Has anyone got a spare 5.0litre engine?

[ChrisA]

As the title suggests, I'd like to change my 4.0 for a 5.0. Does anyone have or know of one available for sale. I don't mind one that requires some rebuild work.

[V8 GRF]

Would it not be cheaper and easier to get your own engine modified?

http://www.v8developments.co.uk/TVR_engine_upgrade...

ETA Well easier anyway....

[davo23]

Or buy this 500 and take the best bits of both cars...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

[phazed]

davo23 said:

Or buy this 500 and take the best bits of both cars...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

Why is that sooo cheap or have I missed something?

[gmw9666]

or this, even cheaper :-) http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C449049

[StarmistBlue400]

phazed said:

Why is that sooo cheap or have I missed something?

In a different thread someone said it needed a lot of paintwork and I guess the high miles.

[zed4]

gmw9666 said:

or this, even cheaper :-) http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C449049

Damn you! Now I've just sent an email to my dad begging him to lend me the money to buy this!!!

[Chuffmeister]

phazed said:

Why is that sooo cheap or have I missed something?

Needs paintwork and some fibreglass damage on the rear off-side bumper? Perhaps a full or partial respray? Has to be worth a look though. It may also be sale or return and they need a quick sale (impending divorce due to unappreciative TVR misses or something)... an ideal project car. Personally, If I had the cash, I would be very tempted by the one mentioned in the thread below yours in the Car and Classic: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C449049

Edited by Chuffmeister on Thursday 5th December 14:06

[Goaty Bill]

StarmistBlue400 said:

In a different thread someone said it needed a lot of paintwork and I guess the high miles.

72933 = High miles?
Good God, what shall I do?

Oh yeah, I already gone and done it


Joking aside, I have seen some quite nice (cough) "higher mileage" Chimaeras at Fernhurst for more money than that in recent memory.
They have a reputation for being a bit pricey, but not for dishonesty. Chances are a drive over and a chat (or just a phone call) would clear up any mystery there.


Thing is, chances are the OP loves his Chimaera and wants to improve it, (a sentiment I can truly appreciate), rather than replace it, or own another.
Both those cars look like pretty good deals for 'fixer uppers' though.

I would suspect that looking at some of the usual suspects for a complete 'new' engine would prove more economical in the long run.
A warranty can be quite a valuable thing, never mind providing peace of mind.

Having just been through the 'rebuild my own' process, it never works out to be as economical as predicted, (even with a substantial allowance for overrun in my case), so buying someone else's for 'partial' rebuild could be very 'interesting'.

All said and done, the numbers never make sense in this.
It requires a pretty large dollop of man maths to make any of this work.

I have to say, if the desire for a 5L engine outweighs the love of the current vehicle, then one of those 500s above could be a better starting point (assuming they are original 500s), than improving a 400, simply based upon the end value one could achieve.

[Chilliman]

phazed said:

davo23 said:

Or buy this 500 and take the best bits of both cars...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

Why is that sooo cheap or have I missed something?

They're saying it needs a repaint, which I guess if done properly would bring the price up to around 11K?

ETA: Oops, sorry, the paint thing's already been said twice... should've read the whole thread more closely first

Edited by Chilliman on Thursday 5th December 15:38

[phazed]

Chilliman said:

They're saying it needs a repaint, which I guess if done properly would bring the price up to around 11K?

ETA: Oops, sorry, the paint thing's already been said twice... should've read the whole thread more closely first

Edited by Chilliman on Thursday 5th December 15:38

I should have read the add instead of looking at the piccies

[ianwayne]

Goaty Bill said:

72933 = High miles?
Good God, what shall I do?

Oh yeah, I already gone and done it

I second that. Bought a 4.0 (2000 reg) this week with 80k on it. Lots of receipts and history with it. I don't consider it high. That 500 has averaged about 5k per year, mine about 6k. Average use I'd say, and the better for it. At least I hope it will be!

[QBee]

At the end of the day, that's the reason - "high" mileage. 72k
Bet the "paint" is no more than a few marks/stone chips.

At the end of the day, OP, by FAR your cheapest way of upgrading your engine from 4 litres to 5 is to grab the Fernhurst car and sell yours in April. Max net cost 2 grand. A v8D 5 litre swap will be the thick end of 7 grand. I know. I was that pillock.

Only consolation for me is I have an 82,000 mile car with a 9000 mile engine.

[Chilliman]

I'll second what QBee just said. Only 600 500's were built, probably less than half that still exist (or not, I dunno).... I'd snap it up, do the paint a few years down the road when you can comfortably afford it (if you can't now)

The Chimaera 500 is one of the more rare Tiv's.... Goaty is an expert on this..... keep it original and you've got a depreciation proof classic, sometimes wish I'd kept mine original...

[gmw9666]

ianwayne said:

I second that. Bought a 4.0 (2000 reg) this week with 80k on it. Lots of receipts and history with it. I don't consider it high. That 500 has averaged about 5k per year, mine about 6k. Average use I'd say, and the better for it. At least I hope it will be!

That the one up in staffs?

Looked really nice in the advert and great value

[davo23]

ianwayne said:

I second that. Bought a 4.0 (2000 reg) this week with 80k on it. Lots of receipts and history with it. I don't consider it high. That 500 has averaged about 5k per year, mine about 6k. Average use I'd say, and the better for it. At least I hope it will be!

Ah you bought it! I contacted the vendor the other day and he said he'd just taken a deposit. Hope you enjoy it. The search continues...

[ianwayne]

Thanks, yes it was me. He wouldn't budge on price, and I didn't really blame him, it was a good one. I last had one 10 years ago and had forgotten some of the foibles, like the very positive gear change, and the noise of course...

[ianwayne]

Chilliman said:

I'll second what QBee just said. Only 600 500's were built, probably less than half that still exist (or not, I dunno).... I'd snap it up, do the paint a few years down the road when you can comfortably afford it (if you can't now)

The Chimaera 500 is one of the more rare Tiv's.... Goaty is an expert on this..... keep it original and you've got a depreciation proof classic, sometimes wish I'd kept mine original...

460 left with engine sizes from 4750 - 4999cc according to this:

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/tvr_chimaera#...

That'll be mostly 500s.

Only 3800 of any size left. (over 1000 Griffs if you're bothered?!)

[NZ fan]

Plus the hand full scattered around the rest of the world. (There are two or three in nz that I know of including mine).

[estutjaweh]

NZ fan said:

Plus the hand full scattered around the rest of the world. (There are two or three in nz that I know of including mine).

Yep +1. Mines in Germany.