do all 5L RV8 have chocolate cams
Discussion
just to many variables for how long a cam and lifters will last 
IMHO all TVR Chims and Griffs with any engine are possibles for a new cam from 60k miles upwards - a bit like the statement that all Fords will need a new clutch before 100,000 miles. In other words, quite likely, but not necessarily the case. It's just the nature of the old engine design, and is not limited to 5 litre cars. Same can be said for the TVR clutches.
The possible weakness with the TVR 5 litre engine, as opposed to the 400, 430 and 456/460, is that the crankshaft has been known to snap on them due to the way they are externally balanced. I am told that cars with V8 Developments 5 litre engines don't suffer from this as V8D internally balance their engines.
The possible weakness with the TVR 5 litre engine, as opposed to the 400, 430 and 456/460, is that the crankshaft has been known to snap on them due to the way they are externally balanced. I am told that cars with V8 Developments 5 litre engines don't suffer from this as V8D internally balance their engines.
Mine had started to wear early and by 30,000 miles looked like this:
Not that bad really but it needed changing, better to do it early than keep putting cam material through the engine was the policy I took.
My car is a 4.0HC that used the same Kent 435 cam that went in the 5.0 litre cars, it's my belief this particular grind could breech the case hardening given to all the pre-ground Rv8 cam blanks.
I dont really have any evidence of this so it's speculation based on what I've seen, but the Kent 435 grind does seem to have a shorter life than most.
Saying that my best snail eating TVR mate has a 1996 Chimaera 5.0 litre and last year we popped it on the rollers, Ok so it's another low mileage car and all rolling roads can vary but you can't argue with the 300hp it laid down with ease.
No cam issues with that one then
The other thing I was reliably told by Piper Cams technical guy is the wear on Rv8 cams actually has very little to do with the cam itself, he explained there was a batch of very poor quality followers on the market in the 90's and they usually came in a Land Rover box.
He insisted that even the original followers used in by Land Rover in Solihull during the mid 90's were often total junk and this was a key underlying issue to early cam demise.
The followers are induction hardened which is a cheap method to harden a small piece of metal that will be subject to shear wear but like most cheap methods it's never as good as the more complete and involved hardening methods.
Whatever the reason for early cam demise one thing is clear, it's not consistent, some cars go for big mileages with minimal; wear while others seemed to have rounded their lobes in no time at all.
With this in mind two things come to mind..
1. Consistency of new cam break in procedure
2. Consistence & quality of materials and hardening processes used
Not that bad really but it needed changing, better to do it early than keep putting cam material through the engine was the policy I took.
My car is a 4.0HC that used the same Kent 435 cam that went in the 5.0 litre cars, it's my belief this particular grind could breech the case hardening given to all the pre-ground Rv8 cam blanks.
I dont really have any evidence of this so it's speculation based on what I've seen, but the Kent 435 grind does seem to have a shorter life than most.
Saying that my best snail eating TVR mate has a 1996 Chimaera 5.0 litre and last year we popped it on the rollers, Ok so it's another low mileage car and all rolling roads can vary but you can't argue with the 300hp it laid down with ease.
No cam issues with that one then
The other thing I was reliably told by Piper Cams technical guy is the wear on Rv8 cams actually has very little to do with the cam itself, he explained there was a batch of very poor quality followers on the market in the 90's and they usually came in a Land Rover box.
He insisted that even the original followers used in by Land Rover in Solihull during the mid 90's were often total junk and this was a key underlying issue to early cam demise.
The followers are induction hardened which is a cheap method to harden a small piece of metal that will be subject to shear wear but like most cheap methods it's never as good as the more complete and involved hardening methods.
Whatever the reason for early cam demise one thing is clear, it's not consistent, some cars go for big mileages with minimal; wear while others seemed to have rounded their lobes in no time at all.
With this in mind two things come to mind..
1. Consistency of new cam break in procedure
2. Consistence & quality of materials and hardening processes used
ChimpOnGas said:
Mine had started to wear early and by 30,000 miles
Ditto....not much above 30K miles on the 4.0 in my ex V8S and it needed to be replaced. 
Not that one does at the time but think yourself lucky tho....AJP8 cam are 400+....and you need 2 ! And they need re-shimming at 12k services !!!
Back end of last year there was a batch of non-hardened followers being supplied (accidentally) new with RV8 cams. They lasted anything up to 100 miles before destroying the new cam.
I know of several people who suffered from this problem until it was pointed out to the cam manufacturer.
Not their fault, they bought in the followers to supply with their cams. They did the right thing and replaced them and the cams.
I know of several people who suffered from this problem until it was pointed out to the cam manufacturer.
Not their fault, they bought in the followers to supply with their cams. They did the right thing and replaced them and the cams.
well you can use their hyd lifters too much you need a change off push-rods too QBee said:
Back end of last year there was a batch of non-hardened followers being supplied (accidentally) new with RV8 cams. They lasted anything up to 100 miles before destroying the new cam.
I know of several people who suffered from this problem until it was pointed out to the cam manufacturer.
Not their fault, they bought in the followers to supply with their cams. They did the right thing and replaced them and the cams.
Looks like that's what one of my issues was ... I know of several people who suffered from this problem until it was pointed out to the cam manufacturer.
Not their fault, they bought in the followers to supply with their cams. They did the right thing and replaced them and the cams.
Just replaced cam and hoping that I don't have the same problem again...
Phil
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