TVR Chimaera Engine - Help!

[China100]

Hi All,

I have just purchased a 400 Chim as a bit of a restoration.

A complete car however the bottom of the engine is missing (block and sump)

I have the heads etc and in great condition. is it better to buy an entire complete 400 engine? or build from the bottom?

its a 95 model, would a 4.5 engine drop in quite fuss free?

this is my first TVR and new to the club - but already loving life!

any ideas would be great!

Regards,

Dave

[Discopotatoes]

Don't muck about, give V8 Develpoments a ring and get a proper lump dropped in

[QBee]

You may well find you can get a 4 litre engine from someone like V8 Developments pretty cheaply. Most people who are upgrading to the bigger engines part exchange in a 4 litre, so they will have complete 4 litre engines available.

[ClassicChimaera]

I have a spare sump off a 2000 year 4.6 Chimaera engine available
Pm me if your interested

[ChilliWhizz]

I think you have to answer these questions..

Is it likely to be a keeper
Are you big on keeping things original
Do you have a tendency to want to modify your cars
What will the car be used for, summer burbling with the roof down or do you like to press on a bit
Do you know how much torque and horsepower you're likely to want/need.. It'd be worth hitching rides in other Chimaeras to get an impression of how different engined cars perform
As with most things, its usually budget that constrains our dreams and aspirations

HTH
Chilli

[phazed]

Do you think this is Ed China trying to pick up some tips on how to put a TVR together?

[ChilliWhizz]

phazed said:

Do you think this is Ed China trying to pick up some tips on how to put a TVR together?

Could be... its a well known fact that anyone wanting to hide their true identity calls themselves Dave.... or, er, Clark...

[China100]

Hi all

thanks for your comments,

I did give TVR Power a go in Coventry, but I will try V8 developments if they are good,

Im not sure, I was going to put back to standard - but if getting an entire engine - im thinking of the 4.5?

[ClassicChimaera]

phazed said:

Do you think this is Ed China trying to pick up some tips on how to put a TVR together?

The price has just gone up
Sorry Ed,,,,,, Dave only joking

[China100]

no - its genuinely Dave

[ClassicChimaera]

China100 said:

no - its genuinely Dave

Yeah yeah yeah,,


Goodluck and welcome,,, Dave

[ChilliWhizz]

China100 said:

I will try V8 developments if they are good,

They are good, my engine was completely rebuilt by them with new block in 2011.. you'll get lots of thumbs up from the V8 TVR community for V8D....

China100 said:

but if getting an entire engine - im thinking of the 4.5?

4.0 - good for Sunday drivers and girls... (Mat Smith excluded)
4.5/4.6 - good for those with an identity crises or bisexual tendencies (sorry Alun, not personal)
5.0 and above - real men only need apply....

It really is very simple.. feel free to pm me if you need clarification on any of the above

Chilli

Edited to add, welcome to mad central

Edited by ChilliWhizz on Thursday 16th February 16:47

[Discopotatoes]

ChilliWhizz said:

4.0 - good for Sunday drivers and girls... (Mat Smith excluded)
4.5/4.6 - good for those with an identity crises or bisexual tendencies (sorry Alun, not personal)
5.0 and above - real men only need apply....

It really is very simple.. feel free to pm me if you need clarification on any of the above

Chilli

Edited to add, welcome to mad central

Edited by ChilliWhizz on Thursday 16th February 16:47

Where does mine fit in to that list

[PhilH42]

ChilliWhizz said:

4.0 - good for Sunday drivers and girls... (Mat Smith excluded)
4.5/4.6 - good for those with an identity crises or bisexual tendencies (sorry Alun, not personal)
5.0 and above - real men only need apply....

It really is very simple.. feel free to pm me if you need clarification on any of the above

Chilli

Edited to add, welcome to mad central

Edited by ChilliWhizz on Thursday 16th February 16:47

Richard,

I've just taken my 400 out for a drive tonight...a bit of country road driving and A roads after swapping another bloody AFM and I was buzzing at how well she is running and the sound of the sleeved exhaust! I was about to write up on how amazing it all felt to get back out there in the dry with her running spot on! Now I'm a girly Sunday driver who got his days mixed up...so thats pissed right on my fire!!!

Better get that turbo on quick...no further sh**y comments about that please

[ChilliWhizz]

Discopotatoes said:

Where does mine fit in to that list

Sorry Richard, should have specified applies only to NA.... twin turbo nutters not included

PhilH42 said:

Richard,

I've just taken my 400 out for a drive tonight...a bit of country road driving and A roads after swapping another bloody AFM and I was buzzing at how well she is running and the sound of the sleeved exhaust! I was about to write up on how amazing it all felt to get back out there in the dry with her running spot on! Now I'm a girly Sunday driver who got his days mixed up...so thats pissed right on my fire!!!

Better get that turbo on quick...no further sh**y comments about that please

Sorry Phil, really sorry... dunno what to say..

[PhilH42]

ChilliWhizz said:

Discopotatoes said:

Where does mine fit in to that list

Sorry Richard, should have specified applies only to NA.... twin turbo nutters not included

PhilH42 said:

Richard,

I've just taken my 400 out for a drive tonight...a bit of country road driving and A roads after swapping another bloody AFM and I was buzzing at how well she is running and the sound of the sleeved exhaust! I was about to write up on how amazing it all felt to get back out there in the dry with her running spot on! Now I'm a girly Sunday driver who got his days mixed up...so thats pissed right on my fire!!!

Better get that turbo on quick...no further sh**y comments about that please

Sorry Phil, really sorry... dunno what to say..

What about single turbo's!!!!!! FFS

I'll live mate...well all the time I'm in a nancy 400 anyway!

[ClassicChimaera]

ChilliWhizz said:

4.0 - good for Sunday drivers and girls... (Mat Smith excluded)
4.5/4.6 - good for those with an identity crises or bisexual tendencies (sorry Alun, not personal)
5.0 and above - real men only need apply....

It really is very simple.. feel free to pm me if you need clarification on any of the above

Chilli

Edited to add, welcome to mad central

Edited by ChilliWhizz on Thursday 16th February 16:47

Utter outrage,,,

I've been working on it slowly, you can't tell me 350 ft lb torque is for gays
Iim the sort of bloke who wears his skirts and and keeps his hairy legs,,, riskay me mate

Oi, you over confident Aston driver, people might believe it, I am handsome though eh, you'd fancy me Chilli I just know it

The poor OP to be subject to this on his first foray,,,
Hopefully he'll see it can be a barrel of laughs as well as informative on here

ETA sadly no new pics of great gramps on the bike Richard

Edited by ClassicChimaera on Thursday 16th February 18:17

[PhilH42]

Sorry OP but at least its nice and clear that you should bin that 4L and jump to at least a 5 possibly 5.4 and strap a couple of turbo's on for good measure.

In all seriousness though....and I'm finding that difficult for some reason tonight...a 400 is a great machine when in top running order but if you have an engine in bits I'd take this opportunity to safe guard the very likely situation of wanting more power...if as has already been said its a keeper.

[ChilliWhizz]

PhilH42 said:

Sorry OP but at least its nice and clear that you should bin that 4L and jump to at least a 5 possibly 5.4 and strap a couple of turbo's on for good measure.

In all seriousness though....and I'm finding that difficult for some reason tonight...a 400 is a great machine when in top running order but if you have an engine in bits I'd take this opportunity to safe guard the very likely situation of wanting more power...if as has already been said its a keeper.

Totally agree with Phil, the 4.0 is a great sports car, absolutely no question... I spent a small fortune having mine rebuilt, went for NA.. I love it, it revs like buggery, and it's properly quick.. but the FI cars are a different thing again... as you have the opportunity to start from scratch, you can build for NA or FI.. I have high compression forged pistons, to get the benefit of gluing a turbo on I'd need to rebuild the engine with LC pistons... a few thousand quid before even buying the turbo kit... think twice (or three times) and spend once

[CanoeSniffer]

OP, good to see that you've joined the club and that you've gone for the correct choice of colour

I'm also a newbie here but feel I might lend some perspective amongst this crowd of power-mad chancers

You didn't mention your previous experience of fast cars (sorry if I've missed this), for myself my 400 was my first and I'm not left wanting! As for performance, well it's all relative, but the focal point of these cars is the assault on the senses and a 400 will deliver this as well as any car! A raw, visceral experience that makes 50 feel like 150!

However I've heard V8D well recommended in many circles and it would make sense to see this project as an opportunity and perhaps look to build something a bit special.. Look forward to seeing what you come up with!