Identifying a 'HC' 400

[John.T.]

I've read a few adds where it mentions a 'HC'400....How would i be able to identify wether or not it is indeed a HC or not??
Is there any visible difference or reference in the engine bay?

Thanks in advance

John

[GreenV8S]

John.T. said:

I've read a few adds where it mentions a 'HC'400....How would i be able to identify wether or not it is indeed a HC or not??

If you're selling, it's an HC. If you're buying, it isn't. There's no way to tell them apart for sure short of dismantling the engine.

[John.T.]

Oh right, are we sure there is such a thing in the first place?
If they are Range Rover engines then surely they are all low comp.

I can't understand WHY they would create a number of HC's and not badge the cars accordingly.

Its like back in the 80's when every 2.0 Escort for sale in 'Loot' or 'Auto Trader' was advertised as 2.1 just a blag unless it can be proven.

[spyschim]

pocketed pistons ! you need to somehow look at pistons (endoscope) and before you all argue ,that is what v8 developements told me to do, havent done it yet myself soon as new cam is needed and want stealth but will only fit said pistons

[funbobby]

i saw one that had hc on the engine but saying that ive only seen one hc so assumed they would all be like that

[LordGrover]

I thought it stood for High-lift Cam anyway ... ?

[Chim Chim Cheree]

I think I'd ask to look at the original order form copy. That should state it, surely, as it was a model choice.
Stands to reason that anyone with all the FSH documents and receipts filed away for all those years for their P&J (regardless of # of owners) would have the order form with it all. Unless it was misplaced to hide something on a previous sale...
If it hasn't got FSH, you may need to negotiate price anyway, HC or not. Maybe especially for an HC - more stressful on the engine = more proof required?

[GreenV8S]

LordGrover said:

I thought it stood for High-lift Cam anyway ... ?

That's right.

[John.T.]

Its nothing to do with price negotiation or service history...I'm very very happy with my purchase, i was merely wondering if there was any way of distinguishing between the 2 if infact there IS a difference.

[That Daddy]

If you can take a rocker cover off you can see the double valve springs(400HC)the regular 400 as singles,of course this is only a guide because someone may have fitted a spiky cam in a non HC model,the HC as an adjustable vernier timing chain set also(not easy to inspect)and as said already the notched pistons.

[GreenV8S]

John.T. said:

Its nothing to do with price negotiation or service history...I'm very very happy with my purchase, i was merely wondering if there was any way of distinguishing between the 2 if infact there IS a difference.

The difference is a different cam usually with pocketed pistons which reputedly adds about 10% to the power output. But there's no real way to tell whether any given car really is HC spec short of dismantling it. Now that these cars are old enough for cam replacement to be common, the difference becomes even harder to pin down. There are all sorts of aftermarket cams around which can offer small or large performance increases so whether you have a standard cam, or the HC cam, or any of the aftermarket cams, is very hard to prove and anyway not that big a deal in the scheme of things.

[Chim Chim Cheree]

John.T. said:

...nothing to do with price negotiation or service history...I'm very very happy with my purchase...

Beg your pardon. No offence intended. I thought you were looking for one, from your question. Who could not be happy, once they've actually got one, eh?

[andy-w]

I have a HC 4 ltr and it has an HC badge on the plenum, the engine number has HC at the start (or end, cant remember), HC engraved on the VIN plate which matches the log book and double valve springs.

Hasnt this topic been covered before???

[JR]

andy-w said:

Hasnt this topic been covered before???

Yes:-

JR said:

HC was an optional extra which was introduced just (a year IIRC) before the 4.3 was dropped. NB:-

wheeljack888 said:

Mines a 1996 4.0HC and at the rollers it produced 198bhp at the wheels, an estimated 235 bhp at the flywheel. So if its 202hp at the wheels I would be very happy! But if its estimated for the flywheel I would be a little dissapointed. If so it could be a worn cam because HC's do have double valve springs and an aggressive lobe profile, this can therefore expected to have a shorter than normal life. I took my engine apart last year, which had done 45k, and the cam was looking a little worn on the hardening, but all measured up OK, I expect it to live for another 10-15k but thats potentially 2 years motoring for me! And hopefully by then I'll have my 4.6 that I'm very slowly building.

If your interested I can confirm the following differances over standard 3.9 RV8s for my 4.0 HC (maybe slightly different on others):

TVR435R/M camshaft
Vernier camshaft sprocket and duplex roller chain
Double spring valves
Machined pockets in piston crowns for valve clearance
Standard diameter but Waisted Inlet Valves
I'm assuming shorter valve guides to allow for higher lift.
The heads have been machined to accept double springs but are unfortunately not ported though.

So the short of it is, if you want more power the double springs & valve cutouts will allow you to have a much more aggresive cam than normal 4 litre Rover V8's.

Cheers
Phil

[travelling_man]

mine says HC on the plenum as well

[andy-w]

travelling_man said:

mine says HC on the plenum as well

I bet there have been more HC badges sold than actual HC's...must be one of the ceapest and quickest upgrades available

....and i am definatley not saying yours is not an HC...!!!

[That Daddy]

If you drive the 400 and 400HC side by side then you can tell(everything happens further up the tacho),the HC as a nice cammy idle too,the stock 400 is a better suburbs driver though.