The Beast Is Back at last

[cirks]

I'll post more details asap but just to say, WOW, and if you want to have a look then look at www.cirks.co.uk

Comments welcome

>>> Edited by cirks on Monday 13th October 19:28

[cirks]

Sorry about the links to the larger pics - should be sorted now.

Induction roar is louder than the exhaust from inside the car - that's definately a first for my car!!

Only had the car back for a couple of days now so still getting used to it. I'll put up full specs etc when I get a minute and not doing this across a mobile phone link!

[cirks]

Oh well, not my phone bill and as I have it handy:

Basic Spec:
4.8 x-bolted
218 Cam
4*48 Weber IDF

Important Bits:
316 bhp @ 5560rpm
336 lb/ft @4100rpm

Torque curve is almost flat - over 270 from 2000 through to 6000rpm.

Engine supplied by John Eales. Fitting and all other mods work (of which there was plenty as it is a serpentine engine compared with the original 4.5 pre-serp) carried out by Tower View.

[cirks]

rev-erend said:

What made you switch to carbs rather than injection ?

A couple of things:

1) John and Tower View recommended it as the 'way to go' for more power whilst working within my original budget. Staying with the injection would have meant the triple plenum, new ECU and still the additional pumps etc.
2) Carbs do sound rather nice don't they ;-)

Ever since seeing (and going round Brands Hatch in) Jeff Statham's car I've fancied the air filter through the bonnet look!
I actually blame Tim (ACT) for all of this.....the carbs on the old Jensen of his that I had sounded good too.... ;-)

[cirks]

gf350 said:

I really like what you have done to it, very nice. Did I perhaps see you flash past on the Park Street roundabout in St Albans, heading towards Hatfield on Saturday afternoon. GF.

Thanks for the comments. You almost certainly saw me as I would have been on the way back to Welwyn from Tower View on Sat! Did you on see me flash by or could you hear me?

[cirks]

HeyAndy said:

Shame about the red wheels.......

I would have preferred the standard silver finish like the originals but some silly Tuscan racer had the wrong colour!
I thought about going the Mr Heath route and spraying the whole car to match the wheels !

[cirks]

I've now put the Power curve up on cirks.co.uk.

Will sort out a nice noise clip over the weekend if not before.

[cirks]

rev-erend said:

Cirks - R U in Welwyn - I've just moved down the road from you in Hoddesdon.. Look out for my green wedge around the area...

I'll mail you via your profile - perhaps meetup locally. Any excuse to take the car out for a little run!

[cirks]

pete400se said:

Cirks, I remember Mark at Tower View talking very enthusiastically about your 4.8, I think shortly after the car went in.

Ah, that would be about 6 months ago then ;-)
I think a few choice words were said about it while fitting it though!

As for meeting up next Sat - I'd like to but I'll have to see if our 2nd baby arrives before then (due tomorrow!).

[cirks]

about the only thing that would have gone into a formal pre-nuptual agreement if we had had one would have been 'the wedge stays'. Fortunately Debs is pretty understanding...ie it's the one area she knows she won't get her own way!

[cirks]

For those who want to hear what the beast sounds like I have posted a sound/video bite on www.cirks.co.uk

>> Edited by cirks on Sunday 19th October 22:11

[cirks]

GreenV8S said:

how much would this little lot cost somebody looking for something similar

Of course you're asking how much it would cost to generate an MPEG of their engine aren't you

Um, well, I think Dave and particuarly Mark have learned a lot from this 'one off' so someone else's should be quite a bit cheaper. Although Steve also moved from pre-serpentine to serpentine he hasn't got all the issues that we had with the placement of the airfilters, carbs, distributor, thermostat, oil filter etc etc!!
I haven't dared look at the invoice again since it was finished but will let you know roughly what the actual work on fitting the engine etc cost. The total invoice and labour included brand new front-to-back exhaust, all new hoses, twin fans, etc etc so not all of it was for the upgrade.
The engine was (hope the wife isn't reading this) £6300 (including new clutch) and I would guess that the overall fitting and parts directly associated with it was around another £4k !

[cirks]

rev-erend said:

If we said - Saturday 25th October at say 12:00.. who would be up for it.

I am still up for it if Debs hasn't 'dropped' by then! Baby is now officially 'late'!

[cirks]

rev-erend said:

I would think just by mentioning that you spent 10K on your TVR would induce labour ... it would in my girlfriend and she is not even pregnant..! Hope you will be able to make it.

I think being sent to Siberia for a bit of 'hard labour' may be the other outcome if I did mention it!

[cirks]

GreenV8S said:

cirks said: Baby is now officially 'late'! Cirks, it occurs to me that you have a spangly new engine that needs running in before the spring/track day season starts, now I know its a horrible job driving that noisy uncomfortable uneconomical car on the roads this time of year and of course you've got a young family to look after now so you won't have time even if you wanted to ... ... so ... as a favour I might be willing to take that horrible job on and run it in for you ... just as a favour to a mate you understand! :rubbing hands together in glee: Can't believe nobody else has thought of this one!

Possibly not the best offer I have had Peter but thanks anyway

Mind you, I need to get up to John Eales just to sort out a minor teething issue with the carbs so might need someone to take it up there.......

[cirks]

fortunately John did all the balancing and jetting etc on the dyno so all that should be ok. The issue is that on acceleration from low revs there is a stutter/hesitancy. Spoke to John and he immediately said 'ah, needs some (bigger) pump jets'....Who am I to argue?!?

I still need someone to stand behind the car while I rev it then lift off to so I can find out whether I have flames or not. You choose whether you wear shorts or trousers while doing it

No baby yet...

>> Edited by cirks on Tuesday 21st October 13:49

[cirks]

rev-erend said:

Cirks .. any baby yet.... ?

Yippee....Yes. 4am yesterday morning. Adam Mark born 7lb 14oz (or for those youngsters out there 3.58kg).
Short labour and everything fine with Debbie and Adam.

I still aim to 'try my luck' and escape for an hour to meet you all on Sat for an hour or so! That is if I have had some sleep by then.

[cirks]

shpub said:

No but you never had the problem of splicing .......

True enough but I only had the problem of paying for all the work to be done....you had the problem of helping and getting your knuckles scratched

[cirks]

2 sheds said:

.... the excuse to have a bigger bonnet intake than Cirks Tim

Oh dear, I can see the beginning of a 'mine is bigger than yours thread...'

[cirks]

shpub said:

PS Congrats on the both new arrivals.

Thanks.
First full day back at work today (since the birth of Adam rather than since getting my other 'baby' back!)....Just ever so slightly tired but still on