The proud boy owner of an old Chimaera pup
Discussion
ClassicChimaera said:
Squirrelofwoe said:
As Matthew says below, other people's cars will always sound better as you are hearing them from the outside, whereas driving your own car the sound is obviously muted slightly by your position within the car.
My 400 was completely standard in the engine/exhaust department when I purchased it, and it was surprising the amount of owners with modified TVRs who said just how good my standard car sounded.
However I then heard Jason's car (TVRJAS on here) who has a 400 with a sleeved exhaust (but otherwise standard)- and I decided there and then I needed to get mine sleeved too, which I booked in the following day
As I'm only round the corner from you (relatively speaking), once we get a dry day we'll meet up and you can have a listen to mine and see what you think.
I've been behind Squirrel's car and can confirm it does indeed sound very nice My 400 was completely standard in the engine/exhaust department when I purchased it, and it was surprising the amount of owners with modified TVRs who said just how good my standard car sounded.
However I then heard Jason's car (TVRJAS on here) who has a 400 with a sleeved exhaust (but otherwise standard)- and I decided there and then I needed to get mine sleeved too, which I booked in the following day
As I'm only round the corner from you (relatively speaking), once we get a dry day we'll meet up and you can have a listen to mine and see what you think.
Hi mate, hope the cars going well. Al
Cheers mate, yep the car's going great ta.
The only pressing job I've got is to see about getting the rear (GAZ Gold) suspension adjusted slightly to give myself a tiny bit more clearance (plus the side-on the rake doesn't look quite right- I think it might have been you who commented on this too actually), but lack of dry garage facilities at the moment means it's probably going to have to wait until the weather is better.
An update for any who are interested, the car is going back to the sparky next week to complete all the dash electronics. After that it'll be onto Neil Garner for a proper inspection with a view to taking the car on track, I imagine a lot of hard prep will be required so fingers crossed we'll be fighting fit for Castle Combe by the Summer.
Regarding the noise I think I need to be less green eyed or I shall soon find my wallet empty I think Matthew was right when he mentioned induction noise, being out in the car on the weekend reminded me what a wonderful howl it has and whilst I can long for it to sound as good as X or Y's car as much as I want I really just need to come to terms with the fact that it sounds f
king awesome! No further action warranted.
I also shouldn't be thinking about performance mods when I haven't even truly stretched the Chim's legs yet. Just a byproduct of having more money than sense (not that I have much money, just a complete shortfall of sense)
i may be singing a different tune though if I join these lads on track and they run rings around me all day... 
Regarding the noise I think I need to be less green eyed or I shall soon find my wallet empty
I think Matthew was right when he mentioned induction noise, being out in the car on the weekend reminded me what a wonderful howl it has and whilst I can long for it to sound as good as X or Y's car as much as I want I really just need to come to terms with the fact that it sounds fking awesome! No further action warranted. I also shouldn't be thinking about performance mods when I haven't even truly stretched the Chim's legs yet. Just a byproduct of having more money than sense (not that I have much money, just a complete shortfall of sense)
i may be singing a different tune though if I join these lads on track and they run rings around me all day... [quote=Matthew Poxon][quote=77racing]
Thanks Perry, no where near the insane speed that you go round mind! I did quite a few laps that day but I never felt completely comfortable with that circuit, there is not a lot of runoff for a novice such as myself.
as you say not a lot of run off but then if you are looking at the Armco sooner rather than later you will drive into it. Best to ignore really. If you have been to the "Ring" then you will be much closer to the rails there. If you havn't been to the ring then you must, it's one of those petrolhead boxes that have to be ticked. Perhaps see you at combe this year on track, would love a passenger ride. cheers P
Thanks Perry, no where near the insane speed that you go round mind! I did quite a few laps that day but I never felt completely comfortable with that circuit, there is not a lot of runoff for a novice such as myself.
as you say not a lot of run off but then if you are looking at the Armco sooner rather than later you will drive into it. Best to ignore really. If you have been to the "Ring" then you will be much closer to the rails there. If you havn't been to the ring then you must, it's one of those petrolhead boxes that have to be ticked. Perhaps see you at combe this year on track, would love a passenger ride. cheers PCanoeSniffer said:
An update for any who are interested, the car is going back to the sparky next week to complete all the dash electronics. After that it'll be onto Neil Garner for a proper inspection with a view to taking the car on track, I imagine a lot of hard prep will be required so fingers crossed we'll be fighting fit for Castle Combe by the Summer.
Regarding the noise I think I need to be less green eyed or I shall soon find my wallet empty I think Matthew was right when he mentioned induction noise, being out in the car on the weekend reminded me what a wonderful howl it has and whilst I can long for it to sound as good as X or Y's car as much as I want I really just need to come to terms with the fact that it sounds fking awesome! No further action warranted.
I also shouldn't be thinking about performance mods when I haven't even truly stretched the Chim's legs yet. Just a byproduct of having more money than sense (not that I have much money, just a complete shortfall of sense) i may be singing a different tune though if I join these lads on track and they run rings around me all day...
Can I seriously suggest that before you make it louder, you find out how loud it actually is? If you have track day ambitions be very aware of noise limits. Otherwise you will spend loads getting your car noisy and track- ready, book an expensive track day, and then be on your way home having failed the noise test, no refund. The highest noise limit at any regular UK track is 105 dB(A), some,such as Castle Combe, are 100 or 101 dB(A). And decibels are not a linear scale. By TVR standards 100 dB(A) is quiet.Regarding the noise I think I need to be less green eyed or I shall soon find my wallet empty
I think Matthew was right when he mentioned induction noise, being out in the car on the weekend reminded me what a wonderful howl it has and whilst I can long for it to sound as good as X or Y's car as much as I want I really just need to come to terms with the fact that it sounds fking awesome! No further action warranted. I also shouldn't be thinking about performance mods when I haven't even truly stretched the Chim's legs yet. Just a byproduct of having more money than sense (not that I have much money, just a complete shortfall of sense)
i may be singing a different tune though if I join these lads on track and they run rings around me all day... QBee said:
Can I seriously suggest that before you make it louder, you find out how loud it actually is? If you have track day ambitions be very aware of noise limits. Otherwise you will spend loads getting your car noisy and track- ready, book an expensive track day, and then be on your way home having failed the noise test, no refund. The highest noise limit at any regular UK track is 105 dB(A), some,such as Castle Combe, are 100 or 101 dB(A). And decibels are not a linear scale. By TVR standards 100 dB(A) is quiet.
Thank you for the concern QBee, I think I'm pretty happy to leave it as is and will be testing before heading to the track.I think my issue is not having any frame of reference, it's all too easy to hear other people's efforts (yours in particular which made the mclaren sound pedestrian!) and get stuck in the frame of mind, 'that sounds brilliant *grumble grumble* mine sounds nothing like as good as that *grumble grumble*' but in truth I haven't had a true side-by-side experience of my car compared to another and as I said every time I get back in it I'm astonished by the noise so you could be right I could well be pushing the limits already
I really appreciate the feedback and should you return to Combe, would really enjoy hearing that 5L in person!
The way I read it is that he's already decided to leave it as it is.;)
Edited again.
Squirrelfoe referenced about mine on the other page but I don't do track days.
I had mine tested at a Neil Garner day and it came out at 123.8 and assume Dave's will be about the same. So I think your decision is the right one with track days in mind.
In my garage section about half way day the page is a link to the sound.
CanoeSniffer said:
Regarding the noise I think I need to be less green eyed or I shall soon find my wallet empty I think Matthew was right when he mentioned induction noise, being out in the car on the weekend reminded me what a wonderful howl it has and whilst I can long for it to sound as good as X or Y's car as much as I want I really just need to come to terms with the fact that it sounds fking awesome! No further action warranted.
Edited : You beat me to it Canoe I think Matthew was right when he mentioned induction noise, being out in the car on the weekend reminded me what a wonderful howl it has and whilst I can long for it to sound as good as X or Y's car as much as I want I really just need to come to terms with the fact that it sounds fking awesome! No further action warranted. Edited again.
Squirrelfoe referenced about mine on the other page but I don't do track days.
I had mine tested at a Neil Garner day and it came out at 123.8 and assume Dave's will be about the same. So I think your decision is the right one with track days in mind.
In my garage section about half way day the page is a link to the sound.
