100 replies to this topic

[rcvaughan]

I sould my supercharged VX220 in October 2010 and have somewhat regretted it ever since. I sold the car to give me a cash chunk to start a new business with the promise that I would buy a worthy replacement once the business started to pay off. So in April 2011 I bought a 2003 TVR T350c. It was a relatively high miler but in really excellent condition with a very comprehensive service history. It had been treated to an engine rebuild and had a few months warranty left on the engine and came with a 12 month warranty from the garage (Track V Road). All seemed well with the car for the 900 mile first journey I did in it - right up until I pulled onto the driveway at my place in Germany. ERROR CODE 403: WATER SENSOR sh**! And then when I was trying to check things under the bonnet and began tinkering, I broke one of the catches off the airbox. Double sh**!! So a few months passed trying to get various local garages in Germany to sort the problem out but to no avail. Still showing signs of water loss and flashing up error codes the TVR ended up being recovered back to Track V Road in the UK from Bavaria. The beginning of head gasket failure had taken their toll on the engine and some barrel damage was discovered too. Time for an engine rebuild. Being somewhat of a speed freak and having been a little underwhealmed with the performance of the standard T350, I decided to up the power a bit. The obvious choices to me were TVR Powers engine upgrades, I just had to choose between 4.0, 4.3 and 4.5 litre displacement. Naturally the latter appealed most. The fact that it came with a 5 year unlimited milage warranty was also hugely appealing. My lovely T350 went from a 3.6L to a 4.5L monster. The power/torque difference was unbelievable and the car was really transformed into a little rocket! No rolling road has been done to date and I'm still driving around on the base map but that will soon change. A few other small jobs were done whilst it was in the UK. 4.5L TVR Power Supersports engine rebuilt Racing Green fibreglass uprated air box and pipercross foam filter Silicon hose kit TVR Power uprated and lightened cam cover New engine mounts Uprated diff mounts The collection day was very exciting and long awaited. The car now felt like the little British muscle car that I has wanted it to be (I couldn't put it in the same handling bracket as a VX/exige etc. so I like to think of it as a British muscle car)! The little red Trev now really was a raucaus little beast, spinning the rear wheels up at any opportunity and skipping the rear end out with the very slightest of encouragement - and sometimes without the encouragement too! As you move up the revs the rear wheels would often spin up at reaching 4000 rpm when the power band really kicks in which in the first few instances was terrifying but now just hugely entertaining. What a car. And what a truly EPIC soundtrack!!! 2700 miles later and the engine is now nicely worn in and ready for a mapping session. In preparation for this I have added a full big bore exhaust system which is subtle when you want and pops and bangs like you're in the middle of a gun fight when you want too! Completely insane noise from this thing! In addition, a limited slip differential and new final drive ratio have been installed whilst a diff overhaul was being done. This has really helped tame the power without taking away any of the fun. The new final drive ratio will have taken a bit off my top end speed but I really don't mind - the acceleration is in another league now! (Previously the Trev would be at 5500rpm doing 180 mph - top speed really wasn't a concern). Geometry set up done, somewhat more aggressive which feels great and in preparation for R888s next week (Federal FZ-201s were planned but expected delivery date kept getting pushed back and back). Next week the car will be with TVR Power for a few days to have the head studs upgraded (I think) which is a warranty recall. But what I'm really looking forward to is seeing some rolling road print outs after the day the guys there will spend mapping it. Watch this space!

[MrSimba]

Awesome! Pics please!!!!

[ChrisS1]

And video too please

[rcvaughan]

Will get some pics up soon and try and figure out a way of recording a half decent video. The lift off engine breaking sound is almost as good as full on pedal to the metal Please excuse all the typos. Damn iPhone!

[Pidgeon]

The lift off engine breaking sound is almost as good as full on pedal to the metal

Let's hope that's a typo and not a prophesy!

[spuk87]

Look forward to the video! Just out of curiosity, what does your business do? Are you still based in Germany these days?

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Flash fcuker Glad you're doing well for yourself Rich, how are you enjoying Germany....? I've spent quite a bit of time in Bavaria, love it there!!

[rcvaughan]

Engine braking! Oops! I'm in automotive design consulting. Still Germany for a few weeks then pastures new. Still gutted I couldn't take the trev out on the fezza contract but the alpine passes were WAY too snowy to risk it at the time! Where in Bavaria do you go Jimmy?

[The Batman]

Fecking love this car, it is truly in epic condition and I just love it and one day I will have to scratch the itch to have one... Shame about the Girly rear discs tho

[rcvaughan]

Those girly rear discs still manage to lock the rears up Cheers Joe, its a shame the pants weather meant I we couldn't go for a hoon I'm itching to drive it now but its been bucketing down ALL day! (Should have put the cover on last night when it was dry - yes it leaks but heaven knows where from!!) It is a lovely car - it just owes me TOO much money!!

[Mangham54]

Had a bunch of TVRs sail past this morning (about 8 or 9) and then later on a few more had joined - best part of about 20-30 of them. Given that it hasn't stopped raining all day they clearly meant business. Sounded bloody wonderful. The group included predominantly Chimeras and Cerberas, but think I saw a 350C and a Sagaris.

[rcvaughan]

There is a big TVR event at Chatsworth today but I guess the turnout will be poor given the pants weather

[FLD]

I did a stroker crank for the RV8 engine many years ago. How does 5.5L sound? You have to use chevy V8 rods in order to clear the cam as this is the biggest stroke you can go to. Still, gives lots of torque.

[Mangham54]

There is a big TVR event at Chatsworth today but I guess the turnout will be poor given the pants weather

That could well be it... I sort of live on the edge of both the peaks and Penines. So pretty decent roads within a stones-throw of my house.

Plus my road is a decent link from places like Huddersfield to the M1.

[rob999]

What exhaust have you got on it Rich? JP?

[rcvaughan]

JP full big bore cherry-bomb system

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Nice to hear from you Richy and pleased things are going well. Joe was talking about your car on Saturday and I hope to see it in the flesh at some point this year if you are back in the UK.

[rcvaughan]

Well, ANOTHER unexpected cost has come up with the TVR. The throttle links need rebushing because there is too much play in them and the air/fuel mix can't be controlled well enough for a decent map to be created. It's going to be another day before I find out what she pulls! Mike: I'm not really in the UK much at all. I'll be collecting it from Coventry on Friday morning and heading directly to the euro tunnel! I'll be driving it back mid June. Maybe I'll see about stopping overnight in the 'clique' region and we have a bit of a mini meet? (weekday evening though).

[DarrylB]

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Well, ANOTHER unexpected cost has come up with the TVR. The throttle links need rebushing because there is too much play in them and the air/fuel mix can&#39;t be controlled well enough for a decent map to be created. It&#39;s going to be another day before I find out what she pulls! <br />
<br />
Mike: I&#39;m not really in the UK much at all. I&#39;ll be collecting it from Coventry on Friday morning and heading directly to the euro tunnel! I&#39;ll be driving it back mid June. Maybe I&#39;ll see about stopping overnight in the &#39;clique&#39; region and we have a bit of a mini meet? (weekday evening though).<br />

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</p>

pffft....just drive WOT all the time...problem solved!

[rob999]

Would be good to see the car in June Rich....there may be a queue to view it!! Hope the bill won't be too huge after this little set back.