Discussion
Hi all,
Just though I would post this to add to the further confusion surrounding the hydraulic or not tappet debate. CAR is TVR S3 (non cat) 1991.
On Saturday I finally got fed up with listening to the god awful racket the engine was making and decided to cance my arm and alter the tappets. After reading as many threads as possible and tvrssieries.com (pies site I think) I realised that finding out whether you had hydraulic tappets or not was almost pot luck with the TVR motor.
After taking off the rocker covers I thought the best thing to do was measure any gap that already existed and if excessively large (above recommended setting 0.35mm inlet 0.4mm exhaust) then it must have manual tappets as there may be a gap with hydraulic but not much. Mine were 0.50mm on the inlet and similar on the exhaust, so quite far out. I followed all advice and set as necessary to 0.35mm and 0.40mm. Whilst at it I sprayed the rocker covers a beautiful gleaming red (Audi laser red), cleaned everything up and re-fitted covers. Moment of truth, I turned the motor over and.......silence is golden. Not wishing to rejoice to soon I took it for a very long run and all was well. The engine was so quiet I thought I had stalled it a couple of times at roundabouts, the only noise being the exhaust and wind from the wndow that wont shut properly (another job). The engine also feels slightly more responsive but that could be just my imagination.
My engine code stamped on the Block was CVG629 (one I think a few people have)
Oddly enough under the engine serial number was a BR that had been over stamped so I can only guess that the CVG code is TVR specific as the BR code is the ford reference! Anyway, this is just my findings so do take care when doing yours just in case they are hydraulic.
Peter
Just though I would post this to add to the further confusion surrounding the hydraulic or not tappet debate. CAR is TVR S3 (non cat) 1991.
On Saturday I finally got fed up with listening to the god awful racket the engine was making and decided to cance my arm and alter the tappets. After reading as many threads as possible and tvrssieries.com (pies site I think) I realised that finding out whether you had hydraulic tappets or not was almost pot luck with the TVR motor.
After taking off the rocker covers I thought the best thing to do was measure any gap that already existed and if excessively large (above recommended setting 0.35mm inlet 0.4mm exhaust) then it must have manual tappets as there may be a gap with hydraulic but not much. Mine were 0.50mm on the inlet and similar on the exhaust, so quite far out. I followed all advice and set as necessary to 0.35mm and 0.40mm. Whilst at it I sprayed the rocker covers a beautiful gleaming red (Audi laser red), cleaned everything up and re-fitted covers. Moment of truth, I turned the motor over and.......silence is golden. Not wishing to rejoice to soon I took it for a very long run and all was well. The engine was so quiet I thought I had stalled it a couple of times at roundabouts, the only noise being the exhaust and wind from the wndow that wont shut properly (another job). The engine also feels slightly more responsive but that could be just my imagination.
My engine code stamped on the Block was CVG629 (one I think a few people have)
Oddly enough under the engine serial number was a BR that had been over stamped so I can only guess that the CVG code is TVR specific as the BR code is the ford reference! Anyway, this is just my findings so do take care when doing yours just in case they are hydraulic.
Peter
My understanding is that only the early S3Cs had hydraulic tappets and that from approx May 1991 the S3Cs reverted back to the standard non-hydraulic ones. According to info from TVR S3C cars with a VIN after SD******1MD011340 will be fitted with the same type of engine as fitted to the ordinary S3 ie. with solid lifters.
In that case if yours is an S3 Peter it shouldn't have the hydraulic lifters anyway. I can't confirm if the info is correct but it does come from the factory and my S3C is in the alleged Hydraulic period and does have them.
Jim
In that case if yours is an S3 Peter it shouldn't have the hydraulic lifters anyway. I can't confirm if the info is correct but it does come from the factory and my S3C is in the alleged Hydraulic period and does have them.
Jim
jimed said:
My understanding is that only the early S3Cs had hydraulic tappets and that from approx May 1991 the S3Cs reverted back to the standard non-hydraulic ones. According to info from TVR S3C cars with a VIN after SD******1MD011340 will be fitted with the same type of engine as fitted to the ordinary S3 ie. with solid lifters.
In that case if yours is an S3 Peter it shouldn't have the hydraulic lifters anyway. I can't confirm if the info is correct but it does come from the factory and my S3C is in the alleged Hydraulic period and does have them.
Jim
Sounds good to me. From what I have also read (cant remeber where) the reason the hydraulic lifters were put in in the first place was to meet forth coming emmissions regulations, which would tie in with the CAT theory. However, you know what TVR are like, if its lying around stick it in a car! I just thought my engine reference might help a few others as I wouldnt like to go on the VIN number with TVRs history.In that case if yours is an S3 Peter it shouldn't have the hydraulic lifters anyway. I can't confirm if the info is correct but it does come from the factory and my S3C is in the alleged Hydraulic period and does have them.
Jim
Another thing to watch out for if you are doing your own... double check that you are looking at the correct diagrams for your car... whoever did mine before I got it set them as a 2.8... the gaps are the same but the order of Inlet/exhaust from front to back is different so one pair of my pots were set the wrong way around. 
k
k
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