Mark Adams re-tune

[monaghaj]

I am considering getting my '96 4.0HC Chim re-tuned and re-chipped by Mark Adams. Is this a good idea and worth the benefit? How much is it likely to cost and will it make a noticable difference in performance?

Cheers,

Jamie.

[SlowRider]

come on someone .... tell us!

[shpub]

Go to www.t-v-r-services.co.uk and engine upgrade section. Mark worked on my 390 with mods and without mods and eventually managed to get on close to 250 bhp from a 3.9 litre and a bigger throttle body, air flow meter and injectors.

He has worked on my Griff500 and got that upto a genuine 300 bhp. The answer is yes it can be worth it. The amount of gain depends on what he can work with. Without changing the engine he can regain bhp that has been lost with possibly a little extra. Change a few things and the gains can be a lot more. However bear in mind that engine mods also mean brake and suspension upgrades cos if you go faster you really want to be able to stop as well. The insurance companies prefer this as well.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[craigalsop]

quote:I am considering getting my '96 4.0HC Chim re-tuned and re-chipped by Mark Adams. Is this a good idea and worth the benefit? How much is it likely to cost and will it make a noticable difference in performance?

Cheers,

Jamie.

I would echo Steve's get better brakes first bit - uprated disks & pads can be cheaper than the standard TVR parts....
As to Mark Adams tuning - I had his Tornado chip fitted to my Chimaera 450 & I am pleased with it - there seems to be more torque, it idles better in traffic & the throttle response is better.
I didn't get him to tune it (I'm in Scotland), so it's quite possible that he could make my engine even better.
For just the chip including fitting from a local specialist cost £350+VAT - it's up to you whether it is worth it or not...

cheers,
Craig

[manek]

Agree with all the above, though having had the Mark Adams treatment (the Chimaera, not me!), I'd say the extra smoothness and lack of flat-spots is worth it alone - though I did get an extra 30 bhp which is nice -- I still upgraded the brakes first.

[thirsty]

I have said this in several threads.... when I got my car from Fernhurst a few weeks ago, the low rpm performance was lousy. I had to putter through town in third gear, and the approach down my street (which I must do slowy because of children) was tough. The car would lurch, (kangaroo) and really had me pissed off.

I did two things. I took the car back to Fernhurst and they found a bad temp sensor. The result of this was the engine ECU (computer) was seeing the need to pump in more fuel. Result.. rough idle, and runnig very rich.

The second thing I did was switch to Shell Optimax. That is the only thing I have used in my car since then, and now it runs like a dream. I can rumble through town at 30 mph with no problems. It has definately put a smile back in my weekends !



thirsty

[robertm]

Did you notice an immediate improvement with the Optimax, or did it take a few tank fulls before the benefit was really apparent?

[pedestrian]

The difference on mine is immediately noticable,

From empty, a full tank of 95RON, and she's really grumpy when cold and misfires and is groggy when warm.
A full tank of 98RON; Still grumpy when cold - but not nearly as bad. Warm, she's purry smooth. Though she does pop and splutter a bit on the overrun..

Can't wait for the Mark Adams tweak though (next couple of months - I'll let u know).

And I don't even own a Chim (silent P)..

[xain]

Hmmm, I think that may be more the switch from 95RON to 97+RON. Do you know whether your car is set up for 95? If not, then it will be a bucket of bolts on standard U/L, and it won't be doing it any favours (pink-tastic)

If it *is* set for 95 then you're now running it way outside it's optimum timing window on 98 RON. It may well be smooth, but you won't be getting the best by a long shot.

[tarco]

Ha anyone got Mark Adams email or telphone number??

[thirsty]

It took several tank fulls to make a big difference in mine. My son however said he noticed an improvement right away.

The problem is finding a Shell station near by. There isn't one, so If I'm less that half a tank, I stop and fill up when I drive by one.

thirsty.

[chrispitt]

quote:
Ha anyone got Mark Adams email or telphone number??

01694720144
its best to get him in the morning
just installed my chip what a difference smooth running all round

[whitechimp500]

Very pleased with my MA chip.
Fitted it my self last month-no rolling road involved therefore can't quote power increase but there's a definate and dramatic increase in acceleration and the engine seems less lumpy.
It seems as if the chip upgrade has complimented the pre-cat removal and sports exhaust.
I run the car on Shell Optimax, only using normal Super U/L when forced to , never use normal U/L.
Engine timing is now 32 deg advance at 4000 revs as per Mark's reccomendation.
Am as Happy as the proverbial pig in st

[trefor]

Don't forget you can buy the same chip from RPI Engineering (Tornado Chip) if you are just going to plug it in and are skipping the RR tune.

My car is quite well tuned and when I fitted the chip the biggest difference I noticed was the leaner mixture on cold startup. It used to be a b1tch for the first mile or so. On the chip is said "Rev Limiter 6200" - I haven't tested this and don't really want to. The chip might survive but the valvetrain probably won't last long Performance wise there is definitely better throttle response and more mid-range torque (2500-4000rpm) which is exactly where my cam likes it. I'm not sure the car is that much faster from A to B because of the chip though, it's just a much better drive.

Trefor/.