Yellow Griff with LS upgrade

[900T-R]

Murph7355 said:

IMO/IME 300-350bhp is the limit for the Griff chassis.

And you will need to have properly developed suspension to handle even that properly.

However, there is a proven solution if you want more performance than that:

Make the car lighter.* Doing this expands the performance envelope in every direction, without putting more load through the structure and components. Win/win.

*Best start with rotating and unsprung weight

[macdeb]

I feel for the 'OP' Catsey, he comes on here asking about a car that 'he' wants to hopefully purchase only to be told; it's too much power, you're not a driving God so you wont handle it, blah, blah, blah. Guys, get a grip, I thought these forums were meant to help. Wanna talk about power/chassis etc (if you own of course not just read something) start a post, don't piss on the guys fireworks.
peace 'n love.

[phazed]

quite right Mac

OP, why not contact 7TVR. He may know something.....

[Rocket 88]

Hi Catsey,
You have found me but sorry to say the car will not be for sale for a long time yet. The car is fantastic, it knocks 20 years off my age every time I drive it and brings a very wide grin to my face. The power is perfect for me, it is just like my old Tuscan Racer only faster and a bit more practical. Not only is it powerful at 527 bhp and 515 ib/ft torque but Christian Douglas and Top Cats Racing produced a car that is set up perfectly for road and track. I have to be a bit careful accelerating hard on the road as any man hole covers or small pot holes just spin the rear wheels but on the track it comes alive with fantastic handling and superb brakes. Only trouble is I can only do noisy days which is also part of the fun as it sounds incredible with some lovely subtle pops and bangs on overrun. And then there is the tunnel mode switch that back fires just like a shotgun and spits flames which look amazing in the dark. Christian reckons he had it off the clock at 180 mph but the fastest I have managed so far is 160 mph but maybe one day when I have a death wish or when my balls get bigger. Sorry you missed out but you could always get Sportmotive to build you one.
Regards,
Roger

[PaulPureTorque]

I had my Griff540 for 8 years and was putting out about 390 hp with standard chassis.
Subsequently now have had a LS3 Griff for 2 years with about 20% more power (custom chassis) and I would say that's about the limit for a road car (imho). May be tempted to sell.....

[catsey]

Rocket 88 said:

Hi Catsey,
You have found me but sorry to say the car will not be for sale for a long time yet. The car is fantastic, it knocks 20 years off my age every time I drive it and brings a very wide grin to my face. The power is perfect for me, it is just like my old Tuscan Racer only faster and a bit more practical. Not only is it powerful at 527 bhp and 515 ib/ft torque but Christian Douglas and Top Cats Racing produced a car that is set up perfectly for road and track. I have to be a bit careful accelerating hard on the road as any man hole covers or small pot holes just spin the rear wheels but on the track it comes alive with fantastic handling and superb brakes. Only trouble is I can only do noisy days which is also part of the fun as it sounds incredible with some lovely subtle pops and bangs on overrun. And then there is the tunnel mode switch that back fires just like a shotgun and spits flames which look amazing in the dark. Christian reckons he had it off the clock at 180 mph but the fastest I have managed so far is 160 mph but maybe one day when I have a death wish or when my balls get bigger. Sorry you missed out but you could always get Sportmotive to build you one.
Regards,
Roger

Roger Thank you and to all other contributors do not mind at all going of subject isn't that what we all tend to do but thanks to Mack for digging Roger to send me the status.
Roger i greatly admire your car i have an JE5.2 with Supercharger i enjoy immensely I have never stopped thinking about your Griff the way is was done and outfitting etc what an epic. Please post some more photos of her .
I have my Griff and a hairy 600bhp GT2 (996) so i get respect for power but Torque is what i really enjoy. Yours must be phenominal.
Respect if ever get chance to meet up in person would love that.
Cheers James

[catsey]

PaulPureTorque said:

I had my Griff540 for 8 years and was putting out about 390 hp with standard chassis.
Subsequently now have had a LS3 Griff for 2 years with about 20% more power (custom chassis) and I would say that's about the limit for a road car (imho). May be tempted to sell.....

