Wednesday 6th May 2009

Speed Six Engine Conversion Makes 550bhp

Melling Sportscars offers two new upgrades for TVR owners

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AJP6 available to original design spec

Owners of TVRs with Speed Six engines are being offered two new performance conversions by Melling Sportscars.

Option one includes a capacity increase to 4.5-litres, giving a significantly-improved power output of 516bhp. Option two bores the engine out even further to 4.7-litres, with claimed output rising to 550bhp.

Rochdale-based Melling Sportscars will carry out the conversions on-site, at a cost of around £7,500. According to the company, its Speed Six conversions will be re-built to the original AJP6 design. The original cylinder-head design was modified in production by TVR, and the Melling conversion hopes to address reported reliability issues surrounding the engine.

‘All moving parts will be crack tested and pressure points will be pressure tested, and all engine components will be inspected and replaced if they fall outside of the manufacturer’s tolerances,’ Melling works manager Craig Morley tells PH.

‘This is for the real TVR enthusiasts, giving them the chance to have a genuine performance modification done by the original engine designer.’

[Hongkongfooi]

I can only imagine what the performance stats might be with over 500bhp.......crikey

[Gridl0k]

I really, really want one of these but I fear it will be even louder. Could Melling make me one with the same dB output as, say, a nice Vauxhall Insignia? Now there's a car with a proper engine note.

[stimshady]

would the cars even grip the road with this much power?!!

[markh1]

If this is going to happen and it can really be made for that money I will strongly consider swapping my AJP8 4.5 for on of those. It sounds very cheap for what it is when you look at other TVR specialists rebuild costs.

[PunterCam]

The original engine design was rubbish though, why would you want it modified by the same people? Going back 10 years, my dads speed 6 cerbera had 3 engines before 20k miles. That's just st.

But maybe they sussed it a bit, and the figures are very tasty - it felt violent enough with 350bhp

[Don1]

What? That's £2k under the Power 4.3 price.... And it's now a choice in price between an LSx V8, and this S6....

[Robertjp]

So what do they change to achieve that?

Sounds fabulous, on paper.

The cost is comparible with a current rebuild too, so what gives...current rebuild charges come down? Unless i misunderstand this is a real alternative?

[The Pits]

Yikes, 515bhp is the slow one!

Actually that's quite a bit more than I'd ideally like and surely it's pushing the limit of what the car can cope with?

My fantasy S6 engine is a 4 litre which revs safely over 8k, producing something like a genuine 420 bhp at 8000. My car is no slouch with around 375 bhp so 420 would be more than enough for me. Very little would get past that.

Much as I respect the effectiveness of these bigger capacity, torquier motors (including Dom's 4.3) I think the power produced higher up is better suited to 1100kg cars. And I love high revving engines.

[anonymous-user]

PunterCam said:

The original engine design was rubbish though, why would you want it modified by the same people? Going back 10 years, my dads speed 6 cerbera had 3 engines before 20k miles. That's just st.

But maybe they sussed it a bit, and the figures are very tasty - it felt violent enough with 350bhp

Wrong, the original engine design was fine. It was TVR building everything to 'cost' that caused problems with component failure, etc

[markh1]

The Pits said:

Yikes, 515bhp is the slow one!

Actually that's quite a bit more than I'd ideally like and surely it's pushing the limit of what the car can cope with?

Good point. There is no way the standard gearbox would be able to cope with that power unless you drive it like miss daisy which defeats the point of it.

[mybrainhurts]

Gridl0k said:

I really, really want one of these but I fear it will be even louder. Could Melling make me one with the same dB output as, say, a nice Vauxhall Insignia? Now there's a car with a proper engine note.

What did you say...?

[BertBert]

So let's wait and see how it goes...

...Please sir, will you convert my speed 6 engine for me?
...Certainly sonny, that'll be £7,500.
...That's excellent please do it.
...We've taken your engine apart sonny, done all the crack tests and the pressure tests and measured all the tolerances. Unfortunately it's a bit shagged. So the total bill will be £12,000.
...oh.

Bert

[Bluebottle]

markh1 said:

The Pits said:

Yikes, 515bhp is the slow one!

Actually that's quite a bit more than I'd ideally like and surely it's pushing the limit of what the car can cope with?

Good point. There is no way the standard gearbox would be able to cope with that power unless you drive it like miss daisy which defeats the point of it.

The T5 box can be rebuilt with Quafe internals that will cope with the power, Its the drive shafts and diff that will probably become consumables unless strengthened.

550bhp in a T chassis sounds like fun to me .

AM is starting to disprove his critics lately with getting the Wildcat into production despite the current economic climate, so maybe he can pull this off...I for one would love him to do it as the SP6 engine really has the potential to be a legend if built properly.

[130R]

Don1 said:

What? That's £2k under the Power 4.3 price.... And it's now a choice in price between an LSx V8, and this S6....

Can you do a LSx swap for that sort of cash? If so I know where my money would be going.

[OatSy]

I've been waiting for this

[anonymous-user]

St John Smythe said:

PunterCam said:

The original engine design was rubbish though, why would you want it modified by the same people? Going back 10 years, my dads speed 6 cerbera had 3 engines before 20k miles. That's just st.

But maybe they sussed it a bit, and the figures are very tasty - it felt violent enough with 350bhp

Wrong, the original engine design was fine. It was TVR building everything to 'cost' that caused problems with component failure, etc

Says who? TVR said that the Melling designed SP6 lasted 15 minutes on test and John Ravenscroft had to redesign it.

[PascalBuyens]

Gridl0k said:

I really, really want one of these but I fear it will be even louder. Could Melling make me one with the same dB output as, say, a nice Vauxhall Insignia? Now there's a car with a proper engine note.

Yeah, I'd have an Insignia everytime, PLEASE.....

[Neomagic]

What an awesome conversion, much better than any alternatives and produces awesome power!

Gearbox & clutch may not be happy about it though.

What box does a Speed Six engine normally have attached to it? I have a feeling it’s a getrag?

[Nickellarse]

...apparantly it'll fit in a Caterham as well

[dkennedyvxt]

BertBert said:

So let's wait and see how it goes...

...Please sir, will you convert my speed 6 engine for me?
...Certainly sonny, that'll be £7,500.
...That's excellent please do it.
...We've taken your engine apart sonny, done all the crack tests and the pressure tests and measured all the tolerances. Unfortunately it's a bit shagged. So the total bill will be £12,000.
...oh.

Bert

So what if it is? If they can provide evidence of the engine failing the tests then surely you have the option to walk away or go for the complete overhall? Better that than them not test the engine, crank up the power to 500 odd BHP then it blows apart after 6 months. I'd be worries if they didn't do this...

Apologies if i'm out of line but I don't see why Al Melling gets such a hard time on this site. The guy clearly has petrol running through his veins and is doing his bit to keep TVR's on the road and design new cars with a similar ethos...lightweight and BONKERS.

I've never met the guy but anyone who designs V8 that goes and sounds like the one I had when I owned the Cerbera is a genius in my book.

Here endeth my tuppence worth