Newby

[cliffwillis]

Hi

I am a newby - bought Chimaera last year and using as a weekend fun car - learning about the car and hope to do some of the maintenance myself. Car is late 94 Mk 1 with T5 gearbox and seems fairly standard. Car was bought cheaply from Ebay with some history and seems in reasonable condition but there are a few mysteries which I am hoping you guys can help me with...
1 the engine does not have any TVR markings either on the plenum or the rocker covers - could this mean I have a non TVR engine fitted? Where is the engine serial number stamped so that I can check?
2 Looks like an extra cable running to the cooling system (swirlpot?) any ideas?
3 Having got the car wired via trickle charger it now starts first time and the aftermaerket (Toad) alarm seems to arm and disarm the car - however the siren does not operate when the alarm is activated(flasher lights come on). I have a manual key which will turn in the lock of the siren but seems to make no difference - any ideas?
4 Paint colour is good but lacquer is peeling badly on most panels - T Cut has no effect. Does this mean a respray?
5 The front number plate is fixed (I think) illegally to the bonnet - a lot of people like this and good for airflow I understand but I would like to move to the lower valence, is there a fixing kit for this?
Not sure if I have managed to upload all the pictures but hope there is enough info for some help.
Thanks

WIL9062

[jojackson4]

Photo of engine bay please

[portzi]

Hi Cliff and welcome , hope your enjoying the drive and the noise . The best bet is to get yourself down to a local TVR meet either a Piston heads one, or better still the TVR Car club. I am sure once you have started chatting to some knowledgeable people at the local meets and show them your car it will help you out, and give you loads of good info, just hope the weather picks up back in blity,

Mark

[debaron]

Engine number is on the block protruding from under the NS cylinder head. Follow the dipstick and you should see it.

Lack of TVR badges is not necessarily a bad sign.

[jamienshelly]

The extra wire to the swirl pot may be from a additional switch to overide the otter switch to bring the fans on early, or keep them on if the engine is staying hot etc. If you have a switch somewhere you are not sure of, turn the ign on and operate the switch and see if the fans come on, they may have used the LED on the steering column as a tell tale. Hope this has made sense and helps