£10k - £12k Chimaera - will this be asking for trouble?
Discussion
Just got home!
I had another 45mins going over the car checking stuff that I had forgot to check at the weekend- including most of the things you guys have very helpfully pointed out, then went out for a good half hour test drive. I was a bit lost for words after, I couldn't really have picked a better evening or better location to have my first proper drive in a Chimaera!
Happy to report everything seemed to work as it should, oil got up to pressure and stayed where it should, temp didn't get too crazy and the fans kicked in no problem, no noises from the diff that I could make out, it braked nice an level. All the electrics worked as they were supposed to, and boy did it sound good! It's completely standard apart from the Gaz shocks, after-burner rear lights, and carbon dash- so no exhaust/cat modifications as yet, but it's certainly not subtle
Got back from the drive and I spent another half an hour pouring over it, no sign of any fluids where they shouldn't be etc. We then went in and I spent ages going through all the paperwork- which is pretty extensive, including the fully stamped service book and old MOTs. Plus a ton of receipts including the big almost £6k bill less than 3 years (and 3k miles) ago that covered new outriggers, a new AP racing clutch, new hood, the Gaz shocks, re-trimmed door cards, carpets, plus the after-burner lights & carbon dash upgrades. Oh and the all important clear hpi report.
I don't think there was much else I could have checked to be honest, so I paid the deposit! Car is going to be serviced & prepped, and I'm due to collect a week on Friday (which I already have off work)- I just need to find some transport up there as my car mate who's done all the running about with me is selfishly off to Wales with his family that week!
This is the car in question for those that hadn't worked it out; the private plate is included, and although meaningless it does hide the age a bit I guess.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
Although right at the absolute top of my budget, I figured considering all of the recent work (clutch / outriggers / hood etc) it was as sensible a buy as one of these can be when you've just bought a new house and haven't even bought a sofa yet
Lets hope I've chosen wisely! Cheers for all the input from everyone that's contributed on here and indeed messaged me privately, it's given me an absolute ton of info and made the whole prospect of buying one of these a heck of a lot less daunting!
I had another 45mins going over the car checking stuff that I had forgot to check at the weekend- including most of the things you guys have very helpfully pointed out, then went out for a good half hour test drive. I was a bit lost for words after, I couldn't really have picked a better evening or better location to have my first proper drive in a Chimaera!
Happy to report everything seemed to work as it should, oil got up to pressure and stayed where it should, temp didn't get too crazy and the fans kicked in no problem, no noises from the diff that I could make out, it braked nice an level. All the electrics worked as they were supposed to, and boy did it sound good! It's completely standard apart from the Gaz shocks, after-burner rear lights, and carbon dash- so no exhaust/cat modifications as yet, but it's certainly not subtle
Got back from the drive and I spent another half an hour pouring over it, no sign of any fluids where they shouldn't be etc. We then went in and I spent ages going through all the paperwork- which is pretty extensive, including the fully stamped service book and old MOTs. Plus a ton of receipts including the big almost £6k bill less than 3 years (and 3k miles) ago that covered new outriggers, a new AP racing clutch, new hood, the Gaz shocks, re-trimmed door cards, carpets, plus the after-burner lights & carbon dash upgrades. Oh and the all important clear hpi report.
I don't think there was much else I could have checked to be honest, so I paid the deposit! Car is going to be serviced & prepped, and I'm due to collect a week on Friday (which I already have off work)- I just need to find some transport up there as my car mate who's done all the running about with me is selfishly off to Wales with his family that week!
This is the car in question for those that hadn't worked it out; the private plate is included, and although meaningless it does hide the age a bit I guess.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
Although right at the absolute top of my budget, I figured considering all of the recent work (clutch / outriggers / hood etc) it was as sensible a buy as one of these can be when you've just bought a new house and haven't even bought a sofa yet
Lets hope I've chosen wisely! Cheers for all the input from everyone that's contributed on here and indeed messaged me privately, it's given me an absolute ton of info and made the whole prospect of buying one of these a heck of a lot less daunting!
Topper_Harley said:
Please tell me you just started it up, checked the indicators and gave them all your money
The way it sounded on start up, if it wasn't for my mate being there I doubt I'd have even bothered with the indicators!plfrench said:
Good work squirrel! We both did a great job of convincing each other of the man-maths behind the plan
Cheers! you've certainly got a right to share a lot of the thanks/blame for me having purchased one quite so soon 
Hopefully I'll get to see your 500 in the flesh at some point
pwd95 said:
Looking forward to the pics....
My mate took a couple, I'll get them uploaded asap
AdriaanB said:
Looks great! I've just bought a '63 Ford Galaxie in exactly that colour - we seem to be on a trend here!
The colour was one of my two favourites- the other being Starmist blue, so extremely happy on that front.
Word of warning to everyone, I'm due to pick up a week tomorrow so I'd advise making the most of the current weather as I can guarantee it WILL be raining then!
ianwayne said:
HC Model according to the plenum badge, which the advert didn't mention (?). The engine shot doesn't show a PAS fluid reservoir. Hope the lack of PAS won't be too much of a hindrance. Looks a nice one anyway!
I asked about the HC badge, but the seller stated it was definitely just a 400, would there be any other easy ways to tell? It wasn't a issue for me either way, I've bought it on the basis of it being a clean 400- if it did turn out to be a HC it would just be a bonus.Edit: will check the numbers when I get the car and see if it has the hc noted, it does seem to be a bit of guesswork though without checking the pistons etc. General consensus from old threads on here seems to be not to worry to much about whether it's a HC or not as engine condition can be a bigger variable on performance than the high lift cam.
Yep no PAS on this one, I was actually quite keen on a non-PAS example- I might be weird but there is something I really enjoy about a car that takes a bit of work to use! Particularly when my daily driver has the lightest steering this side of a Tractor... If it was my only car it would have been a different matter mind. I certainly had no issues maneuvering round some extremely narrow country bends/junctions last night, and once up to speed it felt superb.
Edited by Squirrelofwoe on Thursday 21st July 14:35
Fantastic news.
Just remember your bedroom tactics and avoid the damp patches on the way home.
As said, straight line before booting.
Another geezer I know managed to wrap his car around a lamp post within two weeks of getting it.
Ps the only way of telling whether you have a highlift cam or not is to take the cam out and have it inspected by an expert. Alternatively, take it to a known rolling road and see what BHP/torque it makes, and report back.
Good luck!
Just remember your bedroom tactics and avoid the damp patches on the way home.
As said, straight line before booting.
Another geezer I know managed to wrap his car around a lamp post within two weeks of getting it.
Ps the only way of telling whether you have a highlift cam or not is to take the cam out and have it inspected by an expert. Alternatively, take it to a known rolling road and see what BHP/torque it makes, and report back.
Good luck!
QBee said:
Fantastic news.
Just remember your bedroom tactics and avoid the damp patches on the way home.
As said, straight line before booting.
Another geezer I know managed to wrap his car around a lamp post within two weeks of getting it.
Ps the only way of telling whether you have a highlift cam or not is to take the cam out and have it inspected by an expert. Alternatively, take it to a known rolling road and see what BHP/torque it makes, and report back.
Good luck!
Just remember your bedroom tactics and avoid the damp patches on the way home.
As said, straight line before booting.
Another geezer I know managed to wrap his car around a lamp post within two weeks of getting it.
Ps the only way of telling whether you have a highlift cam or not is to take the cam out and have it inspected by an expert. Alternatively, take it to a known rolling road and see what BHP/torque it makes, and report back.
Good luck!
Yep it was chucking it down here for most of yesterday afternoon/evening (I was DJing a wedding all day and it was something of a washout) so it will be a rather sedate journey home today!
I suspected that might be the case, in all honesty it doesn't bother me much it was more out of interest. I would be interested in getting it on a rolling road at some point anyway though. The only thing on my initial to-do list is get the pre-cats removed, but aside from that I just want to get out and enjoy it for the rest of the summer.
I wouldn't even hurry to remove the pre-cats, just get out and enjoy it, there's only two months of decent weather left.
If for any unforeseen reason you decide to sell it this year, the less meddled the better.
Precats removal is an unpleasant job at the best of times - perhaps a winter job rather than summer?
You will most likely end up taking the manifolds off to do it, which is a pain in the bum itself. So new gaskets as well, and it is worth checking before you start that the manifolds are not leaking at the 4>1 union half way along, many do. If they are, then they will have to be removed and cut open to weld up the leaks from the inside - piece of piss to remove the precats with the manifolds cut open, as the cut is made about an inch from the precats, and you will curse (as I did) if you miss that great opportunity.
If for any unforeseen reason you decide to sell it this year, the less meddled the better.
Precats removal is an unpleasant job at the best of times - perhaps a winter job rather than summer?
You will most likely end up taking the manifolds off to do it, which is a pain in the bum itself. So new gaskets as well, and it is worth checking before you start that the manifolds are not leaking at the 4>1 union half way along, many do. If they are, then they will have to be removed and cut open to weld up the leaks from the inside - piece of piss to remove the precats with the manifolds cut open, as the cut is made about an inch from the precats, and you will curse (as I did) if you miss that great opportunity.
QBee said:
Precats removal is an unpleasant job at the best of times - perhaps a winter job rather than summer?
This is very true from all the posts here on this subject. Dan Taylor is going to do mine next March at MOT time.............whilst adding an ACT Y piece for me As Anthony states just get out and enjoy your new toy and get used to the grin factor it delivers every time you turn the key
Squirrelofwoe said:
Collection day today! 
Enjoy! Mine is still at my parent's house whilst my new garage is being built... Can't wait till the 21st Aug when I get it here.Rolling road session would be interesting to do soon, good indicator of overall health. How about a visit to Powers Performance in late Aug / September?
plfrench said:
Enjoy! Mine is still at my parent's house whilst my new garage is being built... Can't wait till the 21st Aug when I get it here.
Rolling road session would be interesting to do soon, good indicator of overall health. How about a visit to Powers Performance in late Aug / September?
That could be a plan, plus it would be great to meet up with some of you guys and see your cars! I'd need to check my calendar as we are pretty busy with weddings around then, but it quietens down the second half of september.Rolling road session would be interesting to do soon, good indicator of overall health. How about a visit to Powers Performance in late Aug / September?
Right, off to pick her up, ill report back later!
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