Supercharged TVR gets closer
Boosted prototypes await dyno testing
 Track day Chimaera: more power required! |
TVR Power reports that its supercharger project is progressing well, and that partner AutoDesign has finalised the system design.
TVR Power has also reported that it's built two prototypes. It's installed a stock 4.0 litre engine into a Chimaera and is finalising the changes to the plenum area to accommodate the supercharger intake. To reduce under bonnet air temperature and radiated heat to the supercharger installation, the exhaust manifolds have been ceramic coated. An added benefit is reduced heat transfer to the car interior so drivers benefit from a cooler cockpit, especially in the summer months.
There's also an installation in a Griffith 500. according to the TVR specialist, the engine is built and waiting for installation into the TVR Griffith 500 prior to mapping of the engine on the new 1500 hp capacity dynamometer (see below).
Changes include:
- Engine capacity increased to 5.1 litres with reduced compression ratio.
- Cross-bolted engine block with forged pistons, con-rods and balanced crank.
- To maximise air volume within the combustion chamber, the intake runner length has been optimised to increase air compression and to tune peak power and torque to the objective RPM.
- New plenum for improved engine response.
- Steel rockers with camshaft optimised for supercharging.
- Higher rate fuel pump, rising rate regulator and high flow injectors
- Light weight flywheel with triple plate race clutch and centre mounted hydraulic release bearing.
- Ceramic coated exhaust manifolds.
- Rear differential gearing changed to a higher ratio, this potentially increasing the theoretical top speed towards 180 mph.
Preliminary studies are being carried out for installation of an intercooler with a planned completion date of June.
This follows TVR Power's announcement in January that together with automotive design consultancy Autodesign, it would offer a supercharger upgrade for the Rover V8 -- serpentine or pre-serpentine -- that could boost the engine's power to 500bhp.
New dyno
TVR Power bought a rolling road in January to allow the company to fine tune its engine packages and quantify the effects of its work both in-house and directly to customers. The new Dynojet 224XLC can measure up to 1,500 horsepower according to TVR Power's Web site and features its own weather station to eliminate any variations caused by atmospheric conditions.
, I'm sure he'll post later. dinkel said:
Would it do much good having 500bhp in a Griff or Chim? Surely you'd end up spinning alot of that away at the back wheels...
and your point is? ,,,,,[only joking, don't flame me]
The point is you're not finished with just the engine done.
To be fair i think the phrase "horses for courses" springs to mind.
I've got a couple of mates with Cobra Replica Kits running Huge Ford V8's and a Supercharged RV8 and they love the fact that they are a bit of an animal.
Not to mention the guy with a GSXR1100 bike with a Turbo running way over 250bhp.
Some of us like an unruly beast.. Now wheres me Pills?
HarryW said:
Interesting this has come out, Peter H (green V8S) has had his supercharger running for a little while now albeit in a 4.6, saying that not sure if its fully functioning yet. As to power/torque levels I think he has quoted low 300's power high 300's torque, not that its been measured but by all accounts its more than adequate
That's right. The torque has been limited to protect the transmission. I've dropped the compression now and got a slightly stronger gearbox, so I might turn the boost up a little later in the year. The blower is good for about 9 liters equivalent capacity so there's plenty of room for expansion. Mine is a very different approach to TVR Power though. Mine uses a positive displacement blower which gives instant throttle response and huge torque across the board. All of the recent supercharged TVRs I've seen (including the TVR Power ones) use a centrefugal blower. This is more efficient and far easier to package, but the boost is highly sensitive to revs. You can get big numbers out fairly easily, but they don't have the mid range grunt of the positive displacement blowers.
grahambell said:
Strange that nobody has yet mentioned the supercharged V8 wedges developed by Dennis Priddle in the late 80s for TVR dealer Dave Haughin. So I'll do it...
From the road tests of the time - they compared it with a 390se
vs blown 350i - the blown car just could not put the power down progressively enough - for the 390se was quicker.
The blown car's torque arrives much lower down and there is more of it..
That being said the wedge rear suspension is pretty crude to say the least (before Peter says it
) The noise of the Haugin car makes it all worth while though
AlexH said:
Would it do much good having 500bhp in a Griff or Chim? Surely you'd end up spinning alot of that away at the back wheels...
Agree; I'd say 400 bhp is the maximum the car can take and even then it will start eating clutches, gearboxes etc. Also I don't think the chassis can handle it and it will be almost impossible to control. Futhermore, for 180 mph you surely need some serious aerodynamic mods. Still a nice way for standard RV8's to get a serious power increase and a Chim/griff with 350-400 bhp will be VERY fast anyway, even to today's standards.
grahambell said:
Strange that nobody has yet mentioned the supercharged V8 wedges developed by Dennis Priddle in the late 80s for TVR dealer Dave Haughin. So I'll do it...
That brings back memories, nearly bought one of those from HHC Hexham in the early ninties, was a 400 bodied one, silver with green leather, very nice.
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