TR7 head on 1850 engine

For everything to do with Dolomites, Toledos, FWD cars and Dolomite-based kitcars.
Message
Author
User avatar
Henk
TDC Member
Posts: 419
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:17 pm
Location: Gapinge (NL)

TR7 head on 1850 engine

#1 Post by Henk »

Is it possible to fit a TR7 head to a 1850 engine block?

I found some opinions in the archives but no consensus. Some say it won't physically fit, others speak of compression ratio loss due to a bigger combustion chamber in the TR7 head?
I'm after this one:
http://www.2dehands.be/auto-onderdelen- ... nt=234x104

Did I miss the conclusion on this topic?
Jon Tilson
Guest contributor
Guest contributor
Posts: 11179
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:45 pm
Location: Middlesex

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#2 Post by Jon Tilson »

They are the same. Well late ones for TR7's and 1850s have larger exhaust valves and no slot under
the rear inlet ports but apart from that it will fit perfectly.

Jonners
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.
User avatar
soe8m
Guest contributor
Guest contributor
Posts: 3179
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:13 am
Location: The continent

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#3 Post by soe8m »

They are totally different.

If you would fit a tr7 head on an 1850 you will end up with a compressio ratio of about 1:6.

Jeroen
Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com
User avatar
Henk
TDC Member
Posts: 419
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:17 pm
Location: Gapinge (NL)

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#4 Post by Henk »

That's no option then.
Thanks!
User avatar
GrahamFountain
Guest contributor
Guest contributor
Posts: 1735
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 3:35 pm
Location: St Annes on Sea, Lancs.

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#5 Post by GrahamFountain »

Jeroen wrote:If you would fit a tr7 head on an 1850 you will end up with a compressio ratio of about 1:6.
Yeah, but at a CR of 6:1, it would probably run on some pretty low octain fuel, possibly paraffin or ATF (jet fuel, not auto-transmission fluid).

I remember when I was at tech collage in the 70s (doing motor engineering, after I discovered I weren't cut out for civil engineering, and before I found out that electronics was that easy) we had a Dutch lecturer (whose name escapes) who reckoned he'd run cars on wood smoke during the war. If I remember, he said that knocking was a bit of a problem with that. So that might work well at 6:1.

Thing is, thought, the stove that heats the pine, and generate the fuel gas, takes up all the boot space.

That, and you really need a chauffeur! So perhaps it's only an ideal fuel in Stoke-on-Trent.

Graham
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).
User avatar
trackerjack
Guest contributor
Guest contributor
Posts: 4727
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:33 pm
Location: hampshire

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#6 Post by trackerjack »

MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm or perhaps a nice big turbo 8)
track action maniac.

The lunatic is out................heres Jonny!
User avatar
Henk
TDC Member
Posts: 419
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:17 pm
Location: Gapinge (NL)

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#7 Post by Henk »

Yes that idea crossed my mind!
:lol:
Jon Tilson
Guest contributor
Guest contributor
Posts: 11179
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:45 pm
Location: Middlesex

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#8 Post by Jon Tilson »

Looking at a TR7 and a late 1850 head I am struggling to see the difference.....
The rear heater outlet is about all I can see and that is interchangeable...

Jonners
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.
User avatar
tony g
TDC Member
Posts: 2283
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:02 pm
Location: Nr Kenilworth

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#9 Post by tony g »

Jon Tilson wrote:Looking at a TR7 and a late 1850 head I am struggling to see the difference.....
The rear heater outlet is about all I can see and that is interchangeable...

Jonners

Combustion chamber cc's ?

Tony
Membership 2014047
tractor boy

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#10 Post by tractor boy »

I have just read posts on TR7 head on a 1850 dolomite,i recently changed my inlet manifold gaskets on my77 dolomite and noticed that there wasnt a slot under the rear inlet ports, do i have a TR7 head on my car, are there any other identifying features i can look for. My engine doesnt run smoothly at all despite balancing the carbs resetting the timing and fitting an accuspark ignition unit. The running can be best described as "heavy" and icant get a decent idle. Compressions are equal and every thing checks out ok. Should i consider changing the head for an 1850 type, but would welcome your views first.Thanks Tractor Boy
Edin Dundee

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#11 Post by Edin Dundee »

tractor boy wrote:... there wasnt a slot under the rear inlet ports, ...Thanks Tractor Boy
Apparently only early 1850s had this slot - none of the three heads I've used in recent years had a slot here, but the gaskets are cut for the slot just in case.
tractor boy

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#12 Post by tractor boy »

Thanks Bill the joys of owning a dolomite i learn something new every day!!. Tractor Boy
User avatar
soe8m
Guest contributor
Guest contributor
Posts: 3179
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:13 am
Location: The continent

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#13 Post by soe8m »

Googled some heads.

The upper is an 1850 one and the lower two tr7's.

The middle has a bigger cut out around the valves so a bigger combustion chamber. The lower is a low compression and this type i have two which was with the fuel injection sets.

Jeroen
kop.JPG
kop.JPG (471.06 KiB) Viewed 1841 times
Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com
Jon Tilson
Guest contributor
Guest contributor
Posts: 11179
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:45 pm
Location: Middlesex

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#14 Post by Jon Tilson »

The 1850 got the larger exhaust valves around the time the TR7 was introduced.

Anyone got a TR7 parts book?

Jonners
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.
User avatar
GrahamFountain
Guest contributor
Guest contributor
Posts: 1735
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 3:35 pm
Location: St Annes on Sea, Lancs.

Re: TR7 head on 1850 engine

#15 Post by GrahamFountain »

Just a question, but what CR would you likely get the other way around - 1850 head on a 2 L TR7 block and piston set? Possibly, as an alternative, with the US spec low compression TR7 pistons.
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).
Post Reply