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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Just bought a new toy


geoffvalenti

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Just bought this, pick it up on Friday :D

 

I've always wanted a Griffith, and this one's a bit special, with a John Eales 5.2 engine.

 

Quite a quick car, with a completely different power delivery to the Supra.

 

I'm keeping the Supra, so the only problem's going to be choosing which one to go out in :)

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Matt

You're probably right, that's why I'd never have a TVR as my only car. They're just too temperamental.

 

Saying that, this one seems to have had most things changed on it recently, so should be good for a few months fun, before the spending starts :D

 

The previous owner is the type of person, where money is no object when it comes to his "toys" The service/repair history is comprehensive to say the least. If anything even gave a hint that it needed doing, the car was straight down to the TVR dealer (read EXPENSIVE) to be played with.

 

It's had a replacement engine, as I said before, from J.E. Developments. (John Eales is probably the most respected Rover V8 tuner/builder in the country) Total bill around £12k :eek:

 

The engine was £6k, the rest was made up by labour, and the owner saying, while you've got it you may as well fit ..................................................

Ended up with new suspension all round, roll bar, wishbones removed and re powder coated, the list just goes on and on.

He must have spent at least £20k on it in the last 4 years (with all bills to prove it) :) Hopefully there's not much major left to go wrong ;)

 

To say that it has been fastidiously maintained regardless of cost, would be a gross understatement!

 

Jake

It's a 5.2 litre (was 5.0) V8, N/A fuel injection. It's got stage 3 medium valve (bigger than std) heads, forged pistons, cross drilled, balanced crank, fast road cam, TBH it's a dream engine for most TVR owners :D

It's putting out 305 bhp and 337 ft lbs torque (All the J.E. Developments engines are in house dyno tested before fitting)

TVR actually claim between 320 and 340 bhp for the 5.0 litre, but independant tests have shown that they are, in fact, 260-275 bhp in standard trim.

 

This actually works in my favour regarding insurance, as they don't load the policy for a "decrease" in bhp ;)

 

The car drives really well, sounds good, with a nice lumpy tickover and pulls like a train whatever gear you're in.

 

To say I'm excited, is grossly underestimating my feelings. I hardly slept last night, and I've got to wait until Friday to pick it up :(

 

Two regrets.

1) It's the wrong end of the summer :)

2) The car was registered August 1998 so I can't put the reg No. V8 EVL on it :p

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Just bought this, pick it up on Friday :D

 

I've always wanted a Griffith, and this one's a bit special, with a John Eales 5.2 engine.

 

Quite a quick car, with a completely different power delivery to the Supra.

 

I'm keeping the Supra, so the only problem's going to be choosing which one to go out in :)

 

 

Flash git ;) looks the bizz mate......will make a great sound on WOT.....you will be grinning for days

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One question - where the hell are you going to keep it!!! You'll never fit 3 cars in that garage of yours I tell ya!! :D

 

I've got a single garage, next to the double, Trev.

It's going to live in there ;)

 

TBH, it's probably going to spend most of its time being driven for the next few weeks :D

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5.2lt out of the RoverV8, sheeeeesh....that's stretching it a bit...

 

Pretty off-standard even by TVR standards

I'd take it easy on the throttle mate, make sure the temps stay in check, if it's damaged you'll have trouble finding replacement pistons/valves/who-knows-whatsits...

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Well, for those who are interested, I brought it home last night (Friday)

 

I runs great, like a dream most of the time, until you floor it in the first 3 gears, then it's more like a nightmare of being on a white knuckle ride :D

 

JohnA

Parts are readily available, as long as you're willing to pay for them :(

In fact it's not much of an increase over the "std" 5.0 engine, just 2mm on the stroke, but with Omega forged pistons, Arrow rods and a custom, cross drillled tuftrided crankshaft.

Add to this Cloyes timing gear, baffled sump and stage 3 heads and you can see that its quite a capable engine. I tend to think of it as added reliability rather than bags more bhp.

 

I don't intend to thrash it to within an inch of its life, to be honest there's no need, just driving around with the engine burbling, is enough 99% of the times, the other 1% I'll just have to take my chances :D

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...with Omega forged pistons, Arrow rods and a custom, cross drillled tuftrided crankshaft. ..

 

excellent then, if you need pistons or rings you buy Omega items. Much better than one-offs.

 

5.2lt Griffith, it must be a beastie :cool:

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