Spiders on the Griff?

[SimonF]

Boys and Girls,

I seem to remember a post on this a long time ago regarding the fitment of 18" Tuscan spiders to the Griff. I think the hub's are different (5 stud on Tuscan/Cerbie and 4 on chimp/griff).

Has anyone fitted them, either with hub upgrades or otherwise??

I love the classic lines of the Griff500, but then seeing them next to that gorgeous T350 and Tamora, they are starting to look a little weedy on those normal rims.

[apache]

the only Griff I know of was the 'factory hack' which appeared in Evo, it was a 4.3 in gunmetal grey with 17" anthracite spiders fitted to 5 stud hubs, it was the best looking Griff around. The mods were extensive and expensive though

[v8 mark]

I totally agree, i would love to do this conversion also. Seem to remember the previous post stating that it requires a lot of changes to suspension uprights etc, and was it cost effective? Love to know if someone offers the conversion for a reasonable price?
I had a quote for some custom made alloys, 17 inch 3 piece rims with all correct offsets etc, price was 1395 pounds. So if achievable for less than this, would be interested!

[apache]

don't forget, you'll get a good price on your originals too

[SimonF]

I was not aware that the suspension aspects needed a revamp as well..

I have not seen any pics of Griffs with the spiders, although more and more people have fitted after-market alloys.

I guess another issue are the smallish brakes, that then look rather sad unless macho size and cross drilled!

[RichB]

I discussed this whole issue with Neill Anderson, TVR’s chassis engineer, and whose car this Griff was. He used it as a test bed for development of the Cerbera running gear hence the 5 stud hubs. He sprinted it and did a few hill climbs and I agree it’s one tasty looking Griffith. Basically his attitude was it can be done but it is a right pig of a job. Especially at the front because basically the Griffith uses Ford hubs and king-pins (do they still call them that?) and the mounting points for the track rods are in a very different position to those on the TVR designed Cerbera steering. He had to re-mount the steering-rack upside down in the chassis in order to lower (or raise I can't remember) it, and his attitude was, "never again"! Rich...

[SimonF]

Thanks RichB,

Sounds like we need the sub supplier to TVR to offer the spiders with a 4 stud design then?

Now how tough can that be???

After all, all those chimps and griffs make for an excellent replacement market (as all the cerbies have been)..

Simes

[jon h]

When I was in the Saab owners club, a group of people clubbed together to get a particular wheel made up to suit an early model. I cannot remember the details, but basically, so long as a minimum number of people signed up, it was worth the manufacturers doing a small production run. Reckon between TVRCC & PH, we could get enough Griff & Chim owners together prepared to sign up to make it possible, perhaps TVR might even do it, or at least let us know who makes their spiders so we could go direct.

Jon H

[2 sheds]

Speak to Peninsula, they were going to do a 5 stud conversion for Griffs & Chimaeras so that these wheels could be fitted, as there is glut of used 5 stud TVR wheels available.
Tim

[v8 mark]

If peninsula do not do a conversion, i for one would like to try that route, of getting TVR or the Alloy wheel manufacturer to make a limited production run of 4 stud spider alloys....

[EdT]

found the copy of EVO...



Regards , Ed

[apache]

nice one Ed.........dribble

[MATHEW]

I have been looking on the net today for these wheels and what I can gather is they are made by Team Dynamics under licence to TVR. Team Dynamics have now discontiuned the range and hence they are not available any more.
What was quite interesting though was Team Dynamics would have made a 4 stud version if requested all they would have done is take the blank wheel off the production line and drill the required stud pat. requested.
What they did tell me is they are making the new TVR wheel for the Tuscan R as used in the Motor Show in Birmingham.
The only other wheel that looks like the Tuscan Spyder is on sale in Halfords but have no cost etc.
Hope this was of some help to you all
Mathew

[SimonF]

Top man! Well done... it does some odd that Team Dynamics are no longer producing these (unless they were contracted to batch runs and there are about 1000 sets lying around in a warehouse (costly to TVR)..

After all - what about the current models and the fact they all use the 18" spiders...

Possibly TVR have sourced another supplier for the same rim design (as its their design).

Hmmm....

[RichB]

I would have thought that if Team Dynamics still have the cast and if enough of you club together they would produce a run for you? Rich...

[Graham]

maybe they changed supplier when they modified the design as im sure the early ones suffer from bending..

Im also sure i heard that TVR had banned the supplier from making them with 4 stud that colud be rubbish though and a bad memory

[andyvg]

Isn't the grey 4.3 the same car that Autocar has just recently bought?

Which now wears it's original alloys?

perhaps Autocar can shed some light on the subject....

[2 sheds]

andyvg said: Isn't the grey 4.3 the same car that Autocar has just recently bought?

Which now wears it's original alloys?

perhaps Autocar can shed some light on the subject....

They are just down the road to me, i'll keep an eye on there car park. as it has Cerbera hubs i can't see how the originals could fit.
Tim

[MATHEW]

I have been looking into this issue further and have managed to find a similar set of wheels they are in the USA which could be a problem they are made by Team Dynamics and are called the Bucaneer. They are 6 spoke and are available in in either 5 stud or 12 stud to fit any type of car. I am unable to load the picture but they can be found on the Google.com search engine.
I am now trying to find out if TVR are still getting these wheels off another supplier etc.
Will keep you all posted when I get some info.
Mathew

[MATHEW]

Have managed to find out a bit more about the Tuscan wheels.
They are made by a company called RimStock Team Dynamics under licence to TVR only, they are not for sale to anyone appart from TVR, they do not make a 4 stud style and cannot as they are cast in one with the 5 stud holes in the mold.
So unfortunatly it is a total no go for these wheels without changing your hub on the Griffith to a 5 bolt hub.
Rimstock do make a very similar wheel which is forsale in Halfords of all places which looks a bit like the Tuscan wheel but with not as much curvature in the spokes.
Sorry for the bad news all.

Mathew