T350 - What do I do? Advice please.....

[FL07AAV]

Hi all

I am thinking of getting a T350 (no other TVR will do for me) and I am aware of all the problems that they can encounter and my budget is £25k tops.

Now, do I ....

A) Buy a T350 for around the £17- £18k mark, look after it and then if it DOES go bang then spend £6-£7k on a Corvette LS* engine swap

B) Buy a T350 for £24-£25k that has had meticulous servicing and has been well looked after and keep my fingers crossed



Sods law dictates that if I go for option B then the engine will go POP and I will have to wait till I can save the money to fix it

Also, does anybody know if the LS engine will actually FIT in the T350???

[Aowhs102]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1060612.htm

Theres an option for you. Shouldnt go wrong (without opening a can of worms)and is in your budget, just...

I would have thought 18k is a bit cheap for a T350, but that said an LS1 lump would be awesome... there is one in a Saggy somewhere but i think its a race car not a road car so it may have had some fairly substantial mods to make it fit.


edit to add-> read this thread http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Edited by Aowhs102 on Tuesday 21st July 13:09

[T40ORA]

As long as they've tidied the cosmetic bits, that is an awesome car. Just under 400bhp and it just goes like stink.

Pretty sure you'd get a damned good warranty with them too. Give them a call and book a test drive.

Edited to add that I've just looked at your profile and you're not a million miles from them.

Edited by T40ORA on Tuesday 21st July 18:06

Edited by T40ORA on Tuesday 21st July 18:12

[blackiepaul]

you will not get a LS engine in for that price. Remember your crate engine will cost you around 4.5 - 5K, this does not include anything else, starter motor, induction, gearbox, fitting etc etc etc

You need to put aside around 10-12K to put an LS in one. This price is for someone else doing the work as well.

[kcc]

Why on earth would you want to put an LS in anway, the Speed Six is a BRILLIANT ENGINE which rewards you every time you drive your car, i've done 25,000 mls in the last two and a half years in my Tamora and its been spot on, no sign of a rebuild yet and its still strong,new cluch and a 100 amp fuse is all thats stopped it in that time, i've no doubt the LS is a fine power plant, but not in a TVR T car imho, that RG T350 looks like a stunning car and agree with Lee get a test drive and i'm sure any doubts will melt away.

Ken.

[FL07AAV]

OK, without wishing to offend the purists and converting a 'good' speed six engined T350, I am now looking for a T350 with a blown engine so if you have a T350 with no engine and are looking to sell it then please contact me via my profile.

Thanks

[Gazzab]

An LS will go in but if u r paying someone else to do it it will cost circa 10K all in I guess.
You can fit an AJP V8 instead and creat a one off 100% TVR. There is a sag with an AJP V8 so it has been done.

[T40ORA]

FL07AAV said:

OK, without wishing to offend the purists and converting a 'good' speed six engined T350, I am now looking for a T350 with a blown engine so if you have a T350 with no engine and are looking to sell it then please contact me via my profile.

Thanks

Have you driven a Sp6 engined car? Try it before you go that route.

You may still want to, but give it a go first.

[pete]

Have you considered buying a Tamora and getting a TVR Power 4.3 upgrade for your 25k? That should be enough to sort out the suspension and fit a low ratio diff too, and would give you an incredibly quick car with a 5 year engine warranty. It's also the engine that God (ok, Peter Wheeler) intended for the car.

Mind you, if you do decide to go with the LS swap, I'd love to see how it goes. Take a look at the thread on the subject from a couple of weeks ago; that turned into a blazing row about whether it's possible or not in the T chassis and is a most entertaining read...

Pete

[TVR_owner]

pete said:

Have you considered buying a Tamora and getting a TVR Power 4.3 upgrade for your 25k? That should be enough to sort out the suspension and fit a low ratio diff too, and would give you an incredibly quick car with a 5 year engine warranty. It's also the engine that God (ok, Peter Wheeler) intended for the car.

Mind you, if you do decide to go with the LS swap, I'd love to see how it goes. Take a look at the thread on the subject from a couple of weeks ago; that turned into a blazing row about whether it's possible or not in the T chassis and is a most entertaining read...

Pete

I think an LS will fit, its just how much modification is required. I dont think you will get much done for 10k though with a new LS.

I'm firmly in thhe camp that says the T cars suit the S6 (and of course vice versa)

[FL07AAV]

I spoke recently with Steve Heath (from Steve Heath Engineering ltd) and asked him about the possibity of installing an LS engine into a T350 chassis.

He said he is doing the conversion at the moment for a T350 owner who broke down on the way to Le Mans. I asked him if he had encountered any problems and he encouragingly replied - "Not so far"

I would love to know who it is who is having their T350 converted at the moment, does anyone on here know them?

[Jezz172]

Mine's for sale in the classifieds
I'd go for that one lol

[977]

Aowhs102 said:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1060612.htm

Theres an option for you. Shouldnt go wrong (without opening a can of worms)and is in your budget, just...

I would have thought 18k is a bit cheap for a T350, but that said an LS1 lump would be awesome... there is one in a Saggy somewhere but i think its a race car not a road car so it may have had some fairly substantial mods to make it fit.


edit to add-> read this thread http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Edited by Aowhs102 on Tuesday 21st July 13:09

I've been out in that, it is really, VERY, VERY quick.

[SP6 Animal]

977 said:

Aowhs102 said:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1060612.htm

Theres an option for you. Shouldnt go wrong (without opening a can of worms)and is in your budget, just...

I would have thought 18k is a bit cheap for a T350, but that said an LS1 lump would be awesome... there is one in a Saggy somewhere but i think its a race car not a road car so it may have had some fairly substantial mods to make it fit.


edit to add-> read this thread http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Edited by Aowhs102 on Tuesday 21st July 13:09

I've been out in that, it is really, VERY, VERY quick.

From a 4L chim it's a major shock i have the 3.6 and quick enough at the moment thanks.