How do I make my Griff run better?
Discussion
I have a 92 4l pre-cat Griff. I have just fitted new HT leads, shrouds and Plugs to sort out a misfire issue and this has fixed the problem. I am however not happy with the way the car is performing and want to sort this.
Main thing I don't like is the engine is not smooth in the low rev range, when I pull away in first I have to over rev the engine and slip the clutch to stop it 'shunting' or stalling. It's a lot different to my previous 97 Chim. I am told this is a characteristic of the early cars, can this be fixed?
Main thing I don't like is the engine is not smooth in the low rev range, when I pull away in first I have to over rev the engine and slip the clutch to stop it 'shunting' or stalling. It's a lot different to my previous 97 Chim. I am told this is a characteristic of the early cars, can this be fixed?
Is it all standard or was a previous owner talked into having more aggressive cam and bigger injectors ? Generally I understand the Precat cars in standard trim are able to run the engine much richer and as a result are smoother than a smooth thing, my Precat V8s was, the fiddled with Griff 500 I have now goes a lot better but is not what you could call smooth.
As far as I know it is standard however its had 6 owners before me so who knows, it's done 83k miles and the top end is a bit rattly but not knocking. As I say its just the low end of the range that is an issue, pulling away in first and plodding along in slow traffic in first gear, once i'm going it revs perfectly.
Edited by cjs on Thursday 28th June 14:29
Try cleaning your stepper motor as it sounds that the 'roughness' you cite could be caused by that.
Link here tells you what to do. Dead easy
http://www.car1.clara.co.uk/tvr/stepper.htm
Just don't overtighten when you're refitting it.
Link here tells you what to do. Dead easy
http://www.car1.clara.co.uk/tvr/stepper.htm
Just don't overtighten when you're refitting it.
but as was said earlyer may now have an up-rated cam which could give low rev shunting issues.Jay Ayegees said:
Sorry you've been told nonsence - early 4.0/4.3 Griffiths are the smoothest/sweetest V8 runners - you've obviously got problems - get a TVR specialist to have a look at it. It sounds like a fuelling issue to me.
Jay
I'm with you Jay, they 'should be' the smoothest of all from what I read (mine shunts a little in slow traffic) but if its that bad something ain't right and needs sorting. The shunting could be caused by a lean misfire usually apperent only and very small throttle openings?Jay
It is possible that just about anything has been changed and modified with 6 owners and 83K miles. but for now assuming it is standard, what does it drive like? tick over smoothly or hunting? when you put your foot down does it go like 'poo off a paddle'? do you get any pinking usually most evident on a hot day with a hot engine under load? (hot days wouldn't they be nice)
The first place to start must be to ensure you don't have any air leaks into the intake system after the airflow meter? check the vac advance pipe is fitted correctly and that the vac advance diaphram on the dizzy is not leaking. is your vac advance conntected at all some people say they are smoother without it? but I believe it should run fine with it and improves crusing economy? if you try without ensure you correctly seal the plenum tube.
good luck and keep us posted
The engine runs fine, ticks over well, starts well and revs well. I do get a bit of pinking under load and now I have the new HT leads and stuff fitted I am planning to sort this.
My problem is more to do with the way it revs when pulling away from tick over. The symptoms are very similar to having a hot cam I suppose , I have to over rev the engine and slip the clutch slightly to pull away smoothly at slow speeds in traffic etc. it is okay if I drop the clutch and floor it!
Maybe it has got a non standard cam?? I have had the car for 4 trouble free years and lived with this very minor issue, Maybe its time for a trip to a good specialist for a tune up and some diagnostics.
My problem is more to do with the way it revs when pulling away from tick over. The symptoms are very similar to having a hot cam I suppose , I have to over rev the engine and slip the clutch slightly to pull away smoothly at slow speeds in traffic etc. it is okay if I drop the clutch and floor it!
Maybe it has got a non standard cam?? I have had the car for 4 trouble free years and lived with this very minor issue, Maybe its time for a trip to a good specialist for a tune up and some diagnostics.
I have the same gremlin on my '98 500, 1st or 2nd gear under 3000 rpm ie in traffic and she can be a dog , very jerky. Coming to a stop at junctions or roundabouts take foot off accelerator and she will drop under 500 revs and sometimes stall, sound familiar ???
Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
RAFBOY said:
I have the same gremlin on my '98 500, 1st or 2nd gear under 3000 rpm ie in traffic and she can be a dog , very jerky. Coming to a stop at junctions or roundabouts take foot off accelerator and she will drop under 500 revs and sometimes stall, sound familiar ???
Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
Do you have problems with your speedo working?Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
In very wet weather my speedo stops working and I get all the symptoms you describe - particularly the drop in revs and stalling.
My very minor issue is not quite the same, I do not have a problem with stalling etc. I have a problem feeding in the power at low revs, I can't pull away in 1st smoothly without slightly over reving the engine and slipping the clutch, the car will not poodle along in 1st in traffic with out 'shunting' when I try and give it a small amount of gas. I do not have a fault as such its the way the car is setup or maybe I do have a 'hot cam' fitted that I don't know about.
cjs said:
My very minor issue is not quite the same, I do not have a problem with stalling etc. I have a problem feeding in the power at low revs, I can't pull away in 1st smoothly without slightly over reving the engine and slipping the clutch, the car will not poodle along in 1st in traffic with out 'shunting' when I try and give it a small amount of gas. I do not have a fault as such its the way the car is setup or maybe I do have a 'hot cam' fitted that I don't know about.
It shouldn't do that, even with a hot cam. I have a 404 which is about the hottest there is and yes, it's a bit rough below 2000rpm but as soon as you touch the throttle it picks up beautifully.So take it to a dealer/specialist and/or have it remapped.
Barreti said:
RAFBOY said:
I have the same gremlin on my '98 500, 1st or 2nd gear under 3000 rpm ie in traffic and she can be a dog , very jerky. Coming to a stop at junctions or roundabouts take foot off accelerator and she will drop under 500 revs and sometimes stall, sound familiar ???
Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
Do you have problems with your speedo working?Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
In very wet weather my speedo stops working and I get all the symptoms you describe - particularly the drop in revs and stalling.
Edited by RAFBOY on Monday 2nd July 13:05
RAFBOY said:
Barreti said:
RAFBOY said:
I have the same gremlin on my '98 500, 1st or 2nd gear under 3000 rpm ie in traffic and she can be a dog , very jerky. Coming to a stop at junctions or roundabouts take foot off accelerator and she will drop under 500 revs and sometimes stall, sound familiar ???
Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
Do you have problems with your speedo working?Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
In very wet weather my speedo stops working and I get all the symptoms you describe - particularly the drop in revs and stalling.
Edited by RAFBOY on Monday 2nd July 13:05
cjs said:
RAFBOY said:
Barreti said:
RAFBOY said:
I have the same gremlin on my '98 500, 1st or 2nd gear under 3000 rpm ie in traffic and she can be a dog , very jerky. Coming to a stop at junctions or roundabouts take foot off accelerator and she will drop under 500 revs and sometimes stall, sound familiar ???
Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
Do you have problems with your speedo working?Its not all the time though ,she never shows these symptoms when she's cold, I thought Id sorted it after taking advice from a PHer and found that the vacuum advance pipe had come off however also cleaned stepper and that hasnt made any diff...
In very wet weather my speedo stops working and I get all the symptoms you describe - particularly the drop in revs and stalling.
Edited by RAFBOY on Monday 2nd July 13:05
v8 racing said:
Have you got any hydro carbon readings of it all? this will give a little clue to see if it has a big cam in there, also if it is pinking it needs retarding anyway but also dissconect the vac advance if you are running one.
No havent any readings, inadvertently drove with vac advance pipe off and it was worse than normal... what would taking the vac advance off do??RAFBOY said:
v8 racing said:
Have you got any hydro carbon readings of it all? this will give a little clue to see if it has a big cam in there, also if it is pinking it needs retarding anyway but also dissconect the vac advance if you are running one.
No havent any readings, inadvertently drove with vac advance pipe off and it was worse than normal... what would taking the vac advance off do??Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff