Rebuild time - 3.6 or 4.3?
Discussion
Talksteer said:
Got a T350C with a bust engine....
Options:
Replace with a 3.6 with a three year warranty £6k
Replace with a 4.3 with a five year warranty £8k
Both from TVR Power
Which should I go for, will I get the difference back on the 4.3 when I sell it?
is there not an option to go for a 4.0l for the 3.6 price? that is a very lively motor in a t350c, i am sure i read somewhere that it costs no more for a 4.Options:
Replace with a 3.6 with a three year warranty £6k
Replace with a 4.3 with a five year warranty £8k
Both from TVR Power
Which should I go for, will I get the difference back on the 4.3 when I sell it?
4.3 without a shadow of doubt! Remember this will be a one time chance to upgrade as well!! However, bear in mind the cost is £8400 inc VAT PLUS another £564 for the large injectors and starter motor you'll also need. You then need to factor in anything else that may need doing, I needed the block relining along with a new sump and scavenge gears for example pushing the total bill north of 10k. I'm not for one minute saying it wasn't worth but please bear it in mind that whilst you may just have a standard rebuild there may also be extras you need. However, if you need the extras on a 4.3 you'll need them on a 3.6 so the differential remains the same 
The additional torque over the 3.6 is the biggest draw, 1500rpm in 5th and she'll pull all the way through to silly figures. Acceleration is also a lot more linear with he extra low down torque and having gone up against a fair few quick cars on last years NEC dream rides I can assure you she is damned quick....
If you're either anywhere near Cambs (St Neots) or at the Neil Garner open day I'll be more than happy to take you for a spin so you can see for yourself.
As for getting the cost back - not all of it, but then again you wouldn't get all 6k back on a standard rebuild. I reckon it's worth about a 50% of cost premium (5k or so) over a normal, unrebuilt 3.6 but I guess the proof of that will be what I finally sell mine for as I'm changing to an R8 when she sells (nothing to do with the engine, more a lifestyle thing)
The additional torque over the 3.6 is the biggest draw, 1500rpm in 5th and she'll pull all the way through to silly figures. Acceleration is also a lot more linear with he extra low down torque and having gone up against a fair few quick cars on last years NEC dream rides I can assure you she is damned quick....
If you're either anywhere near Cambs (St Neots) or at the Neil Garner open day I'll be more than happy to take you for a spin so you can see for yourself.
As for getting the cost back - not all of it, but then again you wouldn't get all 6k back on a standard rebuild. I reckon it's worth about a 50% of cost premium (5k or so) over a normal, unrebuilt 3.6 but I guess the proof of that will be what I finally sell mine for as I'm changing to an R8 when she sells (nothing to do with the engine, more a lifestyle thing)
Edited by Zippee on Friday 22 March 20:51
I would think you should get a fair portion of the extra 2k back when it comes to resale, partly down to the engine/performance and partly down to the additional warranty (presuming you do actually sell in the next 5 yrs).
What's wrong with the engine? i.e. are you having to replace rods/pistons etc anyway?
What's wrong with the engine? i.e. are you having to replace rods/pistons etc anyway?
Real world if you like the 3.6 stay with it, I had my T350 upgraded to 4.0 and it was no faster in real terms, it felt more willing mid range but that was it, now my sag 4.0 feels faster than the T350 even with the same sized engine, it was proven to be 30 bhp more on the rollers which I dont understand, but my 4.0 sag also seems to be as quick as a couple of 4.3's ive encountered as I have the CR box and 3.9 diff.
If you enjoy high revs and making the engine sing then stay 3.6, if you prefer mid range torque go for 4.0 or 4.3. Theres not a huge difference between them if its a road car and you only do the occasional track day.
Of course if you have cash to throw around get the 4.3 and some other shiny upgrades.
If you enjoy high revs and making the engine sing then stay 3.6, if you prefer mid range torque go for 4.0 or 4.3. Theres not a huge difference between them if its a road car and you only do the occasional track day.
Of course if you have cash to throw around get the 4.3 and some other shiny upgrades.
You effectively don't get any of the 6k back for a 3.6 rebuild, as all you're doing is making the car what it is supposed to be - a TVR T350C 3.6 - but you will have a 3-year engine warranty.
You will get some of the 8k back for a 4.3 as you are making the car a better/faster/more desirable car from performance point of view and it will have a 5-year warranty.
So I think the extra 2k is a good choice decision imho - but do it for yourself and your own personal enjoyment with the car - that's why you bought a TVR T350C in the first place - not as an investment surely ??
You will get some of the 8k back for a 4.3 as you are making the car a better/faster/more desirable car from performance point of view and it will have a 5-year warranty.
So I think the extra 2k is a good choice decision imho - but do it for yourself and your own personal enjoyment with the car - that's why you bought a TVR T350C in the first place - not as an investment surely ??
Talksteer said:
Got a T350C with a bust engine....
Options:
Replace with a 3.6 with a three year warranty £6k
Replace with a 4.3 with a five year warranty £8k
Both from TVR Power
Which should I go for, will I get the difference back on the 4.3 when I sell it?
When I bought mine a couple of years ago, I would happily have paid an extra £5k for a 4.3 car. I ended up with mine because the one I was after got snapped up. Options:
Replace with a 3.6 with a three year warranty £6k
Replace with a 4.3 with a five year warranty £8k
Both from TVR Power
Which should I go for, will I get the difference back on the 4.3 when I sell it?
There you are for a buyer's perspective.
I'm now thinking about an upgrade for the extra power, rather than as a repair (also stitch in time and all that, although 50k and its still spot on).
Don't just consider Power though. He's universally respected and I've never heard of a single complaint, however there is also the FFF from racing Green, the 4.3 from Straight Six, or 4.1 from RND Engineering. (If you have lots of other bits to fix, the final option of these 3 may prove to be the most cost effective). All offer 5 year warrenties now, but each offer a subtly different product.
Hollowpockets said:
Real world if you like the 3.6 stay with it, I had my T350 upgraded to 4.0 and it was no faster in real terms, it felt more willing mid range but that was it, now my sag 4.0 feels faster than the T350 even with the same sized engine, it was proven to be 30 bhp more on the rollers which I dont understand, but my 4.0 sag also seems to be as quick as a couple of 4.3's ive encountered as I have the CR box and 3.9 diff.
If you enjoy high revs and making the engine sing then stay 3.6, if you prefer mid range torque go for 4.0 or 4.3. Theres not a huge difference between them if its a road car and you only do the occasional track day.
Of course if you have cash to throw around get the 4.3 and some other shiny upgrades.
I went from a 3.6 to 4.3 and can't believe the difference! I know there is a lot of talk about loss of high revs with the 4.3, but I can honestly say I don't notice any difference, just a lot more power! There is such a huge difference that I even took The crown as the "fastest TVR" last year at crailIf you enjoy high revs and making the engine sing then stay 3.6, if you prefer mid range torque go for 4.0 or 4.3. Theres not a huge difference between them if its a road car and you only do the occasional track day.
Of course if you have cash to throw around get the 4.3 and some other shiny upgrades.
which had been a 4.5 sag. To say there is not much difference between a 4 and 4.3 is totally unrealistic. I would recommend to the OP that if you can stretch then go for the 4.3 over the 4 litre or 3.6 as there is no contest, you won't regret it!
I upgraded to the Power 4.3 because I missed the torque of my old Tuscan S. What I got was a far better engine all round- very willing and in my experience it revs well. It feels a tad less revvy than the 3.6 but its such a smooth unit it feels responsive enough to me plus you get bucket loads of torque. I loved the engine as a 3.6 but you really had to rev it to get the car moving compared to the 4 litre in the Tuscan S. With the 4.3 its a more relaxed rocket, but its definitely a rocket.
Gassing Station | Tamora, T350 & Sagaris | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff