Griff 500 nut and bolt rebuild

[ou sont les biscuits]

andy43 said:

Original dealer spec.... apart from 5.4 engine. Like it
It's interesting reading stuff like this - the Griff is getting to the age where moving back to bone-stock original is a 'thing' now.
Cavalier plastic handbrake grips and distributors are making a comeback!
The emerald ECU has switchable map options but if you're after factory appearance it wouldn't work - coil packs. Two 14CUX ecus would be the answer I suppose, but an expensive option.
If you're after in-period originality I'd just work out what was available in, say 2000, and go from there. Rare in-period options are popular on classics anyway!

I had my Chimaera rebuilt to 'factory' spec (at Central) last year. I did however have the 14CUX removed and an MBE system fitted by Powers. There were a couple of reasons for that. One was driveability. No more shunting at low revs - when warm the car will pull from 700 - 800 revs in 5th without protest. The other reason was the poor quality of spares for the original ignition system. That is obviously no longer an issue, and Powers fit a new engine loom as part of the upgrade, which takes the worry out of 20 year old wiring problems. Coil packs? Hidden away behind the plenum. Unseen! Lack of a distributor? Again you don't notice it. There's a bung fitted where it was that looks factory. I also have a shiny new 120A Denso alternator to fit, when I CBA to fit a 120A main fuse.

I got rid of the leven stalks too, but left the handbrake sleeve, as it matches the gear lever knob.

Tidy engine bay photo. Yes, I know the 400 badges aren't original - I will sort that before the summer.

Edited by ou sont les biscuits on Wednesday 6th March 12:07

[Zeb74]

ou sont les biscuits said:

Tidy engine bay photo.

Love that, clean, sober not shiny.
I'm planning a body-off restoration next year, would be great to obtain the same result.

[Olly-B]

Lovely bay...When I got it many years ago I fitted the usual stuff - blue hoses, various AM caps and knobs, all the Leven bits, SS dash etc, blue rockers etc etc.

I'm not knocking mods, I loved them at the time and the Leven bits were what TVR should have fitted.

I just need to find some un-saggy sun visors and the original radio. Any one got these to flog?

Looks pukka in black. Meaner too

Thanks for posting

Oliver

Edited by Olly-B on Wednesday 6th March 15:42

Edited by Olly-B on Wednesday 6th March 15:47

[ou sont les biscuits]

Olly-B said:

Lovely bay...When I got it many years ago I fitted the usual stuff - blue hoses, various AM caps and knobs, all the Leven bits, SS dash etc, blue rockers etc etc.

I'm not knocking mods, I loved them at the time and the Leven bits were what TVR should have fitted.

I just need to find some un-saggy sun visors and the original radio. Any one got these to flog?

Looks pukka in black. Meaner too

Thanks for posting

Oliver

FWIW, mine has a steel dash that was factory fitted. I know that because it's 'signed' on the back with the same handwriting as is on the underside of the dashtop moulding. No idea whether they were offered on Griffs though.

[andy43]

Radio - if you can find out what model number Pioneer radio cassette was standard fit, keep an eye out on ebay - IIRC they do crop up occasionally.
Visors were Ford Escort or something?

[Olly-B]

Carl Baker fitted a DAB one but I didn't get the old one off him. Any one have an original they can give me the details of? I'll log onto the biggest jumble sale in the world. Sure to get one there

The sun visors are Escort MkII, MKIII and Capri apparently.

Cheers

Oliver

[Olly-B]

UPDATE

Well the ball is well and truly rolling

I went to visit Ray and Acea at V8 Devs yesterday to discuss engine spec. All I can say is it was well worth a crappy 5 hour round trip. Ray and Acea talked me through every aspect; the pro's and cons; the cost implications, options and bang for buck considerations.

Their dyno room is impressive. A technicians dream - climate controlled for repeatable comparison testing etc

After an excellent chat and cup of tea I settled on the following to give an estimated 325bhp at the engine and a skip load of torque.

Please bare in mind that by not installing a modern fueling and ignition system I am holding this engine back at 325bhp. If I went for those then who knows 350bhp+++??

I can still convert it back to under bonnet original over a weekend if I want to with a second ECU,and the orig parts.

I can't wait!!!

If you'd like one just ask Ray for costs. True, it's not the low cost choice but....

5.2L dominator engine
• Top hat linered cross bolted block
• New cam bearings
• New main bearings
• New Big ends bearings
• New core plugs
• 96mm Forged pistons and rings
• Steel Rods
• 90mm Large Journal crank
• Fully Balanced assembly
• Crank
• Rods
• Pistons
• Front pulley
• Fly wheel (Lightened and balanced)
• clutch pressure plate
• Pocketing of pistons
• Special grind Stealth cam kit
• Special grind Stealth cam
• Adjustable timing chain set
• High rev lifters
• Running in oil and additive
• Comp head gaskets
• Comp head bolts
• Dominator spec Cylinder heads
• Dominator spec porting
• Ultra big valves
• Guides
• Valve stem seals
• Double valve springs
• Water pump
• High torque starter motor
• All required gaskets and seals
• Acid dip, chemically clean, paint and refit sump
• Acid dip, chemically clean Front cover, rebuilding with new oil pump gears and uprated oil pressure relief valve.
• Adjustable push rods
• Fully refurbished rocker assemblies
• Fully refurbished rocker covers
• Upgraded clutch (softer peddle)
• Polish and ported inlet manifold
• 45mm Large radius trumpet base
• ACT Triple carbon plenum
• Larger bore Airflow meter
• Large Bosch injectors
• Full uprated dizzy kit
• Distributor body with gear
• Rotor arm
• Cap
• linking lead
• HT leads Dry resin High performance coil
• amp
• Full Dyno session to bed and run engine in.
• Oil filter
• Spark plugs
• Collection of original engine
• Shipping of new engine
• Large air flow meter conversion and loom adapter.

Edited by Olly-B on Wednesday 13th March 10:37

[anonymous-user]

Pretty much the same spec as what I went for, relatively soft cam but lots of torque. I'll be interested to see what the larger AFM and plenum do as they are on the shopping list for the future. I was told the engine would easily deliver 350+ if the induction was liberated

I love mine, it sounds filthy and gives loads of grunt everywhere, I can't see a Griffith needs much more tbh.

Costs, yes. Luckily I was sitting down. But then I needed a new crank on top of new everything else,at one point we didn't even know if the block was ok! Top hat liners and cross bolted similar to yours, seemed sensible.

[Olly-B]

Thanks for the affirmation Yonex, I've not gone the whole hog with coil pack etc as I did not want to have these in the bay so will run with a Dizzy. Jools will do the final tune up to get the best out of it.

Here's some pics of the body getting a new arse. Some years ago a winkle in a Saxo biffed the OS corner. It was repaired but not very well and seeing as I'm going back to original lights with a top notch paint job it makes sense just to swap it out.

Might have to sell a kidney at this rate...

[Matthew Poxon]

Olly-B said:

UPDATE

Well the ball is well and truly rolling

I went to visit Ray and Acea at V8 Devs yesterday to discuss engine spec. All I can say is it was well worth a crappy 5 hour round trip. Ray and Acea talked me through every aspect; the pro's and cons; the cost implications, options and bang for buck considerations.

Their dyno room is impressive. A technicians dream - climate controlled for repeatable comparison testing etc

After an excellent chat and cup of tea I settled on the following to give an estimated 325bhp at the engine and a skip load of torque.

Please bare in mind that by not installing a modern fueling and ignition system I am holding this engine back at 325bhp. If I went for those then who knows 350bhp+++??

I can still convert it back to under bonnet original over a weekend if I want to with a second ECU,and the orig parts.

I can't wait!!!

If you'd like one just ask Ray for costs. True, it's not the low cost choice but....

5.2L dominator engine
• Top hat linered cross bolted block
• New cam bearings
• New main bearings
• New Big ends bearings
• New core plugs
• 96mm Forged pistons and rings
• Steel Rods
• 90mm Large Journal crank
• Fully Balanced assembly
• Crank
• Rods
• Pistons
• Front pulley
• Fly wheel (Lightened and balanced)
• clutch pressure plate
• Pocketing of pistons
• Special grind Stealth cam kit
• Special grind Stealth cam
• Adjustable timing chain set
• High rev lifters
• Running in oil and additive
• Comp head gaskets
• Comp head bolts
• Dominator spec Cylinder heads
• Dominator spec porting
• Ultra big valves
• Guides
• Valve stem seals
• Double valve springs
• Water pump
• High torque starter motor
• All required gaskets and seals
• Acid dip, chemically clean, paint and refit sump
• Acid dip, chemically clean Front cover, rebuilding with new oil pump gears and uprated oil pressure relief valve.
• Adjustable push rods
• Fully refurbished rocker assemblies
• Fully refurbished rocker covers
• Upgraded clutch (softer peddle)
• Polish and ported inlet manifold
• 45mm Large radius trumpet base
• ACT Triple carbon plenum
• Larger bore Airflow meter
• Large Bosch injectors
• Full uprated dizzy kit
• Distributor body with gear
• Rotor arm
• Cap
• linking lead
• HT leads Dry resin High performance coil
• amp
• Full Dyno session to bed and run engine in.
• Oil filter
• Spark plugs
• Collection of original engine
• Shipping of new engine
• Large air flow meter conversion and loom adapter.

In for a penny, in for a pound - LOL

That should make for a very nice road engine with lots of torque. Great spec

[Olly-B]

It is the engine it should have had perhaps.
The project is moving on as fast as i can earn it. Nitrons are done and on their way and Peter Wiggins is working on my dash. The gear box has been fully rebuilt and will mate up with a brand new BTR diff and I've ordered a new chassis.

That leaves me extremely skint but satisfied.

Hopefully I'll get it back before the summer has all gone

Oliver

[Olly-B]

Oh dear..

The wobble has turned to a U turn. Interior and exterior as original as planned apart from 7'' lamps. But under bonnet is now a mod zone. V8Devs 5.2l will can now have a compression of 11.5 as I'm going Megasquirt. (Coil packs mounted discretely behind the Triple plenum)

Hoping for somewhere around 350 bhp at the fly with lots of torque. Along with no silencers it will be a bit of a buzz to hoon around in ;-)

I am so weak... but I get 3 maps and a discreet 3 way switch! 1 = Grand touring, 2 = MOT (no cats) 3 = Speed + Evil granny killing over-run pops (basically this will be on 99.9% of the time.

Oliver

Edited by Olly-B on Friday 5th July 19:31

Edited by Olly-B on Friday 5th July 19:33

[andy43]

I have the same 3 (Emerald) maps. Bangs is fun

[Olly-B]

Hi Andy43

Who did yours? And does the MOT map work for non cats? Some say yes and some say no...

Oliver

[Olly-B]

Update

Hi all,

Its been a year plus and yes, as per my personality and in the face of warnings, it has spun off budget. Now at £50k, so be warned. If you are weak like me and don't have to choose between brake shoes and your kids shoes it will probably only go one way...

I will keep this car until I'm 90 years old and quite senile so that the cops will have to ram me off the wrong side of the M1 with a Pitt maneuver.

Not bragging so please do not slap me down. Just posting this so that my experience can be of use to others.

I ought to add that Central bill is for an as new car , striped to the fibre glass, new rear end, refit original lights, correct glasss fibre faiuts, excluding the other listed elements but including new diff, wishbones, all bearing and bushes, all plumbing, loom, brakes; pipes, cooling pipes etc etc etc in fact every wearable part or part that could not be restored to as factory, so virtually everything really. And full interior.

V8 Devs have made a 350bhp unit with tripple plenum and all the usuals plus Mega Squirt 3; fully run in on the dyno.

Nitrons are rebuilt with new uprated springs

New RT Racing Chassis

Exhaust Camcoated inside and out as posted elsewhere

Gearbox fully rebuilt

Once you start....

Edited by Olly-B on Thursday 29th August 22:41

[anonymous-user]

DSC_0086 by roo_p, on Flickr

To this....

IMG_5483 by roo_p, on Flickr

I feel your pain

[Stever]

Much better - you have done very well

[Olly-B]

Back to the old skool tail lights. Me too. Its a phase we went through. Seats next?

Thats a nasty bit of star burst crazing on your boot tho...

Edited by Olly-B on Monday 2nd September 21:05

Edited by Olly-B on Monday 2nd September 21:05

[eff eff]

Olly-B said:

Back to the old skool tail lights. Me too. Its a phase we went through. Seats next?

Thats a nasty bit of star burst crazing on your boot tho...

Edited by Olly-B on Monday 2nd September 21:05

Edited by Olly-B on Monday 2nd September 21:05

looks a bit like the reflection of an aerial on a roof

[Olly-B]

eff eff said:

looks a bit like the reflection of an aerial on a roof

It wasn't much of a joke but Gawd help us....Come on Trigger, keep up