Discussion
Hi Arthur
Fantastic build - and one I'm hoping to replicate down In Melbourne!
I've bought a 2500 (which was previously owned by Mike Zappa) which has a 302 and 4 speed toploader with a Corvette diff.
But it's now in very poor condition and needs a full resto.
If you'd be happy to share the info, I'd be very interested in the details of your fuel tank mounting and how you're running the water pump to allow for the modified top crossmember to fit in front of the engine - my crossmember has been er, 'deleted'....!
And as you can see, I have a way to go!
Cheers
Richard
Fantastic build - and one I'm hoping to replicate down In Melbourne!
I've bought a 2500 (which was previously owned by Mike Zappa) which has a 302 and 4 speed toploader with a Corvette diff.
But it's now in very poor condition and needs a full resto.
If you'd be happy to share the info, I'd be very interested in the details of your fuel tank mounting and how you're running the water pump to allow for the modified top crossmember to fit in front of the engine - my crossmember has been er, 'deleted'....!
And as you can see, I have a way to go!
Cheers
Richard
Arthur: We have 2 of the John Wadman V8 conversions and the one thing that we found that needed attention was the alternator/charging system. With my 347 Stroker I destroyed 3 alt/reg. and 1 MSD box in my 6 week trip around North America supporting mechanics two years ago. Since then I have gone through 2 more systems. We found that with the draw on our electonics (cooling fan etc.) that the alt was working steady (or maybe too hard) and with under bonnet heat, things were, shall I say melting.
Solution: Beginning of this year we fitted a custom made alt with an internal cooling fan instead of that excuse of an external fan system. With all machining,new brackets and the re building of the alt and with a new reg our cost almost hit $1,500.00 and if this alt fails the car is parked until it can be rebuilt. Since we have had no problems with the new system this winter we are going to replace the Spousal Units charging system on her 302 and we expect that cost to be under $1,000.00 as we have (hopefully) ironed out all the mistakes.
It is alot of money to spend but the savings on batterys, MSD boxes and charging systems, we should break even shortly. Gauges and lights also now work better. Headlights must be 2 or 3 times better than before, so they have to be hitting 75 to 80 candle power. Couldn't resist that snide comment but I now enjoy driving my car after dark.
With your exhaust set up, you may not have the extra heat under the bonnet that we had and to date we don't know if that had anything to do with our charging system problems. We now have over 1500 miles on this system in all types of weather and in stop and go traffic in high 20s temp and not one complaint but time will tell. All I know for sure is the STANDARD Ford alt/reg that we bought in Calgary/"TorontA"/Virginia etc. was not good enough for the power draws that we had in my car. So PLEASE tread lightly with your rebuild.
Wayne/Sherry Leppard.
Calgary, Alberta.
78 Taimar (John Wadman 302 now 347Stroker)
79 Taimar (Clone by John Wadman)
73 2500M (supercharged)
Solution: Beginning of this year we fitted a custom made alt with an internal cooling fan instead of that excuse of an external fan system. With all machining,new brackets and the re building of the alt and with a new reg our cost almost hit $1,500.00 and if this alt fails the car is parked until it can be rebuilt. Since we have had no problems with the new system this winter we are going to replace the Spousal Units charging system on her 302 and we expect that cost to be under $1,000.00 as we have (hopefully) ironed out all the mistakes.
It is alot of money to spend but the savings on batterys, MSD boxes and charging systems, we should break even shortly. Gauges and lights also now work better. Headlights must be 2 or 3 times better than before, so they have to be hitting 75 to 80 candle power. Couldn't resist that snide comment but I now enjoy driving my car after dark.
With your exhaust set up, you may not have the extra heat under the bonnet that we had and to date we don't know if that had anything to do with our charging system problems. We now have over 1500 miles on this system in all types of weather and in stop and go traffic in high 20s temp and not one complaint but time will tell. All I know for sure is the STANDARD Ford alt/reg that we bought in Calgary/"TorontA"/Virginia etc. was not good enough for the power draws that we had in my car. So PLEASE tread lightly with your rebuild.
Wayne/Sherry Leppard.
Calgary, Alberta.
78 Taimar (John Wadman 302 now 347Stroker)
79 Taimar (Clone by John Wadman)
73 2500M (supercharged)
Edited by V8TVR1978 on Sunday 2nd October 10:23
Also my problem may have only been on the Stroker engine car and there may not be any problems with the Spousal Units system but for under $1,000.00 for her change up, the brighter headlights alone will be worth it if nothing else. But in the last 2 years we had to change her battery(their too small) and then have a warranty replacement on it. Same with my car, new battery and then a warranty replacement.
Grantura MKI said:
Sadly, this forum has turned into a Cobra kit car group!.
By your analogy, that's a group where AC Ace and Aseca owners discuss upgrading to V8 power, with Greyhound owners whining. Right? Everybody needs an outlet. Mine will be IMPROVING my car, and yours will be pissing about it.
Best,
B.
Hi Bernard,
Please take your time and read what I posted. I said Cobra. I do not know of anyone that would re-power an AC Ace with a V8 knowing that the 6 cylinder cars are fetching 250K at the moment. I am simply saying do your "loving hands at home" project on a kit Cobra that has little value or history.
Pissing....right! Do your research better my boy. I have been a top restorer of classic TVR's for nearly 25 years. English car restoration is my business. I do not re-power my vehicles.
On the plus side, I should be happy because a modified TVR never brings the money that an original will bring.
Have a pleasant day.
Please take your time and read what I posted. I said Cobra. I do not know of anyone that would re-power an AC Ace with a V8 knowing that the 6 cylinder cars are fetching 250K at the moment. I am simply saying do your "loving hands at home" project on a kit Cobra that has little value or history.
Pissing....right! Do your research better my boy. I have been a top restorer of classic TVR's for nearly 25 years. English car restoration is my business. I do not re-power my vehicles.
On the plus side, I should be happy because a modified TVR never brings the money that an original will bring.
Have a pleasant day.
Guys, there are so few of us on this forum please don't fall out. You're both entitled to your views, some people like their TVRs restored as originally as possible (though for many early TVRs, just what is original?), others like to modify their cars. There's room for all to play...
davidy
davidy
RichB said:
DonkeyApple said:
RichB said:
What's white-out?
I think it is the US spelling of Tipex?
TVR values over the years have been the reason why so few good restorations have been undertaken and why so
many modifiers take on the mantle of making classic TVRs mongrels.
Our Swiss friend is worthy of air time. Neil, your flat cap and whippet approach will keep values low. As a consequence of this cowboy approach the cars will fail to reach their market potential and will continue to be seen as kit cars by real classic car people.
Your 15 years of experience has yet to see a restored car turn a wheel, but you contradict and challenge known specialists, why?
many modifiers take on the mantle of making classic TVRs mongrels.
Our Swiss friend is worthy of air time. Neil, your flat cap and whippet approach will keep values low. As a consequence of this cowboy approach the cars will fail to reach their market potential and will continue to be seen as kit cars by real classic car people.
Your 15 years of experience has yet to see a restored car turn a wheel, but you contradict and challenge known specialists, why?
My understanding about the John Wadman V8 conversions were done in cooperation with TVR Engineering and had the factory's blessing on said build. So I consider my 1978 (John Wadman V8 conversion) to be as much a TRUE TVR as any other that came out of the factory and it is registered as a 5000M. My Spousal Units (John Wadman V8 conversion) was not converted when new but at a later date when it needed a new engine. So I believe it to be a 5000M CLONE as are many cars that have been worked on / upgraded by backyard mechanics and car shops to V8 power. Now some purists may disagree and say that TVR never built a 5000M but what do they call John Wadman's creations and Peter Wheeler's green 5000M racing monster???????? And what about the Granturas that Jack coverted back in the 60s????? This is an age old conversation that will never satisfy everyone 100% and I can respect. Everytime that I take one of V8 Taimars out for a spin and get my grin on, I can only think of everything that guys like John Wadman did for TVR ( and we probably won't know everything ) and count my lucky stars. Thank you John (and many others) for your dedication to the car that so few will really be able to know and experience.
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