420s power and perfomance
Discussion
Figures are about right but there are more of these cars in existence than ever came out of the factory as other cars were modified afterwards and passed off as lookalikes or the genuine article such was the price adder for them. Check the provenance very very carefully.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Anyone have figures or better yet, test reports that show the 450 SE numbers, as well as power output? I know the factory rated them around 320-324 hp, 310 torque. I think 290 may be realistic in the horses department. Anyone had a 450 SE on a dyno? Regardless of the actual numbers, it sure goes like sh*t off a shovel.
Shawn Ford
450 SE
Shawn Ford
450 SE
Tim all these figures for the 420/450 lumps are impressive
. It does beg the question though why do the more modern motors like the beast fitted to Peter H's V8S not matched these figures today 
, considering the green V8S does have the nutter b8stard go faster stickers and RS 16V badging as well 
.
Surely (shirley) the time since these motors were developed things have moved on. It just seems strange that in this day and age you expect improvement with time, but they seem to have gone backwards so to speak.
Or have I got the totally wrong end of the stick again.
Harry
. It does beg the question though why do the more modern motors like the beast fitted to Peter H's V8S not matched these figures today , considering the green V8S does have the nutter b8stard go faster stickers and RS 16V badging as well . Surely (shirley) the time since these motors were developed things have moved on. It just seems strange that in this day and age you expect improvement with time, but they seem to have gone backwards so to speak.
Or have I got the totally wrong end of the stick again
. Harry
quote:
Tim all these figures for the 420/450 lumps are impressive
Surely (shirley) the time since these motors were developed things have moved on. It just seems strange that in this day and age you expect improvement with time, but they seem to have gone backwards so to speak.
Or have I got the totally wrong end of the stick again
Harry
Quite simple really , If we all drove original spec SEACs we would see the return of the "great" London Smog.
Things have moved on, we can enjoy fast cars and breath !
I have to say that I still love these monster Wedges and don't mean to Knock them.
Tim
Now that would be something neat to see. A 'Big Wedge Shootout'. Get a 400 SE, 420 SEAC, 420 SE, 450 SE and a 450 SEAC on the strip/track to see what these will do in the flesh. I would volunteer my 450, but I am in Germany. Kind of far to drive to England to meet all you WedgeHeads though.
Shawn Ford
Shawn Ford
quote:
Now that would be something neat to see. A 'Big Wedge Shootout'. Get a 400 SE, 420 SEAC, 420 SE, 450 SE and a 450 SEAC on the strip/track to see what these will do in the flesh. I would volunteer my 450, but I am in Germany. Kind of far to drive to England to meet all you WedgeHeads though.
Shawn Ford
It would be neat to see, but, is there a non-tweaked example of each out there??
quote:
In a staight line a healthy 420 will just about keep up with a Griff 500 , the extra bhp is lost against less slippery shape of the griff. Wedges are also heavier even the "light weight" SEAC is probably as least as much as the Griff/ Chimaera.
Don't underestimate the weight. The 520 was slimmed by 100 kg and still came in at just over the official weight in competition trim and somehwere near 125 kg heavier than a standard Griff. That is rougthly a 10% ptw ratio improvemnt in favour of the Griff which makes up for their power deficiency.
The Wedge aerodynamic aids are also not that good and act as aids for the other cars. This is why the 520 looks quite different as these have been improved.
As for findinging an unmodded example... please tell me the build standard first!
Steve
quote:
I think 290 may be realistic in the horses department. Anyone had a 450 SE on a dyno?
At PowerEngineering mine worked out (give or take a few bhp as I don't have the figures with me) at 280ish. Somewhere on Pistonheads (can't find it via the search Ted) there are the details of the rolling road session in Kent with a nice mix of TVRs so you can see how this all compares.
Oh, as for Tim's comments about fumes etc, you should try standing anywhere near mine while on a rolling road and see how long you can take it before your eyes flood and your throat disintegrates !
quote:
[Don't underestimate the weight. The 520 was slimmed by 100 kg and still came in at just over the official weight in competition trim and somehwere near 125 kg heavier than a standard Griff. That is rougthly a 10% ptw ratio improvemnt in favour of the Griff which makes up for their power deficiency.
I think when TVR built the 350/390s in the mid eighties they must have paid the body production staff a bonus, based on tonnage of GRP used. up to 7mm thick in places!!!!! It wasn't difficult to make the SEAC 200 kg lighter.
Tim
quote:
quote:
[Don't underestimate the weight. The 520 was slimmed by 100 kg and still came in at just over the official weight in competition trim and somehwere near 125 kg heavier than a standard Griff. That is rougthly a 10% ptw ratio improvemnt in favour of the Griff which makes up for their power deficiency.
I think when TVR built the 350/390s in the mid eighties they must have paid the body production staff a bonus, based on tonnage of GRP used. up to 7mm thick in places!!!!! It wasn't difficult to make the SEAC 200 kg lighter.
Tim
7mm, mere amateurs! I reckon the V8S bonnet must be half an inch thick in places!
quote:
7mm, mere amateurs! I reckon the V8S bonnet must be half an inch thick in places!
It was also double skinned... So I claim the professional status back on behalf of the non-curvy cars...
However the car has survived a lot of bumps and scrapes that I suspect a lesser car would have not so this is one reason why I haven't thinned everything.
Anyway Pete how much does that S bonnet weigh?
Steve
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff