4.3/4.6 Griffith
Discussion
OK, just discussing with guy who has a German delivered 4.3 Grifith LHD car and it has a 4.6 V8 developments engine producing a tasty 270 BHP.
I am hoping this is a good thing
What's the verdict on losing the originality with one of these engines?
Any advice appreciated here,
Thanks,
Bez
I am hoping this is a good thing
What's the verdict on losing the originality with one of these engines?
Any advice appreciated here,
Thanks,
Bez
Bez,
IMO a 4.3/4.6 is a very good thing, but then I am biased.
If originality is paramount then this car is not for you. You might be hard pushed to find a completely original 4.3, 4.3 BV or 4.5 BV. Having said that I think Fernhurst have one for sale but it's pounds lots.
The V8 Dev 4.6 short engine will be cross-bolted, see here for advantages:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Do you know what heads are on the car?
If the car is for sale, test drive it and if in good condition buy it.
IMO a 4.3/4.6 is a very good thing, but then I am biased.
If originality is paramount then this car is not for you. You might be hard pushed to find a completely original 4.3, 4.3 BV or 4.5 BV. Having said that I think Fernhurst have one for sale but it's pounds lots.
The V8 Dev 4.6 short engine will be cross-bolted, see here for advantages:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Do you know what heads are on the car?
If the car is for sale, test drive it and if in good condition buy it.
I have a V8D 4.6l which I've used to replace a poorly 5.0l. It produced 289bhp (@6.4k rpm) using a pretty lary camshaft, tuned on Jules RR (spitfirev8).
I really prefer it to the 5.0l - it revs like crazy and is a fun drive.
In terms of value - I'm not sure of the impact. I have another V8D block, some spare heads, etc. so I may build a 5.0l from that - but not the TVR recipe. To keep the nice revvy character I think I will go the route of top hat liners, bored to 96mm, with an offset ground crank so I can keep the stoke shorter to get to 5.0l.
I really prefer it to the 5.0l - it revs like crazy and is a fun drive.
In terms of value - I'm not sure of the impact. I have another V8D block, some spare heads, etc. so I may build a 5.0l from that - but not the TVR recipe. To keep the nice revvy character I think I will go the route of top hat liners, bored to 96mm, with an offset ground crank so I can keep the stoke shorter to get to 5.0l.
Hmmm, well it all sounds pretty positive to me. I have a few car options right now, a UK car and a LHD here in Germany. And the plus's for a German car will save a lot of red tape...
Anyway, tomorrow morning I have a meeting with my accountant re a possible Tax issue and once I get the answer, either way it's full steam ahead.
In Berlin for that so afterwards I will drive another hour to see the left hooker and go from there....
Cheers Guys,
Bez
Anyway, tomorrow morning I have a meeting with my accountant re a possible Tax issue and once I get the answer, either way it's full steam ahead.
In Berlin for that so afterwards I will drive another hour to see the left hooker and go from there....
Cheers Guys,
Bez
Edited by bezza911 on Thursday 26th September 11:56
davep said:
Bez,
IMO a 4.3/4.6 is a very good thing, but then I am biased.
If originality is paramount then this car is not for you. You might be hard pushed to find a completely original 4.3, 4.3 BV or 4.5 BV. Having said that I think Fernhurst have one for sale but it's pounds lots.
The V8 Dev 4.6 short engine will be cross-bolted, see here for advantages:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Do you know what heads are on the car?
If the car is for sale, test drive it and if in good condition buy it.
Here's a pick of the engine, that's a mountain of exhaust wrap!IMO a 4.3/4.6 is a very good thing, but then I am biased.
If originality is paramount then this car is not for you. You might be hard pushed to find a completely original 4.3, 4.3 BV or 4.5 BV. Having said that I think Fernhurst have one for sale but it's pounds lots.
The V8 Dev 4.6 short engine will be cross-bolted, see here for advantages:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Do you know what heads are on the car?
If the car is for sale, test drive it and if in good condition buy it.
They really look a lot more cluttered in LHD mode!
Bez,
From your engine bay pic it looks like there's been some work done to the cooling system, ask if there has been overheating issues. The additonal expansion/capture tank running from the cap on the header tank is not standard.
The AFM is not Lucas 5AM and not one I've seen before.
The rocker covers are correct. If the owner has the V8 Dev 4.6 engine work invoice check to see if the heads were replaced as well.
The full pre-cat experience will be compromised by the cats but I guess they are required to keep the
TÜV guys happy.
If you test drive keep an eye on the temperature and idle especially in stop start traffic and make sure the fans work correctly. Do a few hot starts. It would be interesting to find out what gearbox it has, LT77 (reverse upper left) or T5 (reverse lower right).
