Surviving 350SE's

Surviving 350SE's

Author
Discussion

ElvisWedgely

Original Poster:

2,714 posts

165 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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There were 25 built originally and I have one of them, which is No.20. There is also an identical clone to mine for sale at the moment with the wrong wheels. I know it's a clone because mine has the original sale invoice amongst it's history.
Mr. Tank also owns one which I think is No.21. and also did a survey a while back to find out how many still exists, but I'm not sure of the outcome. There is another which used to be No.12 but is now a Sebring, so it's here in spirit but not in body.
Then there is No.9 which I used to own several years ago but is still in existence. Then there is another guy who owns one I met at a Rushton but I can't recall his name or the number of his car. That brings the total to about five. So, where are the rest? I'm sure there are a few I've left out but it would be interesting to know how many actually still exists. So if anyone I haven't mentioned owns one, do make yourselves known.

The 350SE is very similar to the 390SE in many ways except it's much rarer of course, as not so many were actually built. They both have a 3.9 engine and a similar dash. Some body mouldings are different as are the wheels.

Tony. TCB.

stevoj

798 posts

161 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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I get the feeling you might get nearer the truth than I will on the 390smile

As far as the engine in the 350se being a 3.9, is this a Rover job or NCK/TVR?

Morrissey's Cat

31 posts

123 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Afternoon All

To confirm SE No9 is very much alive and well and in exceptionaly rude health and scaring the natives in North Lincs

Ade

keatsie

326 posts

164 months

red tasman

295 posts

199 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Number 1 was written off a couple of years ago.

adam quantrill

11,538 posts

242 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Here we go...

stevmale

125 posts

175 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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I have No 26 .
I have owned the car for over 2 years.
Its never been reliable .but i have learnt thats a TVR way of life.

ElvisWedgely

Original Poster:

2,714 posts

165 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
I have owned two 350SE's and both have been very reliable. I believe the 3.9 in the 350SE pushes out power equal to the 390SE. If anything more so, as its fitted with later and revised technology. I also believe that the 350SE is fitted with a big valve engine. I know this because my one has had the heads overhauled and the invoice refers to replacement of big valve heads. So far on this thread only six 350SE's have been accounted for.

Tony. TCB.


jimburr

216 posts

138 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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350SE No 24 is still alive, but in a coma at the moment. dizzy sitting right next to me. Any ho, wedge fest 2013 Me No24. Mr Tanks No21, The black No23 (young lad). and another blue one and it was a beaut, will look at the pics on the laptop and find out what number it is.

That was me at Rushden you had the Black 400SE then,then at wedgefest13,then BHP, and then wedgefest14,and im sure we'll meet again.

long live the Wedge

ElvisWedgely

Original Poster:

2,714 posts

165 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
jimburr said:
350SE No 24 is still alive, but in a coma at the moment. dizzy sitting right next to me. Any ho, wedge fest 2013 Me No24. Mr Tanks No21, The black No23 (young lad). and another blue one and it was a beaut, will look at the pics on the laptop and find out what number it is.

That was me at Rushden you had the Black 400SE then,then at wedgefest13,then BHP, and then wedgefest14,and im sure we'll meet again.

long live the Wedge
Yes,Jim, I remember now. In fact we have met on several occasions. Sorry, I was getting confused. I think I'm going dizzy with all this info. Yours is of course No 24. With No. 23 accounted for and another blue one, that brings the figure to 8 if I'm not mistaken. We are still missing 17, unless they have all gone to heaven.

Tony. TCB.

Skyedriver

17,849 posts

282 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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How does one recognise a 350SE a opposed to a 350i?
Just curious as my log book just states "TVR" no model listed.

gmw9666

2,735 posts

200 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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i think simonwedge on here has a blue one

ElvisWedgely

Original Poster:

2,714 posts

165 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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Skyedriver said:
How does one recognise a 350SE a opposed to a 350i?
Just curious as my log book just states "TVR" no model listed.
You can never go by what it says in the log book when it comes to early TVR's, especially wedges.

The 350SE was the last of the 350i being produced so it's a commemorative edition. These were numbered from 1 to 25 with the exception of 13 which was produced as 26. So 350SE's are always late cars in the production line and will have later chassis numbers.

