griff 500 or tuscan S ???

[zz top]

I have just read Colin Harvey's article in Nov tvr's Sprint mag about how he wished for more power and considered selling his griff for a tuscan S. I too have been recently considering this very move but the recent Evo article and fellow griff pilots have convinced me to keep this baby and have a few modifications made. Id' like to start with removing the cat's, iv'e been told their's a possible 15-20bhp extra on tap. is that right?

[julianhj]

If I had the cash, I'd jump at the chance of a Tuscan!

A de-cat is technically illegal, and will cause problems come MOT time - you'll fail on emissions if you dont put it back. There are a bunch of other things you could do if yer Griff is just too slow...

Have you considered a rolling road tune up, Mark Adams chip, ACT induction goodies etc? The RR session alone might liberate a good few horses (check Podie's Austec article for an idea).

[simpo two]

Cat removal is great for noise but not for extra power. If you get Sprint there was a nice green Griffith in last month's issue that's had a lot of work done in the grunt department.

[Grifftastic]

I've recently swapped my Tuscan S for a Griff 500 and am delighted. Yes the Tuscan was quick and looked awesome, but it was very nervous and hard work around town. The Griff sounds better and is easier to drive. Now that I have added Nitrons and up-graded the brakes, it handles and stops just as well as the S. In terms of power, I've added an ACT twin plenum and now it goes almost as well as the Tuscan. It doesn't quite have the low down acceleration, but seems quicker 80-100mph.
It's back at Peninsula to get the cam changed to a 404 and the pre-cats removed to enhamce the sound - can't wait to get it back!
In my opinion, a well sorted Griff is a much better option that a Tuscan AND you don't have to worry about the engine going pop!

Dave

[_dobbo_]

Grifftastic said:

AND you don't have to worry about the engine going pop Dave

I'm sure more than one Griff owner has had an engine go pop and might disagree. Might be better to say you can worry less about the engine going pop...

[shpub]

zz top said:

Id' like to start with removing the cat's, iv'e been told their's a possible 15-20bhp extra on tap. is that right?

Nope.

A Tuscan puts out 360 ish real bhp compared to the Griff's real 275-300 bhp. To get a Griff anywhere near 360 bhp will cost several organs and a daughter into the white slave trade... Add to that a lot more money for brake and suspension upgrades and the risk that thinks will start to break with all that welly and the Tuscan will seem cheap.

If you like the Griff and want to keep it then there are things that can be done but it won't turn the car into a Tuscan beater without a lot and I mean a lot of money. Even then I still reckon a Tuscan would whip a GRiff.

[plasticman]

I also have a griff but like the look of a tuscan,though i prefer the sound and torque of the griff.I have raced a tuscan s and a cerbera 4.2 in drags from a rolling start to about 120.In both cases the cars were neck and neck with my standard power griff (the tuscan later blew up ofcourse)I believe removing the cats only gives about 5 hp.Also judging by the numbers crashed the tuscans they must be far harder to control.I therefore have grafted a tuscan front on to my griff,i would post a picture but i dont know how.there is a picture of it in"v8 in a tuscan " thread .David

[shpub]

Tuscan handling is way superior to that of a Griff or a Cerbera. The problem is that many owners screwed the suspension by insisting on fitting lower profile wheels and many drivers would have crashed irrespective of the car they were driving as they did not have the experience or skill to handle the car.

Got both a tweaked Griff 500 and a 4.2 Cerbie currently and they do require a very different driving technique. With a Cerbie or Tuscan you need to rev the thing as peak power etc only happens at above 6000 rpm. Change anywhere earlier and the car will be slow. With a Rover V8 this isn't the case. It's out of breath at well below this.

[zz top]

Thanks guys for all of your replys,i have decided to take your advice and keep the griff.Today i visited Richard Smith @ Peninsula and talked through some of your suggestions and agreed a performance upgrade package.He showed me"one i've done earlier" which i believe to be "Grifftastic's" silver griff 500. I was impressed.Richard has already done brake/suspension upgrades on my car so im confident in the cars handling/stopping ability.Cars booked in for december. Cheers.

[Apache]

I'm still thinking of going from a Griff to a Tuscan, as Deretrictor put it they are an event on wheels

[zz top]

Cant understand why apache,just viewed your profile and fantastic griff pic.With all the upgrade work carried out your beast must be near perfection!!

[Apache]

Cheers dude, it's a tough call alright and I'm not sure yet what to do, you have to move on don't you

[tiny]

Apache,

Ah Ha ! - the shark's philosophy - namely if your not moving forward you die! I've done the cosmetic & handling bits on my car and am now entering the power phase.Your posts have been part of my motivation to Griff 500 development and I wish you well in your obviously tough decision!

Tiny

[Apache]

Tiny, thanks, thats a real nice thing to say

[zz top]

Tiny, just seen your photos on "honey i'm home" thread.......she's a beauty. Got to hand it to peninsula, they do a great job.

[jigs]

Apache - stick with the pony you know and love - love the colour with those wheels.

PS -- and I don't want to have to read about all your woes with S6 engine, etc. in future.

>> Edited by jigs on Tuesday 11th November 00:01

[zz top]

Plasticman,found the photo,s of your griff with the Tuscan front end on the "V8 in a tuscan" thread. Had to do a double take,what a difference...i like it.