

[Richard48Y]

My MG-TF rotors are supposed to be delivered Friday.
I plan to try an experiment with the aluminum VW Scirocco calipers I happen to have on hand.
Not as ideal as Wilwood since they are single piston sliders, But!
They fit 13" wheels, are from a heavier car, should be easy to mount, and DO include an integral parking brake system.
Stay tuned.

[GavinT]

Has anyone crafted an alternative to the @$170.00 transmission mount?

Renault16 Shop for € 85,00
(Might need to drill correct bolt holes)

https://www.renault16shop.com/7700504124,0832013000,0832038400

I wonder if we could pour our own rubber to rebuild the original?

Richard Man, among others, have made poly versions.