DIY SC400 Install - Is there light at the end of tunnel?
Discussion
Someone once said that you can never have too much power. 
After five years of Chimaera 400 ownership I felt that abit lot more power was in order. The article in Sprint convinced me that a Supercharger was the way to go. But first make sure my FSH Chimaera was ready for it: so uprated brakes, Gaz shocks, recon PAS, new pump, new clutch, full service, RR run(198bhp gross) - :£kerr-ching£:
Next Supercharger kit, no intercooler but including plenum spacer and trumpet insulator plus the cheaper EEPROM - :£kerr-ching£:
Very careful DIY installation took a lot longer than anticipated but very pleased with the result:
Started very easily, set ignition timing to 6btdc and fuel pressure to 40psi. Then set off to run-in the supercharger with the induction roar replaced by a strange whistling sound.
Once allotted miles were done and with a tank full of hi-octane set off down the bypass. Oh dear! massive detonation above 4500 rpm!
So, time for some expert help. They diagnosed a weak mixture. Big improvement by upping the fuel pressure but big injectors is really the answer, and no you can't have an MOT with emmisions like that! Oh dear! And now it floods when cold
Time for the engine specialist. They diagnosed a complete rebuild needed, (it had done 90,000 miles) plus a bespoke cam for forced induction, bigger exhaust valves, equalised combustion chambers, reconditioned injectors and a properly mapped MegaJolt ignition system to replace the distributor plus a new new clutch and a more expensive EEPROM etc. :£kerr-ching£:
The new EEPROM didn't work at all so had to swop back. And now I still have a car that either starts with 40psi fuel pressure and runs weak at revs or floods from cold if the fuel pressure is upped.
An Emerald ECU has been suggested but before I pay to try every product on the market, can anyone help to show me the way forward? (I've got about £1.26 left in the kitty!) I'd be particularily interested to hear from anyone who has managed to get a non-intercooled SC400 running satisfactorily?
A tuscan and an S6 rebuild would have been cheaper!
After five years of Chimaera 400 ownership I felt that a
Next Supercharger kit, no intercooler but including plenum spacer and trumpet insulator plus the cheaper EEPROM - :£kerr-ching£:
Very careful DIY installation took a lot longer than anticipated but very pleased with the result:
Started very easily, set ignition timing to 6btdc and fuel pressure to 40psi. Then set off to run-in the supercharger with the induction roar replaced by a strange whistling sound.
Once allotted miles were done and with a tank full of hi-octane set off down the bypass. Oh dear! massive detonation above 4500 rpm!
So, time for some expert help. They diagnosed a weak mixture. Big improvement by upping the fuel pressure but big injectors is really the answer, and no you can't have an MOT with emmisions like that! Oh dear! And now it floods when cold
Time for the engine specialist. They diagnosed a complete rebuild needed, (it had done 90,000 miles) plus a bespoke cam for forced induction, bigger exhaust valves, equalised combustion chambers, reconditioned injectors and a properly mapped MegaJolt ignition system to replace the distributor plus a new new clutch and a more expensive EEPROM etc. :£kerr-ching£:
The new EEPROM didn't work at all so had to swop back. And now I still have a car that either starts with 40psi fuel pressure and runs weak at revs or floods from cold if the fuel pressure is upped.
An Emerald ECU has been suggested but before I pay to try every product on the market, can anyone help to show me the way forward? (I've got about £1.26 left in the kitty!) I'd be particularily interested to hear from anyone who has managed to get a non-intercooled SC400 running satisfactorily?
A tuscan and an S6 rebuild would have been cheaper!
Hope you get it sorted out.you spoken to colin at sc ??, for me i would have not charged a 90,000 mile engine !! how was the install about to do mine ? but I do have the emerald fited now soon to be a motec. I think others have the sc ruuning on the lucas set up not sure if they have bespoke mapping.
ps the tuscan will never sound like the v8 entering warp speed, or have the torque so low down
ps the tuscan will never sound like the v8 entering warp speed, or have the torque so low down
Wicker Man said:
Pupp said:
It's clearly never going to work; suggest you strip all the SC stuff off and let me dispose of it for you 
Not keen to give it away but might consider a wife/gf swap (with cash balance either way) 
Hope you get it sorted; bound to be a few teething issues on the wayhiltonig said:
Wicker Man said:
Pupp said:
It's clearly never going to work; suggest you strip all the SC stuff off and let me dispose of it for you
Not keen to give it away but might consider a wife/gf swap (with cash balance either way) 
Not sure that was intended quite as it reads
, wish you have an Emerald or something with lambda and good RR session would have it sortedWicker Man said:
macdeb said:
Interesting one this, keep us posted. Any back-up from supplier?
The suppliers responses have been disappointing.I've not been a PITA, but maybe I should have been.
Not having a pop, though it may sound like it, just a different perspective.
I hope you get it sorted PDQ at minimal expense - it sounds like it's been an expensive journey thus far.
My respect for having a go though - it would scare me s
tless!Wicker Man said:
BliarOut said:
Mark Adams?
Tried, but no response...But from my experience you will need to get it mapped, on a Dyno by someone.
When I started on my upgrade I fully expected to have to pay to get it mapped, once the kit had been fitted.
My car was mapped by Mark following the conversion, and apart from overfuelling when cold (which only became evident later), it was excellent. However, it was not a 5 minute job, more like 5 hours, so be prepared for a bill of some significance.
I now have the car back following a long spell where various maps have been chopped and changed trying to get the cold fuelling right. It's now probably as good as it can get without getting it back on the Rolling Road.
I keep reading that the 14CUX is very good at what it does, but when the resources available for changing the maps are so scarce it's time to look around for a replacement. Later this year I'll be considering the options more fully.
LordGrover said:
Don't know the background obviously, but I'm not surprised. When you pay for it to be installed you're not just paying for the labour, you're paying for their skills and experience. Paying for the kit only I'd expect installation instructions but if I wanted 'consultancy' I'd expect to have to pay for it.
Not having a pop, though it may sound like it, just a different perspective.
I hope you get it sorted PDQ at minimal expense - it sounds like it's been an expensive journey thus far.
My respect for having a go though - it would scare me stless!
My understanding is that the experts are also having difficulties with this kit. Part of the problem is probably that no two TVRs are the same so how could any off-the-peg kit possible 'fit' - or work.Not having a pop, though it may sound like it, just a different perspective.
I hope you get it sorted PDQ at minimal expense - it sounds like it's been an expensive journey thus far.
My respect for having a go though - it would scare me s
tless!The SC suppliers say to negotiate the fitting fee with your local TVR specialist. I choose to do that myself and after five pretty much trouble free years I now know how this engine goes together. Setting the ignition timing and fuel pressure are not rocket science but I couldn't find satisfactory settings. Neither so far can some well respected specialists.
I'm still keen to see if anybody has managed to set up an SC400 properly!
I'm 'a Dulford's man' so I know of several successful installs; bluebottle and sgrimshaw to name two in his thread. Okay, so BB's may still be WIP but he's been happy with the grunt thus far I think. SCPower's test-bed-come-demonstrator did a European trip with no ill-effects* IIRC so it works on some cars. As you say though, no two Tivs are alike so maybe that's where the issue lies.
I just wish I had the spare cash to attempt it - you just can't have too many ponies.
I just wish I had the spare cash to attempt it - you just can't have too many ponies.
* I doubt they'd advertise any issues on their primary marketing tool though.
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