Paul e mail me if you ever do

[phazed]

Rocket 88 said:

Hi Catsey,

Lots of positive stuff.

Roger

Good to hear that you are enjoying the car. It probably is the best ever build of a TVR with every attention to detail.
What was it like on track? I remember Christian saying that it was a definite no-no on a wet track.
It certainly does make a great noise, extremely different from a Rover engine!
It certainly does make a great noise, extremely different from a Rover engine! I am sure you will keep this for a while as there is nothing else like it out there.

[Rocket 88]

Hi Peter
I have only driven the car on a dry track and the Toyo R888’s are brilliant backed up by the AP 6600 brake calipers and APF 404 pads. Driving on a wet road is challenging to say the least and has to be treated like driving on ice.

I don’t seem to have many good pictures of the car although I have lots of the engine and chassis so here is the best one for James but if you want to see more just type the following into your browser. TVR Griffith 500 - LS 3 6.2L V8 Topcats Racing Conversion and you will see lots of pictures on Pistonheads taken by the previous owner Daniel Yeates also with a link to the following.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/danyeates/albums

[Daniel-vwbsa]

Can you tell me what wheels are fitted? They look superb and are really suited to the car

[catsey]

Rocket 88 said:

Hi Peter
I have only driven the car on a dry track and the Toyo R888’s are brilliant backed up by the AP 6600 brake calipers and APF 404 pads. Driving on a wet road is challenging to say the least and has to be treated like driving on ice.

I don’t seem to have many good pictures of the car although I have lots of the engine and chassis so here is the best one for James but if you want to see more just type the following into your browser. TVR Griffith 500 - LS 3 6.2L V8 Topcats Racing Conversion and you will see lots of pictures on Pistonheads taken by the previous owner Daniel Yeates also with a link to the following.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/danyeates/albums

Roger Thank you for the photos as i remembered the car looks and is great. It a chariot to Valhalla

[Rocket 88]

Hi Daniel,
The wheels are Compomotive and as far as I can work out they are as follows but no longer available:
Fronts MO1730 8x17 ET25
Rears MO2 1800 Series 9x18 ET40

[phazed]

You could go for genuine TVR spec RL7s, (in black if that's what you want).

[Murph7355]

Daniel-vwbsa said:

Can you tell me what wheels are fitted? They look superb and are really suited to the car

I have the same on mine. Nice wheels.

[Redshawsimon]

[quote=catsey]
Roger Thank you for the photos as i remembered the car looks and is great. It a chariot to Valhalla

Dear Roger,
we have not met before but i am interested to fit an LS intobmy yellow griff. however, if i could buy a car with the work already done and awesome- like your car, that would be great! are you interested in selling him/her?
KR. Simon

[Rocket 88]

Hi Simon, sorry but the car isn't for sale. I have a long queue of people wanting to buy it. This isn’t just an engine transplant as you probably already know. The car was fully rebuilt with every nut and bolt replaced. The chassis outriggers were replaced along with a few minor modifications prior to being powder coated to a very high standard. All wishbones were replaced with new items along with all bushings and Gazmatic shock absorbers. The differential was replaced with a fully reconditioned Cerbera BTR Hydratrack unit. The dive shafts were centre bored for extra strength. The discs and callipers were uprated. The chassis was covered with a Sagaris insulation blanket. The body was fully stripped and modified to take larger diameter wheels and a 7” headlamp conversion prior to having a top class repaint along with a new vented bonnet. New roof. New windscreen. New bespoke roll over bar. Lotus Exige seats modified to take a 4-point harness and the interior fully retrimmed with top quality black and yellow leather, black Wilton carpeting with yellow leather edging and a carbon fibre dash. The engine was modified with a Thunder Racing camshaft to give 527 bhp and 515 ft/lb torque. A Canton Racing Accusump was fitted to maintain oil pressure at all times. The power steering was replaced with a Subaru system, the list goes on.

Essentially it was a new car built to a far higher specification and build quality than anything turned out by TVR Engineering. The power, the driveability, the handling and the sound track are all superb so why would I ever want to sell something like that?
Good luck with your transplant