Spare cash to spend on my Griff?

[griff59]

I'm not sure about this, I'll give you a bit of background. I bought my Griff in June, it's OK, it had a full chassis restoration in 2011, and a camshaft renewal at the same time. The car has only done a few hundred miles since. It's got just over 81k on the clock.
Cosmetically it's fine, no major issues, the hood is fine, bodywork also. The interior is also "very good" It drives well, no obvious issues, and performance seems fine.
I'd say it's a good car, but could benefit from a bit of a tidy up in some areas, and when I bought the car it was because of it's solidity, boxes ticked, and the colour, it seemed a good buy. There are a couple of things I'd like to change, like replacing the wooden dash with a textured aluminium one, and replacing the wooden steering wheel with an original, plus a Leven kit. The engine is quite high mileage, so I'm not sure if a rebuild should be on the cards soon.
Most of the guys in my local TVR club say leave it alone, why spend money when you don't have to, if it ain't broke don't fix it. But I'd like to bring it up to near concourse if possible, but don't know where my priorities should be?

Edited by griff59 on Tuesday 20th November 09:59

[phillpot]

griff59 said:

why spend money when you don't have to

Because you can

Dash... if you don't like it, change it

Steering wheel... get the one you like

Leven bits... if they do it for you get them

[FlipFlopGriff]

If you're target is concours then changing the dash and adding leven bits isn't achieving that. I'd say don't spend unless its something you really want or have to change. As to engine if its had a new cam and maintained it should be OK.
FFG

[anonymous-user]

Rebuild a good engine for no reason other than mileage? If that floats your boat :-) You'd prob end up with more problems fettling in a rebuild than leaving your good engine alone.

I spent time and money takling a swirled steel dash out of mine and restoring the original wood. Easier sell and hence better value in keeping original. Not to mention it suits the age of the car. There ARE odd colours it looks good on, - very light coloured leathers. Subjective of course.

Leven kit was a factory option so no harm at all in adding it you want.

[DOUGGRIFF]

Is it the crystal topaz one ?

[griff59]

DOUGGRIFF said:

Is it the crystal topaz one ?

No, it's a Rolls Royce Regal Red one, from HHC.
Yes, after some thought, I don't think a metal dash is going to be appropriate, the interior is dark Mulberry hide, with cream seats, very classic, and I must admit, goes with the wooden wheel and hand brake. I've always like the metal dashboards, but maybe I'm being a bit blinkered about it.
From what you all say it sounds like a meeting of my local club!
So maybe I'll back off and think about this for a bit.

[DOUGGRIFF]

I only asked as I viewed a crystal topaz Griffith with similar mileage and had the same thoughts. In the end I purchased a car that I used to own, but if I had of bought the other car I had decided to accept it for what it was and enjoyed it , but I wasn’t going to throw loads of money into it as its always nice to think maybe you could possibly get it back at the end of the day.
I would personally just enjoy it and do small things to improve it for your own personal taste.
Good luck and enjoy it.
Best regards

[griff59]

DOUGGRIFF said:

I only asked as I viewed a crystal topaz Griffith with similar mileage and had the same thoughts. In the end I purchased a car that I used to own, but if I had of bought the other car I had decided to accept it for what it was and enjoyed it , but I wasn’t going to throw loads of money into it as its always nice to think maybe you could possibly get it back at the end of the day.
I would personally just enjoy it and do small things to improve it for your own personal taste.
Good luck and enjoy it.
Best regards

Thanks, yes, I feel the same now, also, a concourse car has the disadvantage that I would definitely be on edge about it getting damaged in any way whatsoever.
I don't think there's anything that's really bothering me, I've accepted the car as it is, even the wooden wheel and dash, I still admire more contemporary cars with modernist interiors though.
I've become more than attached to mine now, it's my first TVR, and I think it was destined for me, the circumstances in which it was bought were a bit unusual too, I'm going to write about it for Sprint magazine, when I get around to it!
I've done a few little things to it since I've had it, but I think apart from major work that I could have done, but doesn't "need" to be, that's about it.

