TVR Power 4.3 here I come - great deal!
Discussion
coco79 said:
Is there a link to the Sprint article or is it subscribers only?
Can't find any links, but essentially, it is a 4.3 that produced around 410bhp to start with, and then the owner spent a (presumably) shed load more money on it with customised cams, finger followers, modified oil pipework etc. And a Canems fully sequential engine management system. The result was 465bhp and 365 lb/ft.
Don1 said:
chris watton said:
It would be interesting to see the total amount spent to achieve the 450+bhp mark.
As mine is effectively there (ended the run early as we didn't know how far to take it!), engine work, airbox, exhaust and ECU was about £15k-ish (total) I think. I did publish all figures when I had it done for transparency and to help others make a decision.Edited by Don1 on Saturday 16th May 11:46
I am quite sure that if I decided to spend the cost of the 4.3 again, then an extra 30-50bhp would be quite achievable.
I have spent another £1k on the ACT big bore exhaust system since, but that's about it - the other bits weren't related to engine performance (rad, hoses, clutch etc)
B3NNL said:
He certainly is Chris!
...Oh sorry, my mistake, I read incontinent!
...Oh sorry, my mistake, I read incontinent!
I would love his manifolds, sold via Powers now too, I believe - but £3k!
I think that, if money was no object, I'd have them coupled with the newer all singing, all dancing MBE system - but that's £6k right there!chris watton said:
I would like the CF airbox, does it really help in releasing a few more horses, especially if the engine's been upgraded and most of the other parts (including exhaust and cats) are new?
Whenever I ask about this, I never really get an answer, which leads me to believe that the performance benefits are minimal at best, especially if there's nothing wrong with the original. I believe the original is very good to start with, and the CF version is virtually a direct copy of the original, so where are these extra benefits coming from, the additional trumpets, perhaps? Even then, the increase isn't even in double figures if compared to good standard plastic airbox, from what I have read.Still, doesn't stop me wanting one - a toss up between Readman Racing's CR box or a CF airbox....
Edited by chris watton on Saturday 16th May 14:46
clive f said:
Its not all down to airbox and exhaust, far from it, I`ve fitted GT cams from RND giving 40 thou extra lift on the valves, bigger injectors from Five O motorsports in the states (much cheaper than the offerings you get over here), my stainless airbox is the prototype for Joolz carbon airbox which I believe is being made by Brendan Allen, this has slightly more volume in the top half, slightly bigger bore and a little shorter on the inlet tracts, then ported throttle bodies & thinned spindles, allowing as much air to get in as possible.
Add in my hi flow decat pipes, custom made exhaust incorporating a cross pipe, no back box, all silencing now in the end cans and a good remap with Joolz and there you have it, the simple principle of a bigger cam and getting more air and fuel in, and let it out as quick as possible at the other end.
I`ll be fitting a pair of my new larger bore headers this winter and hope they release a few more ponies as well, these are made exclusively for Dom, they should certainly make the bigger cc engines breathe more easily, Dom has just fitted these onto his 5lt Sag and hope for some dyno testing in the near future.
just to add, the carbon fibre airboxes available at the moment are no different to the standard airbox, is just looks very pretty indeed.
Thanks for that, very interesting to read.Add in my hi flow decat pipes, custom made exhaust incorporating a cross pipe, no back box, all silencing now in the end cans and a good remap with Joolz and there you have it, the simple principle of a bigger cam and getting more air and fuel in, and let it out as quick as possible at the other end.
I`ll be fitting a pair of my new larger bore headers this winter and hope they release a few more ponies as well, these are made exclusively for Dom, they should certainly make the bigger cc engines breathe more easily, Dom has just fitted these onto his 5lt Sag and hope for some dyno testing in the near future.
just to add, the carbon fibre airboxes available at the moment are no different to the standard airbox, is just looks very pretty indeed.
So it's hotter cams and breathing, both inlet and outlet that helps?
I couldn't live with the noise of the decat pipes, though. I did fit brand new Tuscan S cats, so that I know there is as little restriction as possible (at least, as little with cats still in place)
It will be interesting to see the results of the larger bore manifolds.
Thing is, I can fully understand why people with Sagaris's and other coupes want the 'biggerest and besterest power' - But I have a Tamora, and all I want from my 'fettling' is a very reliable open top that's good on the twisites and calm on the motorways. I want it to be fast, of course, but reliability, fun and a modicum of comfort (which includes a nice but not too intrusive exhaust note) are more of a priority that traffic light grand prix's.
I think, in fact I am sure that 400bhp and healthy increase in torque is more than enough for what I want out of my Tamora. You can't really go much above 150 anyway, for fear of the roof and seals coming away!
Different story for the coupe's, of course...
ETA - Thanks' to CliveF, I won't bother with the CF airbox (mine's in perfect nick anyway), I think my final upgrade will be the CR gears, I think they'll suit the 3.73 ratio and Quaife diff perfectly with the 4.3...
I think, in fact I am sure that 400bhp and healthy increase in torque is more than enough for what I want out of my Tamora. You can't really go much above 150 anyway, for fear of the roof and seals coming away!
Different story for the coupe's, of course...
ETA - Thanks' to CliveF, I won't bother with the CF airbox (mine's in perfect nick anyway), I think my final upgrade will be the CR gears, I think they'll suit the 3.73 ratio and Quaife diff perfectly with the 4.3...
Edited by chris watton on Saturday 16th May 19:04
mk1fan said:
Are you sure it's not the alternator belt. I thought Tams all had electric driven hydraulic power steering rather than engine driven.
Alternator belt is about £12 iirc.
Ah, it could be - I had a new alternator and belt put on with the 4.3 - perhaps it needs tightening a little more?Alternator belt is about £12 iirc.
Cheers. It only squeals for perhaps a second or two when first starting up, and I know it didn't do this before.
Hope my power steering pump's OK, that's almost £500 to replace!
Car's been used a lot today - drove my step son in Gloucester for work, then me and the wife went out this afternoon for a nice drive. Although she can be a bit of a nightmare, the slightest hint of pressing the throttle and she's screaming 'slow down'!
That's gonna be fun on our drive down to Italy....
ETA - getting really tired of having to short-shift now...
Hope my power steering pump's OK, that's almost £500 to replace!
Car's been used a lot today - drove my step son in Gloucester for work, then me and the wife went out this afternoon for a nice drive. Although she can be a bit of a nightmare, the slightest hint of pressing the throttle and she's screaming 'slow down'!
That's gonna be fun on our drive down to Italy....
ETA - getting really tired of having to short-shift now...
Edited by chris watton on Sunday 17th May 16:30
clive f said:
just pretend to be deaf when she screams "slow down", on the autobahns last year going from Hannover to Prague I sneaked up to 160 but Mrs F took a look at the speedo and my fun was short lived
The Road Angel doesn't help, as she can see the exact speed! Although I won't use that on the continent, I only bought it because my speedo used to be intermittent at best.
Check the fluids - the car's used no oil at all, it seems.
SergSC said:
My tam is going to be joining the Power 4.3 club soon. Oil has been seeping slowly from head gasket for quite a long time which wasnt a problem, but I've been told this has got worse, so off we go to powers! Yay! 
This is soon after a new clutch, new radiator, new cats, new poly bushes, new battery, new alternator, heater flap motor... so much ouch...
As you have already had most of the other stuff done, it shouldn't be as pricy as some others. I don't think you'll regret it. It may be worth having the throttle bodies and gaskets changed/refurbed at the same time, if you haven't already.This is soon after a new clutch, new radiator, new cats, new poly bushes, new battery, new alternator, heater flap motor... so much ouch...
I have just less than a week until I take mine back for the post run in service - keeping it below 3.5k has gone on long enough now, seems like forever!
SergSC said:
I have a looong way to go to get to Coventry, so by the time I'm back in Scotland I'm already a third of the way there mileage wise, another third doing daily driving, and add the last third from the trip down... 
Just hope the mix of motorway and town driving is correct for a good running in process.
Btw is it actually temporarily rev limited to 3.5K (my daily drive tends to be this anyway), or are you wearing a Ski boot to restrict ankle movement, or sheer will power?
No, the revs aren't electronically limited - am truly sick of short shifting now and having to keep one eye on the rev counter all of the time! Just hope the mix of motorway and town driving is correct for a good running in process.Btw is it actually temporarily rev limited to 3.5K (my daily drive tends to be this anyway), or are you wearing a Ski boot to restrict ankle movement, or sheer will power?
It still revs so freely it is easy to go over. I had always assumed the engine would be less free-revving, based on what I had read, but no.
billynobrakes said:
chris watton said:
No, the revs aren't electronically limited - am truly sick of short shifting now and having to keep one eye on the rev counter all of the time!
It still revs so freely it is easy to go over. I had always assumed the engine would be less free-revving, based on what I had read, but no.
Your going to be in for a treat if you haven't gone over 3500 revs It still revs so freely it is easy to go over. I had always assumed the engine would be less free-revving, based on what I had read, but no.
SergSC said:
When people say 'free revving' I think they are really talking about how fast revs drop/rise when in neutral, or drop coming off throttle. I guess its a feeling of eagerness, but at the end of the day this doesnt amount to much does it? I mean, if the car accelerates faster because there is more power and gearing is the same, then surely this is because revs are rising faster too. What do we call that?
iirc you have the lightweight flywheel as well? Maybe that is helping induce that 'eagerness' as well. I got one too when the clutch went.
Sounds like you will be having a lot of fun v soon
Now back to looking for much needed cash to throw at this thing...
Yes, it's how fast the revs drop/rise and how the revs rise when the throttle is pressed - so have said it's slightly more 'lazy' like a V8, but I haven't experienced that. It's like the old S6 but better.iirc you have the lightweight flywheel as well? Maybe that is helping induce that 'eagerness' as well. I got one too when the clutch went.
Sounds like you will be having a lot of fun v soon
Now back to looking for much needed cash to throw at this thing...
I have Powers' lightweight flywheel, but cannot comment on any difference because I had so much done/upgraded at the same time. I doubt it makes a big difference, though.
Don1 said:
chris watton said:
Yes, it's how fast the revs drop/rise and how the revs rise when the throttle is pressed - so have said it's slightly more 'lazy' like a V8, but I haven't experienced that. It's like the old S6 but better.
I have Powers' lightweight flywheel, but cannot comment on any difference because I had so much done/upgraded at the same time. I doubt it makes a big difference, though.
Sorry, but it's a massive difference.I have Powers' lightweight flywheel, but cannot comment on any difference because I had so much done/upgraded at the same time. I doubt it makes a big difference, though.
Are you talking about Powers' or someone else's?
Pick my Tam up tomorrow (although it's ready right now).
All done, new tyres, geo, ride height changed, MOT and post run in service done.
The intermittent stuttering was due to a faulty lambda. (Knew I should have asked to have these changed with the engine upgrade..)
Will be interesting to see how it drives and rides on the new rubber and suspension set up tomorrow.
All done, new tyres, geo, ride height changed, MOT and post run in service done.
The intermittent stuttering was due to a faulty lambda. (Knew I should have asked to have these changed with the engine upgrade..)
Will be interesting to see how it drives and rides on the new rubber and suspension set up tomorrow.
Got my Tam back home now, after picking her up this morning.
In a word - brilliant! Engine feels very strong, pulls like a train. Certainly more than enough power for me to handle.
What helped was changing the lambda and fine tuning the throttle bodies. On the handling side, I had the new tyres fitted along with a full geo. I always felt that the handling was never as good as my first Tam, now I know why - the settings for the right side, front and back were way out. Handles like a dream now. Plus they adjusted the new exhaust, so no more bad resonance on the overrun.
I was advised not to go too mental for a couple of hundred miles due to the new tyres, so I was still careful, but it is so planted, and that power!
I swear, if I was disappointed, I'd say, but am still grinning from ear to ear after enjoying the drive home! The engine feels and sounds great. Some have described it as 'unburstable', and I think they're right.
It is also worth mentioning that they adjusted my handbrake, took the rear pads out and cleaned the discs, and painted my PAS brackets for no extra cost. The bill was half what I was expecting.
So, that concludes my experience with my 4.3 upgrade (along with a few other gubbins). Very happy and can only highly recommend if you're thinking about it.
Cheers
ETA - This is the Tam with its new tyres and ride height. I was told it would have been better to go with 40 profile for the rear, instead of 35..
These are the 35/255 tyres:
In a word - brilliant! Engine feels very strong, pulls like a train. Certainly more than enough power for me to handle.
What helped was changing the lambda and fine tuning the throttle bodies. On the handling side, I had the new tyres fitted along with a full geo. I always felt that the handling was never as good as my first Tam, now I know why - the settings for the right side, front and back were way out. Handles like a dream now. Plus they adjusted the new exhaust, so no more bad resonance on the overrun.
I was advised not to go too mental for a couple of hundred miles due to the new tyres, so I was still careful, but it is so planted, and that power!
I swear, if I was disappointed, I'd say, but am still grinning from ear to ear after enjoying the drive home! The engine feels and sounds great. Some have described it as 'unburstable', and I think they're right.
It is also worth mentioning that they adjusted my handbrake, took the rear pads out and cleaned the discs, and painted my PAS brackets for no extra cost. The bill was half what I was expecting.
So, that concludes my experience with my 4.3 upgrade (along with a few other gubbins). Very happy and can only highly recommend if you're thinking about it.
Cheers
ETA - This is the Tam with its new tyres and ride height. I was told it would have been better to go with 40 profile for the rear, instead of 35..
These are the 35/255 tyres:
Edited by chris watton on Saturday 30th May 12:34
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