Visual differences are the wheels and badging and they were fitted with a 3.9 big valve engine as opposed to the 350i with an ordinary 3.5 engine.

As the differences were not too far apart, there were attempts at cloning some of the 350SE's in the early years as they had done mine. My 350SE was copied but some details were incorrect, like the wheels for example, and of course the chassis number on that would be an early one indicating that 350SE's were not yet in production as the 350i was still being built. So like any other copy, it can be identified if you know where to look.

Tony. TCB.

ElvisWedgely

Original Poster:

2,714 posts

165 months

Sunday 20th July 2014
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Well, I make that eight so far, excluding the fake ones. That's not bad I guess out of 25 after all these years. If there are any more genuine 350SE's out there, I'd be interested to know as I'm sure others would be too.

Tony. TCB.


Number 7

4,103 posts

262 months

Sunday 20th July 2014
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Tony, I think yours may be the exception (BV) as I thought the standard spec was essentially the same engine as the V8S (normal valves and 240bhp).

stevmale

125 posts

175 months

Sunday 20th July 2014
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350se Number 26 .

After a track day the engine was shot.

On dismantling the engine I found a original KCW L9R cam and Heplolite "M "pistons . Plus the valves are larger than standard and also have wasted stems , plus the heads and valve guides have been machined to allow for a high lift cam and double springs ,but heads are not ported or polished .

I have no idea what BHP it produced prior to its failure . But it felt quick.



Plus the car is fitted with adjustable Koni shocks all round and a "A" frame rear suspension system plus a LSD.

My intention is to continue the rebuild and achieve a reliable 270/300 BHP unit .




Number 7

4,103 posts

262 months

Sunday 20th July 2014
quotequote all
stevmale said:
350se Number 26 .

After a track day the engine was shot.

On dismantling the engine I found a original KCW L9R cam and Heplolite "M "pistons . Plus the valves are larger than standard and also have wasted stems , plus the heads and valve guides have been machined to allow for a high lift cam and double springs ,but heads are not ported or polished .

I have no idea what BHP it produced prior to its failure . But it felt quick.



Plus the car is fitted with adjustable Koni shocks all round and a "A" frame rear suspension system plus a LSD.

My intention is to continue the rebuild and achieve a reliable 270/300 BHP unit .
WL9 is the BL Motorsport cam designation - I assume KC is the maker, Kent Cams. A quick look at my reference books suggests this is actually a relatively mild cam.

stevmale

125 posts

175 months

Sunday 20th July 2014
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Hi . thanks for the info.
would it be possible to let me now any details taken from your records of the cam.

thanks

steve

ElvisWedgely

Original Poster:

2,714 posts

165 months

Sunday 20th July 2014
quotequote all
The cylinder heads on my 350SE was rebuilt just before the last owner bought the car. He owned it for three years and I've owned it just over a year. So the rebuild was about four years ago. On the invoice it states that it was fitted with big valve heads. I'll look up the invoice and see if there is any other information. One thing I know though, it's got plenty of power and has what seems like endless revs.

Tony.TCB.

Lemonentry

136 posts

135 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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Hi Ive number 12 (sebring Bodied)

The quick way of telling, you have the last of the 25, is that the engine number must be of course an original 3.9

Stamping on the engine block will be:

Rover original s/n number = 47A000 (then the number specific to your engine)
CR9.35.1 (compression Details)
A40 (stands for TVR 4.0ltr)
N.C.K (then the number specific to your engine) HS

The diff must be a LSD
The dials must be back to front Griffith (as they run out of 350I dials on the last 25 cars)
The wheels are all the same as seen on other cars above
It should have Power steering
the log book will say its a 350, but they all do

Power output on mine, which is in good condition, but had a new cam (unknown type and make on receipt, but fitted by RC Racing) some 10k ago. Tuned with the ingnition backed off, (because i like it smooth running in 5th from 25mph) run on straight unleaded, was proved this year to be 214bhp @ 5500 rpm, which disproves the original TVR figure of 279bhp

There was a red scrapped 350se on ebay being sold for parts, but cant remember the number.

Hope this helps