Why did TVR develop their own engines ?
Discussion
This is a question that has intrigued me for a while. I can understand why TVR chose to remain completely British and install Al Mellings engines, however it would appear to have backfired. The general opinion on this forum sems to be that AJP engines (especially the sixes) are pants with a limited lifespan. If they dont go bang, then they need to return to the factory to have the latest modification installed so that they dont.
Would it not have been preferable to use either the GM or Ford USA V8''s - unlike the Rover lump, they should remain emissions compliant for some time. They are also relaible and can be tuned to produce (almost) AJP levels of power/torque (with a bigger capacity of course).
A lot of the American V8s are much bigger and heavier than the Rover (Buick) V8. This would have mean't serious chassis and suspension design chanages (remember TVRs are nearly mid-engined as the engine sits so far back). The AJP engines are ultra narrow (look at the AJP V8 - no fancy stuff like quad cams, 4 valves per cylinder to fatten it up). I believe the AJP engines are really light too.
Also, Peter Wheeler owns TVR - he could close it tomorrow if he wanted and start building plastic Blackpool Towers instead (hang on, that's what he does now). He is the inspiration behind the company and wanted to build his own engine. Look at the results of the GT racing (Speed 12 = 2 x Speed 6s welded together) and the Tuscan racing. TVR are beating Porsche at their own game after 1 year, Porsche have been developing their cars for many years.
I'm sure whatever niggles there are will be sorted out soon.
Trefor/.
(I could have got some facts wrong here!).
Firstly, it's a good question. Although the AJP V8 seems to be pretty sorted now the speed six is still having big troubles.
One point though is that Al Melling had nothing to do with the six. There is a general concensus that TVR nicked the original Al Melling six pot plans and developed them themselves, but there isn't any proof of this.
I think they should make their own engines but should test the things properly before unleashing them on us- their customers. I guess they can't afford to do it that way???
I saw my first AJP engine at a Birmingham Motorshow (1992 I think) where 2 were on display, one in a Griffith (The AJP Griffith) and one in a single seater race car (formula 3000?) chassis. Rover had dropped the V8 from their saloon range in favour of the Honda V6 in the late 80s and was generally believed that the V8's days were numbered. PW had always wanted his own engine and the AJP8 was developed, initially for the Griffith. Things never went to plan, - the first run of blocks were porous, the cranks cracked and the old Rover V8 still thundered on in the Range Rover meaning that specialists such as Morgan, Westfield, Marcos and TVR still had access to the engine. TVR Power developed the 5 litre version of the Rover engine and this was used instead of the AJP to give the Griff and Chimps more grunt.
TVR persevered with the AJP with both Peter Wheeler and John Ravenscroft running test-bed engines in the 1994 Tuscan race series. The early problems were ironed out (almost) and the factory made AJP engines available to all Tuscan racers (at a price) in 1995. The prototype Cerbera at the 1995 London Show had the AJP8 fitted, although TVR had already learnt that the V8 was very expensive to build and in 1996, plans were drawn for a straight six. Unlike the V8, this unit was never tested, to my knowledge, in the race cars and so all the Cerbera and Tuscan Speed 6 cars built to date have been used as test-beds. As BS would say 'What's the problem? It's under warranty....'
No prizes for guessing why Morgan are using a BMW unit for their new car 
I tink some of the facts on the AJP8 and AJP6 arn't quite up to scratsh
The AJP8 has 4 cama and 32 valves
The AJP6 has 2 cams and 24 valves
Hows Fred 
what do you think of my model car
http://www.pistonheads.com/members/images/campbell.jpg
Edited by campbell on Monday 10th September 11:09
what do you think of my model car
http://www.pistonheads.com/members/images/campbell.jpg
Edited by campbell on Monday 10th September 11:09 
quote:it's difficult to know which of you is more wrong
Hi cambell Sorry to say you knowledge of TVR engine specifications is not as good as your command of syntax and spelling. AJP8 one camshaft and 16v AJP6 one camshaft and 24v I think. Still great model and we love your contributions.
AJP8 one camshaft per bank = two camshafts. Two valves per cyclinder = 16 valves
AJP6 two camshafts. Four valves per cylinder = 24 valves.
Mike.
I think that's kinda what I said at the beginning isn't it? ;-)
Whatever the case, they go like stink and sound wicked. I guess TVR haven't even built 1,000 of either engine yet - we're still in beta testing times.
Trefor/. Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff