Revised finger followers - when were they introduced?
Discussion
Following this topic: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Blipi's pics (halfway down the page) show the revised finger followers with smoother finish, listed as a 2005 design. Is this when this casting was introduced, or did the lesser-discussed mid-2002 revisions include such finger followers?
Reason I ask is because my October '02 Tamora definitely has the later followers, yet when I bought it three years ago from its first owner I was told it had never had a rebuild. At 19,000 miles, it would be nice to know there isn't one impending (mainly because I can't afford a 4.3 this year)...
Cheers guys.
Blipi's pics (halfway down the page) show the revised finger followers with smoother finish, listed as a 2005 design. Is this when this casting was introduced, or did the lesser-discussed mid-2002 revisions include such finger followers?
Reason I ask is because my October '02 Tamora definitely has the later followers, yet when I bought it three years ago from its first owner I was told it had never had a rebuild. At 19,000 miles, it would be nice to know there isn't one impending (mainly because I can't afford a 4.3 this year)...
Cheers guys.
Spoonman said:
Blipi's pics (halfway down the page) show the revised finger followers with smoother finish, listed as a 2005 design. Is this when this casting was introduced, or did the lesser-discussed mid-2002 revisions include such finger followers?
John Ravenscroft et al didn't just sit around for a few years then introduce a revised engine every three years. Updates, as in any engineering, are continuous. Best not to worry about whether you have a 2001, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc f.follower and whether from early-mid-late year but just enjoy the car.I have just replaced one in mine, it appears to be the new design but was very badly worn, although all the others were perfect, alittle strange but its a TVR so that says it all really (oh it was on the inlet side too not the dreaded no6 exhaust). Mine is a 2000 car which had a rebuild in december 03 and had the followers done then.
When my follower failed it gradually got worse over about 10 gentle ish miles. Even then it was not dramatic and was only slightly louder at idle, it was most noticable when cruising at 1500 - 2k revs, i choose to stop driving it before it got expensive. Its not the sort of thing you ignor and turn the radio up abit!
If i was you i would not worry, walm it up properly and drive it as intended and only worry if/when it happens.
If i was you i would not worry, walm it up properly and drive it as intended and only worry if/when it happens.
It's my understanding that a major part of the early engine problems (aside from the alleged but yet to be proven design and lube issues) was that the hardness of the followers in relation to the cams was not properly matched resulting in a rapid wear rate of the softer of the two materials.
Later engines and good rebuilds have followers and cams where the surface hardness of both is increased over the originals but crucially are both the same. Just popping in a couple of new followers rather than changing the lot with a "matched set" whilst you're there is in my opinion just a quick fix to delay the inevitable of more knackered followers and cams.
Later engines and good rebuilds have followers and cams where the surface hardness of both is increased over the originals but crucially are both the same. Just popping in a couple of new followers rather than changing the lot with a "matched set" whilst you're there is in my opinion just a quick fix to delay the inevitable of more knackered followers and cams.
dvs_dave said:
It's my understanding that a major part of the early engine problems (aside from the alleged but yet to be proven design and lube issues) was that the hardness of the followers in relation to the cams was not properly matched resulting in a rapid wear rate of the softer of the two materials.
Later engines and good rebuilds have followers and cams where the surface hardness of both is increased over the originals but crucially are both the same. Just popping in a couple of new followers rather than changing the lot with a "matched set" whilst you're there is in my opinion just a quick fix to delay the inevitable of more knackered followers and cams.
Don't forget the reduced oil ways in earlier sp6's starving the top end of oil.Later engines and good rebuilds have followers and cams where the surface hardness of both is increased over the originals but crucially are both the same. Just popping in a couple of new followers rather than changing the lot with a "matched set" whilst you're there is in my opinion just a quick fix to delay the inevitable of more knackered followers and cams.
For interest, before my Tamora 2002 sp6 upgrade/rebuild to 4.0L in 2007, my original followers were well worn, and that was after 22,000 miles on the clock.
icraigmy said:
dvs_dave said:
It's my understanding that a major part of the early engine problems (aside from the alleged but yet to be proven design and lube issues) was that the hardness of the followers in relation to the cams was not properly matched resulting in a rapid wear rate of the softer of the two materials.
Later engines and good rebuilds have followers and cams where the surface hardness of both is increased over the originals but crucially are both the same. Just popping in a couple of new followers rather than changing the lot with a "matched set" whilst you're there is in my opinion just a quick fix to delay the inevitable of more knackered followers and cams.
Don't forget the reduced oil ways in earlier sp6's starving the top end of oil.Later engines and good rebuilds have followers and cams where the surface hardness of both is increased over the originals but crucially are both the same. Just popping in a couple of new followers rather than changing the lot with a "matched set" whilst you're there is in my opinion just a quick fix to delay the inevitable of more knackered followers and cams.
For interest, before my Tamora 2002 sp6 upgrade/rebuild to 4.0L in 2007, my original followers were well worn, and that was after 22,000 miles on the clock.
some spd 6s were on their 3rd set of followers before they got through the gates 
icraigmy said:
Don't forget the reduced oil ways in earlier sp6's starving the top end of oil.
Yes, this is believed to also be one of the contributing factors. TVR did apparently run durability tests on the S6 valvegear with it completely submerged in oil to test the lack of lubrication theory. The tests were inconclusive. Go figure????
I keep popping in here to see if anyone forgets about the changes in the speed six. Heres one of the head gasket modification, in the hope it would cool numbers 5 and 6.
I would appreciate if anyone can measure the valve spring pressures from an old 2000 engine and say a 2006, and submit their findings?
I suspect that they are a lot lighter.
I would appreciate if anyone can measure the valve spring pressures from an old 2000 engine and say a 2006, and submit their findings?
I suspect that they are a lot lighter.
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