Discussion
Good day good people.
I've just bought a TVR Griffith 500. (1995).
Drives spot on and it has a full service history. The previous owner has very much cared for it and has spent many thousands on it.
Out riggers done last year, loads of new parts fitted in the last few months.
Body is immaculate.
So what needs doing you may ask?
Well, the seats are very tired and need trimming.
The carpets are nasty. Dash veneer is peeling. Hood is good but needs a little attention.
Basically, it needs a tidy up.
Plan is to play with it and I've contacted powers performance to upgrade the ignition system etc. Fit a camshaft (existing is ok but liven it up would be nice).
New injectors etc etc.
Then, off to have the carpets changed and seats retrimmed.
ACT will supply some shiny buts.
My job then to tidy up under the bonnet.
There's a few details I'd like to pay attention to and in the future I'll probably need advice on 'how to'.
I'm excited!!
I've just bought a TVR Griffith 500. (1995).
Drives spot on and it has a full service history. The previous owner has very much cared for it and has spent many thousands on it.
Out riggers done last year, loads of new parts fitted in the last few months.
Body is immaculate.
So what needs doing you may ask?
Well, the seats are very tired and need trimming.
The carpets are nasty. Dash veneer is peeling. Hood is good but needs a little attention.
Basically, it needs a tidy up.
Plan is to play with it and I've contacted powers performance to upgrade the ignition system etc. Fit a camshaft (existing is ok but liven it up would be nice).
New injectors etc etc.
Then, off to have the carpets changed and seats retrimmed.
ACT will supply some shiny buts.
My job then to tidy up under the bonnet.
There's a few details I'd like to pay attention to and in the future I'll probably need advice on 'how to'.
I'm excited!!
Harvy500 said:
Good day good people.
I've just bought a TVR Griffith 500. (1995).
Drives spot on and it has a full service history. The previous owner has very much cared for it and has spent many thousands on it.
Out riggers done last year, loads of new parts fitted in the last few months.
Body is immaculate.
So what needs doing you may ask?
Well, the seats are very tired and need trimming.
The carpets are nasty. Dash veneer is peeling. Hood is good but needs a little attention.
Basically, it needs a tidy up.
Plan is to play with it and I've contacted powers performance to upgrade the ignition system etc. Fit a camshaft (existing is ok but liven it up would be nice).
New injectors etc etc.
Then, off to have the carpets changed and seats retrimmed.
ACT will supply some shiny buts.
My job then to tidy up under the bonnet.
There's a few details I'd like to pay attention to and in the future I'll probably need advice on 'how to'.
I'm excited!!
Welcome to PH. I've just bought a TVR Griffith 500. (1995).
Drives spot on and it has a full service history. The previous owner has very much cared for it and has spent many thousands on it.
Out riggers done last year, loads of new parts fitted in the last few months.
Body is immaculate.
So what needs doing you may ask?
Well, the seats are very tired and need trimming.
The carpets are nasty. Dash veneer is peeling. Hood is good but needs a little attention.
Basically, it needs a tidy up.
Plan is to play with it and I've contacted powers performance to upgrade the ignition system etc. Fit a camshaft (existing is ok but liven it up would be nice).
New injectors etc etc.
Then, off to have the carpets changed and seats retrimmed.
ACT will supply some shiny buts.
My job then to tidy up under the bonnet.
There's a few details I'd like to pay attention to and in the future I'll probably need advice on 'how to'.
I'm excited!!
I love my Chimney 500 but definitely not a ‘spanner man’ so I get all the work done professionally, You should be able to get any technical help you need here though if you need it.
I can wield a spanner but sometimes I feel its best left to the experts.
Many of the jobs that need doing I can do but deep and meaningful things I'll have done by those who do it every day.
As progress occurs, I'll post updates.
I'm already wondering why the passenger window jams and is slow.
Cross that bridge when we come to it.
Many of the jobs that need doing I can do but deep and meaningful things I'll have done by those who do it every day.
As progress occurs, I'll post updates.
I'm already wondering why the passenger window jams and is slow.
Cross that bridge when we come to it.
If you're going to be upgrading the engine, handling etc .. then consider changing the seats to the Cerbera types fitted to the SE run out model. THey really are a vast improvement over the standard armchairs. I've found them comfortable on [very] long runs, much more supportive and actually hold you in place.
People have made changes to the standard seats to improve the 'hold' but I've not tried any of those.
Also, if you are going to do 'tours' you may wish to invest in a Surrey Roof which is easier to sow and takes up less space. They need a couple of simple mods though (which the maker is uninterested in taking on board) to improve them.
People have made changes to the standard seats to improve the 'hold' but I've not tried any of those.
Also, if you are going to do 'tours' you may wish to invest in a Surrey Roof which is easier to sow and takes up less space. They need a couple of simple mods though (which the maker is uninterested in taking on board) to improve them.
