Chimaera 500

[breezer42]

I heard rumours that the 500 is less reliable that its smaller brothers, but I can't find anything to substantiate this...is it likely to be someone talking rubbish? I know there's a lot of that around TVRs.

If it is less reliable, then given that fuel and tyre consumption don't bother me, is the 450 the best one to go for? The car would be irregularly used unfortunately and though stored indoors, not in the driest conditions (the building has a tin roof, unfortunately, so condensation can form).

At the moment I'm flying blind, but will do a lot more research before I decide. I currently have a Z3M Coupe (far more comfortable, and same 0-60 as a Chimaera 400) which I'd also like to keep, but if I'm only doing a few k per year, will probably feel too guilty to keep both.

Thanks, Ollie

[pk500]

ive had my 500 for over six years had an alternator pack up , and a power steering pipe burst, that can happen on any car mines done 70k starts every time goes like hellgood luck with finding a chimaera

[Jammy Dodger]

I moved up from 430 to 500 and pleased I did so, although the difference only really becomes apparent over 70.

Thing is, people who don't have 500s will say 500s are crap
people who do have 500s will say 500s are best

but a good 450 is better than a bad 500

drive as many of both and then decide, you'll know the right one for you when you encounter it...

[EggsBenedict]

Anecdotally (i.e. from reading this forum and TVRCC mag), I'd say that you're right in saying the 500s are more fragile than other capacities. There's been quite a few with snapped cranks that I've read about, and quite a few with knackered camshafts too. I've never read of any other capacity which have had the crank issue, but I've heard that the cam is a weak point of the RV8 whatever the capacity.

Clearly, you only hear about the issues on these forums, so there are probably loads out there that are completely fine, running with no issues.

5 litres isn't inherently a 'bridge too far' for the RV8, but remembering it started out at 3.5 litres, and producing ~120 horses, it does take skill & care to get to reliably be 1.5 litres bigger and produce somewhere near 300.

[Jammy Dodger]

EggsBenedict said:

Clearly, you only hear about the issues on these forums, so there are probably loads out there that are completely fine, running with no issues.

yup - about six hundred 500s were built IIRC and it's probably a handful affected. If it hadn't been the crank it wouldve been something else, nature of TVRs.

in mine it was the cam sprocket, teeth completely worn down and about to fail - identified at only 26000 miles, absolutely no explanation for it...

[Cedar]

Mine has never let me down (touch wood ), torquey, long stroke, and like most rv8's doesn't need to be revved high to get to the power. I'd say that compared to other engines like the speed6 and ajp its relatively unstressed.

[pk500]

well said

Cedar said:

Mine has never let me down (touch wood ), torquey, long stroke, and like most rv8's doesn't need to be revved high to get to the power. I'd say that compared to other engines like the speed6 and ajp its relatively unstressed.

[grum101]

LOL as i thought from eggs comments he's got a baby 4.0 as apposed to the far superior 5.0.Ive also had mine about 6 years only hassle's to date ummmmmmmmm oh blown 100amp fuse and the heater has stopped working but who needs heat in these.

[breezer42]

Many thanks guys; this has given me a lot more confidence in the 500. There's a dealer (relatively) nearby - Offord Motor Company - with whom I can go and discuss this further.

[Jammy Dodger]

breezer42 said:

Many thanks guys; this has given me a lot more confidence in the 500. There's a dealer (relatively) nearby - Offord Motor Company - with whom I can go and discuss this further.

Noooooo ! Buy it privately, save £3k to £5k and spend that on improvements (suspension, performance, minor niggles)

By the way - just supercharged mine (400bhp or so) and the engine builder insists (and has taken responsibility) the standard crank (albeit polished) will be fine

[SILICONEKID340HP]

Mine is a 5l but rebuilt with a 4.6 crank so its been built so the crank does not snap..

What about yours Jammy !

[Jammy Dodger]

SILICONEKID340HP said:

Mine is a 5l but rebuilt with a 4.6 crank so its been built so the crank does not snap..

What about yours Jammy !

Mine is original to the car - 1999 model f/lift car (oct 98). Jamie's polished it is all.

Lifetime guarantee on the engine (although that may not be worth the paper it's not written on )

Jamie is prepared to stand by his work, I'm sure of that

[Jammy Dodger]

That reminds me : Jamie mentioned ( to underline each model has it's foibles) that IIRC 96-97 450s were vulnerable to cracking bores (or summat like that) due to a dodgy batch of castings, which is why top hat liners are so popular... Range rovers suffered it too, same issue

Sticklers for accuracy will pull me up on the details, but I can get the accurate info. If pressed

[SILICONEKID340HP]

Will the crank be ok with all that torque ? I wonder why he did not go down the same route has my 5l setup..Bored out more but slightly less stroke.

Edited by SILICONEKID340HP on Tuesday 27th September 21:57

[hiltonig]

Jammy Dodger said:

breezer42 said:

Many thanks guys; this has given me a lot more confidence in the 500. There's a dealer (relatively) nearby - Offord Motor Company - with whom I can go and discuss this further.

Noooooo ! Buy it privately, save £3k to £5k and spend that on improvements (suspension, performance, minor niggles)

By the way - just supercharged mine (400bhp or so) and the engine builder insists (and has taken responsibility) the standard crank (albeit polished) will be fine

So ask him this how can you polish a cast iron turd ? Hmm steel crank all the way me thinks

Until the cast iron breaks lol

Ps that cam sprocket , my a p50 couldn't run that are u sure it's real for 20 out thousand mile motor ?

Edited by hiltonig on Tuesday 27th September 21:58

Edited by hiltonig on Tuesday 27th September 22:18

[Jammy Dodger]

SILICONEKID340HP said:

Will the cramk be ok with all that torque ? I wonder why he did not go down the same route has my 5l setup..Bored out more but slightly less stroke.

Didn't want thinner head walls is the short answer....

[Jammy Dodger]

hiltonig said:

So ask him this how can you polish a cast iron turd ? Hmm steel crank all the way me thinks

Until the cast iron breaks lol

Edited by hiltonig on Tuesday 27th September 21:58

Christ, you ain't half crotchety tonight Nigel !

He'll have to sort it if it does...

Enjoyed the "polish a turd" reference though, well strung together

[SILICONEKID340HP]

Next post ..Can anyone tow me home from Stratford upon avon ? my crank has snapped from the 400ftlb torque !and i have a cheap super charger for sale ..

[Jammy Dodger]

SILICONEKID340HP said:

Next post ..Can anyone tow me home from Stratford upon avon ? my crank has snapped from the 400ftlb torque !and i have a cheap super charger for sale ..

You wish

We'll see - have taken a different route is all : no new block , no top hat liners, no stage 47 wilddragon heads, no forged this or H beam that.

I put my trust in an expert, proven, championship winning RV8 engine builder - not a components salesman or a pundit - no offence

If it's a fk up then of course I'll be embarrassed, but the expert's reputation is more at stake than mine : mine counts for st in this particular pond, whereas his livelihood depends on it.

Enough sniping lads - this isn't helping the OP

ETA, probably nearer 449.5 torque

Edited by Jammy Dodger on Tuesday 27th September 22:15

[hiltonig]

Jammy Dodger said:

Christ, you ain't half crotchety tonight Nigel !

He'll have to sort it if it does...

Enjoyed the "polish a turd" reference though, well strung together

Only trying to help , look at this way if the cast iron crank snaps on normally asp engines how would polishing it help on a 400bhp engine ? The bloke could possibly be talking @@@l

But then what do I I know ?