Chimaera speed six!

[tvr keith]

Just phoned the parts department at Walldonway near Maidstone who were TVR dealers and still claim to be specialists.
"Hello, do you have a thermostat for a Chimaeara please?"
"What engine size is that?"
"It's a 4.5 year 2000"
"An AJP engine then?"
"What, in a Chimaera?"
"Oh no, thats got the speed six in it"
"Last time I looked under the bonnet it still had it's Rover engine"
"in that case we won't have one, it's a Rover part"
"I thought the Rover ones were a different rating?"
"No, a standard Rover part"
"Thankyou, I'll try them."

NOT!!!!!!!
And these are supposed to be experts?
Anyway, does anyone know where I CAN get one please?

[chassis 33]

Off the top of my head, Rimmer Brothers www.rimmerbros.co.uk/rimmer/rover/v8engine/cooling , Paddock Spares www.paddockspares.com/sp/abspage/2/category/DISCOVERY_1/searchbox2/3__V8_Petrol/subcategory/Cooling.html, John Craddock www.johncraddock.co.uk , LRDirect www.lrdirect.com will all have 82oC and 88oC thermostats listed some even have 74oC.

Alternatively you're local friendly auto-factor will have one, but say its for a Disco series 1 not a TVR if you want to stand any chance of a discount.
Regards
Iain

[that daddy]

Thats a shame Keith,someone on here was saying a while ago how good they were i wonder if you got thru to the trainee storesman

[jason1788]

chassis 33 said:

.. but say its for a Disco series 1 not a TVR if you want to stand any chance of a discount.

Good call. It always amuses me that after requesting for example "a track rod end for a '92 Granada" they will always ask what car it's for and you know that to say a TVR is to lower trousers and bend over.

[chassis 33]

Been caught by that a couple of times, especially with oil, now I try and make certain I am wearing absolutely nothing TVR, C33M or even motorsport in general related. If you change oil and filters as often as I do, a fiver off a gallon of Valvoline soon adds up.

Regards
Iain

[RumbleBee]

Find the same problem repeatedly. Best to know exactly what your looking for and not even mention TVR. On that note, does anyone know what I need to ask for at my local landrover place to get a new otter switch for my 96 400?

[chassis 33]

It's a rad sensor switch from diesel Defender 90's

Landrover #PRC3541
Temperature sensor - red - 2.5 N/A Diesel

Regards
Iain

[RumbleBee]

Brill. Many Thanks for that.

[bigdods]

RumbleBee said:

Find the same problem repeatedly. Best to know exactly what your looking for and not even mention TVR. On that note, does anyone know what I need to ask for at my local landrover place to get a new otter switch for my 96 400?

or go to tvrcarparts.com for it - had to replace mine last week, came in 2 days , nice and cheap too. IIRC the tvr otter isnt the same as the landie one - it operates at a lower temp.

[chassis 33]

I've got that part number off several car's switches that I've worked with recently, there is a list knocking about of all the switches that live inside the same casing, its something like an M22 thread with a 30mm AF nut. I'll dig the list out if i can, IIRC there's a similar Renault part that kicks the fans in a lower temp, you just need to be careful cos some switches are normally open and some nomally closed (ie some operate so that if you put them in a Chim the fans worl operated until the temperature got to a certain level then switch off, which obviously is bad news!!!)

Regards
Iain

[spend]

I stuck the all the Interpart (available everywhere) fan switches with the correct thread on http://tvr3.dspen.com/Otter_Switches. ages ago. Most have dual spade switches - just check first.

I also had some notes on the thermostats for reference
QuintHazell Moprod
71 deg C Q_QTH 170
74 deg C Q_QTH 101 M_MTO101
78 deg C Q_QTH 169
80 deg C M_MTO208
82 deg C Q_QTH 100 M_MTO100
88 deg C Q_QTH 102 M_MTO102
90 deg C Q_QTH 103 M_MTO103
92 deg C Q_QTH 107 M_MTO107

Dave

[RumbleBee]

What temp should the otter switch make at? About 89?

[chassis 33]

About 89/90oC is what it originally is, but is the highest I'd want the fans to kick in. I guess it depends on your driving, if you only over do country lanes and pootling, 90oc should be fine, however if you're constantly stuck in London traffic maybe something just above your thermostat temperature would be a better choice.

Regards
Iain

[chassis 33]

About 89/90oC is what it originally is, but is the highest I'd want the fans to kick in. I guess it depends on your driving, if you only over do country lanes and pootling, 90oc should be fine, however if you're constantly stuck in London traffic maybe something just above your thermostat temperature would be a better choice.

Regards
Iain

[RumbleBee]

Thanks. Found a good website that has lots of the details on it. Although it says that PRC 3541 is 95 degs. Cant find a landrover one thats lower so going to plump for one of the others.

www.taysat.com.tr/products.aspx?kategori=THERMO%20SWITCH

[spend]

Otter switch selection is a bit of can of worms.. The swirl tanks seem to behave quite differently... You can get a pulse of very hot water which activates the switch - and almost instantly it is cool again. So the cut off temp for the switch is also quite critical. The changes in swirl tank locations seem to have slightly different behaviour.

The re-location of the otter switch to the Rad makes much more sense, as in later cars.

My personal preference is for the switch to be located by the rad outlet - and to switch on the temp I want cool water to be returned to the engine - mine is 82-76 in the rad. I still keep a 90-80 in the swirl tank as a back up.

Whilst the Modwise kits are excellent, I suspect one of the major factors people find them so good is down to the fans being activated by monitoring the coolant return temps rather than the pre-cooled temps.

Dave

[350matt]

Hang on chaps

The correct TVR thermostat is not a std Rover part, while the rover bits will work OKish the TVR one has a much larger opening and provides better cooling.

Contact someone like Trackcar or Tower view for the correct bit ( I think its actually off a renault)

Matt

[tvr keith]

I've ordered the correct thing from TVR Car Parts now

[spend]

Dead right Matt, the stats are all a bit different in design, even depending on the brand. It is a bit of a minefield.... Large orifice & tadpole/jiggle pin are things you should look for.

Dave