Discussion
Trouble is the compression ratio is dependent on which bit of paper you have in your hand. For the bible I found about 5 different compression ratios per engine. All from TVR offical sources and quotes. All allegedly the right ones...
Some of the 400 engines were quoted as 10.5 to 1 which is higher than the figures quoted for the 400HC and even for the 500!
Some of the 400 engines were quoted as 10.5 to 1 which is higher than the figures quoted for the 400HC and even for the 500!
Gaffer said:
High Compression.
I was talking to Dad about it today - completly unrelated to this thread.
Looking at some Griffs so I wanted to know the difference between HC and BV.
Claire
>> Edited by Gaffer on Friday 16th January 15:24
ARGGGHHHHHHHHHH
I hate it when TVR does this to me...
Mr Ravenscroft told me that HC was often mistakenly taken as high compression and that it was high lift cam. To be fair... I had both explanations from various people at the factory. I've had both explanations from dealers and salesmen. I've had it from owners and engine builders as well.
I then looked at the technical data and came to the conclusion that the compression explanation didn't really fit the specs. If HC is high compression why didn't the 400 and 400HC have different compression ratios? They do have different cams though. Hmmmmmm.
The 400HC and 500 engines have the same high lift cam. According to the TVR specs, they also have the same compression ratios depending on which spec you have. They also have the same CR as the BV engines and the same cam as well. The only difference being valve sizes and capacity. This does make the high compression claim a little unsubstantiated.
I wonder if the intention was to offer the power increase by a CR increase and this would explain the HC = high compression but in reality the power increase cames from cam changes because higher CRs would probably have caused pinking and predetonation problems. At this point the HC was magically changed and now stood for High lift Cam. As a result, both explanations have come down as being the "authentic" reason.
The technical specs are in the bible... select which ones you want and make your own minds up!
DustyC said:the reason people put it in the adverts is because there is a definate(allbeit small)difference between a hc and a std 500.the hc is badged as 500hc on the plenum,and the stats(340bhp/350ftlb) are titled 500hc in the handbook that comes with the car.on a std 500 it just says 500 in both cases and std stats in the handbook are 320/320.some people consider the hc as being the ultimate in terms of performance spec and so consider them more desireable.some insurance companys list both variations(my previous one did),so in this respect it well worth knowing if your ins.co. is one of them.id love to think that a hc is worth more etc.etc as i own one
Just never understood why people bother to put it in the adverts if they are all HC.
,but in truth the spec of the car,colour,options etc.is what determines the price far more influentially.i never looked for a hc when i bought mine,i just ended up with one.as i and others said before,just get the one thats best condition,drive etc.simpo two said:
Mine was registered in August 1997, ie before the change from 340 to 320bhp which IIRC was October that year. However neither the handbook nor plenum badge say 'HC'...
there is no cut off date for hc/std.around 95-97 you can get both,ive even seen cars as late as 2000 advertised as hc,this may be a fake or you may still have been able to spec it on a new car at that time? knowing tvr thats quite possible i would have thought.
>> Edited by mongoose on Friday 16th January 18:20
>> Edited by mongoose on Friday 16th January 18:21
mongoose said:
Mine was registered in August 1997, ie before the change from 340 to 320bhp which IIRC was October that year. However neither the handbook nor plenum badge say 'HC'...
'ive even seen cars as late as 2000 advertised as hc,
I'm still of the opinion that all 500s have the higher compression engine and that the 340/320 debate is an ECU thing - but then I'm quoting SH, and even he's not sure now!
OK, I'll give you one fact for sure. At least one of the Griffs that is claimed to be 340bhp HC (whatever it might mean) is a bugger to drive in crawling traffic - that's mine (if I said all of them, someone would pop up within 3 mins going 'mine's ok'). Like trying to ride a Thoroughbred on a riding-school hack round the lanes.
The blokey (sorry, can't remember your name without looking) was wanting to know what it would mean to him in buying one. Well if you're going to use it for a daily driver in City traffic, you'll not love it much. And it won't love you either. Apart from that, find one you like the look and feel of, get it inspected by a specialist and go for gold.
I regularly go out to play on the back roads in my 500'HC' with a bloke with a 4.3BV. We both have a hoot.
The blokey (sorry, can't remember your name without looking) was wanting to know what it would mean to him in buying one. Well if you're going to use it for a daily driver in City traffic, you'll not love it much. And it won't love you either. Apart from that, find one you like the look and feel of, get it inspected by a specialist and go for gold.
I regularly go out to play on the back roads in my 500'HC' with a bloke with a 4.3BV. We both have a hoot.
rude girl said:how true!cant recommend taking the pre-cats out highly enough as a good cure for this,smooths out the bottom end nicely.plus you also get the benefit of the aural enhancement thrown in for free
OK, I'll give you one fact for sure. At least one of the Griffs that is claimed to be 340bhp HC (whatever it might mean) is a bugger to drive in crawling traffic - that's mine . Like trying to ride a Thoroughbred on a riding-school hack round the lanes.
oh and no it doesnt screw up the emmissions either before anyone asks!rude girl said:
OK, I'll give you one fact for sure. At least one of the Griffs that is claimed to be 340bhp HC (whatever it might mean) is a bugger to drive in crawling traffic - that's mine (if I said all of them, someone would pop up within 3 mins going 'mine's ok'). Like trying to ride a Thoroughbred on a riding-school hack round the lanes.
The blokey (sorry, can't remember your name without looking) was wanting to know what it would mean to him in buying one. Well if you're going to use it for a daily driver in City traffic, you'll not love it much. And it won't love you either. Apart from that, find one you like the look and feel of, get it inspected by a specialist and go for gold.
I regularly go out to play on the back roads in my 500'HC' with a bloke with a 4.3BV. We both have a hoot.
Have you let Mark Adams have a look?
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