A little onboard video...

A little onboard video...

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Dimension

Original Poster:

26 posts

114 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
quotequote all
... that, to me, signifies the beginning of an adventure smile

Bought my second TVR a while back and finally managed to drive it to its new home. What you're seeing here is disembarking the Ferry in Rotterdam and the following 17 Minutes. First time the car has touched continental Europe as far as I'm aware, which is why I recorded the occasion.

No music in this, only engine noise.

The drive went without any huge problems although it made me realize that I need to do something about the heat management because the water temps rocket in a traffic jam. Also, I burned my left foot into a crisp wink

Hope you enjoy the video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFL38KY290Y&fe...

MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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Very nice. Have you got any pics of your Griff 200?

jimed

1,500 posts

205 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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It sounded as if it was wanting to go when you just eased away and changed up a gear - nice!
Jim

Dimension

Original Poster:

26 posts

114 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
quotequote all
Glad you guys like it smile

Here's some pictures:




upon further research, it turns out that a chassis number starting with "200" does not mean it is a griffith 200. The documentation I saw points to the 1964 Griff 400's as having "400" chassis numbers while the 1965 cars (or at least some), such as mine, had "200" chassis numbers despite being Griffith 400's. The cars built prior to november 64, the regular 200's also all have "200" chassis numbers, which is where my initial confusion came from. Only learned this today biggrin

The gearshift is incredible. except for reverse, finding a gear is super easy, the loud CLUNK when engaging a gear is hugely satisfying. And yes, the car is very eager to show off its power. What you see in the video is only a small portion, I never gave it more than 60-70% gas and never revved it above 5000 or so, maybe even below 4500. Its a true monster of a motor.

The car is the old Steve Watton car, its been on pistonheads before so it may be an old aquaintance to some smile

It is currently undergoing some modifications to make it fully street legal in germany (lights, reverse lights, hazard lights, some electrical stuff). Cannot wait to get it back on the road!

Edited by Dimension on Wednesday 19th August 13:25

MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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What an absolutely stunning machine, love it. Thanks for the info.

Dollyman1850

6,316 posts

249 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29nO7l1NvK8

Heres a good vid for you…

Shortly after Pauls wishbone snapping the ex Watton car went round next corner and T boned a TR6. There was extensive chassis damage to R/H front corner so I am assuming the car has had a corner repair prior to being sold. The car was owned by a guy in the M/C area after Steve Watton so I don't know if this is where you purchased it from of if it has went through a number of hands.

The engine was built by hekkiman racing I think and is a 400 - 450hp unit. or it was pre-crash at Oulton.

Cheers
neil.


Edited by Dollyman1850 on Friday 21st August 06:42

Dimension

Original Poster:

26 posts

114 months

Friday 21st August 2015
quotequote all
Hello!

I was actually aware of that video and have also seen the pictures of the accident happening. The owner had the car rebuilt, albeit with a less nervous steering rack but after some deliberation decided to sell it to me as he did not see himself racing it anymore. Guy is among the friendliest people I met in my life by the way.

The engine is indeed a Gregg Hekimian Ford Engine and was dyno'd at 529hp at the flywheel. It is a firespitting monstrosity and I love it to bits smile

Best Regards
Cedric

Dollyman1850

6,316 posts

249 months

Friday 21st August 2015
quotequote all
Dimension said:
Hello!

I was actually aware of that video and have also seen the pictures of the accident happening. The owner had the car rebuilt, albeit with a less nervous steering rack but after some deliberation decided to sell it to me as he did not see himself racing it anymore. Guy is among the friendliest people I met in my life by the way.

The engine is indeed a Gregg Hekimian Ford Engine and was dyno'd at 529hp at the flywheel. It is a firespitting monstrosity and I love it to bits smile

Best Regards
Cedric
Yep.
Nice guy and had been around racing in the CSCC for quite some time. He turned up at Oulton tugging the car with a lovely P5B rover tow car on the day. Great classic tow rig.
The car was built by Duncan and Nigel Rueben prior to his ownership for Steve Watton so as a car I don't think you would be able to find a more developed one.
I hope you really enjoy her but please keep it race worthy and do the odd circular tour wink
N

Dimension

Original Poster:

26 posts

114 months

Friday 21st August 2015
quotequote all
Rest assured that I'm only doing what I must in order to make it road legal and and drivable on the road. The goal is to keep it as close to its current state as it is, because in my view the current spec is the one it has gained its fame in, so thats how I want to preserve it.

Things I must do (that I'm aware of):
- Make the reversing lights work
- install Hazard lights
- possibly add some sound dampening to the exhaust
- replace the lamps for rightside traffic
- get the speedo and odometer working again (or replace)
- work the suspension and fenders so the wheels don't foul on the bodywork

Things I want to do:
- Fix the blowback flames out of the carburettor in order to fit an air filter and safely start the car with a closed bonnet
- replace the current cracked rear-view mirror with a new one
- install a passenger seat
- replace the harness with a new one and add one for the passenger seat
- test and if necessary replace the batteries. I have a feeling as if the batterie is rapidly losing charge, which causes problems with the starter motor.
- add heat insulation
- move the oil and/or water cooler in order to have space for a second fan for the water cooler. The car overheats too fast.
- relocate the fire extinguisher
- apply clearcoat in order to preserve the David Hives signatures.
- have it dipped to protect the original paintwork
- fix the back window seals
- replace the extra gauges with classic ones
- the car always displays as having between 27 and 37 l of fuel, regardless of whether its full or empty. fix that.
- fix the dickish "power on" button
- if possible, get the doors watertight
- add a glovebox
- replace broken battery container
- aquire keys for the lock or replace lock
- add a hidden killswitch or two

... geez I didn't think it would end up being so much. Guess I won't be bored the next few years smile

As an aside, apparently its a "he" and as far as I was told has been named "Biff" by Steve Watton, as in "Biff the Griff" biggrin

Edited by Dimension on Friday 21st August 14:19


Edited by Dimension on Friday 21st August 14:21


Edited by Dimension on Friday 21st August 14:24

Dimension

Original Poster:

26 posts

114 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
quotequote all
Hello!

What an eventful weekend.

Friday I was fooling about with the boys from the BBC, as the car will be featured on the next Season of James May's Cars of the People. Luckily they managed to get all required material before the car expired frown

What happened?

The alternator is horrifically underpowered. A nice chap who is an electrical engineer from lincolnshire and was touristing about the place stuck his head in and commented that it looked to be from a BMW... bike!

The theory I have is that the alternator actually expired back when I brought the car over to germany. It was very hot that day and I had everything running to keep the engine cool and also had the lights on for visibility reasons.

After that I noticed that voltage was very low whenever I wanted to start the car, so low in fact that it occasionally did not start at all. I initially blamed the battery, but now I know better.

also, the wiring loom is very fragile, thin cables that are only designed to last a daytime sprint race, with huge fuses to prevent them blowing all the damn time. The net result is that the car is a bit of a fire hazard.

Also, the front tires foul everywhere. And I mean everywhere. They foul on the cables for the lighting array, and have apparently eaten through the wires leading to the indicators, now they short-circuit as soon as I turn on the ignition. they also foul on oil lines, the radiator, and like 5 different parts of the bodywork.

New tyres have already arrived, I'm downsizing from 225/60 to 225/50 and see if they still foul. if they do,I'll have to limit the turning circle.

The alternator needs to be replaced with a bigger unit that is actually up to the job.

And I'm debating on wether to replace the faultiest, thinnest wires or go ahead and commission a new wiring loom altogether.

I'm currently somewhat bummed out about it all, but haven't given up hope quite yet.

Dollyman1850

6,316 posts

249 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
quotequote all
Dimension said:
Hello!

What an eventful weekend.

Friday I was fooling about with the boys from the BBC, as the car will be featured on the next Season of James May's Cars of the People. Luckily they managed to get all required material before the car expired frown

What happened?

The alternator is horrifically underpowered. A nice chap who is an electrical engineer from lincolnshire and was touristing about the place stuck his head in and commented that it looked to be from a BMW... bike!

The theory I have is that the alternator actually expired back when I brought the car over to germany. It was very hot that day and I had everything running to keep the engine cool and also had the lights on for visibility reasons.

After that I noticed that voltage was very low whenever I wanted to start the car, so low in fact that it occasionally did not start at all. I initially blamed the battery, but now I know better.

also, the wiring loom is very fragile, thin cables that are only designed to last a daytime sprint race, with huge fuses to prevent them blowing all the damn time. The net result is that the car is a bit of a fire hazard.

Also, the front tires foul everywhere. And I mean everywhere. They foul on the cables for the lighting array, and have apparently eaten through the wires leading to the indicators, now they short-circuit as soon as I turn on the ignition. they also foul on oil lines, the radiator, and like 5 different parts of the bodywork.

New tyres have already arrived, I'm downsizing from 225/60 to 225/50 and see if they still foul. if they do,I'll have to limit the turning circle.

The alternator needs to be replaced with a bigger unit that is actually up to the job.

And I'm debating on wether to replace the faultiest, thinnest wires or go ahead and commission a new wiring loom altogether.

I'm currently somewhat bummed out about it all, but haven't given up hope quite yet.
Have a look at a VW Polo early type Alternator. You may find it to be a match.
Are you running air con, big fans etc etc?? Not sure why you would be draining a good battery with a car which doesn't have very much electrical demand??
N.




Dimension

Original Poster:

26 posts

114 months

Wednesday 16th September 2015
quotequote all
The aforementioned heat issues mean that I have to run the fan quite a bit. In the future I will actually fit a second fan so drain will increase. There is also the electric waterpump which is naturally constantly in operation. the rest is fuel pumps and the various lights, as well as miscellaneous stuff I usually don't turn on, such as auxillary oil pumps in the sump and the differential. there is no air con fitted. The battery lasts a few hours when full, but since the alternator is not working it will most definitely run out.

At some point I will also install a 12V outlet in an inconspicuous spot.

You say that the polo alternator is bolt on or can be fit with few modifications? Or what do you mean by "good fit".

Dollyman1850

6,316 posts

249 months

Wednesday 16th September 2015
quotequote all
Dimension said:
The aforementioned heat issues mean that I have to run the fan quite a bit. In the future I will actually fit a second fan so drain will increase. There is also the electric waterpump which is naturally constantly in operation. the rest is fuel pumps and the various lights, as well as miscellaneous stuff I usually don't turn on, such as auxillary oil pumps in the sump and the differential. there is no air con fitted. The battery lasts a few hours when full, but since the alternator is not working it will most definitely run out.

At some point I will also install a 12V outlet in an inconspicuous spot.

You say that the polo alternator is bolt on or can be fit with few modifications? Or what do you mean by "good fit".
What output is your current alternator?
even a relatively small 45amp alternator should have no problems powering a fan and fuel pumps even with an electric water pump.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alternator-1985-88-CLASSIC...



Polo alternator. Why not just revert back to a mechanical water pump?

N.

Edited by Dollyman1850 on Wednesday 16th September 07:42


Edited by Dollyman1850 on Wednesday 16th September 07:45


Edited by Dollyman1850 on Wednesday 16th September 07:48

Dimension

Original Poster:

26 posts

114 months

Wednesday 16th September 2015
quotequote all
A mechanical driven pump cannot be used when the engine is not running. this means that I cannot in conjunction with an electrical fan cool the engine down after a drive. Since the alternator is defintely broken and the water pump definitely isn't, I see no good reason to switch out the water pump given the benefits.

I do not exactly know the output of the alternator, but plan to unbolt it and have it inspected/tested. It is however motorbike-sized, absolutely tiny. The output will be accordingly. A friendly electrician said that his estimate is well below 500 Watts.

Edited by Dimension on Wednesday 16th September 12:09

Dimension

Original Poster:

26 posts

114 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
quotequote all
Just a heads up/vicious plug!

The car can be seen on TV tomorrow on S2E3 of James Mays Cars of the People on BBC2 from 21:00h GMT. I am super excited to see what the finished result of about 3/4 day of filming is!

MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
quotequote all
Fantastic, I'll watch that.

Mr Plow

1,193 posts

227 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
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Just set record. Thanks smile

Guillotine

5,516 posts

263 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
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https://youtu.be/_rT5nzRq0rc

Here some footage of the car being given 100% in 2005.
Steve did a fantastic job on the car and I would have loved to have had the cash to buy it when he sold it. A wonderful car.
A

Dollyman1850

6,316 posts

249 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
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MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Monday 8th February 2016
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I enjoyed watching that, looked epic and James certainly looked like he was enjoying himself. I had no idea they were so cramped inside!

Actually quite a positive take on TVR which is surprising for BBC / TopGear.