95-99 differences
Discussion
Hi,
Just started to look out for my first Griff and wondered if there were any significant differences between a 1995 500 and a 1999 500?
Coming form a Lotus, where every year something was altered/updated, I wanted to see if there was any benefit (other than age/condition)for buying a later model.
Many thanks for any help in advance.
Just started to look out for my first Griff and wondered if there were any significant differences between a 1995 500 and a 1999 500?
Coming form a Lotus, where every year something was altered/updated, I wanted to see if there was any benefit (other than age/condition)for buying a later model.
Many thanks for any help in advance.
I think that broadly speaking the 500s were all the same however there were minor detail changes like some of the earlier cars had a cold-air vent & fan in the drivers footwell. Also at some stage they switched from single radiator fan to double and from a single 40 amp fuse for this to double fuses. Not sure when this happened though. Rich...
Hi Plipule,
Join the club!! I traded in my new Type 25 Elise for a Griff 500 and have never looked back!!
I think the main thing to check is that it has the later engine and gearbox i.e Serp engine and Borg Warner GB. I think, but am not 100% that there may be some 95 cars out there with BW box but pre-serp engine.
If you have just started looking, it would be worth borrowing or buying the Steave Heath Griffith and Chimaera guide, available from the TVR car club web site.
If you want any more info then drop me a mail.
Regards,
Lig.
Join the club!! I traded in my new Type 25 Elise for a Griff 500 and have never looked back!!
I think the main thing to check is that it has the later engine and gearbox i.e Serp engine and Borg Warner GB. I think, but am not 100% that there may be some 95 cars out there with BW box but pre-serp engine.
If you have just started looking, it would be worth borrowing or buying the Steave Heath Griffith and Chimaera guide, available from the TVR car club web site.
If you want any more info then drop me a mail.
Regards,
Lig.
Not that well versed but I belive the Key differences are The introduction of the T5 gearbox (replaces the LT77mm) On T5 reverse is bottom right and on LT77 Reverse is top left. and the serpentine belt layout on the engine. My car has a T5 box and is pre serpentine. I personally prefer the feel T5 to the LT77 but thats not to say ones better than the other. I worked at Land Rover and had quite alot of contact with TVR during the mid 90`s and there was a train of thought that suggested preserps were slightly torquier than later versions but largely its down to personal preference. When buying a car what mattered to me was getting one with a good chassis and documented provenence.Also check fans and all electrics as they can be challenging. Dont be scared of miles as I have seen a couple of sub 40k mls cars that sounded cammy and just looked the worse for not being used. Dealers are not always the best bet and do read your bible and you wont wont go far wrong. I fell lucky on the first car I saw but this was luck. Use the basic principles coupled to bible advice and you will get the right car. The people on this forum are a wealth of knowledge so ask whatever you want and you will get sound advice from people with 1st hand experiences and so on What ever you get use it but stroke it gently, my pals call my car "pepperami" now cause it a bit of an animal.
>> Edited by B19 RUS on Tuesday 24th January 10:35
>> Edited by B19 RUS on Tuesday 24th January 10:35
There was a change from the GKN to the BTR diff as well, in about 1995/6, just after they introduced the gearbox change (so some have the Borg Warner box but the GKN diff).
The very early 4.3s had a different nose design to the later ones.
There was a cam change - the earlier ones will be marked 'HC'. They deliver a rather different driving feel, and can be difficult if you do a lot of driving in slow or heavy traffic.
The last 100 Griffs had a number of design modifications and had 16" wheels all round.
The very early 4.3s had a different nose design to the later ones.
There was a cam change - the earlier ones will be marked 'HC'. They deliver a rather different driving feel, and can be difficult if you do a lot of driving in slow or heavy traffic.
The last 100 Griffs had a number of design modifications and had 16" wheels all round.
Don't forget to have a look at BB's site for some info as well www.thegriffithpages.com.
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