Good luck.
From your engine bay pic it looks like there's been some work done to the cooling system, ask if there has been overheating issues. The additonal expansion/capture tank running from the cap on the header tank is not standard.
The AFM is not Lucas 5AM and not one I've seen before.
The rocker covers are correct. If the owner has the V8 Dev 4.6 engine work invoice check to see if the heads were replaced as well.
The full pre-cat experience will be compromised by the cats but I guess they are required to keep the
TÜV guys happy.
If you test drive keep an eye on the temperature and idle especially in stop start traffic and make sure the fans work correctly. Do a few hot starts. It would be interesting to find out what gearbox it has, LT77 (reverse upper left) or T5 (reverse lower right).
Good luck.
[quote=davep]Bez,
From your engine bay pic it looks like there's been some work done to the cooling system, ask if there has been overheating issues. The additonal expansion/capture tank running from the cap on the header tank is not standard.
The AFM is not Lucas 5AM and not one I've seen before.
The rocker covers are correct. If the owner has the V8 Dev 4.6 engine work invoice check to see if the heads were replaced as well.
The full pre-cat experience will be compromised by the cats but I guess they are required to keep the
TÜV guys happy.
If you test drive keep an eye on the temperature and idle especially in stop start traffic and make sure the fans work correctly. Do a few hot starts. It would be interesting to find out what gearbox it has, LT77 (reverse upper left) or T5 (reverse lower right).
Hi DaveP, thanks for your input,
He has all the invoices which I will sight tomorrow, apparently car was sent to UK for the overhaul, but who knows who and what has been done while here in Germany. The car has been fitted with upgraded fans and a manual override for urban crawling.... Its not a T5 sadly
below is the google translate, appears a pretty straight up guy.
Absolutely rust free, no comparison to cheap imports. Accident free. Before 60TKM new engine installed V8 Developments (Stage III), therefore performance as Griffith 500 (test protocol exists). Adjustable Nitron NTR suspension since May 2009, has since gone 13TKM. Polyflex bushes all around. Upper A-arm from the handle 500 Stabilizer handle 500 Much better driving behavior as a series. Front brake discs 283 mm from the Sierra Cosworth, thereby significantly better braking performance as standard. Top quality front 13TKM renewed by Sattler. AZEV LM wheels, 215/40 ZR 17 front and 235/40 ZR 18 at the rear, absolutely free of scratches. 4 original wheels also included in the purchase price free of scratches. Hankook Ventus off 6TKM new. Oil cooler retrofitted, as well as oil temperature gauge in the cockpit. The vehicle was always warmed up before gas was given. The standard water temperature problems in urban transport are solved by a manually selectable high-performance fans. There is an English-exhaust very nice V8 sound installed. The standard exhaust is included in the price. New HU also included.
One more sleepless night
From your engine bay pic it looks like there's been some work done to the cooling system, ask if there has been overheating issues. The additonal expansion/capture tank running from the cap on the header tank is not standard.
The AFM is not Lucas 5AM and not one I've seen before.
The rocker covers are correct. If the owner has the V8 Dev 4.6 engine work invoice check to see if the heads were replaced as well.
The full pre-cat experience will be compromised by the cats but I guess they are required to keep the
TÜV guys happy.
If you test drive keep an eye on the temperature and idle especially in stop start traffic and make sure the fans work correctly. Do a few hot starts. It would be interesting to find out what gearbox it has, LT77 (reverse upper left) or T5 (reverse lower right).
Hi DaveP, thanks for your input,
He has all the invoices which I will sight tomorrow, apparently car was sent to UK for the overhaul, but who knows who and what has been done while here in Germany. The car has been fitted with upgraded fans and a manual override for urban crawling.... Its not a T5 sadly
below is the google translate, appears a pretty straight up guy.
Absolutely rust free, no comparison to cheap imports. Accident free. Before 60TKM new engine installed V8 Developments (Stage III), therefore performance as Griffith 500 (test protocol exists). Adjustable Nitron NTR suspension since May 2009, has since gone 13TKM. Polyflex bushes all around. Upper A-arm from the handle 500 Stabilizer handle 500 Much better driving behavior as a series. Front brake discs 283 mm from the Sierra Cosworth, thereby significantly better braking performance as standard. Top quality front 13TKM renewed by Sattler. AZEV LM wheels, 215/40 ZR 17 front and 235/40 ZR 18 at the rear, absolutely free of scratches. 4 original wheels also included in the purchase price free of scratches. Hankook Ventus off 6TKM new. Oil cooler retrofitted, as well as oil temperature gauge in the cockpit. The vehicle was always warmed up before gas was given. The standard water temperature problems in urban transport are solved by a manually selectable high-performance fans. There is an English-exhaust very nice V8 sound installed. The standard exhaust is included in the price. New HU also included.
