Is a 4,3L a bad compromise between 4,0 and 5,0?

[keesiev]

Hi,

I am new in the world of the Griffiths. Owning myself a S3C, I decided to have a go for the mighty Griffith. However I am stuggling in what to look for. The 5,0L version is to expensive, so what is left are the 4,0 and 4,3.
During a track day at Zolder, I heard that the 4,3L is the worst Griffith to buy. Can somebody explain me the reason (or is there no reason)?

Thanks for your help...

[FlipFlopGriff]

I think someone was pulling your plonker about the 4.3, maybe they were in the market for one and didn't want competetion. I think if you view the rolling road results you'll see the 4.3 is mixing with the 500's, but whichever you go for you won't be disappointed.
Shame you missed the Growl as its an ideal opportunity to see 120 Griffs over weekend, have a good look, talk to the owners, and get a few spin outs. Didn't see any for sale but it may have helped you decide which one was for you and point you in a direction of colour combos.
As they say buy on condition.
FFG

[Barreti]

The WORST ??!!

Its fairly widely acknowledged that the 4.3 was one of the BEST.

Its a different engine to the 500 with different characteristics, but very nearly as quick and has that fabulous natural growl we all associate with the pre-cat cars.

I've tried to contain my understandable enthusiasm - as the owner for the last 6years of a 4.3BV - but I honestly think there is a lot of respect for the 4.3 pre-cats and whoever told you they were the worst of the Griffiths was talking out of their backside

[gizzer]

In my views a 4.3 scores over 5 all the time but depends wat you want the griff for , being more square i.e bore /stroke revs better and has better bhp per ton

[spend]

I heard rumours that there was a real dog of a 430 Griff up for sale on the continent, maybe they were referring to that particular car?

Apart from the engines which are great VFM, they are not damned with some of the overcomplicated electrics fitted to later cars and in a straw poll it generally seems build quality is above average?

[gizzer]

shame about the owners

[keesiev]

Thanks a lot for the feedback!
I am happy to hear there is no issue with the 4,3 as it was my preferred choice. Now I only have to start looking for a good car for reasonable money.
By the way, are lead additives needed together with leadfee fuel? In Holland you can't find petrol with lead anymore...

[spend]

They were designed to run on unleaded fuel, just higher octane versions 97RON at least.

[keesiev]

Super!
Thanks guys (and girls?).
Hope to be able to find a griffith soon.

[davep]

Not 100% sure on this, but I'd first check if a left-hooker Griffith 4.3 has catalyzers or not. UK market 4.x's don't have cats.

There's a 'modded' Griffith (without cats) for sale in Belgium at the moment:

http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=l2iuddc4...

Tot ziens

[LordGrover]

^^ Blooming heck! That's £27k for a (modified) precat!

You can have mine for little more than a third of that.

[JR]

Barreti said:

The WORST ??!!

Its fairly widely acknowledged that the 4.3 was one of the BEST.

Its a different engine to the 500 with different characteristics, but very nearly as quick and has that fabulous natural growl we all associate with the pre-cat cars.

I've tried to contain my understandable enthusiasm - as the owner for the last 6years of a 4.3BV - but I honestly think there is a lot of respect for the 4.3 pre-cats and whoever told you they were the worst of the Griffiths was talking out of their backside

IMHO the above is a good summary. There are many well respected drivers and engineers who believe that the free revving 4.3 is the best Griff out of the box, albeit slightly slower than a 500.

[DonkeyApple]

JR said:

Barreti said:

The WORST ??!!

Its fairly widely acknowledged that the 4.3 was one of the BEST.

Its a different engine to the 500 with different characteristics, but very nearly as quick and has that fabulous natural growl we all associate with the pre-cat cars.

I've tried to contain my understandable enthusiasm - as the owner for the last 6years of a 4.3BV - but I honestly think there is a lot of respect for the 4.3 pre-cats and whoever told you they were the worst of the Griffiths was talking out of their backside

IMHO the above is a good summary. There are many well respected drivers and engineers who believe that the free revving 4.3 is the best Griff out of the box, albeit slightly slower than a 500.

I would say the the 4l's were a very smooth lovely car to drive and the later 5's were the same as well. The 4.3's were a bit more raw and gave a marginally more thrilling experience.

The real key is that the 4.3 without the cats was not far behind the 5s in power and sounded much better.

If I were an old man in my late 90s then I would opt for a 4 or a 5 but the 4.3's came with a real alpaca chest wig and solid gold medalion. It is the choice of champions.

[300bhp/ton]

keesiev said:

Hi,

I am new in the world of the Griffiths. Owning myself a S3C, I decided to have a go for the mighty Griffith. However I am stuggling in what to look for. The 5,0L version is to expensive, so what is left are the 4,0 and 4,3.
During a track day at Zolder, I heard that the 4,3L is the worst Griffith to buy. Can somebody explain me the reason (or is there no reason)?

Thanks for your help...

Depends on exact spec. BTW are there any 4.0 litre Griffs?

RV8 is not a high HP motor, but more litres will = more torque across the rev range and thusly more HP across the rev range as an average HP. PEAK levels however may be closer than many would like.

All IMO though

[Just Trouble]

300bhp/ton said:

keesiev said:

Hi,

I am new in the world of the Griffiths. Owning myself a S3C, I decided to have a go for the mighty Griffith. However I am stuggling in what to look for. The 5,0L version is to expensive, so what is left are the 4,0 and 4,3.
During a track day at Zolder, I heard that the 4,3L is the worst Griffith to buy. Can somebody explain me the reason (or is there no reason)?

Thanks for your help...

Depends on exact spec. BTW are there any 4.0 litre Griffs?

I still have my 4.0 ltr not sure how rare it is?

JT

[mikial]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/cars/tvr/14...

This is in Netherlands also .



Get Finance Quote
RHD (ex Pete Best).
Unique well known Weber carburated Griffith
5.0 Highcam engine
Miles: 98.000. V8 Developments Fastroad tune
Cleaned chassis. Outriggers dry and clean
Tuscan brakes and callipers
Intrax spring and coils
Sport decatted exhaust
Many Leven parts
17 inch Raceline rims
MOT till april 25th 2011
Apache Mica colorcoded

Price: £15500 Or near offer

Edited by mikial on Tuesday 3rd August 17:34

[T5GRF]

You should tell The Real Appache about that, he might want it back

[davep]

LordGrover said:

^^ Blooming heck! That's £27k for a (modified) precat!

You can have mine for little more than a third of that.

Yes, but its got 354 Pferdestärkes LG.

[spend]

That'll be continental PonyStrength not real HorsePower

[Ant.]

LordGrover said:

^^ Blooming heck! That's £27k for a (modified) precat!

You can have mine for little more than a third of that.

Worth every penny, modded precats are the nuts !!!