Buying a Pre-Modded Chim
Discussion
Hello Chaps,
As per the thread title I'm interested in buying a Chim that's been pre-modded. I've browsed through enough topics on this forum to realise that it's far cheaper to do that than to do it yourself; and hopefully the previous owner would have ironed out any bugs. (providing that the bugs aren't why they are selling the car in the first place!).
To cut a long story short I've been hanging around this forum, browsing various used Chim sites (TVRCC, Pistonheads & Autotrader etc) and I've come to the conclusion that buying a car from someone on here is probably the way forward, since it's more likely the car will have been taken care of and well-treated. I'm in the market for a FI 450/500. I do have some cosmetic mods in mind, but the charged powerplant is the main requirement for a car that I would like to buy initially since I can change lights, colour, the roof etc a lot more easily!
My main question is the one of budget for the initial outlay. I have literally no idea for how much any of you chaps would want to sell your FI 450/500 (ideally with the standard longevity upgrades to the chassis and some better springs). I am in no rush to buy and I'm willing to save up the required cash to get a good example. I originally had £10k in mind for a non-modded car, but I don't know how much extra I would need to get one that's been boosted!
Hopefully it's not a silly question, and I look forward to hearing what you have to say!
As per the thread title I'm interested in buying a Chim that's been pre-modded. I've browsed through enough topics on this forum to realise that it's far cheaper to do that than to do it yourself; and hopefully the previous owner would have ironed out any bugs. (providing that the bugs aren't why they are selling the car in the first place!).
To cut a long story short I've been hanging around this forum, browsing various used Chim sites (TVRCC, Pistonheads & Autotrader etc) and I've come to the conclusion that buying a car from someone on here is probably the way forward, since it's more likely the car will have been taken care of and well-treated. I'm in the market for a FI 450/500. I do have some cosmetic mods in mind, but the charged powerplant is the main requirement for a car that I would like to buy initially since I can change lights, colour, the roof etc a lot more easily!
My main question is the one of budget for the initial outlay. I have literally no idea for how much any of you chaps would want to sell your FI 450/500 (ideally with the standard longevity upgrades to the chassis and some better springs). I am in no rush to buy and I'm willing to save up the required cash to get a good example. I originally had £10k in mind for a non-modded car, but I don't know how much extra I would need to get one that's been boosted!
Hopefully it's not a silly question, and I look forward to hearing what you have to say!
It's an excellent question, a sorted example with the right mods and fully sorted suspension arms( bushes etc ) a re built engine and electrics working could and in my view should fetch about 15k ?? But then you have a master piece of work.
I've re built bits of mine and I'd be more than happy to pay 15k for a car in great nick having known what it takes and costs to do it yourself.
You are completely on the right train of thought and I hope you buy a Chim, Goodluck.
Because I love my car I wouldn't sell it for 17k but that's just my opinion.
I've re built bits of mine and I'd be more than happy to pay 15k for a car in great nick having known what it takes and costs to do it yourself.
You are completely on the right train of thought and I hope you buy a Chim, Goodluck.
Because I love my car I wouldn't sell it for 17k but that's just my opinion.
I am in agreement with Classichimi:
Your thought process is indeed a wise way of thinking because even doing small mods soon adds up very quickly.
I just think with your price guide of the £10k mark you are well short to get you in 500,a standard 450 these days are fetching more than your budget. If they do come up at the price range there will be a reason for it.
£10k will only get you a good 400 that may have just a few upgrades and that will be buying private,some of the specialists are asking 15-17k for a tidy 400.
I am not saying it's impossible,but my gut feeling tells me you will need to increase your price range,as just my opinion is the only way to get a 500 at your price is if CAT C or D does not bother you.
Sorry OP that I don't have a more positive answer or solution
Your thought process is indeed a wise way of thinking because even doing small mods soon adds up very quickly.
I just think with your price guide of the £10k mark you are well short to get you in 500,a standard 450 these days are fetching more than your budget. If they do come up at the price range there will be a reason for it.
£10k will only get you a good 400 that may have just a few upgrades and that will be buying private,some of the specialists are asking 15-17k for a tidy 400.
I am not saying it's impossible,but my gut feeling tells me you will need to increase your price range,as just my opinion is the only way to get a 500 at your price is if CAT C or D does not bother you.
Sorry OP that I don't have a more positive answer or solution
There is a FI Chim on the classifieds at the mo, 15k orange, that's a quick motor with plenty of mods I believe its someone from here, worth a look
A good 450 is an awesome motor and will give you plenty of grunt imo you really don't need much more than that and that can get you into big trouble if misused !!!
A good 450 is an awesome motor and will give you plenty of grunt imo you really don't need much more than that and that can get you into big trouble if misused !!!
There's no doubt that prices for good quality Chims, whether 400, 430, 450 or 500, are all moving upwards - surprising given that we're coming to the end of the season....
Neil Garner, for example, is advertising prelim details of a late 500 that's at £22K!
If you're going FI - would have thought a well-sorted 400 would be up to the mark......
Good luck with your search.
Neil Garner, for example, is advertising prelim details of a late 500 that's at £22K!
If you're going FI - would have thought a well-sorted 400 would be up to the mark......
Good luck with your search.
The technical specs in my owner's handbook printed in 1999 says 4.0 and 5.0 both have a compression ration of 10:1, and the 4.5 has 9.5:1.
Of course TVR may have been ahem... fibbing, like the 340 bhp it states for the 5.0.
Even allowing for the exaggeration, the 5.0 litre doesn't really need forced induction, IMHO of course, a bit of tweaking will make it fast enough. I'm not sure I've seen a 5.0 with SC or Turbo.
Edit: Just remembered forum user Hoofa has a 5.4 SC according to his profile!
Of course TVR may have been ahem... fibbing, like the 340 bhp it states for the 5.0.
Even allowing for the exaggeration, the 5.0 litre doesn't really need forced induction, IMHO of course, a bit of tweaking will make it fast enough. I'm not sure I've seen a 5.0 with SC or Turbo.
Edit: Just remembered forum user Hoofa has a 5.4 SC according to his profile!
Edited by ianwayne on Monday 13th October 22:51
I seem to remember my 4 litre was lower than 10:1 when I had it tested, but you could well be correct. Go for a 450 SC if you can find one. Good strong engine.
The kind go guy who does his own conversion might well be the kind of guy who sells the result a few months later to fund the next winter evening garage project.......that or Eastenders? no contest.m
The kind go guy who does his own conversion might well be the kind of guy who sells the result a few months later to fund the next winter evening garage project.......that or Eastenders? no contest.m
Edited by QBee on Tuesday 14th October 00:13
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TVR-Chimaera-Turbo-4-0-V...
I was a tad out on price but its had a lot done ????
I was a tad out on price but its had a lot done ????
Spotted that orange Chim. Definitely worth a look IMO. If the chassis is good and the work stacks up then it looks like a good buy (nice trim too). I'd would almost certainly travel to see it if I was looking for one.
I have a 500 and have got it running nicely, with no leaks etc. It has cost quite a bit of money to get it thus far, despite it coming with FSH etc. I would however, really like to add FI. It would be both awesome and truly terrifying! Having said that, I'm looking forward to seeing some of the FI LS conversions on here when they're running.
As the others have said, I wouldn't have any issues purchasing a Chim with some worthwhile mods. It is almost to be expected on these cars. Providing the rest of the car is as well maintained (chassis, engine), then it would be worth spending a little extra.
Be warned, if you do it yourself... once you start tinkering, it will never end!!!
I have a 500 and have got it running nicely, with no leaks etc. It has cost quite a bit of money to get it thus far, despite it coming with FSH etc. I would however, really like to add FI. It would be both awesome and truly terrifying! Having said that, I'm looking forward to seeing some of the FI LS conversions on here when they're running.
As the others have said, I wouldn't have any issues purchasing a Chim with some worthwhile mods. It is almost to be expected on these cars. Providing the rest of the car is as well maintained (chassis, engine), then it would be worth spending a little extra.
Be warned, if you do it yourself... once you start tinkering, it will never end!!!
The Orange Chim discussed here was in TrackVroad at the same time as I was working on our car in their shop. It was having the turbo installed and much more besides. I have no connection with the car and have never met it's owner but I can certainly vouch for the quality of work carried out by Ian and his team up in Clitheroe.
Guys, thanks a million for all the replies, I'm sure I'll have lots more questions as time goes by.
I never had any illusions that 10k was gonna be enough for a decent upgraded car, but I am definitely willing to pay the right price for the right car. So I had best continue saving my pennies to get closer to 17k.
Regarding the Orange beastie. I am really impressed with the figures that it is putting out, but am put off by the Tuscan-style lights. I was hoping to put in either mk3s or Lupo lights combined with Steve Edwards' covers on the front and some afterburners on the rear. I'm guessing that it takes some hefty remodelling to attain the Tuscan look so might be more effort than it's worth to put it back. I have in mind the look sported by this car (which I believe is owned by someone on here...) but with the faired lights and possibly the Steve Edwards Hard Top.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nwvt/3850886592/
I need to get driving a 450 and a 500, though I have driven a Griff 500 very briefly. Through reading the forums I've noticed people with 400s getting a bit HP-hungry and wishing they'd gone bigger so I thought I'd skip that and go big from the start. Obviously the FI adds a new dimension to things but getting an idea of what they're like au naturel should be a good starter for 10. ^_^
I never had any illusions that 10k was gonna be enough for a decent upgraded car, but I am definitely willing to pay the right price for the right car. So I had best continue saving my pennies to get closer to 17k.
Regarding the Orange beastie. I am really impressed with the figures that it is putting out, but am put off by the Tuscan-style lights. I was hoping to put in either mk3s or Lupo lights combined with Steve Edwards' covers on the front and some afterburners on the rear. I'm guessing that it takes some hefty remodelling to attain the Tuscan look so might be more effort than it's worth to put it back. I have in mind the look sported by this car (which I believe is owned by someone on here...) but with the faired lights and possibly the Steve Edwards Hard Top.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nwvt/3850886592/
I need to get driving a 450 and a 500, though I have driven a Griff 500 very briefly. Through reading the forums I've noticed people with 400s getting a bit HP-hungry and wishing they'd gone bigger so I thought I'd skip that and go big from the start. Obviously the FI adds a new dimension to things but getting an idea of what they're like au naturel should be a good starter for 10. ^_^
The orange Chimaera is mine, it has wanted for nothing. It has a nice amount of power with the turbo conversion but there is a lot more scope there if more power is wanted (by installing bigger injectors and running more boost). The car was fast enough for me after it had been remapped, however there is always the option there. Also with the new interior and carpets, etc it smells like you are stepping into a new car. If you have any questions let me know. Phil
Yours for 12 
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff