Discussion
The rev limit will probably be 5600 rpm 6200 rpm or somewhere in between - unless its been chipped. I would suggest keeping it below 5000 rpm as a general rule, 5500 is OK occasionally but don't make a habit of it. The standard lifters will start pumping up above 5500 rpm, the wear and tear on the engine increases rapidly with revs, and the performance gain from that extra few hundred rpm is negligeable. If you buzz the engine past 6500 you can expect it to revert to kit form fairly promptly.
As already said, the limiter will kickin first so no real worries - oh and none of this soft limiter stuff - you will get the fut-fut-fut-fut when you hit it!!!
It should be around the 5800 - 6000 mark but some do rev to as high as 6250. But its all academic anyway - its all over bar the shouting at around 5000. Power and torque drop off quite badly beyond 5250 so dont expect it to go any faster by keeping onto the revs. This might sound daft, but rather than holding the revs for high speed accelerating you are better changing gear and taking the hit for the momentary pause - the torque spread is so low on the RV8 engines that even if the revs drop to 3000 - 3500 you are right in the power band anyway and you will make greater "progress" by changing early and using the flexibility of the engine....
It should be around the 5800 - 6000 mark but some do rev to as high as 6250. But its all academic anyway - its all over bar the shouting at around 5000. Power and torque drop off quite badly beyond 5250 so dont expect it to go any faster by keeping onto the revs. This might sound daft, but rather than holding the revs for high speed accelerating you are better changing gear and taking the hit for the momentary pause - the torque spread is so low on the RV8 engines that even if the revs drop to 3000 - 3500 you are right in the power band anyway and you will make greater "progress" by changing early and using the flexibility of the engine....
pbrettle said:
As already said, the limiter will kickin first so no real worries - oh and none of this soft limiter stuff - you will get the fut-fut-fut-fut when you hit it!!!
It should be around the 5800 - 6000 mark but some do rev to as high as 6250. But its all academic anyway - its all over bar the shouting at around 5000. Power and torque drop off quite badly beyond 5250 so dont expect it to go any faster by keeping onto the revs.
Unlike a hire car where the rev limiter is equivelent to a gear change indicator, the rev limiter on a TVR is an emergency protection device only. You should not even attempt to hit it. The 500s sometimes rev up to 6800rpm rev limit but people who regularly do that snap cranks and other expensive items.
Having said that, I wouldn't say it was all over by 5000rpm. I can't remember the figures for the 400/450 but some of the 500 engines peak at about 5500-5800rpm, espcially if you tweak them a bit. It all depends on the chip, cam, gas flowing and so on.
I aim to change at around 5500 as by the time I've processed the command to change gear, it's usually gone up to about 5800rpm.
Ian A.
Ian,
Yeah, sorry should have mentioned that too - what I also didnt say is that mines still got the ridiculously low rev limiter set - around 5250 if memory serves... frequently hit it, but after talking to all those that know (Mark Adams for example) there is NOTHING to worry about at this type of RPM.
Getting mine tuned up soon and will have the limit raised to a more realistic level - maybe around 6000 or 5800 or so.... But like you say, not much to be gained...
Yeah, sorry should have mentioned that too - what I also didnt say is that mines still got the ridiculously low rev limiter set - around 5250 if memory serves... frequently hit it, but after talking to all those that know (Mark Adams for example) there is NOTHING to worry about at this type of RPM.
Getting mine tuned up soon and will have the limit raised to a more realistic level - maybe around 6000 or 5800 or so.... But like you say, not much to be gained...
pbrettle said:
Ian,
frequently hit it, but after talking to all those that know (Mark Adams for example) there is NOTHING to worry about at this type of RPM.
I can't remember if it cuts the ignition or the fuel or both but all that put putting doesn't sound healthy for the cats or drivetrain.
If your limiter cuts in at 5250, does that mean you have a non-HC 4 litre? If so, I believe that misses out on the duplex cam chain of the bigger engines so maybe that (and the softer cam) is the reason why the rev limiter is so low.
Bin the engine and get hold of a 5.2, you know you want to!
(price does not include brake, suspension or transmission upgrades, no contract entered into, your statutory rights are not affected).
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