Triumph Dolomite

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

The shortcomings of the Triumph Dolomite engine had everything to do with 
Triumph and very little to do with the original engineering design by 
Ricardo. The problems of short timing chain life and oil leaks were caused 
by cost cutting and poor manufacturing. The same engine lives on in the 
SAAB series of four cylinders (though unrecognizable to a superficial 
comparison) SAAB eventually fixed all but one of the shortcomings of the 
engine, they tend to leak from the rear end of the head gasket due to a 
weird overhanging head design. SAAB solved the problems of the SOHC 4 valve 
design by going for DOHC. The Triumph design was elegant to say the least. 
It was possibly the first streetable pent roof design, now ubiquitous in 
Formula One since the famous DFV Cosworth.

Power output of the SOHC 8 valve SAAB engine were higher than the 
superficially, but much older Alfa DOHC design mainly due to Alfa's 
"choice" of an undersquare engine (SAAB was perfectly square, Triumph 
started out undersquare) Granted, Alfa ran out of development room for more 
bore diameter. That's what makes the V6 series so delicious. Almost no one 
else makes such an oversquare engine that also meets emissions.
Michael Smith
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
91 Alfa 164L, White, original owner

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