Engine re-build...bit by bit. Possible?

[The Surveyor]

donutsina911 said:

glow worm said:

I don't get it ... you buy a car "trade" from Racing Green and its engine is ste , then you haven't the money to sort it. What's the rest of the car like chassis / brakes / interior ? What "trade" are you in ? it would appear not to be the car trade. I bet in a few years time your mates are saying " My mate bought a TVR , it was ste, cost him a fortune " ... Some people need a reality check .

Would you talk to someone like that face to face or are you just being clever behind a keyboard? Some on here have mastered tact and decency - you just come accross like a prick. My trade is irrelevant (although I ran the one of the largest motor finance companies in the UK).... I asked a genuine question, based on knowing that I'd need to spend money on the car (every aspect of it) and I've got the answer I needed .

I know Keith 'glow worm' and refreshingly, he would talk like that face to face. His comments may come across as being a little blunt, but you have to remember that for us who are passionate about our cars we get tired of hearing the same negative comments over and over about TVRs unreliability and ability to consume large amounts of cash. Usually based around a 'mate who had one and it was rubbish'!

You bought a 'trade' car with known issues and due to it's 'cottage industry' heritage sorting issues on the Speed 6 engine can't be done on the cheap, logic would tell you that if the issues were minor, RG would have done the repair and sold it retail. At best it could be a half-time bearing or simple tappet adjustment but you'll have to wait for the diagnosis.

As Walford indicates, to some the Speed 6 is the Tuscans Achilles Heel and with a £24k investment you can replace with a V8, to others the Speed 6 gives the car it's unique character. I hope you get it sorted and start to enjoy the car

[Walford]

My car has, GMPP (non production) LS Aluminum Race Block and Rouch hand ported heads, Crower forged crank, light weight rods, pistons, valves, Comp cams valve springs, Crower cam, Dailey dry sump, and Motec ecu,

I personally think the engine suits the car as if you dont want to shift down it will just pull like a train, or you can shift down and it will rev like crazy, plus running a T56 you are basically moving 30kgs back a meter in the chassis and the car feels planted, on the limit

24 grand would not build you something like that, but it would get you a create engine conversion done to a very high standard

[billynobrakes]

The Surveyor said:

I know Keith 'glow worm' and refreshingly, he would talk like that face to face. His comments may come across as being a little blunt, but you have to remember that for us who are passionate about our cars we get tired of hearing the same negative comments over and over about TVRs unreliability and ability to consume large amounts of cash. Usually based around a 'mate who had one and it was rubbish'!

You bought a 'trade' car with known issues and due to it's 'cottage industry' heritage sorting issues on the Speed 6 engine can't be done on the cheap, logic would tell you that if the issues were minor, RG would have done the repair and sold it retail. At best it could be a half-time bearing or simple tappet adjustment but you'll have to wait for the diagnosis.

As Walford indicates, to some the Speed 6 is the Tuscans Achilles Heel and with a £24k investment you can replace with a V8, to others the Speed 6 gives the car it's unique character. I hope you get it sorted and start to enjoy the car

That's what I was trying say without being blunt and I am well known for it, I did ask the question "did you buy a speed six knowing it had a knock" and reading the thread yes he did and I think he was trying to convince his self that he could re build the engine in stages so he could keep the car on the road and drive it while saving money to do each stage and I think he has realised it is just not worth it

Unlike me I bought my T350 that was a bit rough around the edges for a good price and also knowing I was going to replace the 3.6 as I just don,t like the revy engine and no torque, as I have a 4.2 Cerb and 500 Griff and like them both, the biggest mistake I made was talking to that nice man called Dom at TVR power and I told him what I wanted he convinced me to put his 4.5 in which silly old me agreed too after spending £15,000 ish to get that done I then decided it needed better shocks than Gaz Golds and is now shod with Gaz Monotubes far better then I decided it needed stopping better so now it has 330mm grooved dics oh and did I forget I had the interior partly re-trimmed and oh did I mention I had a little mishap and hit another car, my fought as I messed up putting new dics on and now it has been re-sprayed , as a result of the accident new ali rad and air con rad oh forgot while engine was out silicon hoses, then I thought to finish of interior I would change the ali foot pedal cover to the nice carbon one and fitted it in and it looked lovely only problem was I screwed through the brake servo so it now has a new brake servo and while it was out a new brake master cylinder, that's it oh no its not Lee Ali was her bottle and LCD dash read out so I can actually see when I am about to run out of petrol

Moral of this story don,t start fecking about or you will never stop, but its all done now

So its over to the Griff had a slight miss an turns out to be worn camshaft guess where she is now with that nice man from TVR Power called Dom having and engine rebuild no point fecking about just getting new camshaft well that what I thought, get my drift

[chris watton]

billynobrakes said:

