New to forum - back on the road
Discussion
Good afternoon folks,
A few years ago I bought a Griff 500 and had a great time for a while hooning about the place and doing track days, loving the simple ethos of the thing. Simple, classic lines, simple big V8, no computers or assists to get in the way of actually learning to drive and of course, the exhaust note that seems to talk directly to your trouser region. You know the score.
Then came what is so often the harbinger of doom for these type of cars – the arrival of kids. For 5 seemingly interminable years it has squatted sulkily in the drive, under an increasingly tattered and dirty cover tied down tight against the frequent gales we get here. On more than a few occasions it was very close to being sold as we weathered the mad first few years of being parents and I had more or less resigned myself to being one of those guys who ‘used to have one of those’ before kids.
But not so! Due to a happy windfall I have been able to resurrect the Griffalo (sorry, but as I mentioned - kids) in fine style. Being in Northern Ireland I sent it to Greg at Torqueflyte who gave me the happy news that not only were the chassis and outriggers not rotten as I feared they would be from the sea air, they were among the best he has seen. A leaky exhaust manifold was excuse enough to put in ACT manifolds, and since there was already an ACT cherrybomb system on I decided to go the full monty and have a decat Y piece put in as well. The rubbish suspension (originals from 1994) were replaced with Mk5 Bilstiens (I believe from the Tuscan?) re-valved and sprung for the Griff. Greg had talked directly with TVRs handling guy to sort a solution for our type of roads, and I can report that they are worth every penny, power being nothing without control and all that. Getting rid of the 5 year old Toyos and putting on Rainsport 3s also helped.
A semi completion clutch that was in the car when I bought it had managed to wreck the flywheel and the release bearing had also not been installed properly and was sitting at an angle, so that was all junked and an AP billet flywheel and proper clutch installed. This has made the engine a good deal more lively and my left leg a lot happier.
All of this has changed the car from being a cantankerous animal that just wanted to kill me into a happy beast of a thing that may defer killing me for a bit as it is now in a much better mood. And the noise! Laaaaaavly.
One thing that still needs to be done is the dash, which has delaminated and has buttons coming off the back etc. A common enough fault I understand. There is a guy making replacements I would like to talk to, I think his name is Peter Wiggins, if anyone could give me a steer towards him?
Anyway, great to be back on the road guys, just thought I would say hi!
Cheers,
Rob
A few years ago I bought a Griff 500 and had a great time for a while hooning about the place and doing track days, loving the simple ethos of the thing. Simple, classic lines, simple big V8, no computers or assists to get in the way of actually learning to drive and of course, the exhaust note that seems to talk directly to your trouser region. You know the score.
Then came what is so often the harbinger of doom for these type of cars – the arrival of kids. For 5 seemingly interminable years it has squatted sulkily in the drive, under an increasingly tattered and dirty cover tied down tight against the frequent gales we get here. On more than a few occasions it was very close to being sold as we weathered the mad first few years of being parents and I had more or less resigned myself to being one of those guys who ‘used to have one of those’ before kids.
But not so! Due to a happy windfall I have been able to resurrect the Griffalo (sorry, but as I mentioned - kids) in fine style. Being in Northern Ireland I sent it to Greg at Torqueflyte who gave me the happy news that not only were the chassis and outriggers not rotten as I feared they would be from the sea air, they were among the best he has seen. A leaky exhaust manifold was excuse enough to put in ACT manifolds, and since there was already an ACT cherrybomb system on I decided to go the full monty and have a decat Y piece put in as well. The rubbish suspension (originals from 1994) were replaced with Mk5 Bilstiens (I believe from the Tuscan?) re-valved and sprung for the Griff. Greg had talked directly with TVRs handling guy to sort a solution for our type of roads, and I can report that they are worth every penny, power being nothing without control and all that. Getting rid of the 5 year old Toyos and putting on Rainsport 3s also helped.
A semi completion clutch that was in the car when I bought it had managed to wreck the flywheel and the release bearing had also not been installed properly and was sitting at an angle, so that was all junked and an AP billet flywheel and proper clutch installed. This has made the engine a good deal more lively and my left leg a lot happier.
All of this has changed the car from being a cantankerous animal that just wanted to kill me into a happy beast of a thing that may defer killing me for a bit as it is now in a much better mood. And the noise! Laaaaaavly.
One thing that still needs to be done is the dash, which has delaminated and has buttons coming off the back etc. A common enough fault I understand. There is a guy making replacements I would like to talk to, I think his name is Peter Wiggins, if anyone could give me a steer towards him?
Anyway, great to be back on the road guys, just thought I would say hi!
Cheers,
Rob
Welcome 
I binned my first Griff just after the kids were born and it took over 10 years to get the replacement (ACT manifolds - tick, decat - tick, Ben Lang's Bilsteins - tick). This one is going nowhere.
You've done well to uncover it after five years and not have to retrim/respray/rechassis it!
One of Pete's dash threads is here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...
My car has an original ally one, but if I were going for wood it'd be one of his.
Cough, pics, cough
I binned my first Griff just after the kids were born and it took over 10 years to get the replacement (ACT manifolds - tick, decat - tick, Ben Lang's Bilsteins - tick). This one is going nowhere.
You've done well to uncover it after five years and not have to retrim/respray/rechassis it!
One of Pete's dash threads is here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...
My car has an original ally one, but if I were going for wood it'd be one of his.
Cough, pics, cough
Afternoon Rob,
Well done on managing to keep hold of you Griff. I am in the same position as you so I understand how hard it is trying the juggle, work, kids, and finances etc. The easy option is to get rid of the Tiv and release some capital, but in reality you will probably never see that money again and then later on regret selling it.
Good work on the upgrades, I have done the same myself regarding the Bilsteins. I had the same ACT system on mine for quite some time and the noise is indeed laaaaavly as you put it
Pete dash is certainly worth a look, I have one on mine and it is a really nice piece of kit. If you click on the link below, there is more info on the Pete Dash and right at the bottom is Pete's direct email address. I am not sure I am allowed to post email addresses on this forum.
https://matthewpoxon.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/new-...
Good luck with the Griff and enjoy it.
Matthew
Well done on managing to keep hold of you Griff. I am in the same position as you so I understand how hard it is trying the juggle, work, kids, and finances etc. The easy option is to get rid of the Tiv and release some capital, but in reality you will probably never see that money again and then later on regret selling it.
Good work on the upgrades, I have done the same myself regarding the Bilsteins. I had the same ACT system on mine for quite some time and the noise is indeed laaaaavly as you put it
Pete dash is certainly worth a look, I have one on mine and it is a really nice piece of kit. If you click on the link below, there is more info on the Pete Dash and right at the bottom is Pete's direct email address. I am not sure I am allowed to post email addresses on this forum.
https://matthewpoxon.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/new-...
Good luck with the Griff and enjoy it.
Matthew
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