FRONT ENGINE COVER ETC7385

[Jonny TVR]

I've been told that there are no new Front engine covers in the country part no ETC7385 for my 99 Griff. They will be making some more but we don't know when that will be! Does anyone have one knocking around!!!

[AntonyJ]

Whats wrong with the old one that you need a new one??

[spend]

From the prices these things are commanding I am surprised nobody has made up a sump to fit the later covers. If there was not the problem with the sump fitting, selling your old cover would nearly pay for a new ecu & mapped ignition!

I am assuming that you have a serp engine ~ I thought that timing cover was ERR6814 tho? The ETC7385 is the later pre-serp front cover IIRC.

Dave

[AntonyJ]

spend said:

From the prices these things are commanding I am surprised nobody has made up a sump to fit the later covers. If there was not the problem with the sump fitting, selling your old cover would nearly pay for a new ecu & mapped ignition!

I am assuming that you have a serp engine ~ I thought that timing cover was ERR6814 tho? The ETC7385 is the later pre-serp front cover IIRC.

Dave

Dave, the later "thinner" cover also has different crank pulley, different alternator bracket etc.

The whole serpentine bit is set further back.

Pretty sure the 6814 you mentioned is right, I have a loose one in the garage so might check in a bit.

[spend]

Hence my point Ant, the early serps with dizzy (pulleys alt brackets et al) are very desirable to engine upgraders ~ whereas the 4.0/6 stuff is practically being given away! I think I am biting the bullet on using an alloy sump for mine

Dave

[AntonyJ]

Dave, maybe I am being thick, but whats the relevance of the alloy sump?

I know its the later serp engine type, so are you going with the later stuff?
Doesnt the alloy sump only fit the thin serp cover?

I intend using the normal tvr serp cover without dizzy , and with JE alternator bracket so I can keep my precat swirl pot.

[spend]

In the change between the dizzy serp & the dizzyless serp (4.0/6 Gems/Bosch) the sump pattern changes at the front cover. IMHO if you dont want a dizzy - its better to use all the std LR stuff - free crank sensor / cam phase / knock sensors...

Dave

[Jonny TVR]

I'm not technical but my 99 Griff (therefore serpentine) is in at Torque RVT and this is the part number they have given. I'm told it is correct as they had problems getting it as there are so many different versions. There are none in the parts network currently available. They are manufactured abroad but we/ they don't know when they will be making the next batch! I have tried getting a secondhand one from Douglas valley even but with no joy. The reason for the replacement is that I lost all my coolant and Ian found that it was a hair line fracture in the front engine cover. Ian said that this is the first one he has seen. This is really annoying as I want my Griff back and we still don't know when a new one will be available. Can anyone help!?

[Green Meanie]

Have you tried RPI Engineering or Rimmer Brothers,both a Rover V8 Specialists there is also S and S Preparations TR7 TR8 specialists who deal in new and secondhand parts.Hope this helps

Green Meanie

[spend]

I'd be very surprised if this wasnt the one that you needed:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rover-V8-Front-Cover-with-oi...

If your garage thinks you need another type it is news to me... (I'm fairly sure the type you quoted is the std LR pre-serp & I would be very worried about a pro confusing long nosed crank & long distributor drive )

I would be shocked if V8D / TVRPower couldn't rustle one up (RPi selling out is not the end of the World). Failing that it may well be possible to have your old cover welded up - not so pretty but if it works?

Dave

[AntonyJ]

I agree with Dave , and would be shocked if it wasnt the one on Ebay.
There just arent any others to fit(with dizzy).

Get Torque to take a pic and post it here.


I enquired with Jamie at castle race engines when I was after one and he may have a couple.
Pretty sure power had some too.

[v8 racing]

It would absolutely definetly be the one dave has found,

[Jonny TVR]

Thank you all for the advise. I will let you know what happens. Jon

[plasticman]

I have a spare new one of those also for £50 less, contact me if you are interested , David

[Jonny TVR]

I just found one, unfortunately at the full price of £300! I wish I had seen your message earlier! Thanks anyway. Jon

[Meatball]

Jonny TVR said:

I just found one, unfortunately at the full price of £300! I wish I had seen your message earlier! Thanks anyway. Jon

I feel your pain ive just paid £300 for a new one aswell

[AntonyJ]

Holy smoke £300......

[spend]

AntonyJ said:

Holy smoke £300......

Bit of a bummer for us pre-serpers wanting to upgrade, see what I was driving at now?

Dave

[topsparks]

Just buy a post 94 V8 3.9 Disco,I have bought 2 this year,£550 for a 3 door and £700 for a nice 60,000 mile ES 5 door with full leather,take off the whole front end and keep the engine for a spare (same block as Griff),then put the rest back on ebay !,not breaking mine though too nice to drive and the 94MY does'nt have to have cats.

[AntonyJ]

spend said:

AntonyJ said:

Holy smoke £300......

Bit of a bummer for us pre-serpers wanting to upgrade, see what I was driving at now?

Dave

I picked my front cover up ,with crank pulley for £100, guess I got lucky...