That's what I was trying say without being blunt and I am well known for it, I did ask the question "did you buy a speed six knowing it had a knock" and reading the thread yes he did and I think he was trying to convince his self that he could re build the engine in stages so he could keep the car on the road and drive it while saving money to do each stage and I think he has realised it is just not worth it

Unlike me I bought my T350 that was a bit rough around the edges for a good price and also knowing I was going to replace the 3.6 as I just don,t like the revy engine and no torque, as I have a 4.2 Cerb and 500 Griff and like them both, the biggest mistake I made was talking to that nice man called Dom at TVR power and I told him what I wanted he convinced me to put his 4.5 in which silly old me agreed too after spending £15,000 ish to get that done I then decided it needed better shocks than Gaz Golds and is now shod with Gaz Monotubes far better then I decided it needed stopping better so now it has 330mm grooved dics oh and did I forget I had the interior partly re-trimmed and oh did I mention I had a little mishap and hit another car, my fought as I messed up putting new dics on and now it has been re-sprayed , as a result of the accident new ali rad and air con rad oh forgot while engine was out silicon hoses, then I thought to finish of interior I would change the ali foot pedal cover to the nice carbon one and fitted it in and it looked lovely only problem was I screwed through the brake servo so it now has a new brake servo and while it was out a new brake master cylinder, that's it oh no its not Lee Ali was her bottle and LCD dash read out so I can actually see when I am about to run out of petrol

Moral of this story don,t start fecking about or you will never stop, but its all done now

So its over to the Griff had a slight miss an turns out to be worn camshaft guess where she is now with that nice man from TVR Power called Dom having and engine rebuild no point fecking about just getting new camshaft well that what I thought, get my drift

Once you start, it's very difficult to stop.

Have already ordered the silicon hoses, SS pipes and rad, ready to be fitted when I have my 4.3 - and I promised the mrs that I wouldn't spend anymore this year, after the £6k I spent on the retrim, £2600 on a Quaife ATB and refurbed diff and throttle bodies and god knows what else I've had done...

Addictive....

[The Surveyor]

Walford said:

My car has, GMPP (non production) LS Aluminum Race Block and Rouch hand ported heads, Crower forged crank, light weight rods, pistons, valves, Comp cams valve springs, Crower cam, Dailey dry sump, and Motec ecu,

I personally think the engine suits the car as if you dont want to shift down it will just pull like a train, or you can shift down and it will rev like crazy, plus running a T56 you are basically moving 30kgs back a meter in the chassis and the car feels planted, on the limit

24 grand would not build you something like that, but it would get you a create engine conversion done to a very high standard

I'm sure it's absolutely awesome, the good V8 conversions are in a different league to the Speed 6 powered cars and yours sounds like a very good V8 conversion indeed, but the reality is that it does costs at least 3 times as much as a very good Power / Straight6 rebuild. If the OP is looking to tightly manage his expenditure on his Tuscan, a £24k plus engine swap against an £8k rebuild isn't really an option.

Nice though.

[billynobrakes]

chris watton said:

Once you start, it's very difficult to stop.

Have already ordered the silicon hoses, SS pipes and rad, ready to be fitted when I have my 4.3 - and I promised the mrs that I wouldn't spend anymore this year, after the £6k I spent on the retrim, £2600 on a Quaife ATB and refurbed diff and throttle bodies and god knows what else I've had done...

Addictive....

Forgot to add

Momo Steering Wheel

Titanium Gearstick , worth every penny as
I can hold the blooming thing when sitting in traffic

Throttle bodies are being done next year by a friend of mine


And yes very addictive but I would only be spending on some thing else

[Andy_mr2sc]

Apologies if I'm misreading this but how the fuxk did a Quaife dif 'conversion' cost £2600??????

[chris watton]

Andy_mr2sc said:

Apologies if I'm misreading this but how the fuxk did a Quaife dif 'conversion' cost £2600??????

It didn't.

The £2600 was inclusive of the Quaife, someone fitting it in the diff for me, dropping it off to Dom and Power fitting the diff (with new poly bushes and outer/inner CV gaiters), as well as the TB refurb and new TB gaskets - this little lot came to £2600. The Quaife and having it fitted in the diff came to £1k.

[m4tti]

Seriously unless your buying rock bottom
In the market, buy a GTR.

[Pursyluv]

chris watton said:

Andy_mr2sc said:

Apologies if I'm misreading this but how the fuxk did a Quaife dif 'conversion' cost £2600??????

It didn't.

The £2600 was inclusive of the Quaife, someone fitting it in the diff for me, dropping it off to Dom and Power fitting the diff (with new poly bushes and outer/inner CV gaiters), as well as the TB refurb and new TB gaskets - this little lot came to £2600. The Quaife and having it fitted in the diff came to £1k.

Chris, more to the point £6k for a re-trim,??

[chris watton]

Pursyluv said:

Chris, more to the point £6k for a re-trim,??

Not just a re-trim. 6k service, wheels refurbed and painted shadow chrome, callipers painted (very bad deal I got there...), HID conversion, powder coated rocker cover, new carpets, new leather, new roof and rear screen, new seals (eventually..) - all adds up....

[m4tti]

See above picture.

[Pursyluv]

m4tti said:

See above picture.

bit harsh, had too much Becks to work out whether that's a lot for £6k

[chris watton]

m4tti said:

See above picture.

In that instance, they were well and truly pulled down...

[m4tti]

chris watton said:

In that instance, they were well and truly pulled down...

I know, I know. Sorry Chris a bit harsh, but meant tongue in cheek for maximum amusement.

I must say though that once I've completed this Tuscan I'll more than likely move to a R8. People need to realise that the money they spend on these cars isn't far off R8 money.

Edited by m4tti on Friday 17th October 23:49

Edited by m4tti on Saturday 18th October 02:37

[chris watton]

m4tti said:

chris watton said:

In that instance, they were well and truly pulled down...

I know, I know. Sorry Chris a bit harsh, but meant tongue in cheek for maximum amusement.

I must say though that once I've completed this Tuscan I'll more than likely move to a R8. People need to realise that the money they spend on these cars isn't far off R8 money.

I know - and it has certainly made me not trust the 'professionals' as much as I perhaps once did, no matter who they are or how much praise they get on here. I am now a lot more wary of whom I spend my hard earned with.

I have thought about R8's and F-Types, and I know I could save up for one if I really wanted one (probably take a year or two..) - but to be absolutely honest, I love my Tam, it is all the car I want, and it's pretty unique - I knew that when I bought it that I would be spending more than the original price of the purchase to get it how I want it. There's no way I would sell it once it is as perfect as I can get it. The 4.3 will just be the icing on the cake for me. I doubt I would ever get the £40k+ I invested in the car back anyway. I don't spend that kind of money if I don't intend to keep it..

I guess this does have something to do with this thread - you need to know what you're in for when buying these cars, especially a fantastic Tuscan S with engine issues. Unless you're an Ed China type of guy (or gal), it's going to cost to get things resolved..

[JRH63]

I'm in complete agreement with the last 2 posts....
The so called 'experts' on these cars are literally pulling people's pants down. The bills that came with my car are criminal. The last owner had a refurb engine put in by a leading TVR specialist, and it's f****d within 6000 miles!!! The bill was enormous......

For the money that you pour into these cars, the world is your oyster.
Don't get me wrong, I rate my Tamora, but the money and time I've put into it, to make it 'ok' is crazy.
I admire the fact the TVR went bespoke for much of the car, but maybe, under the skin, they should have used other OEMs parts..... That work....!!!!!

[chris watton]

JRH63 said:

I'm in complete agreement with the last 2 posts....
The so called 'experts' on these cars are literally pulling people's pants down. The bills that came with my car are criminal. The last owner had a refurb engine put in by a leading TVR specialist, and it's f****d within 6000 miles!!! The bill was enormous......

For the money that you pour into these cars, the world is your oyster.
Don't get me wrong, I rate my Tamora, but the money and time I've put into it, to make it 'ok' is crazy.
I admire the fact the TVR went bespoke for much of the car, but maybe, under the skin, they should have used other OEMs parts..... That work....!!!!!

It is disheartening at times - more so when you consider that you can now buy a family hot hatch that is almost equal in power for around £25k! (if power is all you want..)

[m4tti]

chris watton said:

It is disheartening at times - more so when you consider that you can now buy a family hot hatch that is almost equal in power for around £25k! (if power is all you want..)

Chris if its any consolation I've probably spent the best part of 10k on parts alone doing it all myself trying to make sure every conceivable problem has been eradicated. If you paid some one to do this who knows what it would cost. At the labour rates I've heard it would be shocking.

Build thread here.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Christ for 10k you can by a kit which makes an Audi ttrs over 600hp and it would urinate on just about any tvr around a track, and it's simply a bolt on!!

[chris watton]

m4tti said:

Chris if its any consolation I've probably spent the best part of 10k on parts alone doing it all myself trying to make sure every conceivable problem has been eradicated. If you paid some one to do this who knows what it would cost. At the labour rates I've heard it would be shocking.

Build thread here.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Christ for 10k you can by a kit which makes an Audi ttrs over 600hp and it would urinate on just about any tvr around a track, and it's simply a bolt on!!

Brilliant thread! Wish I was more mechanically minded...

I find it fun just buying the bits and having specialists install them, must be quite a feeling to be able to do it yourself!

Edited by chris watton on Sunday 19th October 09:20