General Problems
Discussion
As a newish (4 months) ‘S’ owner and recognising that the help from you all is superb, I am a little concerned that despite checking many threads, I am unable to find help on any of the following:
1. Has anyone managed to make up a splayed exhaust system so as to permit the fitting of a tow-bar? Given the car’s weight and engine torque, I would have thought it ideal for my twin-axle caravan.
2. The ‘S’ has a low centre of gravity and I have found no problems on extreme inclines but I am having a real issue with Bridgestones and their lack of grip in the wet. Can anyone recommend a good off-road tyre? Is there an s off-road club near me in the midlands who might help?
3. What maximum load do people recommend for a roof rack please? Despite tightening down the gutter clips to the beads on the roof edges, I find there is still play.
4. My recently fitted high-level brake light is still lower than your average saloon’s normal lights. I am thinking of re-fitting it onto a stand but then I would be unable to use the heated rear window wiring. Do TVR specialists have an off the shelf solution to this please? Does anyone want a new hood with a four-inch aperture in the top of the rear window?
5. Given the tendency for them to swing dangerously due to the turbulence when the hood is down, I have been forced to change my dice for a larger and heavier pair but am worried about the load on the interior mirror. Has anyone out there had problems with this please?
Cheers
Sam
1. Has anyone managed to make up a splayed exhaust system so as to permit the fitting of a tow-bar? Given the car’s weight and engine torque, I would have thought it ideal for my twin-axle caravan.
2. The ‘S’ has a low centre of gravity and I have found no problems on extreme inclines but I am having a real issue with Bridgestones and their lack of grip in the wet. Can anyone recommend a good off-road tyre? Is there an s off-road club near me in the midlands who might help?
3. What maximum load do people recommend for a roof rack please? Despite tightening down the gutter clips to the beads on the roof edges, I find there is still play.
4. My recently fitted high-level brake light is still lower than your average saloon’s normal lights. I am thinking of re-fitting it onto a stand but then I would be unable to use the heated rear window wiring. Do TVR specialists have an off the shelf solution to this please? Does anyone want a new hood with a four-inch aperture in the top of the rear window?
5. Given the tendency for them to swing dangerously due to the turbulence when the hood is down, I have been forced to change my dice for a larger and heavier pair but am worried about the load on the interior mirror. Has anyone out there had problems with this please?
Cheers
Sam
Sam,
The info is not easy to find here - Ted's search engine seems to filter it out.
This problem is less noticable with the V8S exhaust, but the fix recomended by the Caravan Club is to fit side pipe exhausts. Halfords can supply all the parts you need.
The Bridgestones should be ok in the wet, but for mud / wet grass you'll be better fitting re-drilled Discovery rims and All Terrain tyres. You'll need longer springs and a lift kit but this also helps with speed bumps. Sorry don't know of a club.
With the suspension lift, the load limit can be higher than you think, the roof design is poor so drill through and bolt the roof rack down through the roof. You can fit a full length roof rack if you fabricat supports down to the tow bar at the rear and through the wings to the chassis at the front (careful here not to bugger up the steering travel). This will mean you need to fit a Griffith bonnet and Isopon the original bonnet shut.
Arse, you're 'aving a laugh - You fit the high level brake light to the back of the roof rack.
You can refit the originals now as the roof is bolted in place by the roof rack. Don't you think dice would loo a bit naff in a S series though, I mean, think of the image.
I may have some photos of these mods on my V8S somewhere, I'll have a look.
Cheers,
JSG.
The info is not easy to find here - Ted's search engine seems to filter it out.
quote:
As a newish (4 months) ‘S’ owner and recognising that the help from you all is superb, I am a little concerned that despite checking many threads, I am unable to find help on any of the following:
1. Has anyone managed to make up a splayed exhaust system so as to permit the fitting of a tow-bar? Given the car’s weight and engine torque, I would have thought it ideal for my twin-axle caravan.
This problem is less noticable with the V8S exhaust, but the fix recomended by the Caravan Club is to fit side pipe exhausts. Halfords can supply all the parts you need.
quote:
2. The ‘S’ has a low centre of gravity and I have found no problems on extreme inclines but I am having a real issue with Bridgestones and their lack of grip in the wet. Can anyone recommend a good off-road tyre? Is there an s off-road club near me in the midlands who might help?
The Bridgestones should be ok in the wet, but for mud / wet grass you'll be better fitting re-drilled Discovery rims and All Terrain tyres. You'll need longer springs and a lift kit but this also helps with speed bumps. Sorry don't know of a club.
quote:
3. What maximum load do people recommend for a roof rack please? Despite tightening down the gutter clips to the beads on the roof edges, I find there is still play.
With the suspension lift, the load limit can be higher than you think, the roof design is poor so drill through and bolt the roof rack down through the roof. You can fit a full length roof rack if you fabricat supports down to the tow bar at the rear and through the wings to the chassis at the front (careful here not to bugger up the steering travel). This will mean you need to fit a Griffith bonnet and Isopon the original bonnet shut.
quote:
4. My recently fitted high-level brake light is still lower than your average saloon’s normal lights. I am thinking of re-fitting it onto a stand but then I would be unable to use the heated rear window wiring. Do TVR specialists have an off the shelf solution to this please? Does anyone want a new hood with a four-inch aperture in the top of the rear window?
Arse, you're 'aving a laugh - You fit the high level brake light to the back of the roof rack.
quote:
5. Given the tendency for them to swing dangerously due to the turbulence when the hood is down, I have been forced to change my dice for a larger and heavier pair but am worried about the load on the interior mirror. Has anyone out there had problems with this please?
You can refit the originals now as the roof is bolted in place by the roof rack. Don't you think dice would loo a bit naff in a S series though, I mean, think of the image.
I may have some photos of these mods on my V8S somewhere, I'll have a look.
Cheers,
JSG.
Dear Sam,
Unfortunately I do not have any experience with retrofitting any of the items mentioned by you, but if you are interested in fitting a Child Seat Presence and Orientation Detection Sensor into your Passenger seat, similar than the one in your hairdresser's SLK, then I might help you. This is of enormous impotence, for allowing appropriate Airbag Deployment according to US law 208
Hope this helps
Patrick
Unfortunately I do not have any experience with retrofitting any of the items mentioned by you, but if you are interested in fitting a Child Seat Presence and Orientation Detection Sensor into your Passenger seat, similar than the one in your hairdresser's SLK, then I might help you. This is of enormous impotence, for allowing appropriate Airbag Deployment according to US law 208
Hope this helps
Patrick
Another mod you may want to try is conversion to front wheel drive and then you can fit a proper exhaust silencer in the space the prop shaft used to take up. If you are towing a caravan, you may also want to consider a diesel, there are plenty of ex-taxi Ford Sierra 2.3 D's knocking around and the engine should drop straight in!
Hope this helps,
Jas.
Hope this helps,
Jas.
quote:
1. Has anyone managed to make up a splayed exhaust system so as to permit the fitting of a tow-bar? Given the car’s weight and engine torque, I would have thought it ideal for my twin-axle caravan.
Sam, perhaps I can offer some advice about your outfit match.
I'm afraid it's bad news regarding your twin-axle. You see, I'm sure your tow car would be a perfectly capable 'tug' powerwise, but it's vitally important that you get the weight balance correct. According to the Caravan Club, on no account should the mass of the fully laiden trailer exceed 100% or the towcar's weight. Indeed, for an inexperienced driver the recommended limit is 80% of the car's weight.
Now a V8S probably weighs something like 1,050 kg. Allowing an extra say 250 kg for your mods (roofrack, towbar, 2.3D, high level light, novelty dice) that's 1,300 kg. This is about the curb-weight of the smaller twin-axles, before you add all your extra kit (porta potti, fire bucket, BBQ, awning, beer). Too heavy I'm afraid.
However I have a solution. Trade in your twin-axle for a Rapido Club 31T Pop-Up. A superb match for your rig. Curb weight 520kg, fully laiden 650kg. Perfect.
>> Edited by Jarcy on Tuesday 16th April 23:14
Mmmm.. Jas, I like the sound of the FWD conversion..
But what annoys me is every time when I'm in Halfords, they've never got a Peco 6" back box that fits my S, I really need one as the car just dosnt sound like a real sports car.
And how am I meant to fit a 6 foot MDF bass box in that boot??!!
But what annoys me is every time when I'm in Halfords, they've never got a Peco 6" back box that fits my S, I really need one as the car just dosnt sound like a real sports car.
And how am I meant to fit a 6 foot MDF bass box in that boot??!!
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