Edited by TVRJAS on Monday 16th January 22:34
TVRJAS said:
Edited : You beat me to it Canoe
Edited again.
Squirrelfoe referenced about mine on the other page but I don't do track days.
I had mine tested at a Neil Garner day and it came out at 123.8 and assume Dave's will be about the same. So I think your decision is the right one with track days in mind.
In my garage section about half way day the page is a link to the sound.
Fantastic noise that Jason, made my morning! (So far a very dreary one made particularly early on account of my commute which cooncidentally takes me right past Squirrelofwoes place) Edited again.
Squirrelfoe referenced about mine on the other page but I don't do track days.
I had mine tested at a Neil Garner day and it came out at 123.8 and assume Dave's will be about the same. So I think your decision is the right one with track days in mind.
In my garage section about half way day the page is a link to the sound.
Edited by TVRJAS on Monday 16th January 22:34
I can only conclude that you've been a very bad influence on Dave, who will end up being a very bad influence on me, and we're all going to end up with ASBOs and going nowhere near a track!
I am also going to suggest to Neil that whenever he next hosts a get-together we put some sort of Mad-Max themed diorama together thar I can put my car in to excuse the state of it compared to everyone else's cars- yet another beautiful example there Jason, many thumbs up from me
CanoeSniffer said:
I can only conclude that you've been a very bad influence on Dave, who will end up being a very bad influence on me, and we're all going to end up with ASBOs and going nowhere near a track!
That's pretty much the way it worked for me! Although like Jason, I've no ambitions of taking the car on track- it's only ever been intended as a road car so actual decibel levels aren't much of a concern for me.
QBee said:
Sniffer, come and try one track day with the TVR gang to see if it is of boat-floating proportions.
If it is, then you will need to keep your 'zorst reasonably sane, if not you can make it as unbearable as you like.
This If it is, then you will need to keep your 'zorst reasonably sane, if not you can make it as unbearable as you like.
We like new meat
On the plus side quite a few of us have track day cans so you can get your car tested "as is" and then put a set of cans on if you need to and get a reading at that point as well. The two readings will tell you what days you can attend and what days you can't based on decibel levels. If you like track days then ACT are your friends for cans
Yex 450 said:
QBee said:
Sniffer, come and try one track day with the TVR gang to see if it is of boat-floating proportions.
If it is, then you will need to keep your 'zorst reasonably sane, if not you can make it as unbearable as you like.
This If it is, then you will need to keep your 'zorst reasonably sane, if not you can make it as unbearable as you like.
We like new meat
On the plus side quite a few of us have track day cans so you can get your car tested "as is" and then put a set of cans on if you need to and get a reading at that point as well. The two readings will tell you what days you can attend and what days you can't based on decibel levels. If you like track days then ACT are your friends for cans
CanoeSniffer said:
I most certainly will! If/when you decide to head to Combe will you be posting a thread on here?
There will be a thread, either on the Chimaera forum or the TVR Events and Meetings section.As Combe is somewhat pricier than some, we will be less likely to take a big risk on the weather, so expect the call to come mid-summer.
In the mean time we may well assemble at Snetterton, Bedford, Brands (micky mouse) or Cadwell - sadly not often Cadwell, which is only 45 miles from me, but is seen as 't frozen noorth by most of the soft southerners on here. It's simply the country's best circuit for cars that handle, but perhaps not a circuit for track day novices.....but then, I did do my first TVR track day there. Hopefully there will be more reasonably priced days at Donington now that MSV have the rights there - easy to get to, being just off junction 23 of the M1.
The UK race tracks are mostly north of London. In the deep south there are only Brands Hatch, Goodwood, Castle Combe, Thruxton (rare that they do a track day) and Llandow and Pembury in Wales.
Further north there are Oulton Park, Angelsey, Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Donington and Silverstone. Bedford, while not a race track, is at least in decent nick as it is owned by MSV.
In't froozen noorth there are also Croft and Knock Hill.
So if you do get into track days, expect to have to travel.
I haven't listed the airfield type circuits, mainly because I am not a big fan. They can be rather stony, and to my mind somewhat boring. Woodbridge, Abingdon, Blyton come to mind. Blyton, whilst in north Lincs, is actually quite an interesting, if windswept, track.
