A few pointers please!
Discussion
Just picked up Griff 500 ,not my first TVR but one I've looked forward to owning.First impressions are v.good but wondered if there are any pointers anyone could offer on issues to look out for.The cars a 95 ,500 with only 7k on the clock,it's been very well looked after, but seeing I'm planning to go to Le Man next week I wondered if there is anything I should check beyond the ususal oil ,water etc.
Cheers
S'one
Cheers
S'one
everything!
its bin sat ina barn for 9 years!
seriously tho, hope its good for you. the main things i'd look for is hoses. they're getting on now and they won't like a long trip. check them thoroughly.
check tyres, how old are they. perished?
do lots of little4 runs to loosen it up and show any probs.
take it eay.
take some spares!!!!!!!!
fuses - full set, particularly 40A (special order!)
relays - many unusual ones
belts - perished/cracked, may look ok now.
HT lead
plug (gapped)
good tool kit!
someone's phone number (peninsula/tower view/V8 sportscars)
then go and enjoy it, knowing alls covered.
actually, you'll find loads of help at Le mans anyway, so its a good first run.
have fun
its bin sat ina barn for 9 years!
seriously tho, hope its good for you. the main things i'd look for is hoses. they're getting on now and they won't like a long trip. check them thoroughly.
check tyres, how old are they. perished?
do lots of little4 runs to loosen it up and show any probs.
take it eay.
take some spares!!!!!!!!
fuses - full set, particularly 40A (special order!)
relays - many unusual ones
belts - perished/cracked, may look ok now.
HT lead
plug (gapped)
good tool kit!
someone's phone number (peninsula/tower view/V8 sportscars)
then go and enjoy it, knowing alls covered.
actually, you'll find loads of help at Le mans anyway, so its a good first run.
have fun
Thanks for that.The car has been exceptionally well looked after, the tyres are the originals and the engine bay looks spotless.I guess my main concern is cooling ,I have already noticed the cooling fans seem to cut in pretty quick (around 90 ish).I assume the car has been kept in a dehumidified enviroment.Thanks for the tips.
S'one
S'one
So sounds like tyres are on the shopping list first off all.I know this probabaly opens a can of worms but what tyres do you all reccomend and what's it likely to cost me.I also have another concern in as much as the car is completely standard in every way ,while I'm no purist should I try and stay on the same size and type of tyre (if available) or should I modify.
Cheers
s'one
Cheers
s'one
Steve - thereb was a thread on tyres Toyos v Bridgestone only a few weeks ago, do a search and you should find it.
My opinion is that Bridgestone SO2s are the best, but Toyos are a lot of other peoples choice.
I will go for Goodyear F1s next as SO2s are getting rare.
9 years old? Should be ok as long as you don't go over 60!
Standard fan cut in is around the 90 mark. If it runs hot - the Modwise 2-stage kit is brilliant. 4000 miles through France and Spain in 110 degrees and mine sat happily between 83 and 87
Have a good time in France - I am jealous!
My opinion is that Bridgestone SO2s are the best, but Toyos are a lot of other peoples choice.
I will go for Goodyear F1s next as SO2s are getting rare.
9 years old? Should be ok as long as you don't go over 60!
Standard fan cut in is around the 90 mark. If it runs hot - the Modwise 2-stage kit is brilliant. 4000 miles through France and Spain in 110 degrees and mine sat happily between 83 and 87
Have a good time in France - I am jealous!
I’d be tempted to have it up in the air with the wheels off and give it a good visual inspection for general leaks and perished hoses etc.
Remove the brakes callipers and clean and copper grease appropriate parts to make sure they aren’t sticking. Give the brake hoses and unions a good inspection while your there.
Check the main earthing points and in particular the one on the chassis inside the off side wheel arch. Make sure they are clean and tight.
This is all simple enough to do and won’t cost anything.
As far a cooling go’s then it sounds like your temp gauge may need calibrating or you have a lower temp spec otter switch installed. If the car isn’t over heating then I wouldn’t be too concerned. Best thing you can do is drive it as much as possible before hand and see how it goes.
I’d echo what’s been said about tyres.
Remove the brakes callipers and clean and copper grease appropriate parts to make sure they aren’t sticking. Give the brake hoses and unions a good inspection while your there.
Check the main earthing points and in particular the one on the chassis inside the off side wheel arch. Make sure they are clean and tight.
This is all simple enough to do and won’t cost anything.
As far a cooling go’s then it sounds like your temp gauge may need calibrating or you have a lower temp spec otter switch installed. If the car isn’t over heating then I wouldn’t be too concerned. Best thing you can do is drive it as much as possible before hand and see how it goes.
I’d echo what’s been said about tyres.
simon.b said:
Keep a close eye around the engine block for oil leaks, particularly round the front. The gaskets tend to dry out then as you start to use her again the joints open up.
Enjoy,
Simon.
So true. My last Griff had only done about 100 miles in the year prior to me buying it. First time I opened it up out blew a large section of manifold gasket.
Echo everything said re pipes and gaskets...
My griff was stood for the best part of a year before I had it, and looked fine when I bought it, but a few hundred miles in and it was leaking all over the place.
SO I have just replaced a rocker cover gasket and some PAS hoses, as well as having the sump re-sealed.
My griff was stood for the best part of a year before I had it, and looked fine when I bought it, but a few hundred miles in and it was leaking all over the place.
SO I have just replaced a rocker cover gasket and some PAS hoses, as well as having the sump re-sealed.
[quote=s,one]Thanks for that.The car has been exceptionally well looked after, the tyres are the originals and the engine bay looks spotless.I guess my main concern is cooling ,I have already noticed the cooling fans seem to cut in pretty quick (around 90 ish)[/quote]
90 is spot on for the fans to cut in. Some people get worried about very low-mileage cars (usually people who do high mileage!) but if everything checks out, go for it. You might want to get the 'Bible' at www.tvrbooks.co.uk - in fact I'm surprised no-one else has mentioned it. It has a section on what to look for and will provide bed-time reading for ages
90 is spot on for the fans to cut in. Some people get worried about very low-mileage cars (usually people who do high mileage!) but if everything checks out, go for it. You might want to get the 'Bible' at www.tvrbooks.co.uk - in fact I'm surprised no-one else has mentioned it. It has a section on what to look for and will provide bed-time reading for ages
Private joke...check and see if the radiator has had the velvet mounting cushion upgrade like Simpo's! 
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