Engine Life

[DodgyDave]

Hello
Was chatting just now with someone about me buying a TVR V8. Probably a chimp.
Anyway he said that I shouldnt go near a 80K + car because the engine will be tired and in need of a re-build.
I said this was rubbish and if the engine was well looked after it would do twice that easily.
He wasnt prepared to argue with me so I thought id come here and get some more opinions on it.
So if the engine has had regular check ups and oil changes when should you start to worry
about wear and tear?
Thanks for any replies.

[chassis 33]

By 80k a TVR engine should be on its 2nd camshaft.

The reasoning being, from what I gather, that the harsher cam grind puts extra loads on the followers etc and this leads to quicker wear...either that or the cams and followers are made from cheese.

On the other side of the coin, my Chimaera engine had 123k on the clock before I had it rebuilt to go racing and the only significant wear was the main bearings down to copper, probably as a result of oil starvation by a muppet of a previous owner. The car had a huge wodge of receipts dating back to its original sale and none of them listed a replacement cam.

As I've said recently on another thread with regards the RV8, look after it (don't rev it cold, frequent oil changes with a decent thick oil etc)and it will look after you, our disco has over 170k on the clock now and although is getting tired; runs sweetly and still makes the car shift, again no overhaul that I know of.

Regards
Iain

[DodgyDave]

Thanks Ian
I guess then by buying a car with less than 80 you are just reducing the risk factor or a numpty getting their hands on it or a dodgy dealership.
My S had a full history when I bought it but when I bled the brakes because they felt a bit soft I discovered it was actually using cucumber milkshake instead of brake fluid.
It cant of EVER been changed to be in that kind of state.
Full history my arse!!!!

[350matt]

As long as the hot oil pressure is decent ( at least 1 bar at idle, 1.5 is better) then chances are it'll be pretty sound, as mentioned it'll either need a cam or should have had one recently, the serpentine engines ( post 2000) tend to last better still but either are pretty robust lumps


Matt

[DodgyDave]

Thanks Matt
I remember I read about a chap in Texas who imported a austin metro I think as he was tired of American fuel consumption.
He used it to drive around the land he owned or something and clocked up huge millages.
He changed the oil every week and it went on to do over 1 million miles.
Just goes to show ya

[eliot]

I rebuilt a 80-90k RV8 from a range rover, it was black inside, camshaft, camchain and rocker shaft were shot. Rings were well clogged up. Bores and valves were fine, as were mains and big end.

cleaned, replaced worn parts, new rings, shells etc. cost about £500 to do (myself)