More model advice required

[DustyC]

Im a complete novice on Griffs. (please dont laugh!)
My questions all relate to the 500.

1.What is the serpentine engine and when did it appear?
(pros/cons)

2"HC" What does it mean?

3

Steve Heaths buying guide sort of said:

-The early cars had the rover g'box but this was replaced with the T5 'box late 93/94. -Brakes were upgraded from 240mm to 260mm. -Chassis and suspension were improved.

Did all this happen in the 93/94 change?

4. How do I spot whether a 500 has all of the above changes on it?

Sorry for the amount of info asked.
Im interested to the point of buying an anorak



not edited regardless of what it says below!

>>> Edited by DustyC on Wednesday 19th November 13:24

[_DJ_]

DustyC said:

Im a complete novice on Griffs. (please dont laugh!) My questions all relate to the 500. 1.What is the turpentine engine and when did it appear? (pros/cons) Serpentine (sp?) engine - because of the snakey belt. Advantages, not sure to be honest, though pre-serp engines all use the older Rover gearbox. 2"HC" What does it mean? High lift Cam. All 500's have one anyway. 3 Steve Heaths buying guide sort of said: -The early cars had the rover g'box but this was replaced with the T5 'box late 93/94. -Brakes were upgraded from 240mm to 260mm. -Chassis and suspension were improved. Did all this happen in the 93/94 change? I believe so. 4. How do I spot whether a 500 has all of the above changes on it? Sorry for the amount of info asked. Im interested to the point of buying an anorak If you find a 500 with a T5 gearbox (check for the position of reverse, should be bottom right) they I believe it will have the rest of the mods. DJ >>> Edited by DustyC on Wednesday 19th November 12:43

[simpo two]

DustyC said:

Im a complete novice on Griffs. (please dont laugh!) My questions all relate to the 500. 1.What is the turpentine engine and when did it appear? (pros/cons) 2"HC" What does it mean?

Never heard of the turpentine engine. Check your SH buying guide again, with glasses on this time!

HC - high lift cam, not high compression as is commonly believed.

[apprentice]

DustyC said:

Im a complete novice on Griffs. (please dont laugh!) My questions all relate to the 500. 1.What is the turpentine engine and when did it appear? (pros/cons)

Dusty mate...when I e-mailed you re "Turpentine engine and Volvo box!" ...I was refering to the SERPENTINE engine and T5 gearbox!....

[19560]

1 Serp.. not turp - latest engine look for the width of the belt - in the shape of a serpent.
2 HC high compression ish. Supposedly put on the engines at random (pre and post factory)
3 No magic change over date - all cars vary
4 Get used to viewing lots and lots, visit the TVRCC.
5 Available from TVRCC merchandise.

All this and property buying at once?

[DustyC]

simpo two said:

Never heard of the turpentine engine. Check your SH buying guide again, with glasses on this time!

I dunno what you mean I never said that!

[DustyC]

apprentice said:

DustyC said: Im a complete novice on Griffs. (please dont laugh!) My questions all relate to the 500. 1.What is the turpentine engine and when did it appear? (pros/cons) Dusty mate...when I e-mailed you re "Turpentine engine and Volvo box!" ...I was refering to the SERPENTINE engine and T5 gearbox!....

And I knew it was called a serpentine but still had your email in my mind whilst wording the post!

Look at all the trouble you've got me in to now!


Didnt realise that about the 'box until I had read the buying guide pointed out buy Steve a couple of weeks ago.
So its true that if its go the newer box its got the rest of the mods?

[DustyC]

19560 said:

All this and property buying at once?

Thats the plan!
Buy a bit of property once a month anyway. (mortgage! )

[Painey]

As I understand it all of the 5.0 engines are of the "HC" variety, it's just marked that way on some plenum chambers and not on others. Says it on my 95N for example and I think it was common for TVR to do this around that time.

I could be wrong though...

[DustyC]

I have wondered about the whole HC thing because alot of people advertise their cars as "500HC".

Whats the point if they are all HC anyway?
Perhaps to cash in on unknowing numpties that are after a "turpentine" engine!

[simpo two]

When I saw 'turpentine' my troll-warning light went on! Glad you're one of us after all. I think the bible will tell you all about HC and where it turns up. The serpentine engine has a belt that goes round about 5 pulleys as opposed to 3. You can tell if it's a T5 box because reverse is bottom right (not top left as in Rover boxes).

[andy43]

I think the HC (high lift/high comp) means 340hp as well, instead of the usual 320hp?? Just looked in my bible, and it sez the 500 started as 340hp, went to a T5 box instead of Rover in '94, and was detuned in '97 to 320hp, which would make all pre97 cars HCs? Then it says that the 'original 500 spec. quoted (at) 325hp', which is wot I tought - started at about 320, increased to 340 (HC) then back to 320 again...??
You can tell if its a turpentine engine 'cos all the paint's missing round the tail pipes... as well as the drive belt being wider and longer.
Thats why I chose a pre-cat - they kept it simpler

>> Edited by andy43 on Wednesday 19th November 14:53

>> Edited by andy43 on Wednesday 19th November 14:56

[19560]

[quote=andy43]I think the HC (high lift/high comp) means 340hp as well, instead of the usual 320hp?? Just looked in my bible, and it sez the 500 started as 340hp, went to a T5 box instead of Rover in '94, and was detuned in '97 to 320hp, which would make all pre97 cars HCs? Then it says that the 'original 500 spec. quoted (at) 325hp', which is wot I tought - started at about 320, increased to 340 (HC) then back to 320 again...??
You can tell if its a turpentine engine 'cos all the paint's missing round the tail pipes... as well as the drive belt being wider and longer.
Thats why I chose a pre-cat - they kept it simpler

Half of that is nonsense eg 5litre started at 340 bhp, (allegedly) but does any of it matter? They're all great cars, just buy one in good condition.

[jigs]

DustyC - I bet you don't buy one - those who ask so many questions before taking the plunge never do - you'll end up talking yourself out of it!

[Paul V]

Mines a pre-serp engine with a T5 box and says 500HC on the plenum.

[apprentice]

Paul V said:

Mines a pre-serp engine with a T5 box and says 500HC on the plenum.

...that's TVR!...they don't do definitives..

[DustyC]

jigs said:

DustyC - I bet you don't buy one - those who ask so many questions before taking the plunge never do - you'll end up talking yourself out of it!

When did I say I was going to buy one?

>> Edited by DustyC on Wednesday 19th November 15:35

[rude girl]

I believe that the (claimed)340hp was detuned to a (claimed) 320 to overcome a bit of bad behaviour in traffic. Mines the supposed 340 and certainly does misbehave a bit in crawling traffic and slow town driving. Often when people use the term HC, they are referring to the 340.

[andy43]

I'm only quoting the bible at you...apart from the turps fumes stripping the paint that is..
But you're right, they're all ace - buy and enjoy!

>> Edited by andy43 on Wednesday 19th November 15:48

[RAW-SEWedge]

The easiest way to tell a pre-serpentine is look at the alternator drive belt.

If it looks like THIS then it's a Pre-Serp'

As for suspension, look for a rear roll bar, not conclusive but a good indication.

>> Edited by RAW-SEWedge on Wednesday 19th November 15:53