LS9 in a Sagaris...Ooof!

[SturdyHSV]

Done by Topcats Racing, turns out they're just down the road from me, I'll have to see if they need someone to make the tea on a Saturday!

There's a few more videos of it on youtube, looks to be a proper little beast, me likey.

Linky here, with lots of revving and a nice smokey launch

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=5968695904103...

[GruFFnuTT]

AWESOME!!! Always loved TVR's, but not sure I'd buy another one unless it had an LS in it!

[KMud]

Definitely an appealing combo

[Harryoz]

I was racing on the weekend with the Sag's owner Paul, he is proper bonkers re v8s...and on that basis a good guy!

[stevieturbo]

You'd wonder that TVR themselves never did this.

A good value, powerful, reliable yet simple V8 in their cars...

Surely it would be a no brainer.

[stigmundfreud]

they didn't do it because at the time, TVR were a company with their own engine and whilst the LS is a great engine, a TVR with an LS engine is just like very other small volume kit car manufacturer, how many use LS's? All of them (for good reason mostly) but where would the USP be?

[stevieturbo]

stigmundfreud said:

but where would the USP be?

Unreliability is hardly a USP either though ?

And that seems to be what you find when you search TVR engines ?

It's all nice saying you make everything, it's your own design...and when they work I'm sure they are fantastic.

But it's also nice to have one that will be very reliable and fast. The keep it simple approach really.

[stigmundfreud]

they were a kit car manufacturer with ford engines, seen as cars for Grahams and Trevors. Then they introduced their own engines and all of a sudden their stock rose quickly. If they had gone LS back then they would have been no different to any other Trevor car, if they changed to LS in the end it would have been too late in the end. By that point the buyers and fans were like 911 drivers - you cant move the engine from the back types. TVR died the natural death that was long over due, look at what Melling tried to attempt it with the Wildcat.

[Harryoz]

Not using their own engines doesn't seem to be hurting Morgan.

Seems to me the reborn TVR should not be trying to do it all themselves, and sourcing a known, reliable performance engine and transmission from elsewhere is a good start

[stevieturbo]

Harryoz said:

Not using their own engines doesn't seem to be hurting Morgan.

Seems to me the reborn TVR should not be trying to do it all themselves, and sourcing a known, reliable performance engine and transmission from elsewhere is a good start

Lets face it...many car makers these days share or sell drivetrains to other marques.

Sharing parts that work just makes sense and helps keep costs down

[stigmundfreud]

Harryoz said:

Not using their own engines doesn't seem to be hurting Morgan.

Seems to me the reborn TVR should not be trying to do it all themselves, and sourcing a known, reliable performance engine and transmission from elsewhere is a good start

but then morgan was never really about the engine was it? The only redeeming feature that TVR had (other than the stunning looks) was the engine. The looks and the engine (when working) let you forgive the rest of the car at all other times.

[SturdyHSV]

stigmundfreud said:

but then morgan was never really about the engine was it? The only redeeming feature that TVR had (other than the stunning looks) was the engine. The looks and the engine (when working) let you forgive the rest of the car at all other times.

When they were trotting out the same old underpowered Rover V8 as every other kit car?

The LS is the new rover v8. No reason for them not to use it. Over here it's not that common either, it's not like you can buy a Land Rover with the same engine in... Ooooh exotic

[stigmundfreud]

SturdyHSV said:

stigmundfreud said:

but then morgan was never really about the engine was it? The only redeeming feature that TVR had (other than the stunning looks) was the engine. The looks and the engine (when working) let you forgive the rest of the car at all other times.

When they were trotting out the same old underpowered Rover V8 as every other kit car?

The LS is the new rover v8. No reason for them not to use it. Over here it's not that common either, it's not like you can buy a Land Rover with the same engine in... Ooooh exotic

I love the LS I really do but every new small volume car, before you even get to the engine you just know "its an LSx" and instantly I go "oh ffs really, imaginative guys"

guess it is a good sign of how cheap and readily available it is though!

[ARAF]

stigmundfreud said:

guess it is a good sign of how cheap and readily available it is though!

And how good they are.

You could say the same about higher end, limited production runs, and their use of the BMW 4.4 V8 (and lately the AMG Mercedes units). I'm sure that those were only chosen, as you can't post a £150k price tag if people know it has an £8k GM engine fitted.

[stigmundfreud]

yep, the LS is such a bloody good block its obvious why its so widely used (until GM go bust next week that is). And yes Stevie I guess it is like the old RV8 which was the defacto kit engine because it was so bloody reliable and good! You cannot beat simplicity, as much as I love my car the engine is overly complicated

[stevieturbo]

Or if they wanted the six cylinder....could have remade an alloy block for a Supra engine.

[Harryoz]

stigmundfreud said:

but then morgan was never really about the engine was it? The only redeeming feature that TVR had (other than the stunning looks) was the engine. The looks and the engine (when working) let you forgive the rest of the car at all other times.

for the Morgan, sure enough it s about the looks, et - but they are still in business.

agree re the old TVR, but my guess is the reborn TVR will focus on looks (brand?) and source an external engine to recreate the best of the old TVR - I hope so at least