3.6 or 4.0?

[SAW4H]

Hi all, how can you tell which is which? When did the 3.6 model first go on sale and what are the differances?, well apart from 400cc that is! It seems I might have bought 3.6 and not a 4.0. the original order(which I have) was for a 3.6 but the V5 shows 3996cc and the manual give the information on 3.6 and the S4.0 and its not an S. Anyone Help?

[glow worm]

TVR used to include engine spec in the VIN code on V8s but it's there's no 4 obvious in mine to indicate 4 litre. Digits 7 and 8 are the type of engine and variant mine is 6 for engine and A for variant (a guess the code for a 4 litre 'S' but maybe wrong). My engine number starts P6404.... so I'd guess that probably means Speed Six 4 litre in some way.

[lee02]

I am not an expert so can only tell you what i know.
Firstly ignore the v5 mine says it's a 3.6 but it's a 4.0
I believe the cam covers where different colours yellow,blue,red 3.6,4.0,4.0S I know the 4.0 is blue.
the 3.6 was introduced in late 04 or early 05 early MK2's were 3.6 as was the tamora and T350.
When i ordered mine july 05 they were all 4.0 so probably about the same time as the vert dash became standard.
But hey it's a TVR so who really knows? i guess ring RG or power with you engine number they should be able to tell you.

[Ubernoober]

'06 4.0 S and the cover is red.

[imuir]

Hummm what about black ?

[hallsie]

imuir said:

Hummm what about black ?

Yeah, what about black??

Mine is also black, and on the paperwork and original spec sheet it says 'special order 4.0'

Any ideas?

[glow worm]

It was Smolenskis idea to paint the cam covers..pre 2004 most appear unpainted or black. Still not guaranteed as I said on other posts many cam covers have been painted after they left the factory. Sure the engine number is the best source...if we could understand it. I thought 3.6 was black (t350,tams), can't remember one being yellow (but who knows??).

Edited by glow worm on Sunday 22 March 21:45

[SAW4H]

My car is a mk1 registered in june 2002 ordered as a 3.6 in March 2002. I though they were all 4lt. I think it must be a 3.6, dispite it being advertised as a 4lt, I am not at all upset as it revs very smoothly. I take the 3.6 has the same problems as the 4lt? Its not the first time the DVLA has got things wrong, I once had a new Daytona 595 and the V5 came through as a Alegro 1300!

[pete]

When the 3.6 became the standard engine in 2003-ish there was a £1000 option to upgrade to 4 litre non-S spec. There's no easy way to tell which one you have other than a combination of the original paperwork, and someone to look at the internals of your engine as it stands now.

In terms of problems, the 3.6s seem to suffer less than the early 4.0s, but that's probably because they benefited from a bit more development - a similar age 4.0 would probably be just as reliable/unreliable. You could argue that the shorter stroke of the 3.6 means there is less load on the crank, bearings and rods, but that manifests itself more in the revvy character rather than reliability.

Pete

[VARLEYHYD]

Here we go!

Normal engine number format (not always though), stamped on water pump housing forward of exhausts

05 43 P6 40 4235
RT JW

2005, week 43, Speed six Engine, 4.0litre, number built

Initials of engine builders

G

Edited by VARLEYHYD on Monday 23 March 11:24

[glow worm]

VARLEYHYD said:

Here we go!

Normal engine number format (not always though), stamped on water pump housing forward of exhausts

05 43 P6 40 4235
RT JW

2005, week 43, Speed six Engine, 4.0litre, number built

Initials of engine builders

G

Edited by VARLEYHYD on Monday 23 March 11:24

Graham, so which indicates Speed Six just the 6 or P6... and is the 40 4.0 litres....so a 3.5 would be 35...Thats similiar to the Rover V8 formats (37A50 is a 5.0 litre... 47A43 is a 4.3 litre). Is there any distinguishing between an 'S' or non 'S'.
(engine Number also on your V5C).

Do you have any info on the VIN code breakdown for the engine, as I said previously 7 (6 for Speed Six) and 8 were engine codes for V8s and AJPs and your Sag manual doesn't cover the A only digit 7 as 6 for Speed Six. The cebera info says A if for AJP Base engine.

PS Digit 9 is a check digit.

[JR]

glow worm said:

VARLEYHYD said:

Here we go!

Normal engine number format (not always though), stamped on water pump housing forward of exhausts

05 43 P6 40 4235
RT JW

2005, week 43, Speed six Engine, 4.0litre, number built

Initials of engine builders

G

Edited by VARLEYHYD on Monday 23 March 11:24

Graham, so which indicates Speed Six just the 6 or P6... and is the 40 4.0 litres....so a 3.5 would be 35...

IIRC P6 is for pistons:6 and the smaller engine being a 3.6 would be 36.

[SAW4H]

Thanks guys, I will have to have a good look at the engine numbers once I get the bloody bonnet off!! Great car though.

[VARLEYHYD]

glow worm said:

Graham ????

VARLEYHYD said:

Edited Now Here we go!

Normal engine number format (not always though), stamped on water pump housing forward of exhausts

05 43 P6 40 4235
RT JW

05 =2005
43 = week 43
P6 = Speed Six Engine
40 = 4.0litre
4235 = number engine built

RT JW = Initials of engine builders

'S' Believed not conclusive from engine number, as is colour of cover! but the head is E6001 S stamped in casting above coil on mine.(and its a very torquey fast one)

G

[glow worm]

VARLEYHYD said:

glow worm said:

Graham ????

Sorry, should I call you 'G'

[VARLEYHYD]

glow worm said:

VARLEYHYD said:

glow worm said:

Graham ????

Sorry, should I call you 'G'

No don't care which.

Just, you were asking a question of me.

See edited bit about engine number

Graham V

[Ubernoober]

VARLEYHYD said:

Edited Now Here we go!

Normal engine number format (not always though), stamped on water pump housing forward of exhausts

05 43 P6 40 4235
RT JW

05 =2005
43 = week 43
P6 = Speed Six Engine
40 = 4.0litre
4235 = number engine built

As a matter of interest, what is the latest/highest number for a 4 litre? My '06 S has 4544 as the last 4 digits, suggesting it is some 300 units later than this one - didn't know so many were made let alone between 4Q05 ans 1Q06 when mine was built to order and registered by the first owner

[glow worm]

Only seen one past 100 for '06 and I questioned that one... look in the convertible register at build numbers...highest number I saw on the "line" in Aug'06(Back Home'06 factory visit) was 0091 I think and that wasn't completed. But TVR never were very good with numbers..

You need your VIN plate last 4 digits for the car build number, not the engine number.

Ubernoober,Have you changed your plate from the pic on your profile??? Can't find it on the DVLA database.

Edited by glow worm on Monday 23 March 21:57

[Ubernoober]

glow worm said:

Ubernoober,Have you changed your plate from the pic on your profile??? Can't find it on the DVLA database.

Nope, I bought it especially for the Tuscan, was transferred by the DVLA on 03/03 (yes officer, here's the paperwork, see?) - still waiting for the V5.

From copies of the old V5's build number is 1051, so early '06, ties in with the original 01/04 1st registration date. I was just curious about engine numbers - seems a big range of Sp6's built between two cars of similar build dates.

[glow worm]

Have you looked here http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/?SKI... select Vehicle Enquiry...unless I read your plate incorrectly.
Mine the 61st in '06, ordered end of Jan'06, so 10 after yours.... to be ordered usually, the VIN gets allocated quite early, although the chassis & body were probably sat waiting for an order. My body shell was Oct'05, plenty of time to cure.