couple of questions

[fergusgorman]

Hi guys couple of questions.

Firstly I have managed to lose my door key not ignition thankfully.Has fallen off my key ring. Would TVR be able to send me another if I supplied car details. I dought it myself. Any soloutions?

Secondly what percentage of anti freeze should be in the system? To prevent the aluminium from corroding.

Lastly is a 420 or 450 engine a bored out 350? Would it be possible to fit a 420/450 engine in a 350? Are the engine mounts the same? Would the manifolds mate up with the block? Looking at the price of larger modified v8's it is tempting. Believe that a 390 is only a bored out 350 with stronger pistons.

Thanks guys

Happy motoring!

[ferlin]

With regards to the door key.... i needed one and rang the factory and they said that they did not have records to help me ( my car 1985 350i)I tried ford dealership too and no joy, rang the tvr club who put me onto someone that knew a locksmith that could do it for £100!!!! Oh yeah im not that daft!! or rich!!!
Anyway I found a clever lock man at the local key shop that sorted it out no problem once I removed a lock and gave it to him.See how you get on but if you get stuck let me know and I will sort it for you if you mail a lock to me.It wont cost more than £20 for 2 keys.

[19560]

fergusgorman said:

Secondly what percentage of anti freeze should be in the system?

50% works well.

[19560]

fergusgorman said:

Lastly is a 420 or 450 engine a bored out 350? Basically, yes they're all the same block. Would it be possible to fit a 420/450 engine in a 350? No problem and it has been done. Are the engine mounts the same? Yes, no problem here either. Would the manifolds mate up with the block? The 450 manifolds are now sold for all the Wedge cc's. Looking at the price of larger modified v8's it is tempting. Hmmm... Believe that a 390 is only a bored out 350 with stronger pistons. More or less, yes. Thanks guys Happy motoring!

The only problem is that my answers are very much simplified. Say you go for a 390 then they were fitted with Cosworth pistons, a different: crank, con rods, injectors, ecu, the list goes on and on and can become pricy to the extent where 400s look cheap. Then there is the question of brakes, UJs...

A cheap replacement engine for a 350 is the 3947 out of the Disco; similar power but more torque - assuming that you pick one up from a crashed car for peanuts.

[jmorgan]

Also a lager wallet for the other odds and sods a larger engine implant will entail.

[daftlad]

19560 said:

The only problem is that my answers are very much simplified. Say you go for a 390 then they were fitted with Cosworth pistons, a different: crank, con rods, injectors, ecu, the list goes on and on and can become pricy to the extent where 400s look cheap. Then there is the question of brakes, UJs...

Simplified, yes, correct - way off the mark..

>> Edited by daftlad on Thursday 1st July 22:11

[streaky]

ferlin said:

With regards to the door key.... i needed one and rang the factory and they said that they did not have records to help me ( my car 1985 350i)I tried ford dealership too and no joy, rang the tvr club who put me onto someone that knew a locksmith that could do it for £100!!!! Oh yeah im not that daft!! or rich!!! Anyway I found a clever lock man at the local key shop that sorted it out no problem once I removed a lock and gave it to him.See how you get on but if you get stuck let me know and I will sort it for you if you mail a lock to me.It wont cost more than £20 for 2 keys.

Oooh, can he make me a barrel to match a key? My door locks have different barrels/keys. Alternatively, I believe they're Marina locks, is that true? Mine have "TVR" on them, understand not all do. Anyone know what barrels would fit? - Streaky

[wedg1e]

streaky said:

ferlin said: With regards to the door key.... i needed one and rang the factory and they said that they did not have records to help me ( my car 1985 350i)I tried ford dealership too and no joy, rang the tvr club who put me onto someone that knew a locksmith that could do it for £100!!!! Oh yeah im not that daft!! or rich!!! Anyway I found a clever lock man at the local key shop that sorted it out no problem once I removed a lock and gave it to him.See how you get on but if you get stuck let me know and I will sort it for you if you mail a lock to me.It wont cost more than £20 for 2 keys. Oooh, can he make me a barrel to match a key? My door locks have different barrels/keys. Alternatively, I believe they're Marina locks, is that true? Mine have "TVR" on them, understand not all do. Anyone know what barrels would fit? - Streaky

Try Cortina, Streaky. Mk 3, that is...

One of my hobbies (well not really a hobby, just a talent that comes in useful ) is stripping down locks and rebuilding them to match a key. Had to do this with the fuel caps on the Esprit - think someone must have been usng a screwdriver in the past!
It's not that difficult to do, why not have a stab yourself?

Ian

[wedg1e]

fergusgorman said:

Hi guys couple of questions. Firstly I have managed to lose my door key not ignition thankfully.Has fallen off my key ring. Would TVR be able to send me another if I supplied car details. I dought it myself. Any soloutions? Secondly what percentage of anti freeze should be in the system? To prevent the aluminium from corroding. Lastly is a 420 or 450 engine a bored out 350? Would it be possible to fit a 420/450 engine in a 350? Are the engine mounts the same? Would the manifolds mate up with the block? Looking at the price of larger modified v8's it is tempting. Believe that a 390 is only a bored out 350 with stronger pistons. Thanks guys Happy motoring!

You could always cheat... have your 350 bored out to take 94mm liners and 9.35:1 compression pistons (have valve cutouts machined in them first!) from the 3.9 Rangey. Then add a fast road cam, dual valve springs and have the valve guides shortened to allow the extra valve lift. Then, if you really want to get fancy, have the head ports opened out and you will have (almost) a 390SE motor. You could take it to 3.9L anyway, without the cam and porting, for not much money.
Once it's all togther, look at the fuelling upgrades.

You could always look for a Rangey 3.9 engine and use that as the basis... leave your engine stock (just in case!)...

Just a thought (or three)...

Ian

[ferlin]

streaky said:

ferlin said: With regards to the door key.... i needed one and rang the factory and they said that they did not have records to help me ( my car 1985 350i)I tried ford dealership too and no joy, rang the tvr club who put me onto someone that knew a locksmith that could do it for £100!!!! Oh yeah im not that daft!! or rich!!! Anyway I found a clever lock man at the local key shop that sorted it out no problem once I removed a lock and gave it to him.See how you get on but if you get stuck let me know and I will sort it for you if you mail a lock to me.It wont cost more than £20 for 2 keys. Oooh, can he make me a barrel to match a key? My door locks have different barrels/keys. Alternatively, I believe they're Marina locks, is that true? Mine have "TVR" on them, understand not all do. Anyone know what barrels would fit? - Streaky

Definately ford locks (not available from dealer)Dont think he would want to make barrel but if you have patience and theres enough metal there to match the barrels up you could file them to suit your key I suppose

[19560]

daftlad said:

Simplified, yes, correct - way off the mark..

A bit of monkey business from a Chimp waller. Would you like to say which reply is not spot on? I doubt it. Didn't know that we had trolls on here.

[streaky]

jmorgan said:

Also a lager wallet for the other odds and sods a larger engine implant will entail.

Is that a special sort of wallet that you use in pubs? - Streaky

[jmorgan]

That's the one. The magical "emptying when you are not looking" one.

[daftlad]

19560 said:

daftlad said: Simplified, yes, correct - way off the mark.. A bit of monkey business from a Chimp waller. Would you like to say which reply is not spot on? I doubt it. Didn't know that we had trolls on here.

Quite amusing however.... At least the first three points in your final sumation are not totally accurate. A minimum of four engine builders produced 390 SE engines, and the specs varied accordingly.

The early 390 engine specs ranged from little more than big bore conversions, to some quite nice builds, but to start to state they had x, y or z pistions, different cranks etc is at best misleading. Guess thats what I should have said.

For the record, I've had three 3.9 engined wedges, and in the past 20 years or so, have had dealings with all the engine builders first hand. That doesn't make me any kind of expert, but it helps me spot ill informed responses to poelpe loking for advice.

I kind of resent being referred to as a waller, and I'm certainly not a Troll, but thats probably the way my less than subtle posting looked. Apologies if I wound you up.

>> Edited by daftlad on Friday 2nd July 20:06