Taraka vs. Mark Adam's Tornado engine upgrade

[yellowperil]

Can anyone compare the engine upgrades offered by TVR Power and Tower View?

A dead ECU and big 36k service put paid to my plans to upgrade my (currently) standard Chim 500. Until recently, I planned a Mark Adam's rechip and rolling road session through Tower View (www.t-v-r-services.co.uk). There's good coverage of the upgrade in this forum, and it receives plaudits from all those who have it done. Then I learnt of TVR Power's Taraka engine upgrade (www.tvrpower.co.uk/5.taraka.php). With this kind of engineering expertise at hand, we're spoilt for choice, but how to choose?

Anyone seen power/torque figures for the Taraka upgrade? can compare the driving experience of the Taraka vs. Tornado chipped cars? has an opinion on whether further mods (suspension etc.) are advisable? or the reliability / maintainability of the resulting engines?

TIA for any info.

[GreenV8S]

I don't believe the two are comparable. A Mark Adams setup will make the most of the engine's capabilities and improve its driveability but the peak power is still ultimately limited by how much air the engine can breath in. The Taraka upgrade from TVR Power gives you an engine with improved breathing characteristics. There are plenty of other options that do the same thing, most of the Rover V8 specialists will have their own offerings and you don't *have* to go to TVR Power. Unless you have stacks of cash this is something that makes most sense when you are facing an engine rebuild/replacement as otherwise you are paying to replace a perfectly good engine.

[Danger]

My Chim 400 has been chipped and tuned by Mark Adams and he got approx 50hp more from the engine and it's made a difference. I've also driven the TVR Power Taraka and it scared the pants off me!

The two are not comparable in performance or price.

[2 sheds]

Mark Adams has set up a few Taraka engines, as previously mentioned what Mark does is ad the finishing touches to any engine, there is no comparrison or competition between the two.
Tim

[ian8542]

My advice would be to part ex your ECU with one from Mark,get booked in for the rolling road and don't be tempted by the Taraka upgrade (i know of at least 2 that have expired already).
You've had the "Big" service so the next one in 6K won't be as bad.

[GreenV8S]

ian8542 said:

I know of at least 2 that have expired already).

Really? That's rather alarming!

[only me]

Can only speak for Mr Adams work and that it is truely GREAT, dives like a different car torque was massively improved and no hint of the pinking prob i had, engine sounds runs and pulls so much better!

[bjwoods]

the thing that put me off the taraka upgrade, is the extra service costs, a la tuscan, need to have tappets checked/adjusted with the taraka..

My advice is get the existing setup and chip checked with a TVR tuning specialist. and you might be surprised what they can liberate from the existing hardware.

Edited to add, yes I have driven the taraka demonstrator...

B

>> Edited by bjwoods on Friday 5th November 14:51

[Paul V]

I test drove the Taraka at the weekend and I’m looking to have it done to my car as soon as I know what’s happening with my job, I wouldn’t consider the Taraka if my engine didn’t need a rebuild but seeing as it does the Taraka makes sense for me as the cost isn’t much more than a basic refresh.

On the test drive the first thing I noticed was how much quicker the throttle response was, I presume this is due to the upgrade to the intake, higher up the rev range there didn’t seem to be much different in 1st to 3rd gear but once into 4th it seemed to pull harder than the standard 500.

[longjon]

Here's a question:

Assuming money isn't an issue, what's to stop you doing both? As far as I understand it the main focus of the taraka upgrade is improved airflow into the engine and some upgraded engine components. Whereas an ECU upgrade would focus more on the mixture and timings?

So is it possible/feasible to combine both, ie if I was to go to Austec and get:

new airflow meter
new trumpets
new injectors
MA ECU remap
(on rolling road)

And then get a Taraka upgrade....or is that just insane? Am guessing I would need another ECU remap after?

Has anyone heard of such a machine?

Just wondering...
Jon

[RichB]

longjon said:

Assuming money isn't an issue, what's to stop you doing both?

I’ve been sort of thinking along the same lines myself. My engine has a pre-Tarkara TVR Power cam that Dom can't remember the number of (he now thinks it’s a 355) solid lifters/adjustable push-rods, ACT trumpets, twin throttle & plenum and one of Mark's chips which he has set up on the rolling road, and it all goes very nicely indeed Now I was thinking that I could get Dom to balance the engine and do any necessary polishing and matching of the ports, at the same time I would replace the manifolds with some of Tim's pre-cat-less jobs and then get Mark to set it up again. What do you think? Rich...

[Paul V]

When I spoke to TVR power they said they would supply just the bottom end mods to be used with other plenums and chips.

[yellowperil]

Thanks very much for your replies. If truth be told, I still miss the throttle response and wild high-rev acceleration in my erstwhile Cerbera. As ever, Steve's advice is very sensible, but then again, a ride in the Taraka demo car can't do any harm...can it?

[apache]

bjwoods said:

the thing that put me off the taraka upgrade, is the extra service costs, a la tuscan, need to have tappets checked/adjusted with the taraka..

It's no biggy, mine need adjusting roughly every second service and cost an extra £40

[paddym]

Taraka upgrade makes the car scary fast -- I am gald I had the brakes done as well.

In terms of trumpets and airflow meters v the question above, I think they chuck em out an put new or bigger ones in -- the engine looks the same except for a badge on the top instead of 500 (mine is the # 005) and a big purple air pipe.

I also think there is a bit of chip work done as well, but whatever it is the engine winds up quicker and further and is just so much fun -- and then trundles around Sainsburys very nicely.

[FlipFlopGriff]

Should get ours back today after the Taraka upgrade. The engine needed to be stripped to find out why it was burning so much oil so no brainer really.
I wasn't aware it made that much difference but I'll let you know after its has been run in.
FFG

[Paul V]

Let us know how you find it, booked mine in today for the upgrade, did you go for any of the extra’s like the baffled sump or insulated plate for the trumpets?

[FlipFlopGriff]

Paul,
Don't think so but we'll find out later today. It was an unplanned job so not got the money to do it so plastic to the rescue. They did take the wadding out and sleeve the pipes in the exhaust as it made sense whilt it was off.
We need to run it in so I'll keep reporting.
We'll have to get a brake upgrade soon too!!!!
FFG

[Paul V]

Thinking of modifying my exhaust as well, drove their chimera and it’s not too loud.

[FlipFlopGriff]

We had the exhaust wadding removed and the pipes sleeved. Surprised we were only the 10th to have the full Taraka upgrade!!.
First impressions are that it sounds like a WWII fighter plane - much deeper and grunty than previous (standared 500 with standard exhaust). If you were smiling before when you start it up you'll be positively laughing now.
It gets even noisier above tick over revs but still keeping the revs down so not had any chance to test the power - this will be in some time as we want to run it in properly.
New clutch and other bits whilst the engine was out.
We only got it back late last night so I haven't gone through the full 2 pages of the invoice.
FFG