Opinions please
Discussion
As some may know I am the lucky owner of a Beautifull low mileage 2000 Chimaera,and having Called into Lloyd Brothers this morning to collect a set of Accel leads I am now looking at a Canaams upgrade.
Would the said upgrade put you off buying a mint Chimaera if you were in the market for one?
Having said that I have no intention of selling my little beauty !
Just wondering what peoples thoughts are (I will add that i will keep all the original parts to keep with the car).
Would the said upgrade put you off buying a mint Chimaera if you were in the market for one?
Having said that I have no intention of selling my little beauty !
Just wondering what peoples thoughts are (I will add that i will keep all the original parts to keep with the car).
ChilliWhizz said:
Ta 
Sounds pretty cool, but I'm uncertain what real world advantages it would bring, if the car is currently running ok?
On a modified motor I can see the benefits.
Either way, I don't see how it would really have any affect on resale value.
300bhp/ton said:
Ta
Sounds pretty cool, but I'm uncertain what real world advantages it would bring, if the car is currently running ok?
On a modified motor I can see the benefits.
Either way, I don't see how it would really have any affect on resale value.
Car is running as a 450 runs,i.e. pulls like a train but around town the shunting gets on my T*ts !Sounds pretty cool, but I'm uncertain what real world advantages it would bring, if the car is currently running ok?
On a modified motor I can see the benefits.
Either way, I don't see how it would really have any affect on resale value.
From what Nathan tells me it will run much smoother,more low down grunt and NO shunting.
have also a 4.5 chim that has canems in it. had been pleased with the boys and the system my so t350 also got canems. the boys are a pleasure to deal with. my engine was not standard when i did the conversion an mark adams already tried to work his magic on it but could not cure the low down shunting. after the canems conversion it is almost gone and i must point out my cam had been way hotter than a standard version. from my side thumbs up for the boys !
dont forget to get a Bosch idle valve and a wideband lambda fitted ( that is connected to the ECU not only to a gauge )
dont forget to get a Bosch idle valve and a wideband lambda fitted ( that is connected to the ECU not only to a gauge )
Edited by gacksen on Monday 23 May 17:02
Personally it would make me choose your car over an equal one in every other way as nearly anything has got to be better than the '90s crap that's wedged in there from standard. however, I'm relatively good with the spanners so would be able to have a good look over the install before I bought your car. I'm guessing that the layman wouldn't see it as a disadvantage as long as it was done by a specialist who they could go see if any problems arose.
Butch,I have a 2000 4.5 chin and have recently as part of other upgrades self fitted the canems ecru supplied by lloyds.
My car was a perfect running engine,no shunting,ran like a train,very powerful however that's not to say I've not had a few problems in the past .
I don't know how mechanically savvy you are but delve into the area of the ecu and you will find a real rats nest of wiring and bits of loom,this in itself is enough to make you want to improve,couple this with age and heat hardened loom under the bonnet and imo it's a no brainer
The canems will allow far mor accurate control of the engine together with new sensors will also give improved reliability and if it matters probably better economy,you may need to look elsewhere for some of your shunting issues but mine will drive quite happily at1100 rpm in 5th gear
You will also find the car in general far more tractable and relaxing to drive especially in town
The canems simplifies the footwell wiring and to this point you may want to consider a few other upgrades such as fuse box and battery relocation plus main power cable upgrades
Even for the purists I cannot see how upgrading the ecu could be detrimental to values
I installed my own and lloyds supplied a base map to get me running,the map was that good I was able on completion to drive the car to lloyds workshop for final mapping on their dyno,great pair of guys who really know their stuff,can't recommend them enough.
Don't know where you are based but if you are around Warwickshire at anytime give me a shout
Rich
My car was a perfect running engine,no shunting,ran like a train,very powerful however that's not to say I've not had a few problems in the past .
I don't know how mechanically savvy you are but delve into the area of the ecu and you will find a real rats nest of wiring and bits of loom,this in itself is enough to make you want to improve,couple this with age and heat hardened loom under the bonnet and imo it's a no brainer
The canems will allow far mor accurate control of the engine together with new sensors will also give improved reliability and if it matters probably better economy,you may need to look elsewhere for some of your shunting issues but mine will drive quite happily at1100 rpm in 5th gear
You will also find the car in general far more tractable and relaxing to drive especially in town
The canems simplifies the footwell wiring and to this point you may want to consider a few other upgrades such as fuse box and battery relocation plus main power cable upgrades
Even for the purists I cannot see how upgrading the ecu could be detrimental to values
I installed my own and lloyds supplied a base map to get me running,the map was that good I was able on completion to drive the car to lloyds workshop for final mapping on their dyno,great pair of guys who really know their stuff,can't recommend them enough.
Don't know where you are based but if you are around Warwickshire at anytime give me a shout
Rich
butch890 said:
Car is running as a 450 runs,i.e. pulls like a train but around town the shunting gets on my T*ts !
From what Nathan tells me it will run much smoother,more low down grunt and NO shunting.
That's exactly what my Canems system did for mine, you will also enjoy better throttle response and improved fuel economy.From what Nathan tells me it will run much smoother,more low down grunt and NO shunting.
The team at Lloyd Specialist Developments have done loads of these conversions and have refined their installation of the system on the TVR Chimaera over the years, so you know you're getting a package that is both proven and reliable.
Well worth it in my opinion
If anything it should add value.
I'm now running the Powers Mbe system and my car is better in every way, this is the single best upgrade you can do to give you the advantages Sheel mentions.
Mines also a 2000 car 4.6 and it's very fast for a pretty standard engine.
It's a no brainier to have your engine managed at the highest level, no more electrical issues or weak wiring,,
It should be faster and offer better fuel return figures also.
Canams is a very good Ecu, my only reservation regards re sale is the product isn't type approved but I'm not sure if that matters much. It will help sell the car because it's noticeably better to drive. I can go as low as 800 revs and just pull away with no shunting.
Best money I've spent on my car
I'm now running the Powers Mbe system and my car is better in every way, this is the single best upgrade you can do to give you the advantages Sheel mentions.
Mines also a 2000 car 4.6 and it's very fast for a pretty standard engine.
It's a no brainier to have your engine managed at the highest level, no more electrical issues or weak wiring,,
It should be faster and offer better fuel return figures also.
Canams is a very good Ecu, my only reservation regards re sale is the product isn't type approved but I'm not sure if that matters much. It will help sell the car because it's noticeably better to drive. I can go as low as 800 revs and just pull away with no shunting.
Best money I've spent on my car
ChimpOnGas said:
That's exactly what my Canems system did for mine, you will also enjoy better throttle response and improved fuel economy.
The team at Lloyd Specialist Developments have done loads of these conversions and have refined their installation of the system on the TVR Chimaera over the years, so you know you're getting a package that is both proven and reliable.
Well worth it in my opinion
I was expecting 40-50 year old grease monkeys with zz top style beards ,and i,m greeted by 2 Choirboys !The team at Lloyd Specialist Developments have done loads of these conversions and have refined their installation of the system on the TVR Chimaera over the years, so you know you're getting a package that is both proven and reliable.
Well worth it in my opinion
How on earth to pre-pubesant lads can amass the knowledge that they quite obviously have is a revelation!
Looking forward to early July!!
Hi, I am new to TVRs, but a replacement ECU would not have put me off, obviously as long as it's installed professionally.
I have a 500 with the original ECU but see no need to upgrade, I might have other issues but it drives around town perfectly, 30 mph in top gear is no problem and it pulls smoothly from there
I have a 500 with the original ECU but see no need to upgrade, I might have other issues but it drives around town perfectly, 30 mph in top gear is no problem and it pulls smoothly from there
I also have a 500 (Griff) with the original ECU and have no issues in or out of traffic.
An aftermarket ECU wouldn't necessarily put me off a purchase but (a) I wouldn't pay a premium for it and (b) if two similar condition cars came up at the same time, one with the standard ECU, one without, I would buy the OE one.
I've no doubt after market ECU's add a few bhp, reduce petrol consumptions, possibly increase reliability and smooth things out on troublesome engines, so I understand why some go this route. But I can just see them all being ripped out in time, both to return the cars to standard (the classic market drives this) and also because no one knows how to set them up anymore as technology and the few people that understood the ECU's move on.
An aftermarket ECU wouldn't necessarily put me off a purchase but (a) I wouldn't pay a premium for it and (b) if two similar condition cars came up at the same time, one with the standard ECU, one without, I would buy the OE one.
