TDV8 tuning and drivetrain strength

[AdriaanB]

Hi all!

After looking around for an interesting, comfortable and capable long distance cruiser, I came round full circle at a FFRR 4.2 SC and TDV8, as nice examples with <100k miles are now within my budget. The SC looks fantastic on paper, but I've been looking at a few TDV8s and was impressed by the grunt of the diesel engine.

Chip tuning by the likes of JE Engineering releases another 50bph and many more torques for a modest financial cost, however, I was wondering whether any of you has any experiences as to what extent the drivetrain (especially gearbox and diffs) can cope with 315 bhp/800nm? Is the TDV8 in that sense better left 'standard', or can one relatively safely tune this engine?

[camel_landy]

Why?

If it's a long distance cruiser you're after, why tune it up? It's 2.5t of car and perfectly suited to long distance cruising. To be fair, the TDV8 don't half shift once the turbos have spun up but if you want a performance toy, get yourself a performance toy.

M

[AdriaanB]

The standard TDV8 I tested didn't feel slow or underpowered, but I can see it's tempting to add the performance at a cost of c. £500 pounds and an hours work - the additional torque imho should improve the car even further, especially with some eurotrips to the mountains coming up.

[coetzeeh]

have you asked on rrsport.co.uk. Wealth of experience there.

Not done anything to my TDV8 - plenty torque when needed.

[911wise]

I had the JE engine tune done to my old TDV8 (best all round car I've ever had). The extra power but more importantly torque meant vehicle could keep pace with most things out there and was rarely embarrassed.
Owned the vehicle for four years and never encountered any engine, transmission or exhaust problems.
For the price I think it's a no brainer of an option.