Observations a few days into Chimaera driving.

Observations a few days into Chimaera driving.

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Brithunter

Original Poster:

599 posts

87 months

Saturday 7th April 2018
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Finally got to meet her in person last Wednesday Morning and she was as clean as clean can be then of course the heavens opened here in Yorkshire and she is no longer clean. So gentle careful driving was the order of the day. At first I was disappointed by the braking as it seemed rather poor and not what I expected as she sits on 16" Spiders with Tuscan AP's up front. The braking has improved but still does not feel as sharp as the AP racing 2 pot and 304mm disc set up on my MGF so am wondering if the Chimaera's pads are slightly track biased?

So Early Saturday morning and a tank and a half of fuel used a few niggles have been revealed:-

1) rev counter only partly works. It give no real indication of engine speed it spends most of it's time hovering between 1000 and 2000 RPM but I did notice 3000 RPM registered once. Possibly bad earth or connection?

2) drivers door require a firm slam to get it to close properly........... that's not right and need looking at.

3) Passenger window is almost glacial in speed drivers is better but both need looking at.

4) drivers door mirror does not adjust

5) the after market rear lights have not been fitted/installed well at all the right hand one nearly fell out on Wednesday afternoon.

6) Window switches pop out of their holes and drivers dash vent does the same

7) there is a knock or slight clonk felt through steering column when turning sometimes. No PAS on this one so bush or column UJ?

8) Fuel gauge is inaccurate. Shows full for ages then drops and when light comes on is no where near empty. Filled her up with guage below the red and she took 45 litres. Needle fluctuates quite wildly.

So a little tweaking required and rather annoying as she was "restored" . The ride is good but then she sits on brand new Biltins that Heath fitted and steering is precise and true she does not squirm or wander but Heath did set up the geo after fitting the new shocks. The originals were tired and bump stops showing their age. The new Toyos that came on her seem to grip well not that I have pushed her.

Friday drove over to Derby and Burton on Trent to get some MG/Rover parts and as fuel was showing low light on again filled her up again she took 41.83 litres and we had covered 237 miles so that's a tad under 26 mpg. Will see how she does today on the run South down to Newark as need to work out range before fill ups for the trip across Europe.

Am I pleased with her? ............................................................... yes indeed just need to get the niggles sorted and swap out the head unit for the new Sony one I have.

Hotel India

456 posts

196 months

Saturday 7th April 2018
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Sold mine a few years ago now, but the glacial window and silly buggers fuel gauge have just taken me right back! Only car I've ever run out of fuel in...

What a perfect Yorkshire morning to set these niggles aside and put it through a few heat cycles....

ianwayne

6,244 posts

267 months

Saturday 7th April 2018
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If you mean the driver's door mirror body itself won't adjust, be careful if you force it. You may snap the stem and then it's a bugger of a job / pricey to fix or replace. If its not motoring, you can access the motor by taking the glass off to check it for power. Or removing the door speaker will give access to the mirror wiring.

Door adjustment can be made with the striker plate. Although it may have had all new rubber door and hoop seals if it has been restored.

Fuel tank only holds 56 litres from totally empty in my experience. At least you have a low level light, only early ones had it. Later ones just run out..... frown

The window switches and dash vents often have insulation tape wrapped round the bodies to make them a tighter fit. In the case of the window switches, the centre panel may have been refitted such that the window switch wiring looms are impinging on them being pushed all the way in.

I have no experience of your other snags.

Classic Chim

12,424 posts

148 months

Saturday 7th April 2018
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Does your steering wheel feel like it’s tightening up when you turn the wheel.
That knock could be front drop link or a ball joint or track rod end.
I’d start by jacking up that corner and checking wheel for any play with pry bar etc.

Try using silicone spray on window runners etc as the cars been stood so probably needs some lube.
Good advice re window switches as the wiring might be pushing them out, just try feeding the wires back. Probably the console holes worn so tape just might help.

Does the door align well when closed. Forget the only straight line on the car which runs along door and body and look at your shut line Kevin.

If that’s out you need to start with aligning the door via the hinge bolts accessible through pillar
If that’s good then you can loosen and adjust both the door latch( two bolts) and or the lock mechanism ( three ) counter sink Allen bolts to get the latch to line up.
Be careful and mark it’s original position especially on the latch as that does both in and out position and up and down. You can effectively draw the door in or out until it sits nicely on the door rubber and closes properly.
Hope this helps.
Get to Burghley and hopefully someone will show or do it for you.
Hinges require carpets and door seal pulling off so will need glueing back if you have to adjust that first.

Good fuel return figures so engine seems spot on

Brim tank. Drive 250 miles Max and fuel up again. Do this a few times until your sure what your gauge reads. I go by the miles I’ve driven mostly. The rule of thumb is to re fill at 1/4 empty and don’t chance going lower.
As said capacity seems to be 56 ish so your pushing your luck getting down to below 5/6 litres as drawing crap through the tank a real possibility.

Enjoy your cruising for now and just make a list. Old cars after all. smile





Classic Chim

12,424 posts

148 months

Saturday 7th April 2018
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Can you show us a pic of the door closed and one with it slightly open.

Getting the in and out position might take a few attempts at adjustment. Mark everything very carefully so you can return back to start point if it gets out of shape.smile

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Sunday 8th April 2018
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We did the Rutland Rumble yesterday together. With 329 miles since his last fill up, Kevin thought he might need some fuel.....but it proved he still had a gallon or so left when he did fill up. Bloody economical these 4.3s.

TV8

3,118 posts

174 months

Sunday 8th April 2018
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QBee said:
We did the Rutland Rumble yesterday together. With 329 miles since his last fill up, Kevin thought he might need some fuel.....but it proved he still had a gallon or so left when he did fill up. Bloody economical these 4.3s.
Imagine what a 4.3 would do with a LPG conversion......

wuckfitracing

990 posts

142 months

Sunday 8th April 2018
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I might do that. Then I will have 3 LPG cars. Saving the planet quickly.