Edited by griff59 on Wednesday 21st November 10:26

Edited by griff59 on Wednesday 21st November 10:27

Edited by griff59 on Wednesday 21st November 10:28

[900T-R]

If you want to spend money no matter what, get the best suspension kit you can afford. Maybe you will like it enough to drive it a bit more than a few hundred miles in seven years :shock:

[griff59]

900T-R said:

If you want to spend money no matter what, get the best suspension kit you can afford. Maybe you will like it enough to drive it a bit more than a few hundred miles in seven years :shock:

Hang on! I bought the car this year, in June, the previous owner rebuilt it it in 2011, I've put about 500 miles on it since June, he did hardly anything.

[900T-R]

Ahhh

[SRT Hellcat]

making it mint might make you less likely to use it

[RichB]

RogerDodger said:

...Leven kit was a factory option so no harm at all in adding it you want.

Was it? I don't recollect it being a factory option back in the day. Incidentally a aluminium dash was.

[RichB]

FlipFlopGriff said:

If your target is concours then changing the dash and adding leven bits isn't achieving that.

TVRCC don't organise rivet counter type concours events (dare I say fortunately) so there is no band of men in white coats judging originality.

As has been said, upgrading the suspension could be worthwhile. When I added Nitrons and had a full suspension set-up done the difference was remarkable.

[anonymous-user]

RichB said:

Was it? I don't recollect it being a factory option back in the day. Incidentally a aluminium dash was.

I made the assumption as so many TVRs for sale have leven kit and no other offering. I just assumed TVR offered it as an option.

The dash, yeah, on later models. My mate had one.

[griff59]

RichB said:

TVRCC don't organise rivet counter type concours events (dare I say fortunately) so there is no band of men in white coats judging originality.

As has been said, upgrading the suspension could be worthwhile. When I added Nitrons and had a full suspension set-up done the difference was remarkable.

Rivet counter events?? Sounds like my local TVRCC meet! (sorry chaps )
The suspension? I've been told that my car is too low, I'm having it raised at the next service.
As for handling, well, this is the first proper sports car I've ever owned, so I'm a bit inexperienced in comparing. My BMW is a sort of yardstick, that handles OK, the Griff feels solid and firm on the road, it tram lines a bit, but overall it feels "not bad" I get a bit nervous at high speeds though, it becomes a bit unstable, and feels softer with less grip. But when I first drove my car what impressed me was the handling, so who knows, it's difficult to say.
I watched a video by Harry's Garage, he said that the Griff was taken by TVR to Maclaren, they put it on their chassis rig and they just couldn't sort it out, they gave up.
Dan Taylor is going to sort my suspension out, and it will probably ride a bit better if it's a couple of inches higher. I'll also investigate these Nitrons?

Edited by griff59 on Saturday 24th November 07:37

[RichB]

Rivet counter concours: I was thinking of AMOC concours events where I was criticised for having the wrong colour air filter elements inside the original air filter cases I did get a 2nd place and a nice plaque though...

As for ride height, be careful, 2" sounds a massive increase, or else it must currently be exceptionally low. Do you have the spoiler under the nose? This would normally be about 3" above the ground making the rest of the ground clearance say 4.5" - The spoiler often gets ripped off and not replaced but the general consensus is that it helps cooling and possibly stability at speed.

Edited by RichB on Saturday 24th November 08:16

[griff59]

RichB said:

Rivet counter concours: I was thinking of AMOC concours events where I was criticised for having the wrong colour air filter elements inside the original air filter cases I did get a 2nd place and a nice plaque though...

As for ride height, be careful, 2" sounds a massive increase, or else it must currently be exceptionally low. Do you have the spoiler under the nose? This would normally be about 3" above the ground making the rest of the ground clearance say 4.5" - The spoiler often gets ripped off and not replaced but the general consensus is that it helps cooling and possibly stability at speed.

Edited by RichB on Saturday 24th November 08:16

I don't have a spoiler, maybe it's gone, and thats the reason for instability.
I'll check the ground clearance though.

[BIG DUNC]

I stand to be corrected on this, but I don't think all Griff's had the front spoiler / splitter from new.

Certainly I don't think my early pre-cat did.

[RichB]

My 500 certainly did. set back behind the underneath radiator air intake.

As you describe you car as an early pre-cat that would be correct, I think they added them after a while to cure the perceived instability and/or overheating. But the general consensus is that they are worth having.