I've no doubt after market ECU's add a few bhp, reduce petrol consumptions, possibly increase reliability and smooth things out on troublesome engines, so I understand why some go this route. But I can just see them all being ripped out in time, both to return the cars to standard (the classic market drives this) and also because no one knows how to set them up anymore as technology and the few people that understood the ECU's move on.
Englishman said:
But I can just see them all being ripped out in time, both to return the cars to standard (the classic market drives this) and also because no one knows how to set them up anymore as technology and the few people that understood the ECU's move on.
That's actually all back to front, let me explain....One of the key reasons people ditch the Lucas 14CUX is because very few people know how to set it up anymore, indeed for what seemed like for ever there was only one man who claimed he could do it. I spent a morning with this chap and while his reputation goes before him I observed him sleeping on the job and making no changes to my fuel map whatsoever before asking me to pay a considerable bill that in no way reflected the zero improvement he made to the way my car ran.
For that he would have had to spot the blocked cats I suggested were making the engine hunt and at least burnt me a new chip with a new map. What he did do was a basic health check which revealed I'd serviced my car properly myself thanks very much, he then tried to sell me an injector cleaning session on my recently refurbished injectors, the whole experience was a total con to be honest and an expensive one at that.
Compare all that nonsense with how easy the after market ECUs are to map, the software being freely available and specifically designed to be super user friendly so anyone including the owner with a basic laptop can work with it.
Your point on originality may have been relevant a while back and does still have its place today, but the truth is there's a new breed of classic car owner these days who understands the benefits of modern technology. More and more these forward thinking guys are replacing their carbs and distributors with subtly and tastefully installed modern engine management systems and no one is suggesting they're destroying the value of their cars.
I've actually got two mates with expensive 1960's Porsches moving to modern engine management right now, and I've lost count of all the £100k plus E-Types I've seen of late running injection on throttle bodies and no distributor in sight. If the owners of such traditional classics are up to it I just can't see changing the ECU on a TVR that originally came with fuel injection from new will be that frowned upon in years to come.
In its defence the Lucas system while old and tricky to map is actually a quality thing, and there's no doubt... if the ECU, its associated wiring and the distributor are all working correctly the system can work well.
But it's when things start playing up the fun really starts
Englishman said:
I also have a 500 (Griff) with the original ECU and have no issues in or out of traffic.
An aftermarket ECU wouldn't necessarily put me off a purchase but (a) I wouldn't pay a premium for it and (b) if two similar condition cars came up at the same time, one with the standard ECU, one without, I would buy the OE one.
I've no doubt after market ECU's add a few bhp, reduce petrol consumptions, possibly increase reliability and smooth things out on troublesome engines, so I understand why some go this route. But I can just see them all being ripped out in time, both to return the cars to standard (the classic market drives this) and also because no one knows how to set them up anymore as technology and the few people that understood the ECU's move on.
Originality is brilliant when you add the mix of substandard fried and hardened wiring and an ecu that a further few years down the road the number of people that did know anything about them has diminished An aftermarket ECU wouldn't necessarily put me off a purchase but (a) I wouldn't pay a premium for it and (b) if two similar condition cars came up at the same time, one with the standard ECU, one without, I would buy the OE one.
I've no doubt after market ECU's add a few bhp, reduce petrol consumptions, possibly increase reliability and smooth things out on troublesome engines, so I understand why some go this route. But I can just see them all being ripped out in time, both to return the cars to standard (the classic market drives this) and also because no one knows how to set them up anymore as technology and the few people that understood the ECU's move on.
The beauty of the latest generation of ecu is and has already been noted is the platform and software is very user friendly
Nothing wrong in my opinion of embracing technology....some of us would still be using starting handles and manual chokes!
Rich
in general aftermarket ecu is aftermarket ecu. if you know how to work with ignition and fuel tables this is no magic.
if we would be talking about originality of cars.... is the engine matching numbers ? paint still original ? any other
modifications that are non standard ? list can go on for a long time and hopefully the day will come that all this will
important for a chimaera but i dont think so.
if we would be talking about originality of cars.... is the engine matching numbers ? paint still original ? any other
modifications that are non standard ? list can go on for a long time and hopefully the day will come that all this will
important for a chimaera but i dont think so.
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