Discussion
Hello all
Had to sell my S3c earlier in the year to fund a business and although it is now approaching winter my central nervous system can go without its fix no more.
Want to buy a wedge this time, probably a 400 of bigger, but know very little about them.
Would be grateful to know all their dirty little secrets, which one would be best etc etc.
Cheers
Had to sell my S3c earlier in the year to fund a business and although it is now approaching winter my central nervous system can go without its fix no more.
Want to buy a wedge this time, probably a 400 of bigger, but know very little about them.
Would be grateful to know all their dirty little secrets, which one would be best etc etc.
Cheers
Welcome!
I'm sure others will be along shortly but can recommend doing a few searches on here as well as looking on Gandalf's wedgepages and getting yourself a copy of Steve Heath's wedge bible. You've picked a cracking time to look as there are some great looking cars up for sale at the mo..Happy hunting. Jamie
:
I'm sure others will be along shortly but can recommend doing a few searches on here as well as looking on Gandalf's wedgepages and getting yourself a copy of Steve Heath's wedge bible. You've picked a cracking time to look as there are some great looking cars up for sale at the mo..Happy hunting. Jamie
:Welcome to the mad mad world of Wedges but beware its addictive!
As Jamie said have a gander at www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk should find a wealth of useful info there. The site is a wee bit out of date but I am currently working on a new version which I hope to have up by December but all you need to know is available on the old site for now.
Good luck with your search and keep us informed with what you buy.
As Jamie said have a gander at www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk should find a wealth of useful info there. The site is a wee bit out of date but I am currently working on a new version which I hope to have up by December but all you need to know is available on the old site for now.
Good luck with your search and keep us informed with what you buy.
Gandalf said:
Welcome to the mad mad world of Wedges but beware its addictive!
As Jamie said have a gander at www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk should find a wealth of useful info there. The site is a wee bit out of date but I am currently working on a new version which I hope to have up by December but all you need to know is available on the old site for now.
Good luck with your search and keep us informed with what you buy.
Nice site, thanks.As Jamie said have a gander at www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk should find a wealth of useful info there. The site is a wee bit out of date but I am currently working on a new version which I hope to have up by December but all you need to know is available on the old site for now.
Good luck with your search and keep us informed with what you buy.
Have noticed a few nice looking 390's for sale, are they as good/better/worse a proposition than a 400SE? Does the extra performance of a 450 come with a flip-side of dramatically more histrionic behaviour etc,etc?
I can't vouch for a 400, but my 390SE is quite peaky (surprisingly so for a V8 - more peaky than my 1.8 BMW which acts like it has more low-down torque... probably because it's on-cam torque isn't dramatically higher). Doesn't like being loaded at all below 2000 rpm, and power comes in at 3500, and out at 5500, and it gets breathless at 6000 (TVR quote a "recommended" rev limit of 6500, though I've never gone there to find out if it's got a limiter!)
Anyway - I test drove a 350i when looking for a Wedge, I was disappointed - it made the right noises, but wasn't lairy enough - all mouth and no trousers. Admittedly that particular car might have been quite out of tune at the time.
The 390SE is quite peaky, and a lot faster than my dad's caterham 1600 supersport in a straight line. Never had any high-maintenance issues other than a appetite for oil (TVR quote 500 miles a litre for early 3.9 conversions, and 1000 miles a litre for the later ones (after the first 15 or so with NCK engines) with 3 piston rings rather than a decidedly racing 2). It's light up the rear tyres in fourth in the damp as it comes on the cam (full throttle from 2500 RPM in 2nd in the dry starts to spin up around the 4000 mark, and in the damp similar in fourth)
Brilliant fun, and with a great barrel-chested soundtrack.
I think the 450's (350 bhp as opposed to my (quoted) 285) are high-maintenance though lighter and quicker. The 400s are mich the same as the 390SE range, IIRC
Anyway - I test drove a 350i when looking for a Wedge, I was disappointed - it made the right noises, but wasn't lairy enough - all mouth and no trousers. Admittedly that particular car might have been quite out of tune at the time.
The 390SE is quite peaky, and a lot faster than my dad's caterham 1600 supersport in a straight line. Never had any high-maintenance issues other than a appetite for oil (TVR quote 500 miles a litre for early 3.9 conversions, and 1000 miles a litre for the later ones (after the first 15 or so with NCK engines) with 3 piston rings rather than a decidedly racing 2). It's light up the rear tyres in fourth in the damp as it comes on the cam (full throttle from 2500 RPM in 2nd in the dry starts to spin up around the 4000 mark, and in the damp similar in fourth)
Brilliant fun, and with a great barrel-chested soundtrack.
I think the 450's (350 bhp as opposed to my (quoted) 285) are high-maintenance though lighter and quicker. The 400s are mich the same as the 390SE range, IIRC
My last car was a series 2 390SE (flared arches and OZ split rims as 400SE),and present one... 400SE.
I do think the flared arches of the later cars give them a more menacing and macho look.
Both cars pull cleanly in top from 1000rpm and drive like pussycats in traffic.
The soundtrack is similar when given some stick....fantastic !
You will NOT be overlooked by other road users.
Engine-wise equally reliable and power feels similar, but 390 used a little more oil.
The 390's flapper injection (as opposed to a hotwire 400) does give lovely pops and bangs on the overrun though, which I do miss. Earlier 400s were also flapper.
Ride is amazingly comfortable considering the handling capabilities, but this will depend on suspension mods and set-up.
There can be great variations from car to car.
Same for cams, as a hotter cam could have been fitted, perhaps giving slightly lumpier idling and moving torque higher up the revs, but hopefully a few more horses too.
Dash layout is different between the two cars, but I wouldn't have thought that would make much difference to most drivers.
Apart from replacing normal consumable items (touchwood), both of my cars have been totally reliable and a joy to drive.
I'll let a 450 owner give you his/her two penneth now....but you'll need more cash for one of those.
I do think the flared arches of the later cars give them a more menacing and macho look.
Both cars pull cleanly in top from 1000rpm and drive like pussycats in traffic.
The soundtrack is similar when given some stick....fantastic !
You will NOT be overlooked by other road users.
Engine-wise equally reliable and power feels similar, but 390 used a little more oil.
The 390's flapper injection (as opposed to a hotwire 400) does give lovely pops and bangs on the overrun though, which I do miss. Earlier 400s were also flapper.
Ride is amazingly comfortable considering the handling capabilities, but this will depend on suspension mods and set-up.
There can be great variations from car to car.
Same for cams, as a hotter cam could have been fitted, perhaps giving slightly lumpier idling and moving torque higher up the revs, but hopefully a few more horses too.
Dash layout is different between the two cars, but I wouldn't have thought that would make much difference to most drivers.
Apart from replacing normal consumable items (touchwood), both of my cars have been totally reliable and a joy to drive.
I'll let a 450 owner give you his/her two penneth now....but you'll need more cash for one of those.
Edited by grahamw48 on Friday 26th September 23:21
Welcome to the club ! I'm sure it's similar in other model fraternities,but I've always found the Wedge crowd so freindly and helpful. there's lots's of experts out there,who really know the wedges well .(and some 'professionals' that don't!)
I've had an '88 390SE (like the 400) since '01 and have found it such great fun, Put's a HUGE smile on my face everytime i drive it.
I've found it to be pretty reliable generally, I toured France in it in '03 doing 2500 miles,Getting admiring looks and comments all over (Mange Tout! sacre bleu! etc),plus generally helping with the French petroleum industry.
she performed brilliantly apart from the old 'flapper' EFI system having a struggle to cope with the thin air at 2200M in the french alps, necessitating screwing the idle screw right out, and having to readjust once in Neice.(idling at 1700rpm!!) But then as previously said, the pops and bangs on overrun are a joy to behold...
I test drove two 400SE's before buying the 390, due to it's much better condition. the only major differences between 350/390 and 400/450s are ;
400 has later 'wrap-around' interior which is nice and modern,but does make the interior feel smaller and a little claustrophobic IMHO, It has Ford sourced switchgear rather than Rover SD1 on mine
400 has the Later EFI Hotwire system, but flapper systems sound the Dogs 'Doo dah's'
Otherwise the minor trim details are -no bootlid hinges on 400+, but proper functioning rear underspoiler on 390, square better looking headlights on the 400, with older style round 7" units on 350/390...the list goes on! but they're really minor details,down to personal taste. the chassis are the same, and so is the running gear (all used rover SD1 style LT77 gearbox, Jag rear diff with inboard discs. Pretty heavy duty stuff really.. never broken anything on mine yet!
Hope this helps
Andy
I've had an '88 390SE (like the 400) since '01 and have found it such great fun, Put's a HUGE smile on my face everytime i drive it.
I've found it to be pretty reliable generally, I toured France in it in '03 doing 2500 miles,Getting admiring looks and comments all over (Mange Tout! sacre bleu! etc),plus generally helping with the French petroleum industry.
she performed brilliantly apart from the old 'flapper' EFI system having a struggle to cope with the thin air at 2200M in the french alps, necessitating screwing the idle screw right out, and having to readjust once in Neice.(idling at 1700rpm!!) But then as previously said, the pops and bangs on overrun are a joy to behold...
I test drove two 400SE's before buying the 390, due to it's much better condition. the only major differences between 350/390 and 400/450s are ;
400 has later 'wrap-around' interior which is nice and modern,but does make the interior feel smaller and a little claustrophobic IMHO, It has Ford sourced switchgear rather than Rover SD1 on mine
400 has the Later EFI Hotwire system, but flapper systems sound the Dogs 'Doo dah's'
Otherwise the minor trim details are -no bootlid hinges on 400+, but proper functioning rear underspoiler on 390, square better looking headlights on the 400, with older style round 7" units on 350/390...the list goes on! but they're really minor details,down to personal taste. the chassis are the same, and so is the running gear (all used rover SD1 style LT77 gearbox, Jag rear diff with inboard discs. Pretty heavy duty stuff really.. never broken anything on mine yet!
Hope this helps
Andy
Thanks to all for their contributions and e-mails so far.
There was me all ready for a shopping trip to blighty and we go and have an event canclled (I'm a concert promoter dont you know) therefore a loss of funds for the toy.
This means no wedge for the forseeable future.
Still, I shall not be defeated! Me mind is made up I will just have to wait till early next year.
Thanks again to all.
There was me all ready for a shopping trip to blighty and we go and have an event canclled (I'm a concert promoter dont you know) therefore a loss of funds for the toy.
This means no wedge for the forseeable future.
Still, I shall not be defeated! Me mind is made up I will just have to wait till early next year.
Thanks again to all.
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