What is it about the Griff ???

[john57]

Why exactly is it that I find myself drawn to spending probably nearly £3K on my Griffith when it doesn't need it ?

It is hardly slow and produces a good average power output of 267 and very good torque at 345 .... yet I feel the need to try and make it better !

An ACT triple plenum, new injectors, trumpets and airflow meter are in line next month at the service at Austec and hopefully an output getting near to 300.

I love the car but hate it when the starter does it's usual thing when hot (and yes, it has had a new starter motor!) ..... other bits could do with being replaced first like refurbing the whole roof to make the car 100% .... yet I still feel the need to modify the engine. The car is much quicker than our 'sensible' car; a Scooby PPP - yet I can't help myself

My wife loves TVR's but would rather I spend the money on a new bathroom ..... which would be great but just doesn't have the same appeal! I have tried to convince myself to just get the injectors and AFM done + a remap ..... and then get the plenum later - but this just seems a waste of MA's time remapping and will end up costing a few hundred more for another remap down the line.

Am I odd in this desire to spend / waste (wording depends on your gender ) money ..... or is it a usual male habit when in TVR ownership?

[redwedge5]

All sounds pretty normal to me - its half the fun of TVR ownership!

[SpielBoy]

john57 said:

Am I odd in this desire to spend / waste (wording depends on your gender ) money ..... or is it a usual male habit when in TVR ownership?

Nothing odd about it - My Griff is currently at Austec having a Cam change, Bosche Injectors, Pre-cat removed, some head work & a MA Chip Remap done

I sort of talked myself into it by justifying it as my 40th Brithday present to myself!!

Probably still need to get the Plenum and Brakes done - though I reckon I can probably justify that as a 'Very Very Early' 50th birthday present next year

I reckon spending money on 'improving' your TVR is par for the course when it comes to ownership.

[steve-v8s]

Would be very interested to hear how your upgrade jobs work out when you get the cars back.

[geoffvalenti]

john57 said:

My wife would rather I spend the money on a new bathroom .....

Mine too, but it just aint gonna happen

I'm trying to keep my Griff as I bought it (it's already modded enough ) but this month alone I've bought Mintex fast road pads, Leven heater controls, switch buttons and gear knob, as well as 2 new driving lights I think I'm probably fighting a losing battle with myself

[mrsflipflopgriff]

John,
You can get a kit to sure the hot start oprblem. e-mail david beer on PH (Mr Modwise). Top quality kit at great prices.
FFG

[john57]

mrsflipflopgriff said:

John, You can get a kit to sure the hot start oprblem. e-mail david beer on PH (Mr Modwise). Top quality kit at great prices. FFG

Many thanks .... but I've had a similar sort of thing to what David does fitted by Carl 'the Meta man' ..... except it hasn't really helped - no fault of what Carl has done as his work is great but I think it has at least narrowed it down to a 'duff' starter motor as opposed to the electrics side of things.

Last year I had the usual hot start problems with the starter not even engaging at all when hot... and being completely fine once cooled down. This got progressively worse so I had a new starter fitted by David Batty.

That was only at the end of last year and now when the engine is hot the motor will turn over - unlike the old one which was totally 'dead' until cool - but only turns over intially very slowly .... like there is no power in the battery. Once it manages to turn over once it then speeds up and then starts - usually! Sometimes when hot it tries to turn over but just gives up until I wait the obligatory 20 minutes or so....... the hotter it is the slower it turns over, so, slightly different than last year but essentially the same.

It is booked in with David Batty at the end of the month. As the motor is so new and has already let me down three times in 5 months / 900 miles I would hope they will replace it as I now know the power to it is fine.

Thanks anyway.

John

[LastLawyer]

Just read your post john57. Had my starter motor absolutely dead. was a magneti marelli (don´t know if original or not). built in the used-starter motor of a a Ford Mondeo. works perfectly and costed including the mechanics work just 50 EUR ! just try it, can´t be worse than the starter motor originally used in a griff.

hopefully i was able to help. Nice evening to you.

Jerko Usmiani

[steve-v8s]

Just out of interest SpielBoy did you get the car back yet and how did it work out ?

[SpielBoy]

steve-v8s said:

Just out of interest SpielBoy did you get the car back yet and how did it work out ?

Car isn't back yet - due back after I get back from a late season skiing trip to Tignes next week

Don't worry I'll post once I get it back

[powelly]

My Mrs. is always complaining about 'running costs' of said Griffith... trouble is, if you check my history, its not exactly 'running costs' that has clocked up £4k in 2 years :-)

I dunno... the griff for me is and has always been, the car of my aspirations (second to a Ferrari which I couldn't afford anyway). I don't feel as though I will own it forever, but we still have a lot of mileage to cover...

Mine was great when I bought it (4ys ago from Adrian Blyth), but now, its just amazing. Personally have no interest in more power as I have yet to become the master of the horses it has, yes even after 4 years! But the suspension/handling and cage/harnesses have helped my confidence 10 fold. Plus a recent treat of PAS and braided hoses has made it a dream to drive. Brake upgrade is next, however whiskey jar in my office drawer says I am still a year away from that.

Best things I have done to mine to stop the occasional fall out of love? New alarm and starter motor (with heatshield). I bought a cheap starter from a Land Rover and it last er... 8 weeks. I also cleared the garage out so its now at home, and convenient for that 'fancy a blast' moment....

So the ultimate car, for me anyway.