How can you tell which TVR suspension you have?
Discussion
On L110BFV the suspension is,quite naturally,TVR's own kit.The ARB's are the optional 'sport' type,and i'm assuming that the shocks and springs are also possibly 'sport' spec.The problem is that i cant really find much in the way of identification on the shocks.They have red bands on the lower part of the body,but this is only some kind of tape.I'm aware that TVR did more than one sport kit over the years,so i'm at a loss as to what to put on to replace,to make sure i have a like for like set up as was on the car when JR last used it.All the springs have identifying codes,but nothing is clear on the shocks
The AJP Griff said:
On L110BFV the suspension is,quite naturally,TVR's own kit.The ARB's are the optional 'sport' type,and i'm assuming that the shocks and springs are also possibly 'sport' spec.The problem is that i cant really find much in the way of identification on the shocks.They have red bands on the lower part of the body,but this is only some kind of tape.I'm aware that TVR did more than one sport kit over the years,so i'm at a loss as to what to put on to replace,to make sure i have a like for like set up as was on the car when JR last used it.All the springs have identifying codes,but nothing is clear on the shocks
My original shocks were green which I haven’t come across before (my Chim 500 had yellow ones) very firm setup so I suspect a sport kit, in fact I am not sure my Gaz Gold are much better. Springs are yellow on the front, red on the rear.As that particular Griffith shell was used as a factory hack and had many different engines and chassis fitted - RV8, AJP8 and Speed Six - it's probably had all sorts of suspension fitted over the years. Unless you're putting the car back to it's original specification as the Griffith 500 press car as driven by Tiffany Dell, etc. it doesn't really matter what you fit as long as it is suited to the running gear you fit, be it an engine/gearbox utilised on TVRs or not. Restore it to it's Press Car glory - otherwise it'll always be a Bertie Bassett.
Jay
Jay
Assuming they are Bilsteins,there should be a code above the serial number,I couldn't tell you what that means however they are matching numbers at each end.This could be a valving code but who know's.
Yellow or Green, front or back,they are all the same bodies just different circlip heights and valving.
If you want to reco the original,find a mate with a well set up Nitron or Ohlin system that drives to your liking,have them dynoed and revalved.
I'm on my second Bilstein car with valving from my Ohlins,and they outhandle by miles the first Griff I had with factory sports suspension.
Yellow or Green, front or back,they are all the same bodies just different circlip heights and valving.
If you want to reco the original,find a mate with a well set up Nitron or Ohlin system that drives to your liking,have them dynoed and revalved.
I'm on my second Bilstein car with valving from my Ohlins,and they outhandle by miles the first Griff I had with factory sports suspension.
Jay Ayegees said:
As that particular Griffith shell was used as a factory hack and had many different engines and chassis fitted - RV8, AJP8 and Speed Six - it's probably had all sorts of suspension fitted over the years. Unless you're putting the car back to it's original specification as the Griffith 500 press car as driven by Tiffany Dell, etc. it doesn't really matter what you fit as long as it is suited to the running gear you fit, be it an engine/gearbox utilised on TVRs or not. Restore it to it's Press Car glory - otherwise it'll always be a Bertie Bassett.
Jay
Jigs,L110 was used as a development car,it has never had a different chassis fitted,it has had different shocks/springs,different brakes and yes it did have different engines,which is why it will be restored with the AJP.The development history of this Griff is very interesting,and when it was an AJP Griff is my favourite part of it,and thats is why it is being restored with this great engine.Jay
As we have already discussed previously,you are entiltled to your opinion,but i will restore it how i feel it best deserves to be done,so for now the RV8 will not be considered.
It does matter to me that the rest of the car is also kept as original as possible,so i want to avoid aftermarket suspension if at all possible.If you have any useful input on factory suspension i would appreciate your comments,otherwise i will not continue any more conversations about the way you feel my car should be restored.
Cheers,Mike
frankgilbert said:
I would say that if you are still riding on 93 suspension you need to move to some thing that is'nt knacked and possibly life threatening, plenty to choose from from 500 to 1500 pounds .
Is chassis back Mike? Mind if I grab a couple of pics?
Dave
PS you missed out BTW there is a local powder coat mob who do 'Chameleon' colours
I have a DVD with the Top Gear article on the new TVR Griffith 500 and all the road test articles. These would give you all the info you need on the original spec of the Press Car Griffith 500. Have you seen these?
There is loads more provenance for the Press Car Griffith 500 - is there any provenance at all for the AJP or any other version of this car?
Jay
PS It's definitely had at least three different chassis.
There is loads more provenance for the Press Car Griffith 500 - is there any provenance at all for the AJP or any other version of this car?
Jay
PS It's definitely had at least three different chassis.
Jay Ayegees said:
PS It's definitely had at least three different chassis.
