Dead TVR ... Snapped Crankshaft .. Time to upgrade

[jvaughan]

Well, 2 weeks ago, whilst driving the car quietly ( I know its not often, but I really was this time ), the car left me stranded (First time in 6 years of ownership). The cause.. Snapped Crankshaft.

Now is the time to specify what I want done in the rebuild.
Firstly, im resisting the urge to just throw in a 4.6 or bigger because I want to keep the car a 4 litre (as it ways on the Log Book!)

But... what else can I do ?

Have thought about a Lightened and Balanced, Cross Bolted, Blueprinted short 4 litre, baffelled sump.

I hope to use my old CAM (8,000 miles old), maybe uprated pushrods, new timing gear.

Trying to stick to a budget and not go crazy £2500 - £3000 max.

Anyone suggest some mods I should considder when the engine is in bits ?

[wedg1e]

Vernier cam gear? Duplex timing gears and chain? Uprated oil pump?
Don't forget to fit a new spigot bearing...

Ian

[annodomini2]

Billet crank, a friend runs a 4.0 in a fisher fury for racing, was always breaking cranks before he fitted a billet one.

[Paul V]

Surely if your going to modify you might as well go bigger capacity, if you want it standard put it back the way it was. You could get a second hand 500 engine for around £3k

[Size Nine Elm]

From an email Graham Walden posted to the TVR list 15 months ago...

Graham Walden said:

JE Performance Short Engines 3.5 Litre - Exchange from # 1290.00 + VAT 3.9 Litre - New from # 1375.00 + VAT 4.2 Litre - Exchange from # 1450.00 + VAT 4.5 Litre - Exchange from # 1650.00 + VAT 4.6 Litre - New from # 1458.91 + VAT 4.9 Litre - Exchange from # 2996.00 + VAT All above are lightened, fully balanced to competition specification, blueprinted and hand assembled with heavy duty bearings. www.jeengineering.co.uk

[Size Nine Elm]

From same email Graham Walden posted to the TVR list 15 months ago...

Graham Walden said:

www.rover-v8.com SHORT ENGINES. Block, crank, rods and pistons.Fully balanced. Camshaft and timing chain assembly. Assembled and Crated. Built from all new parts. Outright sale NO exchange unit needed. Engine Specification. Price +VAT 3.5. litre 88.9mm x 71.12mm High and low compression # 750.00 3.5.litre 94.04mm x 63mm 10.5:1 to 12.5:1 CR #3,200.00 3.9. litre 94.04mm x 71.12mm High and low compression #1,050.00 4.0. litre 94.04mm x 71.12mm High and low compression #1,150.00 4.6. litre 94.04mm x 82mm 8.13:1, 9.35:1, 10.5:1 CR #1,150.00 4.8. litre 94.04mm x 86.36mm 9.35:1 to 11.0:1 CR #1,950.00 5.0. litre 94.04mm x 90mm 9.35 to 11.0:1 CR #2,450.00 5.2. litre 94.04mm x 92mm 9.35:1 to 11.0:1 CR #2,850.00

Edited to add: anybody here know about running with a 5.2 litre engine? Mr. Heath?

>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Thursday 24th July 17:13

[victormeldrew]

Jason

Your profile has you as a Rover 800 man, is that what's broken?

[jvaughan]

victormeldrew said:

Jason Your profile has you as a Rover 800 man, is that what's broken?

No, its my 400SE.
The rover is working fine.

[wedg1e]

Jason, given the bnature of the beast I wouldn't worry about going for a capacity increase/ state of tune upgrade. We are all enthusiasts here; we expect to see it! I don't give a flying shag that my 390 no longer has a 3905 with Cosworth pistons. I care rather more that if it breaks again, I can fix it with less hassle!
I think that a 400 with a 4.2, 4.6 or maybe 500 would be well 'in the spirit' as I like to say. Nothing too radical, unless you want to take on Mr. Heath in the bigenginewrappedinaTVRshapedshell stakes.
Just make sure that you get all the receipts and some photos if possible: take the oportunity to do any other jobs that are made easier with the engine out and if/ when you came to sell, you'll impress someone like me a whole lot more than those who advertise a car with all manner of wild claims thay can't prove. I know at least one 400SE that's supposed to be a 4.2 but isn't. There's a guy on wedgepages who bought a 390 that wasn't. As for that 'prototype' on Ebay...
You'd at least be able to show a professional approach if you rack up some history of the work.

