Big thank you to Dom and Jason at TVR Power - Griff Dyno run
Discussion
I booked the Griff in with Powers Performance (TVR Power) for a dyno run following my last visit to the drag strip for PH Sunday service. My 1/4 PB is 13.202 a couple of years ago, I have since changed the standard cam for a TVR Power 885 cam and the road tyres have been swapped for AD08Rs.
Sunday service was great fun but I could not get any faster than a 13.5 and my terminal speed was down from 107 to 104. My assumption was the car had lost a bit of power somewhere so I booked the car in with Jason at TVR Power.
To my suprise the car was up from 242.8BHP on the original TVR435 cam to 275.1BHP on the TVR Power 885 cam. Torque also looking more healthy up from 278 to 295. Clearly no horses have bolted the stable so clearly down to the the driver
perhaps I have lost some driver XP.
A huge thank you to Dom and Jason at TVR Power not only for accommodating me a short notice; despite using up over 2 hours of Jasons time and using the dyno cell Dom refused to take any money from me. A very kind gesture and I am most grateful.
Video
https://youtu.be/kOKoO4vhDf8
Jason showed me some of the work he has been doing with the MBE ECUs which I am now 100% set on getting fitted to mine. Really nice pieces of kit and used by the likes of Caterham, Noble and Harley Davidson so fully type approved and OEM quality. Mine randomly lost all power last weekend, a quick rummage in the foot well and order was restored I think I am on borrowed time with my loom, it has already been repaired twice at great expense, looking at the quality looms Jason makes up for the MBE systems I am convinced this is the way to go.
The Griff did well against the M5s at Sunday service:
https://youtu.be/J3NQdQL__-U
What I cannot work out is if I have a mildly tuned 500 with 275BHP at the wheels, how does a completely standard 500 leave me for dead mid track onwards despite getting a good start?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEjwU-hHGdc
In summary TVR Power = awesome. TVR Power 885 cam = awesome. Driver needs lessons. How the F*** is Dave's Griff so quick?
Sunday service was great fun but I could not get any faster than a 13.5 and my terminal speed was down from 107 to 104. My assumption was the car had lost a bit of power somewhere so I booked the car in with Jason at TVR Power.
To my suprise the car was up from 242.8BHP on the original TVR435 cam to 275.1BHP on the TVR Power 885 cam. Torque also looking more healthy up from 278 to 295. Clearly no horses have bolted the stable so clearly down to the the driver
perhaps I have lost some driver XP.A huge thank you to Dom and Jason at TVR Power not only for accommodating me a short notice; despite using up over 2 hours of Jasons time and using the dyno cell Dom refused to take any money from me. A very kind gesture and I am most grateful.
Video
https://youtu.be/kOKoO4vhDf8
Jason showed me some of the work he has been doing with the MBE ECUs which I am now 100% set on getting fitted to mine. Really nice pieces of kit and used by the likes of Caterham, Noble and Harley Davidson so fully type approved and OEM quality. Mine randomly lost all power last weekend, a quick rummage in the foot well and order was restored I think I am on borrowed time with my loom, it has already been repaired twice at great expense, looking at the quality looms Jason makes up for the MBE systems I am convinced this is the way to go.
The Griff did well against the M5s at Sunday service:
https://youtu.be/J3NQdQL__-U
What I cannot work out is if I have a mildly tuned 500 with 275BHP at the wheels, how does a completely standard 500 leave me for dead mid track onwards despite getting a good start?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEjwU-hHGdc
In summary TVR Power = awesome. TVR Power 885 cam = awesome. Driver needs lessons. How the F*** is Dave's Griff so quick?
Moycie said:
Driver + Peggoty's = Slower...? 
Sorry Matt....haha. Looks good though
LOL probably. Extra horses has been countered by extra pies for the owner. Crash diet before the next Pod meet in that case. Sorry Matt....haha. Looks good though
carsy said:
Good work Matthew. You certainly put those M5`s in their place.
I dont think Dave has told you the full story with his engine. It certainly goes some.
Lightweight verses heavy weight, it was catching up with me very quickly at the end!I dont think Dave has told you the full story with his engine. It certainly goes some.
Dave's engine is a newly rebuilt JE motor but built to standard spec. Mark Adams did say there was something special about that engine last time he mapped it. Some of the very early 500s are known to be built to a higher spec.
glow worm said:
Dom refusing to take money !!!!! Is he ill or something ??? 
I offered several times as well! I think he knows I will be back for an MBE 
Figures are at the wheels so transmission loss is included. I think most people add around 15-20% to convert wheel BHP to fly.
That is a good result Paul, you have a decent amount more torque there which I suspect is the MBE with mappable ignition vs my 14CUX mechanical advance. Jason did say with the new 885 cam you can see my ACT twin throttle carbon fibre plenum come into play helping out the breathing at the top end on mine which is probably why mine has a few more horses.
If you are happy with the way yours drives then I would say leave well alone but if you wanted a bit more power you could probably go for some carbon trumpets and perhaps a 72mm plenum. Slippery slope!
That is a good result Paul, you have a decent amount more torque there which I suspect is the MBE with mappable ignition vs my 14CUX mechanical advance. Jason did say with the new 885 cam you can see my ACT twin throttle carbon fibre plenum come into play helping out the breathing at the top end on mine which is probably why mine has a few more horses.
If you are happy with the way yours drives then I would say leave well alone but if you wanted a bit more power you could probably go for some carbon trumpets and perhaps a 72mm plenum. Slippery slope!
Oh no Mathew im quite happy with what i have he griff is now so much smoother to drive i find i can use a gear higher most of the time especially around town ,and it really picks up much quicker than before . Since coming back from powers to home ive been out and done another tankful and it worked out at about 29 to the gallon a big improvement of around 7-8 mpg . Unfortunately i have no data from before the MBE install but for me it was a no brainer to change as i was having lots of problems with the electrics and to be honest my engine loom was fried .
With the Mbe You'll never look back, you'll consider the CUX and wiring issues a thing of a very dark past, you'll marvel every time you fire it up, you'll,hardly quite believe it, you'll see your new injector wiring and just relax, you'll not see a distributor, you'll not constantly listen and think is that a misfire, it won't misfire ever!
It will run a constant 750-800 revs tick over depending on cam, it will do 30 mpg and never ever smell of over fuelling,,,
It will be way faster,
My 4.6 is basically standard including induction trumpets etc 38 mm the Mbe has released the extra ponies and transformed the cars performance in every area,
The Mbe engine management system is proven and does away with any type of stepper motor,
My car has lived outside during this last winter, it's a fact that whatever the weather conditions including -5 the car starts and holds a steady idle as if it's warm already!
It's been installed in my car for just over 6 months and I've done over 7000 miles,, faultless miles I might add.
I marvel at the mapping, you can feel it's more refined at low revs, then slam your foot down and it roars like a f
ker and pulls like a train with consistent grunt, I can regulate the throttle and control the fuel flow to fine increments far better at both fast and slow speeds,, as with any after market Ecu it's does a fine job but what I like the most is the bespoke wiring harness that Jay helped produce, it's neat and mostly hidden, quality and reassuring in a way only new cars offer you.
It's just better at everything and really lets your engine loose.
300bhp /349 ft lbs torque from a 4.6 with standard induction,,,,, think about that !
13.111 for the quarter mile on road tyres and not actually hooking it up and getting the best run.
Mbe has given me a real Usable car with massive power,,, I can run at 30 mph in 4th gear and zero shunting and on occasion I've pulled from 800 revs in high gears and it's faultless.
The intitial cost seems high but when you see the work that goes into installing it and all the tidy hidden wiring afterwards and the the daily effects of it,,, best money you'll ever spend on the car in my opinion.
To own a Tvr thats taken on this sort of indistructable air,,, I never get in and think I wonder if it'll start, or run rich, or mis, or whatever, it's running the same today as it was 6 months ago,,,,I mean exactly the same,, never deviates or hunts, just effortlessly fires and fuels the engine with this refined wonderful feel to it.
Mines been rather good.
It will run a constant 750-800 revs tick over depending on cam, it will do 30 mpg and never ever smell of over fuelling,,,
It will be way faster,
My 4.6 is basically standard including induction trumpets etc 38 mm the Mbe has released the extra ponies and transformed the cars performance in every area,
The Mbe engine management system is proven and does away with any type of stepper motor,
My car has lived outside during this last winter, it's a fact that whatever the weather conditions including -5 the car starts and holds a steady idle as if it's warm already!
It's been installed in my car for just over 6 months and I've done over 7000 miles,, faultless miles I might add.
I marvel at the mapping, you can feel it's more refined at low revs, then slam your foot down and it roars like a f
ker and pulls like a train with consistent grunt, I can regulate the throttle and control the fuel flow to fine increments far better at both fast and slow speeds,, as with any after market Ecu it's does a fine job but what I like the most is the bespoke wiring harness that Jay helped produce, it's neat and mostly hidden, quality and reassuring in a way only new cars offer you. It's just better at everything and really lets your engine loose.
300bhp /349 ft lbs torque from a 4.6 with standard induction,,,,, think about that !
13.111 for the quarter mile on road tyres and not actually hooking it up and getting the best run.
Mbe has given me a real Usable car with massive power,,, I can run at 30 mph in 4th gear and zero shunting and on occasion I've pulled from 800 revs in high gears and it's faultless.
The intitial cost seems high but when you see the work that goes into installing it and all the tidy hidden wiring afterwards and the the daily effects of it,,, best money you'll ever spend on the car in my opinion.
To own a Tvr thats taken on this sort of indistructable air,,, I never get in and think I wonder if it'll start, or run rich, or mis, or whatever, it's running the same today as it was 6 months ago,,,,I mean exactly the same,, never deviates or hunts, just effortlessly fires and fuels the engine with this refined wonderful feel to it.
Mines been rather good.
Totally agree its a total different animal now much more user friendly no lurching /shunting just a very smooth power delivery with the 885 cam in mine . I was tempted to go bigger plenum trumpets etc and a lumpier cam but i dont do track days or drag strips etc . I just want a nice fast reliable car i dare not think of the cost of all the bits and pieces ive had to replace in the last 12 yrs ignition amps coils are treated as a consumable . I did have the pre-cats taken out on this re-furb i have done and the manifolds and y piece ceramic coated . Thats a big difference in under body temps , i did this because i didnt want to fry all the new MBE gear as well
There seem to be a few of you running the 885 cam on this thread, so can i just ask, do you get any shunting at all with this cam and i mean any.
For instance will it shunt in 2nd gear at a constant very light throttle say 1500rpm. or is it all good.
Sorry to go off topic Matthew.
ETA Tomma500 that is one superb torque curve
For instance will it shunt in 2nd gear at a constant very light throttle say 1500rpm. or is it all good.
Sorry to go off topic Matthew.
ETA Tomma500 that is one superb torque curve
More than welcome Ian, far more interesting to have an open discussion rather than stay on topic all the time. 885 cam is pretty much on topic anyway.
My experience is no shunting whatsoever, bearing in mind that mine is not a standard with all the ACT bits and Mark Adams chip etc. I can pull away in third with very light throttle as to not slip the clutch and no shunting with perfect manners. Not that i do this often may I add. I can also do around 25MPH in fifth no shunting.
885 is a very tame cam compared to what some put in but I like the torque over the BHP. You will see some cars with very spikey cams with great headline BHP figures but in reality are a pig to drive. I don't think an 885 would introduce shunting into a car which didn't already have the issue, by the same token I am not sure it would solve shunting in a car which already suffered from it, I think it is down to the mapping mainly.
Agreed Tomma500's torque curve, if you can call it a curve is epic. That must literally pin you back in your seat from 1k onwards!
My experience is no shunting whatsoever, bearing in mind that mine is not a standard with all the ACT bits and Mark Adams chip etc. I can pull away in third with very light throttle as to not slip the clutch and no shunting with perfect manners. Not that i do this often may I add. I can also do around 25MPH in fifth no shunting.
885 is a very tame cam compared to what some put in but I like the torque over the BHP. You will see some cars with very spikey cams with great headline BHP figures but in reality are a pig to drive. I don't think an 885 would introduce shunting into a car which didn't already have the issue, by the same token I am not sure it would solve shunting in a car which already suffered from it, I think it is down to the mapping mainly.
Agreed Tomma500's torque curve, if you can call it a curve is epic. That must literally pin you back in your seat from 1k onwards!
Obviously With me having the 885 cam and MBE fitted at the same time I cant tell if having a cam only will give good driving manners , my car its a very early pre-serp 93 500 .was a very lumpy thing to drive so its a revellation for me to have such a nice mannered car now . To be honest it does not feel a whole lot quicker than when i first got it but my cam had serious wear i had put nearly 40k on it since buying the Griff and i felt it was down on power lately .As ive already said getting the MBE fitted was more a necessity really the state of my engine loom was poor and i felt the last couple of years the cars been unreliable and changing bits and pieces of the loom wasnt ideal so i had to bite the bullet financially and go for the MBE set up and so far no regrets it really does feel like a totally different car now much nicer to drive and i hope more importantly more reliable , i must admit Powers Performance and Dom were fantastic to deal with and i would reccomend them to anyone thinking of any work on their TVRs .
Cheers Matthew. I`m the same, its the low down grunt i like over ringing its neck to squeeze the extra bhp.
I`m currently running a Kent 214 and although it will just about pull 1k rpm in 4th and 5th with no problems, ( not that i drive like that, just saying it can do it ) it will just shunt a bit in 2nd at very low rpm constant light load and i just cant dial it out.
Its not a problem as i very rarely drive there but i know it does it and i hate any form of shunting.
I think next cam change i will try the 885. Cheers.
I`m currently running a Kent 214 and although it will just about pull 1k rpm in 4th and 5th with no problems, ( not that i drive like that, just saying it can do it ) it will just shunt a bit in 2nd at very low rpm constant light load and i just cant dial it out.
Its not a problem as i very rarely drive there but i know it does it and i hate any form of shunting.
I think next cam change i will try the 885. Cheers.
MPO said:
Mathew
Very nice results!
Are you currently running with a standard Dizzy?
Cheers
MPO
Thanks MPO, yes still running standard Dizzy with Lucas 14CUX ECU. It does have the larger Bosch air flow meter, Bosch injectors, larger fuel reg and a few ACT bolt on bits mapped by Mark Adams which helps matters. Very nice results!
Are you currently running with a standard Dizzy?
Cheers
MPO
14CUX is very accurate for fueling but no mappable ignition capability. Not keen on the idea of running a piggy back ignition controller especially not spliced into my existing loom so I am looking at the MBE system TVR Power offers.
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