4.2 or 4.5

4.2 or 4.5

Author
Discussion

CHIMV8

Original Poster:

2,768 posts

220 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Is there a significant differance in the engines to consider buying one or the other?

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
CHIMV8 said:
Is there a significant difference in the engines to consider buying one or the other?
Been covered in loads of threads on here in the past.

Not that much difference in performance in the real world, but no doubt others will be along to give their 2p.

robsco

7,822 posts

175 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Mark, we met at a TVR run out a few months ago and you had a poke around my 4.5. Having the head gaskets replaced at the moment, but when she's back on the road you're more than welcome to pop over and I'll take you for a spin.

HarryW

15,150 posts

268 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Real world not a lot of difference in performance tbh, usual rules buy the best conditioned one etc apply.
4.2 IMHO has better inherent intake to give crisper throttle response. Early 4.2's have small journal crank that can snap and very wild cam, however both of which have probably been changed out by now. The 4.5 is smoother at low revs, so better in town and feels longer legged with more torque. Late 4.2's have 4.5 bottom ends (so they are actually 4.5's) but with the 4.2 intake, best of both worlds, again IMHO.

jackwibble

664 posts

158 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Use the search facility there is a thread on this at least once a month plenty of opinions to be read.

Edited by jackwibble on Sunday 19th October 13:45

Tanguero

4,535 posts

200 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
jackwibble said:
Use the search facility there is a thread on this at least once a month plenty of opinions to be read.
The last 3 of them have all been started by the OP...

CHIMV8

Original Poster:

2,768 posts

220 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Tanguero said:
jackwibble said:
Use the search facility there is a thread on this at least once a month plenty of opinions to be read.
The last 3 of them have all been started by the OP...
Still no real answer to go either way thats why

CHIMV8

Original Poster:

2,768 posts

220 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
robsco said:
Mark, we met at a TVR run out a few months ago and you had a poke around my 4.5. Having the head gaskets replaced at the moment, but when she's back on the road you're more than welcome to pop over and I'll take you for a spin.
YHM

CHIMV8

Original Poster:

2,768 posts

220 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
HarryW said:
Real world not a lot of difference in performance tbh, usual rules buy the best conditioned one etc apply.
4.2 IMHO has better inherent intake to give crisper throttle response. Early 4.2's have small journal crank that can snap and very wild cam, however both of which have probably been changed out by now. The 4.5 is smoother at low revs, so better in town and feels longer legged with more torque. Late 4.2's have 4.5 bottom ends (so they are actually 4.5's) but with the 4.2 intake, best of both worlds, again IMHO.
What is considered late and early years?

jackwibble

664 posts

158 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
CHIMV8 said:
Still no real answer to go either way thats why
I'm sure if you look back far enough you will find answers it's been done to death literally!


Gazzab

21,061 posts

281 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Early 4.2s are 96/97
Late 4.2s (ie with 4.5 engine) are 2000 ish onwards.

Vee8ight

734 posts

138 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
CHIMV8 said:
Still no real answer to go either way thats why
That's because there is no answer to which is better, it's your personal preference.

Tanguero

4,535 posts

200 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
CHIMV8 said:
Tanguero said:
jackwibble said:
Use the search facility there is a thread on this at least once a month plenty of opinions to be read.
The last 3 of them have all been started by the OP...
Still no real answer to go either way thats why
And you are unlikely to get one either. 3 different engines all with pros and cons. Which is 'best' is purely a matter of personal opinion.

Why keep starting new threads asking exactly the same question? rolleyes

CHIMV8

Original Poster:

2,768 posts

220 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Tanguero said:
CHIMV8 said:
Tanguero said:
jackwibble said:
Use the search facility there is a thread on this at least once a month plenty of opinions to be read.
The last 3 of them have all been started by the OP...
Still no real answer to go either way thats why
And you are unlikely to get one either. 3 different engines all with pros and cons. Which is 'best' is purely a matter of personal opinion.

Why keep starting new threads asking exactly the same question? rolleyes
Good point but easier to put dif headings......Having said that now have a better idea

Byker28i

58,855 posts

216 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
HarryW said:
Early 4.2's have small journal crank that can snap and very wild cam, however both of which have probably been changed out by now.
Or those on original engines, haven't seen the issue in 17-18 years...

So out of all the 4.2's made, just how many did actually snap?


HarryW

15,150 posts

268 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Mine is a 96 car that had an exchanged engine months after new. It also had a snapped crank when I bought it.

Jhonno

5,762 posts

140 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Mine snapped it's crank after 40k.. '96 4.2.

N7GTX

7,823 posts

142 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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The '96 4.2 Scerbera now owns is original and around 62k now.

CHIMV8

Original Poster:

2,768 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Been looking/sorting 4.2,going to look at a couple of 4.5's over next couple of days

purpleliability

627 posts

184 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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My 96 4.2 snapped at 42k and 12 years.

My 4.5 had the crank pulley fail.

My 4.7 is awesome, should have done this years ago! That's also my recommendation: go for the 4.7 wink