4.3 or 4.0 ?

[350matt]

As the title says really

I'm after a Pre-cat Griff to replace my Cerb and I've kind of got my heart fixed on a 4.3, but in real word terms is there much difference between that and the 4.0 ltr?

I tweaked my old 4.0 ltr wedge up to about 270 ish and that went quite well, but as ever you want more don't you?

Matt

[350wedge]

In terms of everyday driving/performance i dont think there would be masses of difference. It does depend i suppose on how you drive. From my perspective i have a base 4.0 precat and for everyday driving i find it fine.

I think the 4.3 has the better and more flexible engine but i find that even the 4.0 is pretty good. I go out with the Dunstable crowd and occasionally the Northants people too. A friend of mine has a 4.5 Cerb and while it does pull away from me under full acceleration its not by the margin i would have expected given the power difference.

The only answer is to drive both types and see what you fancy. I've driven many 4.0's, 4.3's and a couple of 500's. While the 500 performance is in the next league up the difference in real world terms of a 4.0 or 4.3 will be a lot closer.

Sorry, ramble over...

[Horse_Apple]

350matt said:

As the title says really

I'm after a Pre-cat Griff to replace my Cerb and I've kind of got my heart fixed on a 4.3, but in real word terms is there much difference between that and the 4.0 ltr?

I tweaked my old 4.0 ltr wedge up to about 270 ish and that went quite well, but as ever you want more don't you?

Matt

Years ago (93) when I was looking at Griffs I drove a couple of 4s and a couple of 4.3s.

My impression at the time was that the 4 was a smoother more refined drive. Bought a 4.3

[laz11]

I think a major factor is the state of tune of the engine; once I got my 4.3 on a rolling road and had mark adams check it for me and make some adjustments plus fit his chip and then getting a magnecors ignition kit my car is so much punchier and smoother.

Best is to see/drive as many cars as possible and then when you find one you like get it checked out by an indie... my view would be go for a 4.3...hardly any price difference between the two and loads of pre cats for sale right now on pistonheads classifieds. best of luck!

[lordgrover]

I spent an age searching for either a Griff or Chim - I tried to follow the TVR mantra "condition, history, condition, history", but the machismo "gotta get a 500" urge was strong.
After trying many, I've chosen a well sorted Griff 430 - it sounds awesome! Furthermore, in my (limited) experience, a sorted 430 is as quick as an iffy 500 anyway. I'm not claiming that the stop watch will prove me right, but the feel & overall impression of a fit 430 is impressive (maybe just the sound, but it's glorious!).
Seriously, condition is all important. I was tempted by a (tatty) 500 at the same price with much lower mileage, I even reasoned that I can bring a tatty 500 up to spec, but could never make a 430 into a 500, but still went for the 430. It was just better!
Nearly forgot, the original topic was 400 vs 430 - I tried just two 400s, and they were both disappointing performance wise, and luckily for me were not as well kept as they may've been, so it was a no-brainer 430!

Edited by lordgrover on Monday 8th January 15:08

[griffdude]

Oi Matt, you've driven mine. That might give you an idea which way to go!!


you also know that it's not going to stay std for very long
ps the plenum spacer seems to work well

Edited by griffdude on Tuesday 9th January 10:03

[Uncle Bulgaria]

A good 500 if you can afford it, there is a massive difference between the 500 and 4.0/4.3 not just in terms of speed but also in Quality. If you cannot afford a good 500 then a good pre cat 4.0/4.3 is a good way to get on the ladder to getting a proper one.

[griffdude]

Mat
this is the one for you..
www.pistonheads.com/sales/91681.htm

[bjwoods]

a GOOD 4.3 over a GOOD 4.0

then again a good 500, is better than a good 4.3..

(owwned a 4.3 for 6 years, 500 for 8 years)

NOTE i said a GOOD one.

B

Edited by bjwoods on Tuesday 9th January 19:44

[laz11]

bjwoods said:

a GOOD 4.3 over a GOOD 4.0

then again a good 500, is better than a good 4.3..

(owwned a 4.3 for 6 years, 500 for 8 years)

NOTE i said a GOOD one.

B

Edited by bjwoods on Tuesday 9th January 19:44

Yes I see your point...however the engine character of a pre cat versus a 500 will still always be different and in my view prefferable; i.e the more revvy nature and pleasure using higher revs plus comparable lack
of tourque which also means comparable lack of wheelspin which in my experience means more usable in the wet! Of course lets not forget that unique pre cat noise. Different strokes for different folks eh!

[gnasher]

For what it's worth, I spent most of the summer touring Britain to find a Pre cat Griff.

There seem to be more 4.0s than 4.3s advertised, but as already has been said it's condition that's more important than model.

Despite what you may think not all TVRs are cherished. On more than one occasion I was told that a car was reliable and had had nothing done to it only to find that it literally hadn't. No servicing, TLC or anything!

Some 4 litres are a really nice drive, but others are definitely not. One car I drove was so noisy, from a blowing exhaust system, that conversation was impossible at 60mph, but the seller kept assuring me that the noise was all part of the TVR appeal. Nice noise is , but I want to take my car touring Europe and you don't want to go far with that row! Some clutches are heavy and unprogressive, and the brakes can be frankly pretty frightening.

So the first thing I would say is drive a few. I did and in my opinion comparing like for like the 4.3 is the better, I found a good 'un and bought it!

And a Very Nice Thing it is too

[tvrjohn]

4.3's Rock, Mines for sale on TVRCC website, Lancashire 10k

[Eva]

IMO the 4.3 V8 was the best engine fitted to a Griffith.

eva

[900T-R]

Eva said:

IMO the 4.3 V8 was the best engine fitted to a Griffith.

eva

And to a Chimaera!

[burriana]

tvrjohn said:

4.3's Rock, Mines for sale on TVRCC website, Lancashire 10k

Have you got a link please. And can non-members access the classifieds?

[simon67]

Ive owned 2 4l cars (V8S and Chim) and now have a 4.3 Griff. I'd say that there is a big difference between the two engines. 4.3 is much smoother and revier and of course more powerfull! No contest for me but I'm sure that there are good and bad of each spec.

Simon

[bjwoods]

laz11 said:

bjwoods said:

a GOOD 4.3 over a GOOD 4.0

then again a good 500, is better than a good 4.3..

(owwned a 4.3 for 6 years, 500 for 8 years)

NOTE i said a GOOD one.

B

Edited by bjwoods on Tuesday 9th January 19:44

Yes I see your point...however the engine character of a pre cat versus a 500 will still always be different and in my view prefferable; i.e the more revvy nature and pleasure using higher revs plus comparable lack
of tourque which also means comparable lack of wheelspin which in my experience means more usable in the wet! Of course lets not forget that unique pre cat noise. Different strokes for different folks eh!

Pre cat noise is bollox really, maybe the exhause manifolds gone (like my old one did) got it fixed much better car...

Real world 4.3 torque just as likely to get you in trouble as a 500, not THAT different.
Arguable, I'd say my 500 is much more revvy than my old 4.3

B

[eva]

All Griffihs are fab. Get one of each.

eva

[Ballistic Banana]

burriana said:

tvrjohn said:

4.3's Rock, Mines for sale on TVRCC website, Lancashire 10k

Have you got a link please. And can non-members access the classifieds?

its Here Al


looks good on paper

BB

[GreenV8S]

Some of the 4.3s are much, much nicer spec engines than the boggo 4.0s, but just bcause it's a 4.3 doesn't mean it's one of the nice ones.