-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LKE9I8uSdu/2EFsvyDPwEWC2jQ9wl8AMM5zAikMHsGcNKLeZ7pQo34eFNCCRjKNZ
 cqoVogLfFCpWlGKLSymtZA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001200501-04-000006.txt : 20041021
<SEC-HEADER>0001200501-04-000006.hdr.sgml : 20041021
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041021163953
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001200501-04-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041020
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041021
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041021

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SICONOLFI GARY A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200501

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24455
		FILM NUMBER:		041089992

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11 POND VIEW DRIVE
		CITY:			PITTSFORD
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14534

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TORVEC INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001063197
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714]
		IRS NUMBER:				161509512
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11 POND VIEW DRIVE
		CITY:			PITTSFORD
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14534
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7162488549

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11 POND VIEW DRIVE
		CITY:			PITTSFORD
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14534
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001063197</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TORVEC INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>tovc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200501</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SICONOLFI GARY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11 POND VIEW DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14534</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>$.01 par value common stocks</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>143702</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified stock options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-12-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>$.01 par value common stocks</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 100,000 shares purchasable through the exercise of an option granted on October 15, 2003 at $5.00 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gary A. Siconolfi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----