RE: TVR wedge: PH Heroes

[smash]

db800 said:

Even with a roof they are great

Slight irony bearing in mind the Cortina sourced parts on the car!

[smash]

supersingle said:

How do they compare to a Chimaera to drive?

Different league - the Chim is that is - feels an altogether more modern and more sorted car. Only to be expected as it is. That said the tales of horrific handling are slightly overplayed earlier in the thread!

The early trailing arm set up was a bit of a hand full - I had a 280i Tasmin FHC and it could catch you out pretty heavily. The later a frame version feels better to me - haven't reached the limits of adhesion in my 390SE but it feels planted although less settled than my brothers Chim. Easier to upset. Stock Chim versus stock wedge - Chim would get away round the twisties.

[NaCl]

My first TVR was a 400 Chim and my second a 350i. Both different animals for sure. I loved the Chim but loved the Wedge more. Less power, slightly poorer handling, but more beautiful V8 noise and character, one-third of the cost to insure and much easier to work on. I had to sell the Wedge this summer to help pay for house renovations, but when I can afford it, I'm going for a bigger engined Wedge. Can't wait!

[matt-man]

What a great article...I've had mine almost 8 years and although I didn't need much enthusiasm to finish my restoration, this has given me an extra shove!

I've done best part of 30000 miles as a toy car and had a couple of ups and downs but will never ever sell it. I've had a few cars, most of which I have liked a lot...but I LOVE my wedge.

I am refitting the body to mine after I have had my chassis refurbished....



And here is what it should look like....!!



You know you love a car when you have this up in your study!!

[Jasandjules]

NaCl said:

My first TVR was a 400 Chim and my second a 350i. Both different animals for sure. I loved the Chim but loved the Wedge more. Less power, slightly poorer handling, but more beautiful V8 noise and character, one-third of the cost to insure and much easier to work on. I had to sell the Wedge this summer to help pay for house renovations, but when I can afford it, I'm going for a bigger engined Wedge. Can't wait!

Well, I'd take this with a pinch of salt.......

[dinkel]

[soad]

matt-man said:

[jmorgan]

Transmitter Man said:

Axel350Z said:

Im sure its an epic car, but jesus christ its ugly. Kill it with fire.

M135 looks like Gemma arterton in comparison...

Oh Axel,

Come on now, you don't mean that;



Phil
420 SEAC

Buy a pretty car if you want. The Wedge is not one to suit all but the bigger ones are the type to grab you by the throat and knee you in the nuts whilst whispering sweet nothings in your shell like. When I say whispering, there is an all out aural assault on your ear drums so a bit more like a Thor gargling on hot gravel whispering sweet nothings then using his hammer to batter your senses into next week.

Have another Wedge ( I do like a SEAC). This is is where it belongs.

[maxgas]

Transmitter Man said:

Gary,

Mine will be well built - and it will stop!



Phil
420 SEAC

Ohh lovely and shiny!

Is that a brand new chassis or the old one after a bit of wd40.?

When you have it finished let me know , would love to cone for a ride to see how it should have handled like as opposed to my rhinoceros .

I will have to dig out my photos , wonder where my one is now? Hopefully not around a lamp post!

[RichieB1973]

I also fell in love with the sight and sound of the Wedge as a youngster viewing it from the pavement! However, by the new time I was old enough, it was the Griff 500 that I spent my hard-earned on. I wasn't dissapointed.

[Fat Albert]

A TVR Wedge is almost man enough for Chuck Norris

[so called]

Love these TVR's.
My first was a Tasmin 280i but it was the 350 that first caught my heart and hooked me onto TVR's.
Had two Chimaera's and on my second Tuscan but the sound of a big Wedge is still the best.
Getting excited over this at the moment.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

[Transmitter Man]

maxgas said:

Ohh lovely and shiny!

Is that a brand new chassis or the old one after a bit of wd40.?

When you have it finished let me know , would love to cone for a ride to see how it should have handled like as opposed to my rhinoceros .

I will have to dig out my photos , wonder where my one is now? Hopefully not around a lamp post!

Hi Gary,

The original chassis rebuilt to a different level! Far stiffer than original so the suspension works as it should.

You're also in London so happy to give you a blast around once it's back on the road sometime next spring.

Hang around the Wedge forum.

Phil
420 SEAC

[mike parfitt]

smash said:

Different league - the Chim is that is - feels an altogether more modern and more sorted car. Only to be expected as it is. That said the tales of horrific handling are slightly overplayed earlier in the thread!

The early trailing arm set up was a bit of a hand full - I had a 280i Tasmin FHC and it could catch you out pretty heavily. The later a frame version feels better to me - haven't reached the limits of adhesion in my 390SE but it feels planted although less settled than my brothers Chim. Easier to upset. Stock Chim versus stock wedge - Chim would get away round the twisties.

actually I have both - Chimeara and a frame 1989 wedge - wedge has polybushed suspension which makes a big difference and 3.9 stage 2 engine - wedge handles very good - flatter than chimeara and notably more stable at high speed (but probably due to Chimaera front spolier missing). Wedge has shorter wheelbase so will snap out of line quicker but very close to Chimaera in terms of handling prowess.

[Kitchski]

St John Smythe said:

I had three TVRs and the wedge was definitely the worst handling! But it's a handbuilt car from the 80s so it's expected to be honest.

You need to throw an S around a lane somewhere!

[Wedg1e]

Jasandjules said:

patmahe said:

So a question to those who have/had one (talking 350i here). What are the big issues with these? And how much do you need to set aside for a years maintenance?

I believe I spent around 2-3k that year on her in repairs/fixings alone.

I've spent about three grand on my 390 in the thirteen years I've owned it. Routine maintenance isn't expensive nor is it difficult to do yourself. If you have to start involving garages, specialists and throwing bling around, it will get expensive very quickly.

[jmorgan]

Apart from the engine the 400 has had the minor things done myself but the rest at a garage (no space in my garage) and that really has not been much. Petrol and tyres the biggest expense? Totting up in my profile running costs. Fuel tanks might need replacing though but considering they are steel and live out in the weather, 23 years not too bad.

[smash]

mike parfitt said:

actually I have both - Chimeara and a frame 1989 wedge - wedge has polybushed suspension which makes a big difference and 3.9 stage 2 engine - wedge handles very good - flatter than chimeara and notably more stable at high speed (but probably due to Chimaera front spolier missing). Wedge has shorter wheelbase so will snap out of line quicker but very close to Chimaera in terms of handling prowess.

Interesting - my 390SE is poly bushed with adjustables but there ain't no way it's as good as the Chim in terms of ride comfort and compliance. In terms of road holding don't know as haven't reached the limits of adhesion in either but for me, the Chim is a much easier car to hustle along the twisties. Perhaps both my wedge and your chim's shocks are a bit knackered!

[mike parfitt]

smash said:

Interesting - my 390SE is poly bushed with adjustables but there ain't no way it's as good as the Chim in terms of ride comfort and compliance. In terms of road holding don't know as haven't reached the limits of adhesion in either but for me, the Chim is a much easier car to hustle along the twisties. Perhaps both my wedge and your chim's shocks are a bit knackered!

Probably not too far from truth, had new shocks on chim last autumn but springs set too soft and only just got ride height sorted, although probably still a few mm too high, now need to reset damping ( gaz gold shocks) Chim definetly rides better, but the wedge handles twisty bits better at the moment, apart from brakes which are nowhere as good as (450) chim. Suspect once i fine tune the chims settings it'll handle better, althogh think new suspension bushes are due, wedge on other hand set up properly and handles slightly better as mentioned, although suspect it will let go earlier.

[pk500]

my 400 and 200