Griff 500 transformed!
Discussion
The Griff has been having problems with lumpy running recently since the weather got colder. It developed the irritating habit of starting with no problems, then cutting out as soon as I touched the accelerator pedal and refusing to restart. And then once it was finally running, it misfired a bit until it was thoroughly warmed up. I was not a happy bunny, and poor old Griff was in the bad books. 
So I called in reinforcements, and I've just spent a fascinating morning watching Mark Adams at work. He discovered, among other things, that the advance was turned right down and the engine was running very lean. The car was outputting a miserable 263 BHP and running like the proverbial bag of spanners.
But three hours later, after much tweaking, my Griff is transformed into the fire-breathing dragon I always wanted it to be. No fewer than 302 BHP, with a nice responsive throttle and lots more torque! Mark was really pleased with his morning's work - and so was I!! Money very well spent. It's like having a shiny new car! He reckoned it's one of the strongest Griff engines he's ever seen, not that I'm being smug or anything.
And not only that, but Mark took the time and trouble to explain to me what was going on at every stage, why he was getting certain readings on his laptop and what we could do about it. All in all a very interesting and valuable experience - a real eye-opener.
So huge thanks to Mark for being such a star!!
And thanks also to Mickypee and Podie who encouraged me to get off my backside and do something about the problem instead of just sitting tight and waiting for the warmer weather. 
If anyone is deliberating about whether or not to book Mark's services - all I can say is, go for it! You won't regret it. He's got himself a customer for life here....
So I called in reinforcements, and I've just spent a fascinating morning watching Mark Adams at work. He discovered, among other things, that the advance was turned right down and the engine was running very lean. The car was outputting a miserable 263 BHP and running like the proverbial bag of spanners.
But three hours later, after much tweaking, my Griff is transformed into the fire-breathing dragon I always wanted it to be. No fewer than 302 BHP, with a nice responsive throttle and lots more torque! Mark was really pleased with his morning's work - and so was I!! Money very well spent. It's like having a shiny new car! He reckoned it's one of the strongest Griff engines he's ever seen, not that I'm being smug or anything.
And not only that, but Mark took the time and trouble to explain to me what was going on at every stage, why he was getting certain readings on his laptop and what we could do about it. All in all a very interesting and valuable experience - a real eye-opener.
So huge thanks to Mark for being such a star!!
And thanks also to Mickypee and Podie who encouraged me to get off my backside and do something about the problem instead of just sitting tight and waiting for the warmer weather. If anyone is deliberating about whether or not to book Mark's services - all I can say is, go for it! You won't regret it. He's got himself a customer for life here....
Hi SGirl,
If its not too personal, What did he charge for this?.
I've had my Griff 5.0 about three months now, and getting used to being in a TVR again takes time. But I'm at the point of wanting someone reputable to go over it and check its ok from a torque / power perspective. Mark Adams name seems to be at the forfront of everyones praise.
What did he do to you car?
Cheers
J
If its not too personal, What did he charge for this?.
I've had my Griff 5.0 about three months now, and getting used to being in a TVR again takes time. But I'm at the point of wanting someone reputable to go over it and check its ok from a torque / power perspective. Mark Adams name seems to be at the forfront of everyones praise.
What did he do to you car?
Cheers
J
SGirl said: Hi J,
I'll mail you through your profile - not because Mark has anything to hide (far from it, his rates are very reasonable!), but because he may not be too pleased to have me announcing such things in public on his behalf.
S.
SGirl can you email me through my profile as well? Will probably treat the car in the new year! Where is Mark based?
Cheers,
Graham
Mark adams is one of the very few people who truly understand that Lucas engine management - if you're having trouble with the running of your car and are looking for help call Mark .. he's like the A Team for lucas ECUs!!
:salesmanhaton:
of course what you need now S girl is better brakes and suspension!!
