How to tell a Chim 400 HC from a non HC?

[snellc]

quite simply, how can i tell its a 400 HC?

Been to look at a car this morning, and really not sure how to tell.

Thanks

[GreenV8S]

Easy way to tell:

If you're selling, it's an HC. If you're buying, it isn't.

[big martin]

Mines got HC on the plenum chamber

Edited by big martin on Thursday 24th July 13:39

[ph1l5]

HC runs a little rough when in low revs I think ?

[GreenV8S]

There is no reliable way to tell short of stripping the engine. You won't tell by driving it and you can't rely on any of the other bits of evidence such as plenum badges etc. Additionally, there are plenty of cars now which have had the cams replaced with non-std parts, who's to say whether they qualify as 'HC'? The term is more or less meaningless now. If you're buying, I would put no weight at all on claims that the car was an HC.

[That Daddy]

GreenV8S said:

There is no reliable way to tell short of stripping the engine. You won't tell by driving it and you can't rely on any of the other bits of evidence such as plenum badges etc. Additionally, there are plenty of cars now which have had the cams replaced with non-std parts, who's to say whether they qualify as 'HC'? The term is more or less meaningless now. If you're buying, I would put no weight at all on claims that the car was an HC.

to true

[MADMAX2]

It does state if it is a HC or not on the original hand/service book when it was bought from TVR

[GreenV8S]

MADMAX2 said:

It does state if it is a HC or not on the original hand/service book when it was bought from TVR

On the other hand the original documents have been known to get things such as engine capacity and number of cylinders wrong so not something I'd be inclined to rely on, and in any case the whole issue goes out the window if the engine has ever had a cam change. What proportion of Chimaeras are still on their original cam?

[daz the plumber]

you will know by the tick over, it will sound a bit rough , the hc means high cam , remember you can`t have your cake and eat it .the hc will give more power higher up in the rev range .

[GreenV8S]

daz the plumber said:

you will know by the tick over, it will sound a bit rough , the hc means high cam , remember you can`t have your cake and eat it .the hc will give more power higher up in the rev range .

The problem is that at tickover and elsewhere, the difference between a high (lift) cam and standard is really not at all obvious unless you are comparing side by side power plots from a rolling road (and even there can easily be masked by other differences).