own a chim but thinking of a t350 with a V8
Discussion
Have you owned a Speed Six? There are a lot of us who came from a Chimaera or Griffith. You miss the burble, but to be honest the Speed Six is better than the V8 in every single way. Try one for a bit before making a decision you may not need to make.
Edited to say: I mean't to write 'have you driven a Speed Six'?
Edited to say: I mean't to write 'have you driven a Speed Six'?
Edited by Targarama on Sunday 29th November 09:47
Targarama said:
Have you owned a Speed Six? There are a lot of us who came from a Chimaera or Griffith. You miss the burble, but to be honest the Speed Six is better than the V8 in every single way. Try one for a bit before making a decision you may not need to make.
So does this statment apply to SC powered V8 ?, Why would the speed six be better then ?jim.2007 said:
Hi all. Sorry to intrude but thinking off upgrading to a t350 but want a v8, has anyone done this conversion on either the 4l 4.3l 4.5l and 5.0l what costs are involved etc.
I'm currently fitting a LS to a T350C whose SP6 engine died. Costs around 7-8k including new crate engine. As for a Rover V8 conversion... can't see the point as it it is seriously underpowered and you would need to spend a lot of money to get it to the 450+ bhp level that the LS offers as starters. There is little doubt that the T-cars, Tam, T350s, Tuscan, are better all-round cars than the ones they replaced. The engine is a classic.
Speaking as a Chim owner who loves his car, the T-cars I've driven have all be tremendous. Even the 'small' engines have enough power to terrify.
The first time I drove a Tam I reckoned it was the best car I'd ever driven. Since then I have had to accept that the Tuscan II, Convertible and T350 are just as good.
As some have pointed out already, the V8 burble is absent and that is about it.
Point to point the T-cars are faster than Chims and Griffs.
Gatwick TVR had a Tam and a four-year-older Griff for sale at virtually the same price. The chap in charge told me he knew that if he could get an open-minded aspirant Griff owner to drive the Tam they would buy it. But he felt that they knew they would as well and that was why they refused to get in it.
Round corners, accelerating on the straight, braking, steering - the T-cars are superior.
Looks I grant you. But if you buy on looks alone then there's little point in discussions.
The cost of fitting a V8, even and RV8, into a T350 would buy you a fully-rebuilt Speed 6. And some change. And the result would be inferior.
The Cerb was designed to have the RV8 so my assumption is that this would be an easier conversion, but that is a guess.
Speaking as a Chim owner who loves his car, the T-cars I've driven have all be tremendous. Even the 'small' engines have enough power to terrify.
The first time I drove a Tam I reckoned it was the best car I'd ever driven. Since then I have had to accept that the Tuscan II, Convertible and T350 are just as good.
As some have pointed out already, the V8 burble is absent and that is about it.
Point to point the T-cars are faster than Chims and Griffs.
Gatwick TVR had a Tam and a four-year-older Griff for sale at virtually the same price. The chap in charge told me he knew that if he could get an open-minded aspirant Griff owner to drive the Tam they would buy it. But he felt that they knew they would as well and that was why they refused to get in it.
Round corners, accelerating on the straight, braking, steering - the T-cars are superior.
Looks I grant you. But if you buy on looks alone then there's little point in discussions.
The cost of fitting a V8, even and RV8, into a T350 would buy you a fully-rebuilt Speed 6. And some change. And the result would be inferior.
The Cerb was designed to have the RV8 so my assumption is that this would be an easier conversion, but that is a guess.
The only V8 i'd even consider putting in my T350 would be the AJP V8 which at least would keep it TVR through and through. However, I just don't understand why anyone would want to put the RV8 engine one which is what one well known TVR specialist was considering as an option for SP6 a while back. They asked my opinion on what I thought of the idea and I said the RV8 just wouldn't suit the character of the car which for me suits a high revving engine (one reason why I would consider the AJP V8). Also, you'd have to spend a lot of money to get the same power out of the RV8 as you get with the SP6.
I'm guessing you haven't driven a T350 yet as if you had I don't believe you'd be considering a V8 transplant.
I'm guessing you haven't driven a T350 yet as if you had I don't believe you'd be considering a V8 transplant.
my way of thinking is,if its not broken,leave well alone. i take good care of my engine,the usual way most do,but if,and i stress if,i know of speed six engines with over 50k on them,if,it went on me,i would get the tvr power upgrade. i would have thought this is the way to go for all concerned????
shpub said:
jim.2007 said:
Hi all. Sorry to intrude but thinking off upgrading to a t350 but want a v8, has anyone done this conversion on either the 4l 4.3l 4.5l and 5.0l what costs are involved etc.
I'm currently fitting a LS to a T350C whose SP6 engine died. Costs around 7-8k including new crate engine. As for a Rover V8 conversion... can't see the point as it it is seriously underpowered and you would need to spend a lot of money to get it to the 450+ bhp level that the LS offers as starters. if so that's a very good price for the full conversion.
Derek Smith said:
The cost of fitting a V8, even and RV8, into a T350 would buy you a fully-rebuilt Speed 6. And some change. And the result would be inferior.
Not based on some of the SP6 rebuilds I have seen. Don't forget that you have to pay for the engine to be removed and installed as well. As for the result being inferior... it depends on what you base it on. Personally I would like an engine that does more than 20k ish miles before needing a rebuild and one that needs constant fettling to maintain its health. Maybe I have been unlucky more than once but when it comes down to it, fitting the LS to my Cerb has been one of the best things I have done in that it has restored the fun and confidence to drive the car without worries. Interestingly enough the two Speed 6 engined cars I am converting at the moment both had engines that were given an excellent bill of health which then seems to have triggered short term engine failure as both engines were terminal within weeks.
hiltonig said:
Whitey said:
Derek Smith said:
There is little doubt that the T-cars, Tam, T350s, Tuscan, are better all-round cars than the ones they replaced. The engine is a classic.
.
It's a classic alright!!! .
I would bet that there will be fluctuations in supply but while there's money to be made there will be parts. There are many complex 'classics' that continue to be kept on the road so I don't really see many problems. I was told that the only really difficult replacement part is the dash. I don't know if this is true but the chap who told me said that he was preparing a replacement pod. I've not seen it advertised so I should think that the original pod was not quite so suspect as before.
The cost of specialist parts might make your eyes water but when there's so many of them about there will be competition.
I've got to say I don't see it as a problem as long as originality is an essential to you.
What it boils down to is the horror stories, seeing constant adverts saying "Engine rebuild at 13k, 20k" etc, I admitt i havent drove a speed 6 or agp8 and sorry to offend but dont want to as i'll fall in love and 6 months down the line will be bankrupt, I want a British V8 from TVR in a T350, reliable and sounding like my Chim, that would be the ultimate for me, and a lot a lot cheaper than an LS conversion, im on a budget here! 0-60 can't be that different i always seem to up the chuffs of Tuscans and 350's..
Has anyone done this before!?
Has anyone done this before!?
hiltonig said:
Targarama said:
Have you owned a Speed Six? There are a lot of us who came from a Chimaera or Griffith. You miss the burble, but to be honest the Speed Six is better than the V8 in every single way. Try one for a bit before making a decision you may not need to make.
So does this statment apply to SC powered V8 ?, Why would the speed six be better then ?Targarama said:
Have you owned a Speed Six? There are a lot of us who came from a Chimaera or Griffith. You miss the burble, but to be honest the Speed Six is better than the V8 in every single way. Try one for a bit before making a decision you may not need to make.
Edited to say: I mean't to write 'have you driven a Speed Six'?
Simply not true. The Speed Six is less reliable, produces less low down torque, and as you said, isn't as burbly. Get a supercharged RV8, or Chevvy V8 (even better!). Edited to say: I mean't to write 'have you driven a Speed Six'?
Edited by Targarama on Sunday 29th November 09:47
jim.2007 said:
What it boils down to is the horror stories, seeing constant adverts saying "Engine rebuild at 13k, 20k" etc, I admitt i havent drove a speed 6 or agp8 and sorry to offend but dont want to as i'll fall in love and 6 months down the line will be bankrupt, I want a British V8 from TVR in a T350, reliable and sounding like my Chim, that would be the ultimate for me, and a lot a lot cheaper than an LS conversion, im on a budget here! 0-60 can't be that different i always seem to up the chuffs of Tuscans and 350's..
Has anyone done this before!?
0-60 will be slower as the car will have about 100 bhp less than it started with. The gear ratios are also too tall as well. Not a problem as they can be changed. Budget about £700 for the diff. Bear in mind that something like 2000 revs will be lost so this will affect acceleration times and top speeds. It will need a custom set of manifolds and exhaust, new ECU system as well as all the other stuff. All in all it will cost about 3-4k more than an LS conversion simply because of all the additional work that is needed to go with all the parts that have to be replaced because they can't be used. Has anyone done this before!?
It doesn't make sense economically especially if you are on a budget and can't do the work yourself. If you absolutely must do it, then that is your choice but I struggle to see any positives in this transplant except for a V8 burble.
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