Just my sixth of a shilling.

Ian

[350matt]

I would say go for the 4.6 as if can get a new front end for it (serpentine) then its a much better engine , due to: x-bolted mains, superior oil pump & lubrication, shorter & lighter than the SD1 lump, built in crank trigger for decent ECU set-up.
As for the Log book, since when have insurance assessors ever checked engine capacity?

Matt

[Neil Hyde]

Jason ,
Just got back from Devon in the Wedge !!!

While I was ther had a look at what is left of your engine , as soon as I download my pics I have one of the damage .

I wouldn't talk to Richard about Wedges at the moment , as he was in at 7am today until 3pm sorting out mine !

Full marks to the guys at Peninsula .

[jvaughan]

Neil Hyde said:

Jason , Just got back from Devon in the Wedge !!! While I was ther had a look at what is left of your engine , as soon as I download my pics I have one of the damage . I wouldn't talk to Richard about Wedges at the moment , as he was in at 7am today until 3pm sorting out mine ! Full marks to the guys at Peninsula .

Hmm From my discussion with Richard on Friday he tells me, although he has known V8's to snap cranks, mine is the first 4 litre....

Would love to get some pix. please donot post them though ... not yet.(email is fine jason.vaughan @ btinternet.com )

cheers

[shpub]

Size Nine Elm said:

Edited to add: anybody here know about running with a 5.2 litre engine? Mr. Heath?

0-60 3.9s. 0-100 8s
Average speed for a standing start lap at Goodwood: 94 ish mph.
Rear road tyres last about 1200 miles. Fuel consumption 2 mpg on track, 11 ish cruising.
UJs need replacing every 3-4 months. Gearbox, clutch and most other bits declared consumables...

The story is on www.t-v-r-services.co.uk if you want the gory details...

[danny hoffman]

Jason, if it makes you feel any better the 911 broke down today - wedge is still running sweet!

Any idea when you will back on the road?

Danny

[jvaughan]

danny hoffman said:

Jason, if it makes you feel any better the 911 broke down today - wedge is still running sweet! Any idea when you will back on the road? Danny

awaiting an email from Peninsula to discuss options.
It MUST be back before the Le Surrey Run on 7th September, or im going to have to buy another TVR just to attend

Currently its gonna be 4 litre, cross bolted, uprates include oil pump, timing gear, fully balanced crank, clutch, flywheel, lightened, new anti pump lifters, baffelled sump.

Still contemplating the Stage 3 heads. and the chip/remapping of the ecu
No idea on power output but im hoping to keep the same 300ish figure i had out of the old engine (flywheel obviously)

[wedg1e]

If you're going for lightening and anti-pump llifters, why not opt for solid lifters and adjustable pushrods? Makes setting the valve clearances easier (or, perhaps I should say, makes getting them down to the nth degree easier... )
It'll rev to the skies.... for those times when you NEED it to...

Ian

[350matt]

Have you already got some short trumpets? These are well worth doing if not. Also V8 dev has some reasonable priced short engines: www.v8developments.co.uk/special.asp

Matt

>> Edited by 350matt on Tuesday 29th July 17:36

[edhorne]

Sorry to hear about you engine. Have you tried TVR Power. They are always advertising on here and I guess they built it in the first place!

Let us know how you get on

Ed

[jvaughan]

edhorne said:

Sorry to hear about you engine. Have you tried TVR Power. They are always advertising on here and I guess they built it in the first place! Let us know how you get on Ed

Thanks Ed..
new engine on order ... should be deliveed within the next 5 - 7 days.
Not telling the spec tey, it hasnt been finalised.
suffuce to say it is a new 4 litre block.

[cirks]

jvaughan said:

Not telling the spec tey, it hasnt been finalised. suffuce to say it is a new 4 litre block.

So Jason, has the spec been finalised yet?

jvaughan said:

No idea on power output but im hoping to keep the same 300ish figure i had out of the old engine (flywheel obviously)

Would have to pretty good 4 litre to get to that figure. What did you have done to your engine between the rolling road session in Kent when yours was 154bhp at the wheels and your 300 at the fly....? It must have been a hefty upgrade that you're going to have to replace :-(