S6 Engine Upgrade Options

[NeilC73]

Hi Guys

As far as I know my 4.0 litre engine is sound but I'm considering of upgrading it.

I see there are a few options. RG's FFF and Syvecs or TVR Powers 4.3/4.5 conversion.

Anyone had any of these upgrades or can offer some advice please?

Many thanks
Neil

Edited by NeilC73 on Thursday 1st August 09:00

[WolfyJones]

Also power 5 litre and Str8six 4.3, Also Clive F (joolz) 4 litre Sag runs good numbers.

[7 TVR]

I have run a 3.6 ,4.0RR and now a str8six 4.3 and love it to bits, it has to be one of the best packages i've driven in terms of delivering an experience
If it where my money it would be Str8six or TVR Power. Simples

[Don1]

I've got a FFF, and it's brilliant. But it does work better with an upgraded airbox and exhaust.

But loads of people are happy with the other products. Test drive them like I did, and decide.

[Laser Sag]

Don1 said:

I've got a FFF, and it's brilliant. But it does work better with an upgraded airbox and exhaust.

But loads of people are happy with the other products. Test drive them like I did, and decide.

A sensible reply thanks Don1, the two main options on the SP6 drive in different ways and need to be driven to decide which suits your driving style better.

[K4TRV]

Don1 said:

I've got a FFF, and it's brilliant. But it does work better with an upgraded airbox and exhaust.

But loads of people are happy with the other products. Test drive them like I did, and decide.

Sorry O/P, just a little off-topic on 3.6 query - Can I ask if the FFF works on 3.6 or do you have to go 4.0 or larger??

I presume yours is the 4.0 Sag engine, so would a 3.6 have less of an issue with inlet/exhaust restrictions with a FFF head?

The RG website isn't too detailed on this - or rather my work internet is pants waiting for RGs Website....8-((?

Trv

[D14 AYS]

I have Powers 4.5ss I am over the moon with it, if I had to choose again I would only consider Powers Performance !

[natben]

Powers Performance (TVR Power) everytime, No question, they have done more rebuilds than all the rest put together, great service, warranty and a proven great product. Just decide if you want to get a 4.0L, 4.3L, 4.5L super sport or Dom has developed the 5.0L black edition which will be a monster , but hurry up only 15 of these engines will be made available to lucky TVR owners.

[sidpinup]

I have a TVR Power 4.3 in my Tam and I just love it! It's just the right power for he car..still revs like the old 3.6 plus im not listening for new noises and expecting it to go bang every time I drive it!

[Don1]

K4TRV said:

Sorry O/P, just a little off-topic on 3.6 query - Can I ask if the FFF works on 3.6 or do you have to go 4.0 or larger??

I presume yours is the 4.0 Sag engine, so would a 3.6 have less of an issue with inlet/exhaust restrictions with a FFF head?

The RG website isn't too detailed on this - or rather my work internet is pants waiting for RGs Website....8-((?

Trv

Good question. RG have said that they can make it work on a 3.6, it just hasn't been done (as far as I know).

[WolfyJones]

Would be nice to have the characteristics of both the power 5 litre and Don1 FFF engine,

Revs lb ft bhp
3000 335 200
4000 370 280
5000 385 365
6000 360 405
7000 330 445

Now that would be the S6 to have.

Edited by WolfyJones on Thursday 1st August 11:02

[Zippee]

I have Powers 4.3 in my T350 and its a fantastic engine, a lot more low down torque so it pretty much powers it's way right through the rev range rather than coming on form 3-4k up as per the standard 3.6. TBH at first I felt there was little difference, I'd been away from my car for almost 5 months due to bodyshop work and then my original engine dropping its half time bearing and needing the rebuild on the way home from the bodyshop. That was until Steve (Shidevil on here) and I did some back to back comparisons against his standard (apart from ACT carbon airbox) T350 and my 4.3 - the difference is pretty immense and very noticeable, though I see you have a 4.0 at present so I can't really say how much extra you'd notice.
Low down pick up and general driveability has IMHO improved a lot over the 3.6
Is the 4.3 worth the extra 3k or so over a standard rebuild? Yes - 100%.
Is it worth the 9-10k (mine was 10.5k) for a rebuild just because you fancy a change? Tough one, depends how much money you have really. It's a heck of a lot of money and I'm sure the 4.0 will do 8/10ths of what the 4.3 will do.

[Walford]

WolfyJones said:

Would be nice to have the characteristics of both the power 5 litre and Don1 FFF engine,

Revs lb ft bhp
3000 335 200
4000 370 280
5000 385 365
6000 360 405
7000 330 445

Now that would be the S6 to have.

you would need to move 2 cylinders and add 2 more,

.

[BuzzBillsberry]

My Tamora has just had TVR Powers 4.3 installed about 10 days ago. I can't feel that much difference as I'm still running the engine in and can't rev over 4000k until its done 1200-1400 miles I've done 600 so far but what I will say its certainly more torquey and has definitely fill the hole in the rev range over the 3.6 . It's a lot more silky on tick over and friends say its sounds Smooth compared to the raspy 3.6.

It was a chunk of money but its the belt and braces of the TVR Power warranty and piece of mind. I've driven another 4.3 so I know what's coming and all I can say is it will be as quick as my 650kg Westfield 4.6 efi V8 on acceleration.

I'm hoping to have the car in for its 1st service in the middle of August then I can start using it properly but I want at least another 3k on it and by then it will have loosened off quite nicely

Only you can make the decision on whether to go for the conversion....driving a 4.3 sealed the deal for me

Buzz

[Templedog]

Another very happy Power 4.3 owner. More grunt compared with the 3.6 and I love the fact I can drive it when I like without any worries. Have done a few long trips and a couple of track days this summer and it has been impeccable even in traffic and 30 degree heat.

[NeilC73]

Thanks everyone for all your comments. Lots to contemplate...

[NailedOn]

Don't rule out changing nothing. My 4.0L gets better with age. It's an original 375 bhp Red Rose. A gem.

Or....
What's you budget?
Add it to the trade price of your TVR and see what you could buy. There may be no need to upgrade at all. Stick or Swap!

[boardinscotland]

7 TVR said:

I have run a 3.6 ,4.0RR and now a str8six 4.3 and love it to bits, it has to be one of the best packages i've driven in terms of delivering an experience
If it where my money it would be Str8six or TVR Power. Simples

Another one here for the str8six blueprinted 4.3. Had a 4 litre before which was rebuilt by a dodgy builder which is no longer going. Was down on power and went to Jason who stripped it and found it had previously been built with 3.6 pistons.

Therefore have tried the 3.6 and 4 litre and all I can say is the 4.3 is a different league.

G

[WolfyJones]

D14 AYS said:

I have Powers 4.5ss I am over the moon with it, if I had to choose again I would only consider Powers Performance !

Any chance you could post your 418bhp 360lbft power graph please,

From looking at the data available the 4.5 gives around 30 bhp/lb ft more across the rev range over the 4.3, though joolz has just mapped a very good str8six 4.3,

The standard FFF gives around the same figures as a 4.3 thou Don1 figures over 6k are very impressive,

The 5 litre looks awesome up to 6k but seems to run out of puff above that,

A factory Sag is around 370/380 bhp and 290/310lbft?

Would be good to have a RR session of all options on the same day, I wonder what blackiepauls Sag is banging out, would be interesting to see that on the day as well.

[Ron98]

Whats the cost difference between the best 3.6 rebuild to a 4.3. Is there not a good 3.6 option? Can you engineer the faults out of a 3.6 and keep it a 3.6?