Speed 6 rebuild

[Risoli]

My T350C has done 16k miles and runs as smooth as silk....my mechanic has told me i'm on borrowed time and that its only a matter of when, not if, my engine will now pack up and cost me a 6k rebuild! are the speed 6's that bad????? how long do they last? do most end up needing a rebuild or only a few??? how many miles etc?? any experience/views appreciated :-)

[Zippee]

Why has your mechanic said that? Is he a TVR specialist? Is the shim adjustment now maxxed out?
These engines do go but there are a number of T350s with 40k plus on them and no rebuild.
I'd be interested in knowing what basis your mechanic is using to say that.

[NTEL]

May I suggest you change your mechanic for a new one?

[da_murphster]

Later Speed 6's have a fairly good rep - don't belive the scaremongers.

Next service take to a decent TVR specialist.

That said, there is some truth that eventually you will need a rebuild - sounds like you need to do a bit more swatting up on the car you have bought!

[Far Eastender]

The Speed 6's that are currently around seem to be holding up quite well. It may well be that later versions had improved internals and that many owners have either rebuilt or upgraded their engines.

I'm up to 37,000 without a rebuild. There are many more comments here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Risoli]

swotting up on my car?? lol trust me it was eyes wide open not to mention the thousands spent on her since i bought her...i knew the speed 6 had issues from its inception in 1999 (mine is 2003 reg) but i had never heard the engines were as frail as i was told today. yes the mechanic is a very well known TVR specialist. a 30 to 40k rebuild i can live with; a 15k to 20k rebuild i can't! i"ll keep my fingers crossed and take heart from the fact it looks like most people manage to avoid a rebuild...at least for a while anyway :-)

[julianc]

NTEL said:

May I suggest you change your mechanic for a new one?

Agreed, Dave!

Paul at X Works Services told me recently that our Tamora engine (early 2003) was still sound at 20k miles (fingers crossed!), and your engine can't be any earlier. So assuming that your engine hasn't been thrashed from cold..........

[fred killer]

[YKB]

I recently photographed a Tamora (51 plate) for an article in Sprint that did 100K miles before a rebiuld. Even then it was the head gasket that blew not a problem with the cams or followers. Later engines are better but it's also down to luck, how you (and previous owners) look after it (warm up, service intervals) and who you have service it.

[shorts!]

Mine is an early 2004 T350; got to 60,000 before needing a rebuild, it's now approaching 100,000. There was a survey thread sometime ago about mileage before rebuilds, maybe check the speed six forum.

[Daston]

I would be asking why he thinks its going to let go and also why he hasnt offered anything in order to rectify the problem as surly fixing it would be better than a full rebuild!

[macdeb]

Seems a bit of a lottery. Some are lucky, some aren't. I personally know of a 54 plate T350 similar miles that's on it's 3rd rebuild! Others on here seem to have no problem. If your in doubt get it looked at, and maybe a second/third opinion. No fun driving around with fingers crossed [no pun intended] Great car though, miss mine sometimes.

Edited by macdeb on Wednesday 26th November 18:09