3.6 or 4.0 Tuscan
Discussion
Hi all,
Just purchased my first Tuscan albeit most of the car missing after deciding to do it on a project basis. Car is classed as cat 'c' but all chassis and suspension are fine, just had new steering rack which was nothing short of awkward, quite scary too to see how little turning circle you have, can see already why they dont like roundabouts! All other repairs are going well and surprised at how easy the parts have come my way, thought it would be impossible what with TVR being where they are. Anyway my question is this, my car is a 2003/53 and after the hpi check it tells me the car is a 4.0L which i hope it is for the little extra torque. However, everyone i buy parts from who you would expect to know there stuff are telling me that by this time in production unless the car is as an 'S' which it isn't, it can only be a 3.6L. Also the owners handbook which i was lucky to get states two cars specifications, the 3.6 or 4.0s. Any help would be appreciated, also if this is the case what differences will there be to the 4.0 as I have previously driven one of these and loved it. thanks
Just purchased my first Tuscan albeit most of the car missing after deciding to do it on a project basis. Car is classed as cat 'c' but all chassis and suspension are fine, just had new steering rack which was nothing short of awkward, quite scary too to see how little turning circle you have, can see already why they dont like roundabouts! All other repairs are going well and surprised at how easy the parts have come my way, thought it would be impossible what with TVR being where they are. Anyway my question is this, my car is a 2003/53 and after the hpi check it tells me the car is a 4.0L which i hope it is for the little extra torque. However, everyone i buy parts from who you would expect to know there stuff are telling me that by this time in production unless the car is as an 'S' which it isn't, it can only be a 3.6L. Also the owners handbook which i was lucky to get states two cars specifications, the 3.6 or 4.0s. Any help would be appreciated, also if this is the case what differences will there be to the 4.0 as I have previously driven one of these and loved it. thanks
Hmmm, not sure about that statement that it must be a 3.6 just because of the age. There are also adverts for '04 4.0 Tuscans in the Classifieds.....
If you do have a 3.6, you'll lose a bit of torque ultimately, and what you do have will come in higher up the rev range so you'll need to wring its neck a bit more (not a bad thing when you hear it!
). I've got a 3.6 T2 and in comparsion to a friend's 4.0S Mk1, it revs quicker.
However it looks on paper, the answer on the tarmac is 'goes like a b
d'. You'll love it either way! 
If you do have a 3.6, you'll lose a bit of torque ultimately, and what you do have will come in higher up the rev range so you'll need to wring its neck a bit more (not a bad thing when you hear it!
). I've got a 3.6 T2 and in comparsion to a friend's 4.0S Mk1, it revs quicker.However it looks on paper, the answer on the tarmac is 'goes like a b
d'. You'll love it either way! Edited by MarkoTVR on Friday 29th February 12:17
In the "3.6 or 4.0 S" period, you could pay £1000 to upgrade from the 3.6 to the non-S 4.0 engine, in the process gaining a few lb.ft of torque, but an increased propensity for the engine to self destruct (runs for cover
).
The best way to tell which one you have would be to contact TVR Power with the engine number.
Either way, I've had a 3.6 for the past 3 years and it's no slower than a 4.0, just slightly different.
Cheers,
Pete
p.s. I am JOKING about the 3.6 vs. 4.0 reliability, before anyone jumps down my neck
).The best way to tell which one you have would be to contact TVR Power with the engine number.
Either way, I've had a 3.6 for the past 3 years and it's no slower than a 4.0, just slightly different.
Cheers,
Pete
p.s. I am JOKING about the 3.6 vs. 4.0 reliability, before anyone jumps down my neck

Before the development of the 3.6 engine the Tuscan was only available as a 4.0 although in S and non-S varients. IIRC it was some time in 2002 that the 3.6 became available.
Mine has been just as quick in its new shades as it was in the old.
Mine has been just as quick in its new shades as it was in the old.
Edited by Bob the Planner on Friday 29th February 18:14
saulk said:
Fuzzwig,
I drove 7 or 8 4.0 Tuscans before I bought my 3.6 and to be honest I don't think you would tell the difference. The car is so light and has so much grunt in either guise on the tarmac I would say the difference is absolutely minimal.
I agree I also drove a few 3.6 and 4.0 and I couldn't tell the diffrence although I didn't really give it the full Bhoona when I drove them.I drove 7 or 8 4.0 Tuscans before I bought my 3.6 and to be honest I don't think you would tell the difference. The car is so light and has so much grunt in either guise on the tarmac I would say the difference is absolutely minimal.
In the end I bought a 4.0L because it was the best colour combo and spec for my budget. But wouldhave been quiet happy with a 3.6L but it does sound better when you say you have 4.0L

yeah thought that but think that may just be me being narrow minded, im sure they both have there pros and cons depending what you want from the car. Thats the next step for me too, the respray, spectraflare or a nice metallic red bull blue, not sure and obviously depends on paint costs.

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