Jigs,once again you deliberately try to cause offence,by stating completely untrue comments which you think might discredit/upset or something.You clearly know nothing of the history of this car,so please dont pretend to,or think that your comments will ever carry weight.L110BFV still has it's original chassis,and carries all the modifications it had throughout it's history as a development car.We have gone to great lengths and expense to preserve this important original feature,and i resent somebody like yourself who obviously knows nothing factual about it's history,making such misleading remarks. As i said before,if you dont have anything usefull to contribute,please go away you sad little boy(again)!Edited by The AJP Griff on Thursday 31st May 21:02
spend said:
frankgilbert said:
I would say that if you are still riding on 93 suspension you need to move to some thing that is'nt knacked and possibly life threatening, plenty to choose from from 500 to 1500 pounds .
Is chassis back Mike? Mind if I grab a couple of pics?
Dave
PS you missed out BTW there is a local powder coat mob who do 'Chameleon' colours
v8sag said:
Assuming they are Bilsteins,there should be a code above the serial number,I couldn't tell you what that means however they are matching numbers at each end.This could be a valving code but who know's.
Yellow or Green, front or back,they are all the same bodies just different circlip heights and valving.
If you want to reco the original,find a mate with a well set up Nitron or Ohlin system that drives to your liking,have them dynoed and revalved.
I'm on my second Bilstein car with valving from my Ohlins,and they outhandle by miles the first Griff I had with factory sports suspension.
Cheers for the input v8sag.The shocks do have some numbers on them,but i couldn't see a brand name the last time i looked(theyre on a mates car at the mo).I'm told there were a few different brands used over the years,koni's, billy's and one more inferior brand i cant recall,which was like a bilstein copy but poorer quality?Knowing my luck i will have the copy typeYellow or Green, front or back,they are all the same bodies just different circlip heights and valving.
If you want to reco the original,find a mate with a well set up Nitron or Ohlin system that drives to your liking,have them dynoed and revalved.
I'm on my second Bilstein car with valving from my Ohlins,and they outhandle by miles the first Griff I had with factory sports suspension.
.If they turn out to be billsteins,do they do re-furbs?If anyone has had theres re-furbed i'd be interested to hear about itEdited by The AJP Griff on Wednesday 30th May 07:03
Jay Ayegees said:
As that particular Griffith shell was used as a factory hack and had many different engines and chassis fitted - RV8, AJP8 and Speed Six - it's probably had all sorts of suspension fitted over the years. Unless you're putting the car back to it's original specification as the Griffith 500 press car as driven by Tiffany Dell, etc. it doesn't really matter what you fit as long as it is suited to the running gear you fit, be it an engine/gearbox utilised on TVRs or not. Restore it to it's Press Car glory - otherwise it'll always be a Bertie Bassett.
Jay
What a looad of youknowwhat - so you take one of very few Griffiths which was fitted with an AJP or S6 engine by the factroy at some point, and whack an RV8 back in to make it the same as all the other Griffs... I'm afraid that doesn't make any sense to me.Jay
It's the unique mechanical configuration(s) this car has seen when owned by the factory that makes it a very significant TVR, not the fact that it was lent to some journos in its early life. If the latter was true there would be a few thousand 'collectible' cars from the last decade in the netherlands alone.
Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 30th May 06:58
L110BFV was THE Griffith 500 Press Car and all the provenance for it relates to its fame as the 'launch' Griffith 500 - a very pivotal car in TVR's heyday, second only to the first precat Griffith.
The fact that TVR butchered it about and used it as a rolling testbed mule for AJP8 and Speed Six engine installation is secondary to it's role as the 'launch' Griffith 500. There is little or no provenance for any of the latter configurations.
When the Griffith 500 was launched Peter Wheeler had already decided against a AJP Griffith and reserved that engine for the Cerbera.
It's like the Grand National winner that falls on hard times and is used to haul a coal wagon or milk float before being hauled off to the knacker's yard - it's heyday will always be as the Grand National winner.
Watch the Top Gear article on this Griffith in 1993 and you will have no doubts where its place in history lies.
I am not trying to piss you off AJP and you are at liberty to do as you please with your property but if you don't restore it to its former glory then maybe someone else may in future.
No doubt a Griffith with an AJP8 will be a great novelty - I look forward to seeing the finished article - BUT does it have to be L110BFV - that's all!
Best regards,
Jay
PS If you would like a DVD copy of the Top Gear article I can ask TVR enthusiast who has it to make you one. Or if you want copies of the many road tests of L110BFV I can oblige.
The fact that TVR butchered it about and used it as a rolling testbed mule for AJP8 and Speed Six engine installation is secondary to it's role as the 'launch' Griffith 500. There is little or no provenance for any of the latter configurations.
When the Griffith 500 was launched Peter Wheeler had already decided against a AJP Griffith and reserved that engine for the Cerbera.
It's like the Grand National winner that falls on hard times and is used to haul a coal wagon or milk float before being hauled off to the knacker's yard - it's heyday will always be as the Grand National winner.
Watch the Top Gear article on this Griffith in 1993 and you will have no doubts where its place in history lies.
I am not trying to piss you off AJP and you are at liberty to do as you please with your property but if you don't restore it to its former glory then maybe someone else may in future.
No doubt a Griffith with an AJP8 will be a great novelty - I look forward to seeing the finished article - BUT does it have to be L110BFV - that's all!
Best regards,
Jay
PS If you would like a DVD copy of the Top Gear article I can ask TVR enthusiast who has it to make you one. Or if you want copies of the many road tests of L110BFV I can oblige.
Jay Ayegees said:
L110BFV was THE Griffith 500 Press Car and all the provenance for it relates to its fame as the 'launch' Griffith 500 - a very pivotal car in TVR's heyday, second only to the first precat Griffith.
So? It's an early Griff 500 that's had its reg plate published in several mags. Big deal. A plate does not maketh a car. If it never saw subsequent development at TVR and came on the market in its original state, punters would take its 'provenance' as a nice bonus and the one who ended up buying the car would be chasing after magazine copies on eBay and just, maybe someone out there would be willing to pay significantly more beyond what the condition of the car would otherwise indicate.
The way it stands, unless someone finds the original engine and gearbox for the car it won't be a 'matching numbers' example anyway and even more so if your allegation that the car's seen three different chassis in its life. So what remains of its provenance is the license plate.
Apart from that, just another 1993 Griff 500 versus a factory-built AJP8 Griff? No contest...
Sorry I didn't realise that the TVR factory was reopening to build this AJP Griffith - now that would be something!
We're just going to have to agree to disagree here - you guys are getting a wee bit too emotional and illogical about this for me.
Good luck.
Jay
PS It's longest and final incarnation was as a Speed Six engined Griffith - so following your logic it should be recreated as that then surely?
We're just going to have to agree to disagree here - you guys are getting a wee bit too emotional and illogical about this for me.
Good luck.
Jay
PS It's longest and final incarnation was as a Speed Six engined Griffith - so following your logic it should be recreated as that then surely?
Edited by Jay Ayegees on Wednesday 30th May 07:45
Edited by Jay Ayegees on Wednesday 30th May 07:51
Jay Ayegees said:
Sorry I didn't realise that the TVR factory was reopening to build this AJP Griffith - now that would be something!
TVR fitted it with an AJP8 at some point, so all what's being done here is restore the car as it has been at some (rather interesting) point in its life as a factory hack. Jay Ayegees said:
We're just going to have to agree to disagree here - you guys are getting a wee bit too emotional about this for me.
Er, I'd say you're the one who's going all misty-eyed over this car's 'provenance'. As far as I'm concerned, a Griff 500 is a Griff 500, period.Sorry I don't do misty-eyed - just logical thinking - the 'launch' Griffith 500 will always be more than just a Griffith 500, period - it's all there in film and print if you look.
I respect that it's AJP's (Mongoose) Griffith shell to do with as he pleases - I'm just making the logical case for a return to it's period of fame.
Tiffany Dell's best quote was 'This is not a car for wimps!' after all.
Jay
I respect that it's AJP's (Mongoose) Griffith shell to do with as he pleases - I'm just making the logical case for a return to it's period of fame.
Tiffany Dell's best quote was 'This is not a car for wimps!' after all.
Jay
It is one of the "special" Griffs no matter what engine, gearbox, suspension it has - like it or not (L118, raspberry pearl, was the sister car).
At some point everything will need changing and anyone who has original SO1's (for example) should be changing them as they are well past their sell by date.
Well done Mike for taking the project in an interesting direction.
Maybe Mike should contact JR or NA to add something to the project (Steve Prevett may be of assistance here).
FFG
At some point everything will need changing and anyone who has original SO1's (for example) should be changing them as they are well past their sell by date.
Well done Mike for taking the project in an interesting direction.
Maybe Mike should contact JR or NA to add something to the project (Steve Prevett may be of assistance here).
FFG
the gazman said:
Mike
Did you know that JR is working with Dom at Power currently, I wonder if he would be able to give you any pointers.
I would particularly be interested if I were you with valving and springs required for the presumably 26mm arbs fitted.
Cheers Derek,thanks for the tip offDid you know that JR is working with Dom at Power currently, I wonder if he would be able to give you any pointers.
I would particularly be interested if I were you with valving and springs required for the presumably 26mm arbs fitted.
.In what way does the sport arb make a difference to the shock and spring choice then?Thanks,MikeGassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff