Decided on full rebuild. Thoughts please?

[smithyl23]

I spent the last 45-60 mins using the search and reading about sp6 rebuilds.
I've had my car (55k 03 350c RR) off the road and sorn since late summer 08, I'm seriously considering a full engine rebuild, not because it needs one although it does have a very noisy timing chain, but because i've now decided i want to keep it for atleast 2 more years until the finance is paid off.

I'd originally planned to sell the TVR and my Fabia vRS diesel and get a new BMW 330d but after i brought the tiv out of storage and pollished it up i realised i would never own a car like that again and that i'm just not ready to part with it. Although there is nothing wrong with it mechanically i still get those worries everytime i floor it. I might not have the money to rebuild it down the line, but i have the money now. I know some people might not agree with my reasoning but thats what i'm going to do.
Anyway my question is to people who have had a full engine rebuild. And specifically gone from a 3.6 to 4ltr. I'm torn between Power and Racing Green at the moment. Any thoughts?

Is it much more ££ to rebuild to 4ltr over a 3.6ltr rebuild?

My 3.6 is one of the original RR's from the factory (Registered in 02)and was one of tvr's 1st T350 press cars. What are the characteristics of the 4ltr over the 3.6? Will it be faster than an RR 3.6? Obviously i realise the biggest is more midrange torque, but my main question is, do you still get the savage pull towards the upper rev limit?

And also has anyone had full rebuilds by Power and RG and what are your views?

I realise this topic has been discussed quite alot, but I'm after some fresh views please.

many thanks

Smithy

[D14 AYS]

I had my engine re-built by Power and cant praise them enough,great bunch of lads,very helpful.
Now with a 3year warranty its a no brainer.

http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/

Good luck where ever you decide to go

Edited by D14 AYS on Sunday 15th February 17:12

[Barry Ashcroft]

Get a power 4.3 built now with a 5 year warrenty even more of a no brainer

[softtop]

I think you should have a respray and re do the interior, they will also need doing one day, why not now?

[BGB autosport]

If it aint broke....

[thainy77]

Mine would have needed a top end re-build in the not too distant future so it's going to Power tomorrow for a 4ltr upgrade.

My thinking was it might aswell have a full re-build and pay the few extra pounds and then i've got a few years trouble free motoring engine wise. Plus the added BHP and torque is an added bonus!

Edited by thainy77 on Sunday 15th February 19:20

[Brew]

If you are thinking of a full rebuild you should also seriously consider speaking to Jason Clegg at STR8 SIX - I think you might find his prices very competitive.

Edited by Brew on Sunday 15th February 19:47

[geoff]

I would also add - talk to Jason about some of the engine options he does

Geoff

[TVR_owner]

I would think very carefully before you venture off into the re-build world.

You have a RR engine which was basically a blue-printed motor. It's quite a long way removed from a standard motor in terms of build. Unless you sepcify a blue-print with your re-build, the engine you get back will not be as smooth and free revving as what you have. A proper blueprint is not cheap.

I would treat the cause of your problem and put any unspent money away for safe keeping.

When rebuild time really does come around, people may have info on the likes of the RG FFF engine and the Power 4,3 - info like real dyno read-outs and how well the engines are lasting, can they really do 20k between valve servicing etc.

[icraigmy]

I would speak to Richard at Dulfords. He did my 4.0L upgrade/rebuild.

I have done 12,000 miles now and the engine is fantastic. Alot more torque than the 3.6L, and also upgrade the air box to an ACT.

If you want more detailed info on my rebuild then email me or read my article in March/2008 sprint (Tamora never dies)

[smithyl23]

TVR_owner said:

I would think very carefully before you venture off into the re-build world.

You have a RR engine which was basically a blue-printed motor. It's quite a long way removed from a standard motor in terms of build. Unless you sepcify a blue-print with your re-build, the engine you get back will not be as smooth and free revving as what you have. A proper blueprint is not cheap.

I would treat the cause of your problem and put any unspent money away for safe keeping.

When rebuild time really does come around, people may have info on the likes of the RG FFF engine and the Power 4,3 - info like real dyno read-outs and how well the engines are lasting, can they really do 20k between valve servicing etc.

I totally agree with you, however i would never have considered anything less than what i already had in terms of the rebuild. Porting, manifold matching, balancing... etc etc

I was more interested as to what the 4ltr is like to drive compared with the 3.6

[TVR_owner]

smithyl23 said:

TVR_owner said:

I would think very carefully before you venture off into the re-build world.

You have a RR engine which was basically a blue-printed motor. It's quite a long way removed from a standard motor in terms of build. Unless you sepcify a blue-print with your re-build, the engine you get back will not be as smooth and free revving as what you have. A proper blueprint is not cheap.

I would treat the cause of your problem and put any unspent money away for safe keeping.

When rebuild time really does come around, people may have info on the likes of the RG FFF engine and the Power 4,3 - info like real dyno read-outs and how well the engines are lasting, can they really do 20k between valve servicing etc.

I totally agree with you, however i would never have considered anything less than what i already had in terms of the rebuild. Porting, manifold matching, balancing... etc etc

I was more interested as to what the 4ltr is like to drive compared with the 3.6

4.0 litre doesn't rev as well but has noticably more torque.

I belive you would spoil a real RR car if you went the 4.0 route.

[smithyl23]

TVR_owner said:

smithyl23 said:

TVR_owner said:

I would think very carefully before you venture off into the re-build world.

You have a RR engine which was basically a blue-printed motor. It's quite a long way removed from a standard motor in terms of build. Unless you sepcify a blue-print with your re-build, the engine you get back will not be as smooth and free revving as what you have. A proper blueprint is not cheap.

I would treat the cause of your problem and put any unspent money away for safe keeping.

When rebuild time really does come around, people may have info on the likes of the RG FFF engine and the Power 4,3 - info like real dyno read-outs and how well the engines are lasting, can they really do 20k between valve servicing etc.

I totally agree with you, however i would never have considered anything less than what i already had in terms of the rebuild. Porting, manifold matching, balancing... etc etc

I was more interested as to what the 4ltr is like to drive compared with the 3.6

4.0 litre doesn't rev as well but has noticably more torque.

I belive you would spoil a real RR car if you went the 4.0 route.

I'm not trying to be smart here, but how would i spoil it? As it does seem I'm edging towards the full 4ltr rebuild/upgrade. Do you mean less fun to drive?
I always thought my 3.6 RR lacked mid range torque and to really get on, you needed to push 5.5k rpm +.

[TVR_owner]

smithyl23 said:

I'm not trying to be smart here, but how would i spoil it? As it does seem I'm edging towards the full 4ltr rebuild/upgrade. Do you mean less fun to drive?
I always thought my 3.6 RR lacked mid range torque and to really get on, you needed to push 5.5k rpm +.

Smithy,
Its just an opinion. You would take a quite unique car and turn it into just another 4.0 rebuild special.

My thoughts are that a blue printed 4.0S engine will be very expensive and I dont see that you would get that much more in terms of real world performance for a shed load more money. I've been to engine bulders who will promise you a blue print, and they'll tell you they'll balance etc - but real blue printing ain't cheap as its very time consuming.

The 4.0 engine is lasier than the 3.6 and if thats what you want fine. Your money, your choice.

[icraigmy]

TVR_owner said:

smithyl23 said:

I'm not trying to be smart here, but how would i spoil it? As it does seem I'm edging towards the full 4ltr rebuild/upgrade. Do you mean less fun to drive?
I always thought my 3.6 RR lacked mid range torque and to really get on, you needed to push 5.5k rpm +.

Smithy,
Its just an opinion. You would take a quite unique car and turn it into just another 4.0 rebuild special.

My thoughts are that a blue printed 4.0S engine will be very expensive and I dont see that you would get that much more in terms of real world performance for a shed load more money. I've been to engine bulders who will promise you a blue print, and they'll tell you they'll balance etc - but real blue printing ain't cheap as its very time consuming.

The 4.0 engine is lasier than the 3.6 and if thats what you want fine. Your money, your choice.

Richard at Dulfords offered me two 4.0L engine rebuild options:

1) 4.0L RR rebuild/upgrade.
2) 4.0L RR Blue Printed rebuild/upgrade (extra £1500)

I chose option 1, because I could'nt afford the extra dosh for the blue printed option. I agree with the opinion that the extra performance with the blue printed 4.0L rebuild over a normal 4.0L RR rebuild might not warrant the extra dosh - thats my opinion.

I remember Richard sent my engine away for re-balancing, so a quality job was done.

Anyway, I'm glad I got my upgraded to 4.0L, because with the ACT air box and Nitrons, it's fg awesome, and shed loads more fun than before with the old 3.6L engine

so go for it .....

Edited by icraigmy on Tuesday 17th February 13:01

[s5tvr]

smithyl23 said:

I always thought my 3.6 RR lacked mid range torque and to really get on, you needed to push 5.5k rpm +.

If you want more torque de-cat the car, maybe fit a bigger bore exhaust system including headers and then definately get the car re-mapped. This is what I did and my T350 factory 3.6 litre Red Rose now makes a little over 300lb/ft torque, so not far off an "S" spec 4.0 litre engine. In fact the service manager at the garage that services my car swears that I have a 4.0 litre "S" spec engine under the bonnet. I don't and you only need look at the dyno chart compared to a 4.0 litre lump to see that it's a 3.6 litre.

Like you, I've been looking at the rebuild options out there and for me they all seem too expensive - the RG option in particular, which appears to give little extra performance over the original "S" spec engine and looks poor value compared to Power's offering, yet costs roughly the same. Power has the added bonus of a 5 year warranty which is very attractive provided that it doesn't come with any "get out" clauses.

Have you thought about just buying stronger internals and getting everything properly blue-printed and balanced with possibly some porting/polishing of the heads ?. 400 bhp from a 3.6 RR should be possible ?

Edited by s5tvr on Tuesday 17th February 13:47

[TVR_owner]

I have no wish to offend when I ask this question:
Do you chaps actually fully understand what a blue printed engine is?

I supect the answer is no.

[KillerJim]

TVR_owner said:

I have no wish to offend when I ask this question:
Do you chaps actually fully understand what a blue printed engine is?

I supect the answer is no.

I`ve no idea, can someone fill in me (go on.. be technical!)

[TVR_owner]

KillerJim said:

TVR_owner said:

I have no wish to offend when I ask this question:
Do you chaps actually fully understand what a blue printed engine is?

I supect the answer is no.

I`ve no idea, can someone fill in me (go on.. be technical!)

James,
Peolpe manage to write books on the subject so for me to try and explain in a paragraph does it no justice.

[shoggoth1]

I know, I know it's Wikipedia but:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueprint_(engine)#Bl...