HC or standard engine?

[shadowfax]

After desperate times with a 400SE I bought for £5400 in March, since then spending over £4k in repairs, I learned that a liner has gone and it needs a new engine.... RT proposes to use a 400 Chim engine which has done 30k and has fsh to date. Is there any guide from engine numbers as to which of the 400s were the hc engines? Or would HC be engraved on the plenum, as per my dearly sorely sadly missed Bluey's

[That Daddy]

Look for double vale springs and a vernier camchain set although you will not be able to see the later unless you dismatle the timing cover.

[spend]

Surely you could have your liners fixed & a new high lift cam for the cost of the Chim engine? Have you told Richard that you desire something with a bit more oomph, careful tho you may end up with a Riocket to share the Thorpedo stable

Who's to say anyway that the Chim engine has better internals than your 400SE? I honestly think plenty of the engines are a bit like pandoras boxes....

Dave

[big martin]

[quote=shadowfax]After desperate times with a 400SE I bought for £5400 in March, since then spending over £4k in repairs, I learned that a liner has gone and it needs a new engine.... RT proposes to use a 400 Chim engine which has done 30k and has fsh to date. Is there any guide from engine numbers as to which of the 400s were the hc engines? Or would HC be engraved on the plenum, as per my dearly sorely sadly missed Bluey's

400HC badge on plenum

[Bob the Planner]

I will get to find out if mine is a GFHC, which is what is in the handbook, some time this autumn when I take the car off the road. Even if its not beforehand it will be by the spring (with a bit of luck !)

[shadowfax]

spend said:

Surely you could have your liners fixed & a new high lift cam for the cost of the Chim engine?

Dave

Rich reckons the costs would be similar but reckons my engine aint worth the work.

[Fire99]

Weren't the old 390 and 400se wedges fitted with uprated engines which were more 'fettled' than the later Chim 400 engines?
I know my mates 400se revs to oblivion (7k) compared to my chim 450 which hits the limiter soom after 6k.

Im sure the Chim 400 engine doesnt have Vernier Timing or uprated camchain etc.. though im not sure if the 400se does either??

Just a thought.. I am surprised it has been recommended to replace an engine if a liner etc had gone.

[daren parker]

why not go for a cerb engine theres a few around ,you will have an animal cheers daz

[Fire99]

I'm not certain an AJP8 will fit without serious chassis mods??

[shadowfax]

Fire99 said:

I know my mates 400se revs to oblivion (7k) compared to my chim 450 which hits the limiter soom after 6k.


Just a thought.. I am surprised it has been recommended to replace an engine if a liner etc had gone.

Rev limiter?!! I have only taken my TVRs into red if gear change has been missed accidentally. I freaked when a guy at Tunit took Bluey to the limiter, saying they "had to". My arse! Max bhp at 5250 and torque at 4000, so why go above those?

As for repairs, I trust RT when he says my engine aint worth new liners, but dont fully understand why....When I took to rr after purchase, and with a blown head gasket (before liner issue emerged after head gasket repair), it put out 238bhp & 254lbs ft, so it cant be all that crap.

I would dearly love a nice 4.6 from RPI, but my money position after all these hassles is somewhat pathetic and aint likely to improve for a few years. Tsk, the price of impetulance.

[Fire99]

shadowfax said:

Fire99 said:

I know my mates 400se revs to oblivion (7k) compared to my chim 450 which hits the limiter soom after 6k.


Just a thought.. I am surprised it has been recommended to replace an engine if a liner etc had gone.

Rev limiter?!! I have only taken my TVRs into red if gear change has been missed accidentally. I freaked when a guy at Tunit took Bluey to the limiter, saying they "had to". My arse! Max bhp at 5250 and torque at 4000, so why go above those?

As for repairs, I trust RT when he says my engine aint worth new liners, but dont fully understand why....When I took to rr after purchase, and with a blown head gasket (before liner issue emerged after head gasket repair), it put out 238bhp & 254lbs ft, so it cant be all that crap.

I would dearly love a nice 4.6 from RPI, but my money position after all these hassles is somewhat pathetic and aint likely to improve for a few years. Tsk, the price of impetulance.

As i've said before, the only thing i would want to be sure of is that you aren't replacing your engine with a lower-spec one. Maybe a wedge expert can confirm the spec of the 400SE engines. I know the Chim 400 engine is fairly 'basic'.

On the Rev Limiter front.. yep.. its way up there for an RV8 Only reason i've 'hit' the limiter is during overtaking where something a little unexpected has happened and i've needed to hang on to the gear rather than upchanging. Not recommended in normal circumstances i must say.

[Fire99]

shadowfax said:

After desperate times with a 400SE I bought for £5400 in March, since then spending over £4k in repairs, I learned that a liner has gone and it needs a new engine.... RT proposes to use a 400 Chim engine which has done 30k and has fsh to date. Is there any guide from engine numbers as to which of the 400s were the hc engines? Or would HC be engraved on the plenum, as per my dearly sorely sadly missed Bluey's

Just a quick note, i posted a question about the 400se on the Wedge forum and the guys were very helpful.
It does seem the 400se engine is likely to have worked heads where a standard Chim 400 engine wont..

No doubt RT will have considered this. Are they able to re-use your old heads?

[shadowfax]

Thanks, Nick

Sadly, have been refused further funds, although RT has started work. :boo hoo: Rover P5B Coupe must go, unless someone wants a 400SE that needs a new engine.

PS RT reckons no difference between the heads on either car