Best , Easiest & Cheapest way to 300bhp+???

[Painey]

rev-erend said:

Blimey - 285bhp and 330lbs/ft I'd say you had a good one there .. you could talk to Mark Adams or Austec but my guess is that you will need to start spending some big numbers to achieve much more ! (Like bigger injectors : 600 & twin act plenum 1200 & MA tuning session - 2 ~ 3 K to get much more than you have already).

Thanks but you've highlighted my dilemma very clearly. It's been noted that the power the Griff is currently putting out is very good for a 500 so I think that to get any reasonably gains I'm going to be looking at replacing things. As you've said that means big money, something I don't currently have!

I'm going to pay Austec a quick visit on Saturday as I'm in there neck of the woods then anyway so I'll see what they have to say.

Cheers - Chris

[HarryW]

Ah it rings a bell now, at 285 ponies I think yours is the highest output Austec have seen for a 'standard' 500,
. Most I beleive are nearer 265-275, with around 300 torque,yours at 330 torque is pretty exceptional IMHO, just incase there are those that think the road over reads.

Harry

[mike s]

DustyC said:

mike s said: And it's Illegal to use on the road as you cant carry bottles containing compressed gas (Without a license) IIRC >> Edited by mike s on Wednesday 4th August 18:26 I dont think so. What about scuba diving gear and LPG? You dont need a licence to carry them.

Scuba gear isn't fixed into the car though

[starmist]

IMO ACT silicone SFM - filter hose £80
MA Chip £325?
Bosch AFM (needs the MA chip, as std can't read it)£100 exchange through MA
MA rr set up £250ish inc rr costs)

Total cost under a grand - should get you your required 15 ponies.

After that you're into plenum enlargement / replacement and bigger injectors cos you'll run out of fuel at the top end.

[Painey]

HarryW said:

Ah it rings a bell now, at 285 ponies I think yours is the highest output Austec have seen for a 'standard' 500, . Most I beleive are nearer 265-275, with around 300 torque,yours at 330 torque is pretty exceptional IMHO, just incase there are those that think the road over reads. Harry

I had a chat with Mike at Austec when they serviced it in May and he mentioned something about that, swiftly followed by "you should be able to get over 300bhp easily" which I've been kind of thinking about ever since. I just can't currently afford the whole Carbon Triple Plenum/New Cam and other bits etc etc. Of course I'd like them but can't see the missus buying them for Christmas!!!

[Apache]

Painey said:

I just can't currently afford the whole Carbon Triple Plenum/New Cam and other bits etc etc. Of course I'd like them but can't see the missus buying them for Christmas!!!

Have a word with Ray at V8, or Sean, they usually have a whole bunch of second hand goodies kicking around (they might still have my 73mm plenum, carbon trumpets and chipped ECU)

[2 sheds]

Don't forget some decent trumpets to replace the straight steel tubes, easy to fit at the rolling road to.
Tim

[siwes]

Richb read my post, I know exactly what is best for a V8 engine but it is expensive, ACT plenum kits do not come cheap. TVR power have got the best out of the Rover V8 for a lot of money and I do mean a lot, you can at best hope to get another 40 IBP on TVR's quoted 340 simple , no argument, I have been building V8 engines for the last 35 years and I know these engines as well as anyone.
To get the very most out of these engines requires a budget of 2-3000 pounds and you will make them a very uncomfortable car to drive in everyday use.
I love the V8 in its evolved form TVR power have it right. If you look at their web site a rebuild for 2000 pounds will give you 30 extra HP
simon

[starmist]

And then you can add the goodies. They're building one at the moment that's got a Taraka cam, 5.3 big bore /stroke, solid lifters, roller rockers, ACT triple 50mm throttle body carbon plenum, Bosch air flow meter, Weber injectors, ACT stainless manifolds, no cat, Mark Adams ECU...oh and nitrous!

In fact the same spec as mine, except for the nitrous. Mine was 305bhp before the Weber injectors and ACT manifolds, and I'm just waiting to get it back on the rollers for Mark to do his stuff. He reckons we could be nudging 350. With the nitrous and big bore, you've got to be close to 500bhp!

[RichB]

siwes said:

Richb read my post

Sorry to have touched a nerve, I didn’t realise you are a Rover V8 specialist.

I have re-read your post, along with my response and I don’t see what’s upset you? Basically Chris wants some suggestion on how to get an extra 10-15 bhp for less than a grand. Your reply is dismissive of the carbon plenum, trumpets, larger throttle & air flow meter route – because and I quote “you can waste a lot of money” on it, implying that it doesn’t work, yet it does. I have Tim’s twin-throttle and Mark’s Tornado chip on mine at a cost of around £1500 inc. rolling road time, so not too much in excess of £1k. It gave well in excess of 15bhp but more importantly around 25-30 ft lbs more torque in the 4,500 – 6,000 rev range.

You go on to say that one of the best improvements is an expensive air filter and a sports exhaust yet for the Griffith 500 most experts reckon that the air filter on the 500 is fine also that the Rover V8 benefits from some back pressure so it’s debatable if a straight through exhaust gives any extra bhp at all (Steve Heath reckons it can lose it). Now they may be wrong I’m only going on what I’ve been told, questioning things is how I learn. Rich…

[Digga]

RichB said:

I have Tim’s twin-throttle and Mark’s Tornado chip on mine at a cost of around £1500 inc. rolling road time, so not too much in excess of £1k. It gave well in excess of 15bhp but more importantly around 25-30 ft lbs more torque in the 4,500 – 6,000 rev range.

FWIW. I had the single-throttle ACT plenum and MA chip, which gave around 10 bhp, but also greatly improved throttle response, and had the unexpected benefit making the car much easier in traffic.

[siwes]

so for under 20hp on an engine that puts out 340hp a 5.88% increase in power for 3000 pounds
and then another mod a cam for a further 7 hp the best part of 2000 pounds as I said earlier it simply isn't worth it.
And yes getting an engine to breathe is by far the best way to get more power is to either turbo charge ( twin blowers) in the case of a v8 or supercharge, using nos , or overusing nos will f**k your engine quicker than a very quick thing.
if you are heel bent on getting more hp out your V8 then take some advice and dump the antiquated rover engine look at FORD race prepared V8s short engines upwards of 460BHP 3000 pounds better than a plastic air cover then the car would be totally undrivable

[Nano2nd]

siwes said:

so for under 20hp on an engine that puts out 340hp a 5.88% increase in power for 3000 pounds and then another mod a cam for a further 7 hp the best part of 2000 pounds as I said earlier it simply isn't worth it. And yes getting an engine to breathe is by far the best way to get more power is to either turbo charge ( twin blowers) in the case of a v8 or supercharge, using nos , or overusing nos will f**k your engine quicker than a very quick thing. if you are heel bent on getting more hp out your V8 then take some advice and dump the antiquated rover engine look at FORD race prepared V8s short engines upwards of 460BHP 3000 pounds better than a plastic air cover then the car would be totally undrivable

do you still have all engine the mods on your car? or have your removed them?

[siwes]

Them and more , ported and gas flowed heads , a P702 cam ( that was a mistake ) stainless exhaust, upgrade chip, jaguar air flow tx etc etc I love the car to bits and will never sell but really for the time effort and especially the cost it really hasn't been worth it , cost of total upgrades over 10000 with labour I could list all the mods but would only make myself more upset
Simon

[alex200mph]

You could always buy a Cerbera? They are good value for money second hand...

[Alex]

siwes said:

a 500 HC serpintine engine puts out very close to the 340hp stated , if your engine doesn't then there is something basically wrong with it.

I've never heard of a standard 500 that made 340bhp (corrected at the flywheel) on a rolling road. 285bhp is a respectable result.

My Griff had bigger trumpets, modified plenum, Jag airflow meter and 218 hybrid cam. It made 298bhp/325lbft on Power Engineering's rollers. The current owner (hello Steve) found some problems with the timing and ignition, so maybe it was capable of more, but getting a real 340bhp is not easy.

[siwes]

285 bhp on a rolling road , losses through transmission as previously stated 15-17% depending how well you maintain your drive trains

285 divide by 100 = 2.85 X 15 = 42.8 + 285 = 328 IHP

wow almost the stated TVR figure did we account for the tyre friction on 17 inch wheels , barametric pressure, high octain fuel, general wear and tear on your engine , ie old plugs , timing set at optimum, did you have low friction Mobile 1 in the sump, air filters clean fuel injectors a bit worn

get real
regards

[Guillotine]

never heard of a std griff making 340, best i've heard of is 310 alowing for loses.

which is EXCEPTIONAL (only one and that was abit...suprising? in fact i think even that was with webber injectors!!

Mine makes an agreed 315bhp at the flywheel and 280BHP ATW.

these are above average figures after alot of work by some of the best specialists.

285 is V good. i'd think carefully about doing any work and have £4-5K standing by

then £2K for the suspension, £2K for brakes and £1-2k for fresh alloys/rubber.

another £1-2K for track wheels / tyres etc...

shall i continue ?

£2-3K for trackdays over the year...mutter into the distance...brake pads...discs...fuel...ferries...


worth it tho...

[old64er]

Guillotine said:

never heard of a std griff making 340, best i've heard of is 310 alowing for loses. which is EXCEPTIONAL (only one and that was abit...suprising? in fact i think even that was with webber injectors!! Mine makes an agreed 315bhp at the flywheel and 280BHP ATW. these are above average figures after alot of work by some of the best specialists. 285 is V good. i'd think carefully about doing any work and have £4-5K standing by then £2K for the suspension, £2K for brakes and £1-2k for fresh alloys/rubber. another £1-2K for track wheels / tyres etc... shall i continue ? £2-3K for trackdays over the year...mutter into the distance...brake pads...discs...fuel...ferries... worth it tho...

Not that bad really though, a friend of mine runs a 250 cc kart. That costs more to race each season and he does'nt drive it home !!!!

I think it all depends on how far you want to go.
I have just fitted a cam to mine (old one starting to make some noise) but did you really think i was going to fit a standard profile.
Next year (after i have paid for my wedding) i am getting the ACT triple setup and airflow meter and at the moment i am waiting for a response from Mark Adams about a RR session and chip.(i will let you know of the figures.


Like I said it all depends on how far you want to go!!

and what "her indoors" lets you spend??

[Guillotine]

absolutely :nod: