LSA Supercharged - whos going to be first then?
Discussion
I must be missing something as I don't 'get' this. The standard 500 Griff has more than enough power/torque for modern driving conditions, so why go to the expense/trouble of increasing it, unless for racing? If you put this extra ooomph in, you then have to improve the brakes, suspension, chassis even, so you end up with something that isn't really a Griff except to look at. So why not just buy a more modern car??
Maybe I'm just too purist...... or too old

Maybe I'm just too purist...... or too old


GlynMo said:
So why not just buy a more modern car?? 
yes, well, Glyn, I suppose you have a point but just where the hell is the fun and challenge in doing that?? 
Each to their own, no offence meant, but if your previous garage contents are anything to go by i am sure you can suggest a more powerful, better handling, modern motor than a twenty year old TVR and probably something built in Europe c/w ABS, Anti-fun, doesnt break down very often, etc etc. Yawn!
Any way, back to TVR world.....

my250gt said:
yes, well, Glyn, I suppose you have a point but just where the hell is the fun and challenge in doing that??
Each to their own, no offence meant, but if your previous garage contents are anything to go by i am sure you can suggest a more powerful, better handling, modern motor than a twenty year old TVR and probably something built in Europe c/w ABS, Anti-fun, doesnt break down very often, etc etc. Yawn!
Any way, back to TVR world.....
Hmmm, I don't think my previous cars really lead to your conclusion, especially as I've recently changed from an AM V8Vantage to a 15 year old Griff 500, the 7th TVR I've owned. I think if I wanted modern power with TVR type thrills, I'd go for a Corvette, but that's not the point, which is the Griff struggles to put it's standard power down effectively, so how much more power will be wasted in an even more powerful version? Each to their own, no offence meant, but if your previous garage contents are anything to go by i am sure you can suggest a more powerful, better handling, modern motor than a twenty year old TVR and probably something built in Europe c/w ABS, Anti-fun, doesnt break down very often, etc etc. Yawn!
Any way, back to TVR world.....

(can't find a <shrugs> smilie)GlynMo said:
...too short and narrow to handle more than the standard power in the twisty bits. ..
About 3 mins in (tyres fully warm)
(A slightly different US engined Griff)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_GtDHX2dyw&tra...
Aren't these original Griffs even shorter?
RichardD said:
About 3 mins in (tyres fully warm)
(A slightly different US engined Griff)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_GtDHX2dyw&tra...
Aren't these original Griffs even shorter?
Cracking footage! I'm not sure what your point is though. I originally said, other than for racing. The Griff in the video has wide wheels and possibly slicks, and probably non-standard suspension within the regs, and yet the driver was being very respectful about where, and how much gas he applied out of the bends. If he'd had another 200bhp, he could only have gone faster on the straights and, to quote a previous poster, where's the fun in that?!
(A slightly different US engined Griff)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_GtDHX2dyw&tra...
Aren't these original Griffs even shorter?
RichardD said:
GlynMo said:
...too short and narrow to handle more than the standard power in the twisty bits. ..
About 3 mins in (tyres fully warm)
(A slightly different US engined Griff)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_GtDHX2dyw&tra...
Aren't these original Griffs even shorter?
I can well imagine the back trying to overtake the front if he booted it too early in the corner 
GlynMo said:
Stuff
True & sorry, I was going to do a link to Brummmie doing a track day (so not racing), but then I'd have been pulled up for the wheelbase
. Point was that a short wheelbase V8 engined car need not be scary and uncontrollable. Fun would be trying to slow down after building up the extra speed on the straight, to actually get round the corner!
But if maximum cornering speed = the most fun we'd be fitting aero mods and turbo Hiyabusa engines instead of a V8 !

Imho the type of power delivery should suit a car. LS engines develop the (increased) torque higher in the rev range than the RV8 and rev higher too, so the ability to modulate the power is there. Adding a screw type supercharger (like the LSA) is another matter though!
RichardD said:
LS engines develop the (increased) torque higher in the rev range than the RV8 and rev higher too, so the ability to modulate the power is there.
This is certainly true with regard to the boggo Griff or Chim 500, but you can significantly increase the power & torque output of the RV8 over and above the standard TVR 500 lump whilst at the same time gaining more progressive and hence more user friendly delivery... without going to the extremes of an LS transplant...
GlynMo said:
I must be missing something as I don't 'get' this. The standard 500 Griff has more than enough power/torque for modern driving conditions, so why go to the expense/trouble of increasing it, unless for racing? If you put this extra ooomph in, you then have to improve the brakes, suspension, chassis even, so you end up with something that isn't really a Griff except to look at. So why not just buy a more modern car??
Maybe I'm just too purist...... or too old

I agree. Was it Gordon Murray (If not someone in F1) who put a Griffith chassis on a test rig and concluded it moved under load more than anything else that they had ever tested. And whatever they tried apart from a full roll cage (like the racing Tuscans) it had little effect.Maybe I'm just too purist...... or too old


Surely the standard car has enough power especially bearing in mind the chassis limitations and its inability to transfer power to the rear wheels over rough surfaces.
Having followed this Forum over many years it is modified cars that seem to suffer by far the most problems, perhaps there is a message there!
Racing, as said above is a completely different ball game where modifications are par for the course but for the road enjoy the car as Peter Wheeler intended. He did a darn good job!
Loubaruch said:
I agree. Was it Gordon Murray (If not someone in F1) who put a Griffith chassis on a test rig and concluded it moved under load more than anything else that they had ever tested. And whatever they tried apart from a full roll cage (like the racing Tuscans) it had little effect.
Surely the standard car has enough power especially bearing in mind the chassis limitations and its inability to transfer power to the rear wheels over rough surfaces.
Having followed this Forum over many years it is modified cars that seem to suffer by far the most problems, perhaps there is a message there!
Racing, as said above is a completely different ball game where modifications are par for the course but for the road enjoy the car as Peter Wheeler intended. He did a darn good job!
Fair point.Surely the standard car has enough power especially bearing in mind the chassis limitations and its inability to transfer power to the rear wheels over rough surfaces.
Having followed this Forum over many years it is modified cars that seem to suffer by far the most problems, perhaps there is a message there!
Racing, as said above is a completely different ball game where modifications are par for the course but for the road enjoy the car as Peter Wheeler intended. He did a darn good job!
Edited by MPoxon on Thursday 11th April 09:22
GlynMo said:
carsy said:
Go for a ride in one and then see if you are of the same opinion. 
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