If your going down the Mbe ecu route i can reccomend it ,it transformed my 93 preserp 500 powers took the engine out on mine to do it apparently its easier that way it might be a good time to change the heat shielding in the engine bay while its out i had a 885 cam fitted at the same time mine was worn i also got the manifolds ceramic coated and took out the cats in the two manifolds before the main cat left that in .as for carpets common consensus is that coverdale do a good do it yourself kit , and furniture clinic do a lot of good stuff leather and vinyl wise for the seats etc . Plesae keep us informed of your progress and welcome to the world of Tvr owners !
PabloGee said:
Window jamming could be a couple of things, plenty of topics on here about them, but basic principles are to clean it out (possibly need to take door cars off), lubricator the runners (possibly replace runner felts), then check the voltage to the motor.
Fiddly but DIY
Thanks for the advice. A good friend of mine used to work on TVR's. He told me years ago if ever I get one, we together will upgrade a lot of the wiring as from the factory it wasn't up to the task. Fiddly but DIY
That's the kind of job I like to do. Probably get 2 new motors while we're at it. Can't be silly money. Good old clean, new lube everywhere, upgrade the wiring etc should sort it.
Toma500 said:
If your going down the Mbe ecu route i can reccomend it ,it transformed my 93 preserp 500 powers took the engine out on mine to do it apparently its easier that way it might be a good time to change the heat shielding in the engine bay while its out i had a 885 cam fitted at the same time mine was worn i also got the manifolds ceramic coated and took out the cats in the two manifolds before the main cat left that in .as for carpets common consensus is that coverdale do a good do it yourself kit , and furniture clinic do a lot of good stuff leather and vinyl wise for the seats etc . Plesae keep us informed of your progress and welcome to the world of Tvr owners !
Hi, I do a huge amount of research into anything I'm planning. The MBE is the minimum I'd do. I'm greatful of your recommendation.
My car is a 95 500 HC, has that go cats in the manifolds? Powers told me the manifolds have to come off to do the MBE install so I said, may as well swap them out for some sexy ones. Later told by someone else, don't bother. Not worth the money.
Seems then, powers decided why remove the whole engine when just removing the manifolds is enough.
Either way, I don't care. They quoted a price for the MBE system installed.
When you say transformed your car, in what way?
When you have sorted out the mechanical problems with your jamming window you may find this helpful:
http://www.bertram-hill.com/griffith-windows.html
http://www.bertram-hill.com/griffith-windows.html
Transformed my griff by making it reliable i had a number of issues with certain components giving up ignition amp , coil etc but i think i had a fault with the loom and as you get a new one with the mbe i went for that other than that its tranformed the way it drives mine was quite shunty before and now its really smooth and around town i can drive a gear higher . Your manifolds should have the cats in them unless its been already done makes quite a difference to under bonnet temps
Much cooler running a result . Only other thing i had done was they fitted a plenum spacer i think its supposed to increase the volume of air the engine can breathe in , best of luck your in good hands .
Much cooler running a result . Only other thing i had done was they fitted a plenum spacer i think its supposed to increase the volume of air the engine can breathe in , best of luck your in good hands .
Thanks.
I've all sorts of experience with Cars. Turbo'd and NA.
I'm my eyes, if anything is choking the engine breathing it looks to me like the exhaust.
Trying to shove 5 litres of engine exhaust air (can't be bother to work out exactly the tech figures at a given rpm) looks like the pipe where it's a single pipe could be a restrictive issue.
Could be loudly barking up the wrong tree but just was my first thought.
I've all sorts of experience with Cars. Turbo'd and NA.
I'm my eyes, if anything is choking the engine breathing it looks to me like the exhaust.
Trying to shove 5 litres of engine exhaust air (can't be bother to work out exactly the tech figures at a given rpm) looks like the pipe where it's a single pipe could be a restrictive issue.
Could be loudly barking up the wrong tree but just was my first thought.
Re MBE upgrade by Dom at Powers, it’s excellent. Makes the car easier to live with and as stated above, removes many problem components like AFM, Dizzie, etc.
Powers will need to remove the dash to do the upgrade which will trash a cracking / old dash. I would suggest mechanical upgrades 1st, then cosmetic !
Powers will need to remove the dash to do the upgrade which will trash a cracking / old dash. I would suggest mechanical upgrades 1st, then cosmetic !
glow worm said:
Get Dom to throw in a MBE CAM2/USB cable for free with the upgrade , otherwise the bugger with charge you £100 + 
Obviously you'll make sure you get the MBE s/w installed on your laptop
WildoObviously you'll make sure you get the MBE s/w installed on your laptop
Edited by glow worm on Monday 26th June 19:56
I've got Volvo Vida diagnostic software on a laptop.
I'll get the MBE software too so if ever it needs diagnosing or a quick map finer tuning it'll be easy.
I'm going to get a before (cars bog standard) bhp power run before it goes off to Dom and after the 'performance' exhaust manifolds, decat y pipe and Kent cam along with upgraded injectors are fitted I'll get an 'after' power run..
Good (friend of mine) rolling road near me so both before and after runs done on the same machine should be a good comparison.
As progress is made I'll post the results here on PH.
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff