Discussion
I'm new here but have had 2 modern & 1 classic TVRs previously; so not completely unaware of pitfalls in running an older TVR. However I've no real experience of wedges so I'm looking for help/advice on buying a Tasmin/280i FHC. I know of only 2 for sale at the moment 1 on this site & 1 on autotrader. Any comments about buying in general or these 2 cars in particular would be appreciated.
Sure you want a fixed-head? DHCs are always more popular and more likely to sell quicker come chopping-time.
The 2.8 V6 cars are generally a good bit cheaper than the V8s (there are exceptions of course); as always, buy on condition, not age or mileage - a garage queen can be as much trouble as a high-miler.
Pre-1985 cars were intended for leaded fuel so will need additives now; later ones have unleaded-ready cylinder heads.
Ask yourself if you really want a V6: the V8 is minimally heavier but a fair bit more powerful; the Wedge is not, regardless of what people claim, a light car - 1100Kg on a good day. The lightest of all were early DHCs (leaving aside the SEACs with their Kevlar panels).
Check the chassis. All of it, but mainly the areas you can't see, under the sill covers. Also the rearmost tubes around the differential tend to corrode. The spine tubes, around the propshaft, rarely have issues.
Suspension towers at both ends are also becoming susceptible to rot now.
...and that's just for starters
The 2.8 V6 cars are generally a good bit cheaper than the V8s (there are exceptions of course); as always, buy on condition, not age or mileage - a garage queen can be as much trouble as a high-miler.
Pre-1985 cars were intended for leaded fuel so will need additives now; later ones have unleaded-ready cylinder heads.
Ask yourself if you really want a V6: the V8 is minimally heavier but a fair bit more powerful; the Wedge is not, regardless of what people claim, a light car - 1100Kg on a good day. The lightest of all were early DHCs (leaving aside the SEACs with their Kevlar panels).
Check the chassis. All of it, but mainly the areas you can't see, under the sill covers. Also the rearmost tubes around the differential tend to corrode. The spine tubes, around the propshaft, rarely have issues.
Suspension towers at both ends are also becoming susceptible to rot now.
...and that's just for starters
Hi mate...All of the above and more...I know own a V8 Wedge and previously i owned a V6...I spent an absolute fortune on the V6..She was in a terrible state and after spending around 4K to put her right i then spent another 5K supercharging her which ended in tears..I don't regret it but now i own a V8 i wish i had gone that route to start with...Mainly because i hankered after a V8 for years.
The leaded heads can be an issue if you intend to use the car a lot, Especially long journeys..Unleaded head conversions are not cheap and as far as I'm aware there were no V6 Colognes that were made with unleaded heads..At least not with TVR..There might of been with the later S3 US exports?...But Ford never as a rule..Info collected from Ford specialist of 30 years.
The V8 is much more of a animal and TBH it costs me less in insurance and actually less in petrol..Don't know how??..And produces an even bigger silly grin.
Good luck in whatever you choose and hope to see you joining the Wedge fraternity at some point...Cheers...Ziga
The leaded heads can be an issue if you intend to use the car a lot, Especially long journeys..Unleaded head conversions are not cheap and as far as I'm aware there were no V6 Colognes that were made with unleaded heads..At least not with TVR..There might of been with the later S3 US exports?...But Ford never as a rule..Info collected from Ford specialist of 30 years.
The V8 is much more of a animal and TBH it costs me less in insurance and actually less in petrol..Don't know how??..And produces an even bigger silly grin.
Good luck in whatever you choose and hope to see you joining the Wedge fraternity at some point...Cheers...Ziga
Hi Thanks for the input. Chassis corrosion problems etc is just the sort of info I need. I do want a FHC rather than a drop head. Yes I would prefer a V8, but obtaining a combination of FHC & V8 might be difficult. I'm not concerned about performance too much, my last TVR was a V6. I know the FHC in particular has been perceived as an entry level car & is more likely been abused/bodged/neglected, but we are talking cars so heart will often win over head.
Russ
Russ
The V8 FHC does come up from time to time...I wouldn't say the V6 is slow, The 150bhp was enough, Especially for a car of 30 years old... Eventually my 280i was 200bhp..(Supercharged)..It was more about the V8 rumble for me.
I would say that all these cars need saving regardless of model even though some are beyond rescue..The chassis is normally a bit better with the early cars but even so even though its a daunting task a body off job is not that difficult if you know what you are doing and have all the relevant hardware..If you are paying someone else to do it then you will need very deep pockets.
The FHC in the classifieds at the minute could be a good project, Its fairly priced for a Wedge in that condition...(No monetary ties to me)....Cheers...Ziga
I would say that all these cars need saving regardless of model even though some are beyond rescue..The chassis is normally a bit better with the early cars but even so even though its a daunting task a body off job is not that difficult if you know what you are doing and have all the relevant hardware..If you are paying someone else to do it then you will need very deep pockets.
The FHC in the classifieds at the minute could be a good project, Its fairly priced for a Wedge in that condition...(No monetary ties to me)....Cheers...Ziga
mrzigazaga said:
as far as I'm aware there were no V6 Colognes that were made with unleaded heads..At least not with TVR.
Post -85 Ford fitted hardened valve seats; the heads are marked with a D or E to signify this.When the S series came out TVR carried over the Cologne (now UL-ready) and when Ford uprated it to 2.9L TVR switched as well.
If you want a FHC you will just have to keep checking the add's especially if you want a 350 Especially since they are even less off them than the very desirable SEAC models ,
I was going to post a photo but For some reason I can no longer do this but possibly someone could copy from my profile
I was going to post a photo but For some reason I can no longer do this but possibly someone could copy from my profile
Couple of things to bear in mind with an FHC
• Rear windows are unobtainable, and even when they were available they weren't cheap (last cost I heard was £ 1000) so if one shatters you'd be looking at a perspex reproduction.
• Side window frame rust and again, unobtainable so you'd need someone to make you a new one.
Other than that, there is the rarity value and a much quieter drive at motorway speeds than you'd get with a soft top. Unless you like the noise of course :-)
• Rear windows are unobtainable, and even when they were available they weren't cheap (last cost I heard was £ 1000) so if one shatters you'd be looking at a perspex reproduction.
• Side window frame rust and again, unobtainable so you'd need someone to make you a new one.
Other than that, there is the rarity value and a much quieter drive at motorway speeds than you'd get with a soft top. Unless you like the noise of course :-)
reading this, a couple of comments came to mind....
If the V6 hasn't been rebuilt, it probably won't suffer that much on unleaded, as the lead in leaded gas tends to sink into the head castings, protecting the valves a bit. It's still wise to use a lead substitute though.
My V6 needed a bit of fiddling with ignition to get it happy on unleaded, even the 98/100 octane stuff.
Early rear suspension design is not as good as the later ones - has a bush and pin design with trailing arms (copy of Lotus ?), which can bend the pin. Not sure if all FHC are the pin design, most of them will be I guess.
Fuel economy - it's actually a myth that replacing your small engine with a big one will use more fuel. Fuel economy is derived from weight and aerodynamics (i.e. drag) of the vehicle, so to drive your wedge at 70mph takes a defined amount of power, and fuel economy is down to how efficently you chosen engine converts the fuel to energy.
Larger V8 is technically less efficient that a V6, *BUT* of course in real life, it's not that simple....so I'm not surprised that V8 wedges on average not heavier on gas than the V6. Of course they will be if you have a heavy right foot.....
If the V6 hasn't been rebuilt, it probably won't suffer that much on unleaded, as the lead in leaded gas tends to sink into the head castings, protecting the valves a bit. It's still wise to use a lead substitute though.
My V6 needed a bit of fiddling with ignition to get it happy on unleaded, even the 98/100 octane stuff.
Early rear suspension design is not as good as the later ones - has a bush and pin design with trailing arms (copy of Lotus ?), which can bend the pin. Not sure if all FHC are the pin design, most of them will be I guess.
Fuel economy - it's actually a myth that replacing your small engine with a big one will use more fuel. Fuel economy is derived from weight and aerodynamics (i.e. drag) of the vehicle, so to drive your wedge at 70mph takes a defined amount of power, and fuel economy is down to how efficently you chosen engine converts the fuel to energy.
Larger V8 is technically less efficient that a V6, *BUT* of course in real life, it's not that simple....so I'm not surprised that V8 wedges on average not heavier on gas than the V6. Of course they will be if you have a heavy right foot.....
RCK974X said:
Early rear suspension design is not as good as the later ones - has a bush and pin design with trailing arms (copy of Lotus ?), which can bend the pin.
It was indeed a Lotus-style system, as used on the very early Esprit... but Lotus realised the deficiencies in the layout and quickly added a top link to hold it all in shape.db800 said:
The rear window for the FHC is still available Marcus got one fitted about 4 months back.The rear suspention on my V8 is the latter type and you can hear the exhaust very well echoing inside the car at any speed.Still a good buy .
Correct, the Glassman sorted me out, but it was in Feb 2013 (time flies!)To the OP, you could buy mine!
Marcus
marcus1875 said:
Correct, the Glassman sorted me out, but it was in Feb 2013 (time flies!)
To the OP, you could buy mine!
Marcus
That was lucky! I heard long ago that Triplex had discarded the mould and would only make a new one if there was a significant minimum order. Glassman sounds useful, must have bought some old stock.To the OP, you could buy mine!
Marcus
db800 said:
The rear window for the FHC is still available Marcus got one fitted about 4 months back.The rear suspention on my V8 is the latter type and you can hear the exhaust very well echoing inside the car at any speed.Still a good buy .
Yours in featured in old issue of Classic Cars in their Wedge buying guide, must be tidiest FHC there is. Later A-frame rear suspension was adopted for the last few FHC except for the +2 (Hallsie might correct me on that) which kept the trailing arms. JamesMK said:
db800 said:
The rear window for the FHC is still available Marcus got one fitted about 4 months back.The rear suspention on my V8 is the latter type and you can hear the exhaust very well echoing inside the car at any speed.Still a good buy .
Yours in featured in old issue of Classic Cars in their Wedge buying guide, must be tidiest FHC there is. Later A-frame rear suspension was adopted for the last few FHC except for the +2 (Hallsie might correct me on that) which kept the trailing arms. Incidently, Ill be taking off the ridged bumpers front and rear and replacing with the smooth ones, with the SE under spoiler and twin exit exhausts it should clean u the rear end nicely!
Stu
hallsie said:
Quite correct James, although the title of tidiest FHC there is may come into question soon, well, as soon as I get time to put it all back together and get it to the painters!
Incidently, Ill be taking off the ridged bumpers front and rear and replacing with the smooth ones, with the SE under spoiler and twin exit exhausts it should clean u the rear end nicely!
Stu
I look forward to seeing it. Even if it means I have to spend more £ on mine to compete. Incidently, Ill be taking off the ridged bumpers front and rear and replacing with the smooth ones, with the SE under spoiler and twin exit exhausts it should clean u the rear end nicely!
Stu
Going to look at this tomorrow. Comments anyone?
http://www.hamptoncourtmotors.co.uk/used-cars/tvr-...
http://www.hamptoncourtmotors.co.uk/used-cars/tvr-...
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