Brithunter

Original Poster:

599 posts

87 months

Sunday 8th April 2018
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Thank you all for the comments which are appreciated. We were at Burghely today from early until about 2:30.


Well we are taking her to Mat Smith Monday so will hopefully get advice on a few of the niggles. Noticed today that there is wear in the drivers door hinge so it's dropped. If we can get that adjusted/tightened up it should improve the door closure.

Will update sometime Monday when we know more.

SMB

1,513 posts

265 months

Monday 9th April 2018
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Re the steering knock, does it only happen on full lock, if so it may be the wheels skipping due to the steering angles.

Classic Chim

12,424 posts

148 months

Monday 9th April 2018
quotequote all
QBee said:
We did the Rutland Rumble yesterday together. With 329 miles since his last fill up, Kevin thought he might need some fuel.....but it proved he still had a gallon or so left when he did fill up. Bloody economical these 4.3s.
Ignorance is bliss,,, so only about 5 litres sloshing about.
Close shave Kev smile

That’s very economical.
I’d now check my milometre with a known distance to confirm its readings.

I remember this time very well.
Your new to the barking things and every sense is feeling it out, noises have you frowning and worrying your nuts off,,,
But mostly it seems so fast you burble about and get 30 mpg biglaugh

Here’s the secret to the joy, 99% of us drive them like fannies 99% of the time and still thrill at it. smile

Heady days thumbup

Edited by Classic Chim on Monday 9th April 11:01

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Monday 9th April 2018
quotequote all
Classic Chim said:
.......

Here’s the secret to the joy, 99% of us drive them like fannies 99% of the time

.....
Speak for yourself, Alun.....oh, you were whistle

Classic Chim

12,424 posts

148 months

Monday 9th April 2018
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QBee said:
Speak for yourself, Alun.....oh, you were whistle
Steady on old bean, I can still slide about like the best of em,,, biggrin

Just chose not too,,, not sure it’s a choice actually frown


Brithunter

Original Poster:

599 posts

87 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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Well spent a long while talking to Mat today and learning more about the Chimaera in the process. Mat and his helper/mechanic (sorry cannot recall your name bangheadheadache) sorted and generally fixed a few of the issues and niggles and showed what was needed to sort the others.

One issue we found and fixed was a leaking oil pressure switch as mat got a new on in and fitted it and sorted the clonk on the steering. Seems whoever put her together did not align the steering shaft U/J's so the top one is now worn a new on will be ordered. Mat thought he had one but not the one my early 430 required. The tacho seems to be working seems to be working when stationary but not so well on the move so Mat has suggested it might be a poor connection behind eh dash panel. Something that I will have to investigate.

The main reason for the visit was a successful outcome ............................... brand new MOT with no advisories. Came as a shock on Thursday last when I realised that the MOT expires on he 26th April.

Now as to her consumption well so fa we have covered just over 800 miles and not all of them sedately. Following Qbee home from refueling was a bit of an education and we have now reduced the tyre pressures on the 430 as they had been set at 26 front and 29 rear but are now 23 front and 25 rear so it's possibly we might lose the odd MPG. Todays drive down the Gatwick was not in the best conditions for driving or fuel consumption.

But yes I am not familiar with the engine notes and sounds of the 430!Plus bearing in mind the dreadful wet conditions one can hardly blame me for taking it fairly sedate. Saturday's re-fuel took 48.49 litres and distance covered on that fuel was 326 miles. The odeometer seems to tally with the sat/nav on distance.

Classic Chim

12,424 posts

148 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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Nobody would blame you for driving safely.

I assume someone set those pressures higher as it was going into storage.

I drive mine all year round but even I’ve given up as the weather has been so wet for like 7 months solid!
No fun driving anything in this weather so a real baptism of fire and very unfortunate considering how long you’ve waited.

I’m looking forward to your posts when you get it back home. Once the suns out and wind in your hair I’m sure it will please and be a rather different experience.

Very good choice in going to see Matt. He was one very beady eye, possibly two thumbup


phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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Did you drive to Gatwick yesterday? Just a few miles from me.

N7GTX

7,823 posts

142 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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Brithunter said:
Noticed today that there is wear in the drivers door hinge so it's dropped. If we can get that adjusted/tightened up it should improve the door closure.
The early cars use these plastic bushes to support the doors. Its a fiddly job but easily DIY.

http://www.powersperformance.co.uk/store/slug/door...

Brithunter

Original Poster:

599 posts

87 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
quotequote all
N7GTX said:
The early cars use these plastic bushes to support the doors. Its a fiddly job but easily DIY.

http://www.powersperformance.co.uk/store/slug/door...
Thank you most useful to know and I will order some. Just need to work up an order.

Brithunter

Original Poster:

599 posts

87 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
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phazed said:
Did you drive to Gatwick yesterday? Just a few miles from me.
Indeed I did. In fact been into Halfords in Crawley twice now for bits'n'bobs for the trip. High Vis vests and warning triangle, some spare bulbs, oil for top ups, shorter wiper blade for the passenger side.

Am around until tomorrow (Thursday) morning when I drive to the shuttle terminal. Will be at Vodofone in Crawley later trying to get my busted phone sorted.

Met up with an old friend from Crawley yesterday for lunch in Horley then we took a little drive out into some of the back roads I knew so well. This had both of us laughing and grinning like lunatics and during the course of this fun discovered that in fact the tacho does actually work. We actually had dry roads!!!

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
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I am at South Holmwood if you fancy a cuppa and a chat, working from home,( well that's what I call it).