TVR engine advice please

I have a 1973 TVR 2500M and I'd like to either rebuild the motor or swap in a new one. I have quite a bit of oil burn, but 125 psi across all cylinders and a good leak down test. I'm guess the valve guides are shot. I have 70k miles on the car.

Should I try and rebuild the engine? Swap in a new one? If I go with a new engine, what should I put in? Where can I find one?

John

Hi, John -

If it were mine, from what you say, I'd go with a top end refresh, drop the oil pan and have a look at the bearings.

You might post your question on the TR side and see what the TR6 crowd has to say.

Good luck!
Mickey

Agree with Mickey. Rebuild you existing engine. The 2.5 Triumph engine in your car is a nice overall match for the character of the car.

Unmolested original TVRs are getting rarer and more valuable.

Thanks for the advice guys. How much am I looking at to do a rebuild?

Do you mean if you do it or if you pay someone else to do it?

I did a 1500 Triumph engine (essentially 2/3 of your engine) with new pistons, rings, bearings, thrust washers plus cylinders rebored, valves ground, valve guides knurled and crank reground for about $1700 here in NJ where things are typically expensive.
That's the total for parts and machine shop work.
The machine work was all done locally and I assembled all the bits myself.

So maybe $2300 if you do all the assembly work yourself and there is no crank or block damage

I don't really have any idea how much you would pay someone else to do this. Mickey's idea of checking on this in the Triumph forum is a good one.

On the chance that you have some else do this: the engine is very straightforward and easy to work on. If any mechanic starts telling you it's "exotic" or "fancy" find a different mechanic.

Hi John, What did you end up doing with your engine problem?
Regards,
Jeff

Rebuild your old lump if possible and keep it original.
best,
D.

JSD said:

Hi John, What did you end up doing with your engine problem?
Regards,
Jeff

Click to expand...

I dropped in a new GT4 engine from Sam Halkias plus new SU carbs from Jeff Palya. Horsepoer went from 109 to approx. 150.