The V8 Owners Forum -

Nutty wrote:Many thanks for all the replies. For anyone interested, this was the engine I was considering (ebay 230172230192) but did'nt in the end. Mainly because if TVR exagurate hp by 15% or so then I would have little to gain.

Nutty.

Well as said I have 1st had proff of current figures and they are 55 - 10% and this is on 10-20 year old cars. so 15% is a bit harsh.

I don't think TVR ever quoted 280 BHP for a 4ltr. but as its a HC version it would have more work done than standard. and should get 230-250 BHP.
as I have seen lots of TVR worked 4ltr cars giving this bhp and this is on cars with 50K + on the clock.

The gear box is worth 200-300 plus it still has the complete injection system. so not a bad deal.

I surprized I never saw it. as it would have been perfect for me.

if that is the auction for the engine/box that was £4k or £4.5k (no ebay access at work) then you're just pissing your money away. You could build a new long engine with recon T5 for half that.

Or see sense and fit an LS1.

as already stated, putting TVR into an add seems to hike the price beyond reasonable amounts. That and it brings the monkeys out of the woodwork.

I remember seeing a Mk1 escort with a 'TVR engine conversion' which had supposedly cost about 15K

the guy may as well have bent over and handed the mechanic the KY for that as well.

James,

Your guess is as good as mine as to where they went unless ,hey were part of the package of prototype, competition and other cars a dealer purchased and was offering for sale at exorbitant prices.

Cant remember the dealers name but last time I saw his ad he still had a lot of the cars unsold.

Hate to thinkthey got scooped up with the trash when they cleared ot the factory.

Kevin.[/quote]

OK, some rolling road dyno results i've uncovered, power calculated at crank;

TVR SEAC with modified 4.6 stg III BV heads,H218 cam, 45mm alloy trumpets, fully ported and polished inlet manifold. Hotwire EFi plus modified ECU;
261BHP@4500RPM. 323lb/ft Torque@4000RPM.

TVR 5.0L Griff. Completely standard TVR stuff inc Kent 234 cam;
280BHP @ 5000RPM.

Another TVR 5.0L Griff, same cam;
283BHP @ 5500 RPM.

Many owners have since been to specialists, had extra work done and are getting nearer the claimed 320 with mods carried out to virtually everything.

chodjinn wrote:if that is the auction for the engine/box that was £4k or £4.5k (no ebay access at work) then you're just pissing your money away. You could build a new long engine with recon T5 for half that.

No was went for 860 ish inc gearbox, and EFI.

Yes if paying 4.5k you may as well give them the KY also.

You can get a complete car for less that 6k.

As for the TVR dyno figures they are all from old cars, so you are going to loose some BHP. also they the 1st two was at very low RPM.

I have seen 4 400SE's give 240-270 BHP on rollers. 3 was standard the 270 BHP one was unknown.

Plus have seen a standard 500 Chim give 299.

as said TVR to over claim but mainly by 5-10% but I don't think they are the only ones.

I have never seen a 5litre motor go for less than a grand on ebay


whereas the Japanese tend to go the other way with power figures.

They have (or did) a 'gentlemans agreement' to not have motors with more than 280bhp. The original R32 & R33 skylines were quoted at 280bhp, in reality the 'good ones' left the factory with as much as 330bhp apparently.

now that's what I'd prefer!

TVRleigh wrote:

chodjinn wrote:if that is the auction for the engine/box that was £4k or £4.5k (no ebay access at work) then you're just pissing your money away. You could build a new long engine with recon T5 for half that.

No was went for 860 ish inc gearbox, and EFI.

Yes if paying 4.5k you may as well give them the KY also.

You can get a complete car for less that 6k.

As for the TVR dyno figures they are all from old cars, so you are going to loose some BHP. also they the 1st two was at very low RPM.

I have seen 4 400SE's give 240-270 BHP on rollers. 3 was standard the 270 BHP one was unknown.

Plus have seen a standard 500 Chim give 299.

as said TVR to over claim but mainly by 5-10% but I don't think they are the only ones.

If you knew a thing or two about engines and dynos, you would know that power dies off at a certain rpm so the figures quoted on a dyno print out will show at what rpm max power is produced.
Peak torque is often found at much lower rpm, so say max power is produced at 5000 rpm, there is no point in revving to 6000 rpm before changing gear.
As for the cars quoted being "old", how do you know when these dyno figures i've copied were produced?
The SEAC is the same age as the ones you quoted. The Griff is as you know newer.
The OP was looking to use an engine of this era.

Ian Richardson at Wildcat got to keep the 3 pukka engines as part of his wages:) Thing is, they are rover 6.0 block castings and iirc have pistons and parts in common with the sbc. In many ways it makes sense to start with an sbc.