:salesmanhatoff:
PS at around 270bhp your griff was already pretty good believe it or not .. at over 300 bhp it's one of the very best .. is it standard or mildly tweaked?
best wishes and happy hooning
Joolz
:salesmanhaton:
of course what you need now S girl is better brakes and suspension!!
:salesmanhatoff:
PS at around 270bhp your griff was already pretty good believe it or not .. at over 300 bhp it's one of the very best .. is it standard or mildly tweaked?
best wishes and happy hooning
Joolz
joospeed said: Mark adams is one of the very few people who truly understand that Lucas engine management - if you're having trouble with the running of your car and are looking for help call Mark .. he's like the A Team for lucas ECUs!!
Yup! I'd agree with that. He's based on Shropshire but he does sessions in various places around the country. My car was "done" at Power Engineering in Uxbridge.
:salesmanhaton:
of course what you need now S girl is better brakes and suspension!!
:salesmanhatoff:
Funny you should say that.... I took the car out this evening (just to make sure it was all working, of course!
) and that was exactly what I thought. It needed new shocks before today anyway, so there's the next job. You offering, Joolz?! (Seriously, if you are, mail me! )
PS at around 270bhp your griff was already pretty good believe it or not .. at over 300 bhp it's one of the very best .. is it standard or mildly tweaked?
As far as I'm aware it's standard, although 302 BHP does seem a lot for a standard 500 HC - perhaps it was built the day after the staff at TVR got their Christmas bonuses or something??! There's nothing in the paperwork to suggest it's been modded at all. I was quite happy with its overall performance prior to the session, but it was running pretty badly and was in dire need of a tune to clean it up and even it out. The additional power is a nice extra.
>> Edited by SGirl on Tuesday 10th December 20:42
Hi Tim!
Yes, Mark said you were going over and I was hoping to hang around and say hi (and have a quick chat with you about hoses!) but I had to shoot off to sort out the heaps of e-mail and phone calls that had built up while I was out... Glad you had a good time too!
8.45 pm?! Now that's what I call devotion to duty in those temperatures.
All the best
S.
Yes, Mark said you were going over and I was hoping to hang around and say hi (and have a quick chat with you about hoses!) but I had to shoot off to sort out the heaps of e-mail and phone calls that had built up while I was out... Glad you had a good time too!
8.45 pm?! Now that's what I call devotion to duty in those temperatures.
All the best
S.
shpub said: The cold temp is probably what helped you make the power as the denser air means more power....
Steve don't these new fangled rolling roads have a air temp sensor that's supposed to correct for this and can, if placed too near the hot air under the bonnet, give a false reading the other way
. I thought they also had barometric pressure corrections built in as well.
Or have i got it wrong again
Harry
HarryW said:
shpub said: The cold temp is probably what helped you make the power as the denser air means more power....
Steve don't these new fangled rolling roads have a air temp sensor that's supposed to correct for this and can, if placed too near the hot air under the bonnet, give a false reading the other way
I thought they also had barometric pressure corrections built in as well.
Or have i got it wrong again
Harry
Yes there is barometric pressure & temp compensation, but variation will still occur from day to day, but theres no denying SGirls griff is a barnstormer..
I had an engine from a 94/95 griffith 500 in my workshop earlier this year we did a small amount of induction work and on a bench dyno we saw 297 bhp & 335 ft lbs and that was on a hot day .so these engines do exist.
Tim
Hi,
Are these power figures at the rear wheels? Or at the flywheel? (if so, how are transmission losses accounted for?)
I have an 'old-school' Rover V8 (5 Litres in size) that produces 220HP at the rear wheels (on LPG). Just curious if technical advances and petrol could have bumped that up to 300HP!
Are these power figures at the rear wheels? Or at the flywheel? (if so, how are transmission losses accounted for?)
I have an 'old-school' Rover V8 (5 Litres in size) that produces 220HP at the rear wheels (on LPG). Just curious if technical advances and petrol could have bumped that up to 300HP!
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