One more sleepless night
Edited by bezza911 on Thursday 26th September 20:38
Edited by bezza911 on Thursday 26th September 20:39
bezza911 said:
Absolutely rust free, no comparison to cheap imports. Accident free. Before 60TKM new engine installed V8 Developments (Stage III), therefore performance as Griffith 500 (test protocol exists). Adjustable Nitron NTR suspension since May 2009, has since gone 13TKM. Polyflex bushes all around. Upper A-arm from the handle 500 Stabilizer handle 500 Much better driving behavior as a series. Front brake discs 283 mm from the Sierra Cosworth, thereby significantly better braking performance as standard. Top quality front 13TKM renewed by Sattler. AZEV LM wheels, 215/40 ZR 17 front and 235/40 ZR 18 at the rear, absolutely free of scratches. 4 original wheels also included in the purchase price free of scratches. Hankook Ventus off 6TKM new. Oil cooler retrofitted, as well as oil temperature gauge in the cockpit. The vehicle was always warmed up before gas was given. The standard water temperature problems in urban transport are solved by a manually selectable high-performance fans. There is an English-exhaust very nice V8 sound installed. The standard exhaust is included in the price. New HU also included.
One more sleepless night
Extensive upgrading there. The Stage III heads confirms car has a very nice engine spec. Bit surprised that it returns only 270 bhp though. The A arm bit probably refers to the retro fit of a rear anti-roll bar.One more sleepless night
Sounds like it has been set up for some serious Autobahn fun, putting the porkers where they belong.
Sweet dreams.
Well what a waste of time that was. Car was not great at all. A lot required to get it right again. And it now has me thinking 2 things about LHD TVR's.
1. they are not easy to sell when you want to offload as continental Europe doesn't share the same loyalty and enthusiasm for the marque as the Brits.
2. There's no one over here that looks after them as well as the UK specialists can, and therefore great potential for mods that are not the norm or even worse, not correct.
It's going to be a UK car only for me, but must have the E11 markings.
In saying that, there's a RHD 98 Chimaera 450 with 31K kms, 2 owners and German plates already. The price in sterling equivalent is very very good.... I will investigate, but can I really go to the darkside and get a chimp?
Thanks all for your help so far,
BeZ
1. they are not easy to sell when you want to offload as continental Europe doesn't share the same loyalty and enthusiasm for the marque as the Brits.
2. There's no one over here that looks after them as well as the UK specialists can, and therefore great potential for mods that are not the norm or even worse, not correct.
It's going to be a UK car only for me, but must have the E11 markings.
In saying that, there's a RHD 98 Chimaera 450 with 31K kms, 2 owners and German plates already. The price in sterling equivalent is very very good.... I will investigate, but can I really go to the darkside and get a chimp?
Thanks all for your help so far,
BeZ
[quote=bezza911]
2. There's no one over here that looks after them as well as the UK specialists can, and therefore great potential for mods that are not the norm or even worse, not correct.
i understand your comments because these cars need specialist service totally true but...
not exactly true for Holland come and see my car (not for sale) but garage car from former Dutch TVR dealer; excellent service and maintenance and they use original parts (multiparts).
they installed a new Sagaris diff earlier this year due to a knackered GKN one, great job & service!
in holland there are more perfect Griffs though not for sale only one at our TVR clubsite.
BTW; the enginebay from yr uploaded picture looks definitely cluttered not the way it should!
2. There's no one over here that looks after them as well as the UK specialists can, and therefore great potential for mods that are not the norm or even worse, not correct.
i understand your comments because these cars need specialist service totally true but...
not exactly true for Holland come and see my car (not for sale) but garage car from former Dutch TVR dealer; excellent service and maintenance and they use original parts (multiparts).
they installed a new Sagaris diff earlier this year due to a knackered GKN one, great job & service!
in holland there are more perfect Griffs though not for sale only one at our TVR clubsite.
BTW; the enginebay from yr uploaded picture looks definitely cluttered not the way it should!
Edited by MischaV8 on Friday 27th September 22:30
OK, so maybe I was a little harsh after my disappointment.. The car I looked at was very fitting to my comments, but it was on the Polish border of Germany and been for sale for over 2 years... I was the 3rd person to visit.
I will refrain from further judgement...
I really need to go for a blast in a perfect car..
I will refrain from further judgement...
I really need to go for a blast in a perfect car..
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