RE: TVR wedge: PH Heroes

[chapperssx]

This little beauty will be making plenty noise with a mixture of high pitched whistles & deep guttural roar !

[PascalBuyens]

Do PH Heroes get any more heroic than this?

Yes, in the form of a SEAC

[Hilts]

Great cars IMO and a 400SE passing me by when I was 16 was what got me into TVRs.

Hopefully I can get another some day.

[Convert]

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?

Also is a 30+ year old TVR a whole heap of trouble? (Genuine question as I've always liked the looks but never knew much about them) ie. Would I need to be a very competent mechanic and committed owner to keep one going?

As has already been said. Check the chassis, not just for rust (mainly the sill tubes) but for cracks. The 350i's are easier to work on re rusty outriggers as the sills are glued / screwed / rivetted on)

Engine is a Rover V8, needs 20/50 oil changed every 3K, gearbox is an LT77 so first to second can be a little stiff when cold, better with Castrol SMX-s or Mobil1 / Molyslip in the box than ATF.

Diff is Jag, most later ones are powerlock LSD's, pretty bullet proof. I believe that Steve Heath is still running a std diff on his 5.2 520BHP monster.

Have I mentioned that you should check the chassis, and when you've done that, do it again... twice.

On no account fire up the V8 before checking the chassis, as you'll fall in love with the noise.

S2 350's onwards have the better A frame rear suspension, so handle a little better.

I've probably spent about £180 per year on general bits and pieces, plus a bit more on replacement seats, dash, carpets and tyres.

So far on mine I've replaced the rear A frames, the springs, the rear shocks, a couple of wheel bearings, suspension bushes, steering column bulkhead bush, gearbox remote linkage bushes, ignition amplifier, leads, dizzy cap, coil, exhaust manifold gaskets (bh of a job), oil pressure relief valve, battery and a bit of wiring (LT side of coil).

Most bits are fairly easy to work on.

[350Wedge]

chapperssx said:

This little beauty will be making plenty noise with a mixture of high pitched whistles & deep guttural roar !

Thems look like my piccies from the Saywell trackday at Goodwood last year

Another Wedgeaholic here, have owned seven of them!! A pair of 350i, three 400SE and a pair of 450SE

These are my old 450SEs....

[Bebs]

justboxsters said:

My Old Beast. Had 2 blue 400SE. First better than the second. Big Character. Deeply flawed. Amazing sound. A ground up rebuilt one of these properly set up would be great.

Looks like my old car

[Ved]

Now we're talking! Value and V8s.

What are these like to own compared to the later TVRs?

[Transmitter Man]

Hard to believe, but even Clarkson prefer old over new, well, the sound at least:

6:50: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaSFCVnnVvk

Phil
TVR 420 SEAC

[disco666]

<£5k?
Wow!
That's a proper bargain.

[anything fast]

Love the car, but that surf board on the back of the SEAC models look terrible.. My god its the worst spoiler that I have ever seen on a factory car. I would have to replace it with the later slimmer lifted version. Looks much better IMO.

[Bebs]

They are absolutely fabulous. 400SE blue with magnolia was my first TVR. Griff 500 and Tuscan speed six after that. I can honestly say that the 400SE was the only TVR that never let me down over a period of 2 years, numerous Euro trips and 20,000 miles.
Griff engine blew up on the autobahn and don't even get me started on the Tuscan chocolate engine..

I'd buy another tomorrow if I had a 5th garage space in London

[aarondbs]

anything fast said:

Love the car, but that surf board on the back of the SEAC models look terrible.. My god its the worst spoiler that I have ever seen on a factory car. I would have to replace it with the later slimmer lifted version. Looks much better IMO.

I think it looks great...

[Transmitter Man]

anything fast said:

Love the car, but that surf board on the back of the SEAC models look terrible.. My god its the worst spoiler that I have ever seen on a factory car. I would have to replace it with the later slimmer lifted version. Looks much better IMO.

Anything,

You don't mean that.

We're talking 1980's, everything to excess, functionality was not necessarily part of the game;



Not mine, but nice.

Phil
420 SEAC

[mgwrench]

Were any of these 'Wedge' TVRs made in LHD? They appear to be everything the TR8 was supposed to be.

[smash]

Affectionately known as the "picnic station" - no table worries at Le Mans though, eh? eh?

[300bhp/ton]

mgwrench said:

Were any of these 'Wedge' TVRs made in LHD? They appear to be everything the TR8 was supposed to be.

by your last comment. The TR8 was never meant to be hand built, largely bespoke sports car using a fibreglass body shell.

[Transmitter Man]

Wedges were indeed made in LHD. Not sure about any of the SEAC's though.

Phil
420 SEAC

[350Wedge]

Transmitter Man said:

Wedges were indeed made in LHD. Not sure about any of the SEAC's though.

Phil
420 SEAC

There is one black LHD 420 SEAC as far as I know of. I was parked up next to it at TVR Mania at Brands Hatch many moons ago. I'll see if I can find the picture....

Found it!!

Edited by 350Wedge on Thursday 24th October 17:55

[Wedg1e]

Seventeen ( or is it eighteen?) years and two wedges later, I still haven't found anything I'd replace my Wedge with. I tried an Esprit (and anyone who thinks a TVR Wedge is tiny should try and get their leg over in one of those for comparison ) and whilst a better-handling car, it just didn't have the flying jacket and goggles, load the machine guns, take out the enemy and back for breakfast and medals sense of occasion that the TVR does.


It's a 4-wheeled motorcycle, how's that for a comparison. An excess of enthusiasm over ability wrapped in a GRP great white sharkskin

[ssharp13]

YEE HARR!!!!

My favourite car, had it 14 yrs, 3mpg on the track. Love it!