Mind made up I'm going turbo

[robmarrs]

ClassiChimi said:

Whats the cost of all this.
Toughned driveshaft's etc incl.

By the time I had finished it was nearly £9k as a turn key build fully mapped on a rolling road.
Drive shafts were £1k
Front Brake Kit £650 - WMS http://www.wms-brakes.co.uk/
Clutch £500 incl a balanced flywheel ... got lucky with that bit!
Manifolds were £1k of unforeseen expense.

Obviously if you can spanner yourself there is a huge chunk you can take off this.

If you build a Hi-Po NA 4.5 - 5ltr engine you are still going to spend £5-6k on that by the time you are finished, and then you still need a better ECU to get the best from it, TBH the ECU has made my car so much more driveable at low speed it is a must have in my opinion...... and you will still need an uprated clutch.

Will I get all my mony back if I sell it?...... probably not, but I won't be selling anytime soon..... and lets face it if you buy a new car that will disapppear in year one depreciation on any car north of £35K.

Edited by robmarrs on Sunday 23 October 17:27

[Sardonicus]

ClassiChimi said:

Whats the cost of all this.
Toughned driveshaft's etc incl.

Sounds very expensive and from what I've seen not always reliable.
Why not sell your 400 engine and just get a 450/500 and put a decent after market Ecu on it.
Maybe have the heads worked and it will be around 350 BHP and as in the case with my very standard 450 engine 350 torques which is more than enough for the cars ability on the road.

If my very standard induction and 38 mm trumpets with. Catted pipe produces 300 BHP and more importantly for these engines produces 350 ft lb torque then why bother with all that when you can get to a similar figure n/a

Unless you get well into the 400's you won't notice it very much either in my view!

You just have to consider drag times to see the small effect all this actually produces, and most of that is off the line and the gains become tenths of a second the further up a 1/4 mile you go so in the real world a matter of yards.

All I'm saying is consider a bigger engine because I'd say that will be a more sort after car than a turbo car and IMHO an easier car to own and actually use.
I am incl an Ecu update as part of the best n/a package so I suppose that could end up being very expensive too. Hmmm

I'm not convinced of the turbo cars yet, most I've seem have constant worries over detonation or pipes blowing off or gasket issues, if you can afford it then it's all part of the fun but a plug and play package I don't think they are.

Also every engine that's getting high figures then fks the block or crank, not straight away but I think it's more just a matter of time.
If the cars a toy and doesn't get used for anything other than fun, go for it

No disrespect Alun but your 450 with around 300hp is far from standard even if you are still using the 38mm trumpet base so not the greatest standard bench for HP 265 with maybe another 10 for the open intake (no air mass meter) and your MBE only gets you to maybe 275, maybe its your heads and cam combo? just saying fella

Edited by Sardonicus on Sunday 23 October 17:26

[PhilH42]

Sardonicus said:

ClassiChimi said:

Whats the cost of all this.
Toughned driveshaft's etc incl.

Sounds very expensive and from what I've seen not always reliable.
Why not sell your 400 engine and just get a 450/500 and put a decent after market Ecu on it.
Maybe have the heads worked and it will be around 350 BHP and as in the case with my very standard 450 engine 350 torques which is more than enough for the cars ability on the road.

If my very standard induction and 38 mm trumpets with. Catted pipe produces 300 BHP and more importantly for these engines produces 350 ft lb torque then why bother with all that when you can get to a similar figure n/a

Unless you get well into the 400's you won't notice it very much either in my view!

You just have to consider drag times to see the small effect all this actually produces, and most of that is off the line and the gains become tenths of a second the further up a 1/4 mile you go so in the real world a matter of yards.

All I'm saying is consider a bigger engine because I'd say that will be a more sort after car than a turbo car and IMHO an easier car to own and actually use.
I am incl an Ecu update as part of the best n/a package so I suppose that could end up being very expensive too. Hmmm

I'm not convinced of the turbo cars yet, most I've seem have constant worries over detonation or pipes blowing off or gasket issues, if you can afford it then it's all part of the fun but a plug and play package I don't think they are.

Also every engine that's getting high figures then fks the block or crank, not straight away but I think it's more just a matter of time.
If the cars a toy and doesn't get used for anything other than fun, go for it

No disrespect Alun but your 450 with around 300hp is far from standard even if you are still using the 38mm trumpet base so not the greatest standard bench for HP 265 with maybe another 10 for the open intake (no air mass meter) and your MBE only gets you to maybe 275, maybe its your heads and cam combo? just saying fella

Edited by Sardonicus on Sunday 23 October 17:26

I hear your concerns Fella's and I've looked at all avenues and whichever way you go its going to be expensive. I agree that the car is maybe more saleable with a new 500 or even better a V8D lump but I'm not going to sell now. Do I wish I had bought a 500 initially....damn right but with the money I've spent all round but also sorting the engine I don't really want to get rid....hence the turbo decision. Mines putting out about as much as any standard (aside from the act intake kit) 400 na out there and although at times you think she is very rapid it doesn't give you the shove in the back you feel it should. I know some like smooth power but I'm all for the mad rush that a turbo gives.

I can do much of the mechanics myself (electrically not so much) and yep although when I first bought her I drove daily, I've found it takes the edge off the occasion a bit, so it is just for fun now.

Enjoying everyone's opinions, ideas and experience in general on here, seriously helpful and always makes for interesting reading.

Cheers all.

[N7GTX]

I asked a similar question to yours around 2 years ago and got much the same opinions as you are now. There was a group with superchargers who also posted some very favourable comments. In the end it all became a bit confusing with all the conflicting replies!
I chose the Powers version as I wanted it done by someone who knew what they were doing and also offering a warranty. However, this is not cheap as you can see from the link I posted earlier (you pays yer money and all that). I did have a turbo seal failure but this was fixed straightaway.

At Chatsworth I had a good look at one of the Eann Whalley conversions and it looked very neat and tidy and the owner was very happy with it. Later at Lotherton Hall several people commented that the installation looked original and asked if TVR had done it at the factory.

As for driveability, for 98% of the time you are below 3,000 rpm so the car behaves like a standard car and fuel economy is not ridiculous. On the motorway, 2,750 rpm equates to 80 mph.

But, get it on an A road and start overtaking.....the car comes alive. Its addictive all right....

[PhilH42]

N7GTX said:

I asked a similar question to yours around 2 years ago and got much the same opinions as you are now. There was a group with superchargers who also posted some very favourable comments. In the end it all became a bit confusing with all the conflicting replies!
I chose the Powers version as I wanted it done by someone who knew what they were doing and also offering a warranty. However, this is not cheap as you can see from the link I posted earlier (you pays yer money and all that). I did have a turbo seal failure but this was fixed straightaway.

At Chatsworth I had a good look at one of the Eann Whalley conversions and it looked very neat and tidy and the owner was very happy with it. Later at Lotherton Hall several people commented that the installation looked original and asked if TVR had done it at the factory.

As for driveability, for 98% of the time you are below 3,000 rpm so the car behaves like a standard car and fuel economy is not ridiculous. On the motorway, 2,750 rpm equates to 80 mph.

But, get it on an A road and start overtaking.....the car comes alive. Its addictive all right....

Hi Iain,

Yes suppose you don't always get straight answers on here but at least you get opinions

Its a difficult decision to make, but 500 engines seem to be few and far between these days and when they do come up they seem to fetch stupid money bearing in mind many are well used.I missed one on ebay recently for £3700 that had been rebuilt and he was in Brentwood

One way or another you're going to pay I suppose, I've tried to spend the money getting her sorted generally rather than focus too much on performance up until now, but I don't really get a rush on acceleration its just fast.

Yes I read the SC and turbo write up and also considered Dom's turbo but its spending the chunk in one hit that puts me off, plenty of other stuff thats more pressing usually. I'm going to call Eann this week once I've def decided if I just stick to the basic kit or add to the shopping list...I think I will do the former as it also shows what can be achieved at each stage....useful for others considering it as well I spose.

What was your first drive like after the upgrade?

Thanks for the advice.

[N7GTX]

Unfortunately for the first 2,000 miles I had to run the engine in and the ECU was mapped not to boost to protect it. That was frustrating, I can tell you.
Once mapped I picked it up from Coventry for a run back on the M69 and M1 which are normally very boring. After Dom said it was a fast 4 litre I just had to go for it. No silly stuff on roundabouts or bends just booting it on the straight to get used to it. It was just what I wanted - 3,000 rpm = kick in the ass. It was not a boring drive home.
The Nexens that were on the car were changed to Rainsport 3s following good advice on here and they grip so much better for ordinary driving I do.

Whichever system you choose, I don't think you will regret it.

[macdeb]

OP, good choice [though I'd have intercooler from the start IMHO]

Edited by macdeb on Thursday 27th October 08:07

[KateV8]

Agreed on not trying to get away without an intercooler (and I do speak from experience). Even with water injection as a stand by it just didn't work, no harm to the engine thanks to the MBE but the car clearly wasn't happy (SC by the way but I'd imagine a turbo would be the same).And half a bar has been more than enough on our 4.6.

[PhilH42]

I was a little apprehensive to be honest without the intercooler so agree with those comments.

I've spoken to Eann and its looking like Feb earliest next year (with intercooler). No xmas turkey for me...or presents or anything much until then...maybe beans on toast and the odd cider to celebrate!

[ChilliWhizz]

Phil,

Snetts on Tuesday next week?

[PhilH42]

ChilliWhizz said:

Phil,

Snetts on Tuesday next week?

Good shout sir

And....if you believe anything the forcasters tell you...sunny/Cloudy for Tuesday