This is not an exhaustive list. I am bound to have missed somewhere.
mk1fan said:
Blyton is really short with a couple of short straights. You're on it all the time. Its great.
Agreed. Last time there I was driving the second half of the track on virtually wide open throttle, tyres screaming. It really flows well, and the chicanes in the first half are well designed to catch one out - I went through the second one three times last time I was there. Through it. Niot round it!Thanking you for the approval Mike.
My bad influence came from the "Thunder in the Tunnels event" boys Mine was on the what I think was the standard set up and listening to the other sounds bouncing off the walls had me giggling and smiling like a child at Christmas.
I know it's not quite the same listening to a video,but on my tube channel is a clip when my car was standard and was tested at the "Back Home" in Blackpool event. My results were 81.5db on tick over 96.2 at 4,500 and 101.8 on the full.
It might just give you an idea of the sound difference between my two tests.
Jas
My bad influence came from the "Thunder in the Tunnels event" boys
Mine was on the what I think was the standard set up and listening to the other sounds bouncing off the walls had me giggling and smiling like a child at Christmas.I know it's not quite the same listening to a video,but on my tube channel is a clip when my car was standard and was tested at the "Back Home" in Blackpool event. My results were 81.5db on tick over 96.2 at 4,500 and 101.8 on the full.
It might just give you an idea of the sound difference between my two tests.
Jas
Well, my car is now in Neil Garners place for a good going over! I should be getting the bad (or good) news Wednesday- fingers crossed!
My mate came along to lift me home and struggled to pull me away from the workshop kicking and screaming, what a fantastic place! Lots of veeeeery nice kit on show
Still squeezed in a good weekend of fun with the car before dropping it off (just in case it may be a while!!) which included wrestling with the electrics in Dave's (Squirrelofwoe) car- hopefully these two will be seeing more of each other when the weather improves
My mate came along to lift me home and struggled to pull me away from the workshop kicking and screaming, what a fantastic place! Lots of veeeeery nice kit on show
Still squeezed in a good weekend of fun with the car before dropping it off (just in case it may be a while!!) which included wrestling with the electrics in Dave's (Squirrelofwoe) car- hopefully these two will be seeing more of each other when the weather improves
Edited by CanoeSniffer on Monday 13th February 10:37
CanoeSniffer said:
Well, my car is now in Neil Garners place for a good going over! I should be getting the bad (or good) news Wednesday- fingers crossed!
My mate came along to lift me home and struggled to pull me away from the workshop kicking and screaming, what a fantastic place! Lots of veeeeery nice kit on show
Keep us posted on the news! Mine is going there for it's MOT on the 16th March- hopefully yours is back out on the road by then...My mate came along to lift me home and struggled to pull me away from the workshop kicking and screaming, what a fantastic place! Lots of veeeeery nice kit on show
Ta for the assistance Saturday, I had it on the trickle charger all of last night and I'm hoping it will have enough juice to start it up come the weekend- and hopefully it won't be snowing this week!
A new chapter is on the way for my knackered old Chim. The plan originally was to run the car on a budget, not be too fussed about how scruffy it was and to make do, mend and enjoy.
However I took the car to Neil Garners to get a good idea of exactly what I was playing with, and the prognosis was not good. As anticipated the outriggers were shot, but they were far worse than I had thought- no amount of tacking and welding was going to bring them back into service. The control arms and brakes were also ravaged by the gods of time and rust, and no bodgery was going to get this mess sorted anytime soon.
And so my cheap and cheerful Chim will no longer be so! New outriggers are on their way and the old ones were in the process of departing the car as I saw it today. The backbone of the chassis is comparatively in very good shape, so she should be good and solid once they're on. As the suspension is being dismantled anyway, the tired old Billies are coming off and a kindly soul on here has sorted me some Gaz Gold Pros which along with new bushes and arms should hopefully transform the handling of the car. The brakes will hopefully be replaced with an st225 setup, the guys at NGs are going to check the clearances on this to see if I can get away with my planned drop of wheel size to 16" fronts.
The fellas were actually quite enthusiastic about my Edelbrock carb'd Rover V8, and on first encounter they believe it to be in good health which is really encouraging. They'll carry out a comprehensive service and health check whilst they've got the car so if there are any foibles to be found- fingers crossed they'll be found!
