First Drive!

[Big Daft Lad]

I had the first drive in my Mongrel today (Tasmin 200 with 2.8 carb engine).

It’s as good and as bad as I expected! First the good, I got home. The bad? Its under geared like you wouldn’t believe. The old 2 Litre 4 speed pinto gearbox on a 2.8 engine, the suspension seems to have left the building about the same time as Elvis, it’s got an exhaust leak, the starter doesn’t really and it smells. But I think I’ll grow to love it!

I’ve already got a Capri 2.8i gearbox to go in which will make a huge difference but I’m not sure about the suspension. So what to do? Steve Heath or equivalent coil-overs? or a budget rebuild of standard stuff? My question is where do you get standard dampers and springs?

[carob]

You will i am sure get over the niggles and grow to love it for definate.

I was thinking a while ago of buying that wedge and dropping a scorpio ultima in it.

I have a full set of dampers brand new if you cant find some anywhere, i bought them for my old 350i, butnever changed them.

Rob

[Barkychoc]

You'll have to change the diff aswell to sort the gearing out - swapping the gearbox will only alter the lower ratios as 4th gear on most gearboxes is 1:1.

[TVR_owner]

Barkychoc said:

You'll have to change the diff aswell to sort the gearing out - swapping the gearbox will only alter the lower ratios as 4th gear on most gearboxes is 1:1.

Or fit a 5 speed box?

[Big Daft Lad]

TVR_owner said:

Barkychoc said:

You'll have to change the diff aswell to sort the gearing out - swapping the gearbox will only alter the lower ratios as 4th gear on most gearboxes is 1:1.

Or fit a 5 speed box?

Yip, sorry my new gearbox is a five speeder.

Hmm aren’t all of the diffs the same ratio? According to my photocopied owners handbook the 200 has the same ratio as the 280 and 350, 3.54 to 1 IIRC?

[Wedg1e]

Koni used to do rear dampers. There are various types around now, some of which are utter cack (the Konis weren't exactly brilliant either). The original Armstrongs haven't been available for years.
AVO do rears; from experience I wouldn't touch them with yours. I had them on my Esprit and I reckon my mountain bike has better suspenders.

[carob]

Got a set of the Armstrong originals brand spankers.

Rob

[djc100]

RT racing supply adjustable shocks specifically designed for the Wedges (I used these and have high regard for them) also Steve Heath supplies full coil over kits which seem to receive good reports

Fit adjustables then you can set it up to your preference & driving style. Not Konis as you have remove them to adjust.

r's
David

[Wedg1e]

carob said:

Got a set of the Armstrong originals brand spankers.

Rob

NOS presumably?

[carob]

NOS?

You have lost me there Ian

[carob]

New Old Stock.

Sure are.

Rob

[grahamw48]

djc100 said:

RT racing supply adjustable shocks specifically designed for the Wedges (I used these and have high regard for them) also Steve Heath supplies full coil over kits which seem to receive good reports

Fit adjustables then you can set it up to your preference & driving style. Not Konis as you have remove them to adjust.

r's
David

I had the RT Racing adjustables (inc spring seats) put on to my first tiv...280i by Richard Thorpe, and very good they seemed.

Also have them on present 400SE. It allows you to play around and suit your comfort requirements/driving style and ride height.

Also, check your springs (especially fronts) for breaks and sagging

They're not expensive to replace, and you probably need different fronts for the heavier engine.

[Big Daft Lad]

Are standard springs available easily? The car was bought as a cheap project/plaything so I think I'll run with the standard bits at the moment. The front of the car seems to sit very high, not sure what's going on there.

[Wedg1e]

Big Daft Lad said:

Are standard springs available easily? The car was bought as a cheap project/plaything so I think I'll run with the standard bits at the moment. The front of the car seems to sit very high, not sure what's going on there.

May have had replacement springs then. There have been cases of aftermarket springs that were 'specifically for the Wedge' being so long your headlights would dazzle aircraft. In fact I am reminded of Marcus Brady's issues with springs supposedly 'specifically for the S series' being longer than the one up Zebedee's jacksie...

Of course your car could just be sat on it's ar53...

[SEvans]

The springs on the 200 are different to the ones on the 280 & 350. I suspect your springs were replaced when the 2.8 engine was installed. Personally I'd go for the Steve Heath coilover conversion on the front. Your only going to pay about the same as a new set of springs and dampers and you will be able to adjust the ride height without replacing the springs. Cheers Steve

[grahamw48]

SEvans said:

The springs on the 200 are different to the ones on the 280 & 350. I suspect your springs were replaced when the 2.8 engine was installed. Personally I'd go for the Steve Heath coilover conversion on the front. Your only going to pay about the same as a new set of springs and dampers and you will be able to adjust the ride height without replacing the springs. Cheers Steve

Yes, if original springs were still in place you'd expect the nose to be pointing into the ground, and the front wallowing all over the place.

This is shot of my old 280 after new suspenders all round...done at RT, and I thought ride height was about right.