SC 450 (C38-61 IC) update
SC 450 (C38-61 IC) update
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Richard 858

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

165 months

Monday 12th May 2014
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Evening All, for anyone who I haven't bored to death yet with my progress on this installation I can now report as complete clap Having covered about 150 miles and after adjusting the timing a little more I am pleased so far with the extra power delivery, especially from around 3500 rpm and in 5th the acceleration from 80 to 100 is immense (who, me officer !) I do realise that the next logical step may well be an aftermarket ECU, but after todays experience I really think I'll need to upgrade the drivetrain to cope. I know it's been nearly 5 months since I last drove it but considering the "before" output was 275 bhp the difference is immediate even though I'm being pretty cautious at present (I did the installation myself after all, together with full suspension refurb & all round brake upgrade !) as I keep thinking about every bolt & nut I've replaced / refitted and did I tighten everything sufficiently even though I triple checked everything at the time !!
I'll post a separate thread with stage by stage photos when I get chance in a few days.
Thanks for all the support & advice from fellow PHers and particularly my neighbour Mick for moral support and a helping hand here & there but more importantly my wife Karen who has put up with being pretty lonely most weekends for far longer than I ever imagined it would all take.
I'm sure this is not the end of my improvement programme and in hind sight I probably took on too much in one go, but that seems to be TVRs for you, they get under your skin and very much become part of you.
Night Night !

mattgtd

322 posts

167 months

Monday 12th May 2014
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Well done Richard, the scale of the work you have taken on must give you a massive sense of achievement!
Where abouts in Northants are you, be good to see the beast in the flesh one day.

Richard 858

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

165 months

Tuesday 13th May 2014
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Hi Matt, thanks, it's been a bit of a struggle at times. I'm in Wellingborough. Do you get to the TVR Northants meets, I've missed a few lately but did make it for an hour or so last Sunday with a first attendance of the year for the car.

fatboychim

979 posts

281 months

Tuesday 13th May 2014
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Well done Richard, glad it all seems to be running correctly. Rollers soon?

Richard 858

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

165 months

Tuesday 13th May 2014
quotequote all
Thanks Andy, rollers when I'm satisfied that it's running well enough to warrant the cash ! Still fine tuning the timing etc and now find temp sender playing up (you were quite right Gary AKA Pupp !).
It'd be good to meet up sometime & compare notes etc. I'm using the chim as my daily while the disco engine is argued over & replaced by Landrover and consequently will be anywhere between Wellingborough and Newmarket 3 or 4 times a week for the next few weeks, if that's near enough ?

Richard 858

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

165 months

Tuesday 13th May 2014
quotequote all
Hi Matt, Thanks for the lead, I've booked into the Dovehouse event as number 44 so see you there. I know your part of the world a little, my cousin lives at Ravensthorpe & I've done some work with Gill Pawson (GP Planning) at West Haddon in the past.

mattgtd

322 posts

167 months

Tuesday 13th May 2014
quotequote all
Richard 858 said:
Hi Matt, Thanks for the lead, I've booked into the Dovehouse event as number 44 so see you there. I know your part of the world a little, my cousin lives at Ravensthorpe & I've done some work with Gill Pawson (GP Planning) at West Haddon in the past.
Mmall world hey, I actually work for the company in the building right next door to Dovehouse, called Autorestore. They always have some automotive exotica on site there and there's also a nice list of cars attending as well!

Rib

2,579 posts

219 months

Tuesday 13th May 2014
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better get down to curborough next month so I can have a little drool over it! I would love to see how these perform in person as I have read so many good things

Richard 858

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

165 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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I'll do my best to get to Curborough again before too much longer, slight hiccup withe the car last night when on the way home from a Charity Golf Day though - too embarrassing to go into detail though silly

Rib

2,579 posts

219 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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spill the beans! so you have a moment? lol

Richard 858

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

165 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Suffice to say, suspect I'll need to change fuel filter (again) before it'll run again, and if I'm unlucky maybe a new fuel pump !

fatboychim

979 posts

281 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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How did it run on diesel then?

Richard 858

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

165 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Never tried diesel but it doesn't go well on fresh air (with the residual dregs from the tank !)

Rib

2,579 posts

219 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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I'd be surprised if you need to do anything other than fill it up, the tanks are alloy so shouldn't have any rust or crap in the bottom. I ran out on the way to the garage last year, quick Jerry can later and all has been fine

carsy

3,019 posts

195 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Rib said:
I'd be surprised if you need to do anything other than fill it up, the tanks are alloy so shouldn't have any rust or crap in the bottom. I ran out on the way to the garage last year, quick Jerry can later and all has been fine
Yep, Just get it filled up. thumbup

Richard 858

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

165 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
Gauge showed quarter full (which from previous experience after draining should be about 2.5 gallons), after a roundabout and a quick blast up hill all died & gauge touching empty . Engine turned over a initially fired & died several times, couldn't find anything adrift under bonnet. Th missus brought out a couple of gallons in a Jerry can, still the same, trying to fire but seems restricted. Then the embarrassment of her towing me home (only about a mile)not every woman's idea of fun at 10 pm. Any tips appreciated and might get a hour or so tonight to have a look but probably not properly until the weekend.
Am assuming fuel starvation / crap in system and another fuel filter turning up tomorrow just in case.

Also coolant temp sender to see if that improves cold starts, if not then a call to MA before seriously considering following the widely voiced opinion of Canems/Emerald etc. Bang goes the interior retrim for next winter !

Hoofa

3,153 posts

238 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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If you do go for sequential injection !! Runs soo much smoother and better emissions

Richard 858

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

165 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Thanks for the tip, I believe that would point toward the Canems then ?

Hoofa

3,153 posts

238 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Only if it supports eight injector outputs

Just had a look at the manual and it doesn't have eight injector outputs so it is a no go

To be honest something like DTA s80 pro although more expensive is up to the job

Edited by Hoofa on Thursday 15th May 21:15

fatboychim

979 posts

281 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Sorry Richard, didn't mean to be presumptuous, just running fresh air shouldn't be a problem although it will take a little bit of cranking to get the fuel through.
Be a god idea to check all your low tension connections as you have moved everything about, I've had stuff come loose and cause these sort of problems before