So the next time I drive this car it's going to be a very different animal indeed. She's not looking like the bargain she once was, but all in she still only owes me £11-12k so it's not tragic. Certainly on the face of it she'll be far more scruffy than cars that sell for that sort of money, but underneath we should have years worth of solidity and reliability, and a wonderful driving experience to boot.
I'm now looking to the future and words cannot describe how excited I am for this summer when I promise I'll be hitting the track. She pales in comparison to most cars on here, but it's something a little bit unique and I like to think it'll be something to be proud of.
Finally, I can't say enough for the guys at Neil Garners. They're enthusiastic about the cars, completely open to anything you want to know, and they've had remarkable tolerance for my wandering around the workshop open-jawed every time I visit. I don't think beastie could be in a safer pair of hands.
However I took the car to Neil Garners to get a good idea of exactly what I was playing with, and the prognosis was not good. As anticipated the outriggers were shot, but they were far worse than I had thought- no amount of tacking and welding was going to bring them back into service. The control arms and brakes were also ravaged by the gods of time and rust, and no bodgery was going to get this mess sorted anytime soon.
And so my cheap and cheerful Chim will no longer be so! New outriggers are on their way and the old ones were in the process of departing the car as I saw it today. The backbone of the chassis is comparatively in very good shape, so she should be good and solid once they're on. As the suspension is being dismantled anyway, the tired old Billies are coming off and a kindly soul on here has sorted me some Gaz Gold Pros which along with new bushes and arms should hopefully transform the handling of the car. The brakes will hopefully be replaced with an st225 setup, the guys at NGs are going to check the clearances on this to see if I can get away with my planned drop of wheel size to 16" fronts.
The fellas were actually quite enthusiastic about my Edelbrock carb'd Rover V8, and on first encounter they believe it to be in good health which is really encouraging. They'll carry out a comprehensive service and health check whilst they've got the car so if there are any foibles to be found- fingers crossed they'll be found!
So the next time I drive this car it's going to be a very different animal indeed. She's not looking like the bargain she once was, but all in she still only owes me £11-12k so it's not tragic. Certainly on the face of it she'll be far more scruffy than cars that sell for that sort of money, but underneath we should have years worth of solidity and reliability, and a wonderful driving experience to boot.
I'm now looking to the future and words cannot describe how excited I am for this summer when I promise I'll be hitting the track. She pales in comparison to most cars on here, but it's something a little bit unique and I like to think it'll be something to be proud of.
Finally, I can't say enough for the guys at Neil Garners. They're enthusiastic about the cars, completely open to anything you want to know, and they've had remarkable tolerance for my wandering around the workshop open-jawed every time I visit. I don't think beastie could be in a safer pair of hands.
Sorry to read that your car has turned out to be hiding many of the common issues 
I had to have the body off mine about 6 months ago so know exactly what you're going through.
If the overall price as you mention turns out to be correct then after all the work is done you should at least have good value in the car. After having my work done my insurers increased the agreed valuation which was not far off my outlay that I incurred,so in theory it's just moving money from the bank into an investment on 4 wheels.( That was how I looked at it anyway)
It doesn't sound as though it's dampened your TVR experience and when the work is complete I hope you get many enjoyable years as I have.
I remember meeting a guy new to the TVR fold that bought what he thought was a good bargain only to find out it was rotten with many faults. He really didn't have much good to say about the whole experience,but In my view bargains are that for a reason and I really don't think he did his homework
Good luck with everything.... Jas
I had to have the body off mine about 6 months ago so know exactly what you're going through.If the overall price as you mention turns out to be correct then after all the work is done you should at least have good value in the car. After having my work done my insurers increased the agreed valuation which was not far off my outlay that I incurred,so in theory it's just moving money from the bank into an investment on 4 wheels.( That was how I looked at it anyway)
It doesn't sound as though it's dampened your TVR experience and when the work is complete I hope you get many enjoyable years as I have.
I remember meeting a guy new to the TVR fold that bought what he thought was a good bargain only to find out it was rotten with many faults. He really didn't have much good to say about the whole experience,but In my view bargains are that for a reason and I really don't think he did his homework
Good luck with everything.... Jas
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff