TVR Cams and rockers

[RichB]

Here's one to ponder - as some of you may know I had a TVR Power 435 cam fitted to my Griff 500 about 4 years ago. The work was done by Portfield who also fitted steel push-rods, solid lifters and adjustable rockers etc. I've just had the car servied and Racing Green were advised by TVR Power that the 435 doesn't actually need solid lifters. As it's 4 years since the work was done and Portfield are no longer around I can't chat to them about it (although I know Kevin Moore is at Aston Works Service these days). I'll give Dom a call when I get home but just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this? Could it have been that Portfield just thought that solids would allow the use of more revs? They also did a similar job on Ted Reddicks Chimaera that he used for sprinting in those days. Rgds Rich...

[HarryW]

A TVR435 cam came out of my little old 4ltr last year, it had and still has Hydraulic lifters so obvioulsy it can run with them.
Personally I don't think the 435 is a particulary good performance cam.

Harry

[IPAddis]

I thought the TVR435 was the standard cam?

[RichB]

Humm I need to get to the bottom of this, perhaps I have the wrong number for the cam? Certainly Portfield swapped the standard one for an upgrade from TVR Power 4 years ago. Rich...

[HarryW]

IPAddis said:

I thought the TVR435 was the standard cam?

No it was one of TVR's attempts at a decent high(ish) lift performance cam.
The boggo standard cam is the TVR51 which is actually quiet a good cam IMHO, very torquey. Earlier performance cars such as the 4.3's started off with the TVR214, the 500's had the TVR435. Cars such as the SEAC had the TVR234 or poss an even wilder version. Not sure what the later cars had but I think the 500's stuck witht the 435 and the later 400's still had the TVR51, HC's either had the 214 or sometimes the 435.
All IMHO and probably wrong in areas .

Harry

[v8 racing]

The 435 is standard fitment in all 500 tiv motors and certainly does not need solid lifters all that will acheive is a drop in lift on the valve due to the tappet clearence, it would probably have been worse after you had it fitted!! i bet it pinked good too!

[2 sheds]

Rich
I would assume that you don't have the 435 cam then, as your car has a taller power band to the standard, must admit i used to think that the 435 was an optional cam, but i've heard other TVR cam reference numbers for uprated cams being used, it can get very confusing .
Tim

[Pies]

HarryW said:

IPAddis said: I thought the TVR435 was the standard cam? No it was one of TVR's attempts at a decent high(ish) lift performance cam. The boggo standard cam is the TVR51 which is actually quiet a good cam IMHO, very torquey. Earlier performance cars such as the 4.3's started off with the TVR214, the 500's had the TVR435. Cars such as the SEAC had the TVR234 or poss an even wilder version. Not sure what the later cars had but I think the 500's stuck witht the 435 and the later 400's still had the TVR51, HC's either had the 214 or sometimes the 435. All IMHO and probably wrong in areas . Harry

What do you think they stuffed in my ickle 4l ?

[2 sheds]

Probably TVR51
Tim

[HarryW]

Pies said:

What do you think they stuffed in my ickle 4l ?

As Tim says almost certainly the TVR51, given your recent torque figures though I sometimes doubt if it really is standard

harry

[RichB]

2 sheds said:

Rich - I would assume that you don't have the 435 cam

I've been in touch with Dom at TVR Power and it seems I actually have a 377 cam. I will have a chat with him next week to find out more about it. Rich...