Bigpower

So, not posted for a while, but here I am.


The Bad News.

You know that some people...doomsayers, the lot of them...reckon that TVRs are a bit fragile.

Well, they're right. At the moment, the Big Green Noise Machine is languishing at an engine rebuilder, with a large pile of scrap that used to be its engine sitting in a rough heap. The crankshaft is now an interesting piece of modern art, consisting of two very large pieces of metal. Yes, two. That's not how it should be, as I'm sure you've guessed.

Approximate rebuild cost....lots. Lots and lots and lots. Five or six thousand lots in fact.

The Good News

Well, my local engine builder (HRD in Witchford) is run by a very very bad man. So bad in fact, that when he suggested 'Ooh, it's a bit rough in the inlet tracts...we could smooth those off a bit...and knife edge those ports as well while we're in there....' that I said 'ooh, okay then.

We're also doing away with those nasty catalytic convertors.

End result - he reckons the rebuild (without the worn big ends) will give me another 30bhp, the exhaust another 20, and the head work another 20.

Now, the Cerb was bloody fast before, but I am intrigued to see what it'll be like with another 80bhp, and also the lovely new suspension I was in the process of fitting.

I should actually have one of the nicest Cerbs in the country after that...but to say my wife is unhappy about the bill is a massive, pink, polka dotted, trumpet playing, flag waving understatement.

Still - a genuine 400bhp and 1100kgs...

That'll work, that will.

James

Lol sounds a nice setup !!

Look forward to seeing it.

5 or 6k is the price for most engine rebuilds nowadays.

Mr Dening:- TVR's...............damned TVR's.

I had rather hoped you were going to pop up with a thread on here and delight me with tales of your derring do, vivid pictures of you and the Cerb on lockstops at Donington, Brands or the like. To see your post was bad news..bollocks!

Do you know why the failure occurred? Is the bill that big because that's what they cost or are your indulgences a larger contributor to that bill than you let on I had always imagined that the AJP was a more sensibly priced lump to work on (Got that wrong, clearly)

Very best of luck for your work. 400bhp in 1100kgs will work very nicely indeed James......did you go for the Nitrons by the way?

Do you mean me or him ???



400bhp and 1100kg's is sooooooooooooo last season !!!

470 and 1100kgs is the current style boyo and 1100bhp and 1200kg's is where its at !!!



Good luck with the AJP rebuild - I would just double check that knife edging a flat plane crank is a good idea and doesnt setup any harmonic imbalances or issues. I dont know one way or the other, but they are extremely uncommon and so may not take kindly to some of the usual practices that a good (but possibly inexperienced with AJP's) engine builder might employ.

J.

Bladerider wrote:
400bhp and 1100kg's is sooooooooooooo last season !!!

Mr Dening intends to use his more than 4 times in a year though Tub :wave2:

Bladerider wrote:Do you mean me or him ???



400bhp and 1100kg's is sooooooooooooo last season !!!

470 and 1100kgs is the current style boyo and 1100bhp and 1200kg's is where its at !!!

Sorry, I should've said '400 nice normally aspirated useable 2wd bhp'

Bladerider wrote: Good luck with the AJP rebuild - I would just double check that knife edging a flat plane crank is a good idea and doesnt setup any harmonic imbalances or issues. I dont know one way or the other, but they are extremely uncommon and so may not take kindly to some of the usual practices that a good (but possibly inexperienced with AJP's) engine builder might employ.

J.

You're right - we're not doing anything to the crank, or anything to raise compression - my engine builder said 'Bloody compression's through the roof anyway' - just a bit of port work that won't hurt reliability. If anything, it'll run a bit smoother and more economically. Ho ho.

J.

stuartstaples wrote:Mr Dening:- TVR's...............damned TVR's.

I had rather hoped you were going to pop up with a thread on here and delight me with tales of your derring do, vivid pictures of you and the Cerb on lockstops at Donington, Brands or the like. To see your post was bad news..bollocks!

Do you know why the failure occurred? Is the bill that big because that's what they cost or are your indulgences a larger contributor to that bill than you let on I had always imagined that the AJP was a more sensibly priced lump to work on (Got that wrong, clearly)

Very best of luck for your work. 400bhp in 1100kgs will work very nicely indeed James......did you go for the Nitrons by the way?

No - the bits for the AJP are expensive, as they're single sourced...1500 quid for a crank, and none on the secondhand market. The failure was just wear and tear - the cradle for the big end was visibly worn, which ... hang on - comedy email just arrived:

"We have a selection of TVR 4.2 AJP V8 engines available.
Prices start from

Just had my first proper result - found someone doing decat link pipes - brand new pair, made to measure for 75 quid!

That seems pretty good to me....

Cheap as chips for the decats. That'll sound like thunder when you get it back, talking of which how on Earth will you get passed a noise test on a track day James??

Onwards and upwards regarding the car. I look forward to seeing you and Mr Booker on track together next season, much as you two were with your E30's earlier in the year (Just don't bump mirrors, eh? )

stuartstaples wrote:Cheap as chips for the decats. That'll sound like thunder when you get it back, talking of which how on Earth will you get passed a noise test on a track day James??

Onwards and upwards regarding the car. I look forward to seeing you and Mr Booker on track together next season, much as you two were with your E30's earlier in the year (Just don't bump mirrors, eh? )

I've been told my my engine builder it'll be 'ooh, a lot louder'.

Now, you lot heard it at SNetterton - it's pretty bloody loud anyway...god only knows.


And, also, I'm using an engine builder about 1 mile outside Ely, which might be of interest to the Ely Massiiiiive. I'll hold fire with utmost praise until the car's running again, but so far so good.

J.