Discussion
seeing as the 4.0 HC is just a 5.0 cam and associated cam gear bunged in it 3.9 RR lump where as the 4.3 is a proper built TVR engine, not an expert on the production run period of the 4.3 though 
I spent nearly two years looking for the right chim 430, in that time i found 11 for sale and all except one were made in 1993. The one i bought was a 94 with a T5 gearbox registered on April Fools Day.
It is very lively and difficult to keep engine temperature consistant, varying by around 25 degrees, something i'm still working on. The 430 was replaced by the 450 for a reason i do not know. But i like the rarity factor and i love the car.
It is very lively and difficult to keep engine temperature consistant, varying by around 25 degrees, something i'm still working on. The 430 was replaced by the 450 for a reason i do not know. But i like the rarity factor and i love the car.pearly said:
I spent nearly two years looking for the right chim 430, in that time i found 11 for sale and all except one were made in 1993. The one i bought was a 94 with a T5 gearbox registered on April Fools Day. It is very lively and difficult to keep engine temperature consistant, varying by around 25 degrees, something i'm still working on. The 430 was replaced by the 450 for a reason i do not know. But i like the rarity factor and i love the car.
Don`t think many of the 4.3 Chimaera`s were big valve ,they were fittied in the griff ,280bhp with no mods and rev very nicely ..Been in a griff 4.3 big valve ,it was very lively. It is very lively and difficult to keep engine temperature consistant, varying by around 25 degrees, something i'm still working on. The 430 was replaced by the 450 for a reason i do not know. But i like the rarity factor and i love the car.I would not be suprised if the 4.3big valve would out run the Chimaera 5l.
i dont know why they went out of favour other than maybe the cost involved in building them, spend is probably the man to ask about 4.3's. im glad ive got mine though, it loves revving & is pretty lively! i had it on the rollers last year & it made 280 at the fly, not bad for an old car still running the original tvr chip & ecu.
loud430 said:
i dont know why they went out of favour other than maybe the cost involved in building them, spend is probably the man to ask about 4.3's. im glad ive got mine though, it loves revving & is pretty lively! i had it on the rollers last year & it made 280 at the fly, not bad for an old car still running the original tvr chip & ecu.
Leave it alone and just drive 
How is a 4.3 made up and yours must be a big valve ..
i dont know whats been done to mine daz, not much history with the car, but whatever its had done its not great round town but loves the open road! i couldnt tell you if its big valve or not but it doesnt seem to run out of puff at the top end..ive not been in another 4.3 to judge it against?
kenny.R400 said:
As for the cooling problems on the 430...........remove the number plate from blocking 90% of the front grill If you haven't already and you'll see a difference. I did.
Thanks Kenny, 
have already moved the plate down, also looks better in my opinion. On a run even when warm out it holds temp around 75 sometimes hunting a little at speed,so probably a little rich, then at around 45mph and under temp goes up to 95+,but never boiling over, fans cut in OK,and brings it down slowly. I sometimes switch them on early around town just to be safe.I did pop in the higher temp thermostat last winter because engine was barely warming up, it does hunt a little less now, but it is summer? I may swap it back to lower one yet! I'm thinking of getting a two stage mod-wise kit to see if that helps. As with Loud430's mine hates traffic and shunts quite a bit, I have a feeling that may be normal, maybe that's why they changed to the 450 {possibly smoother}. Any input is greatly appreciated. I'm happy to learn about things I enjoy.
Hiya Pearly, I don't think your temps are anything to worry about mate. Before my 430 I had a later 400 and the characteristics were totally different when running.
It was hard to get the 400 to above 50 on the gauge but when checked with laser thermometer was in fact 85ish on the heads......dicky gauge?
430 did run hotter and got there quicker too, read like yours about 95ish on gauge but again thermometer showed 90ish on heads so not a worry.
Only difference with yours and mine seems to be the shunting issue........the 400 could shunt for England......and the usual thoughts on clearing it never made a difference....ie stepper motor clean up etc, I changed every electrical component under the bonnet and loaded it with ACT goodies but shunting stayed the same.
However the 430 whilst it revved like a goodun never ever shunted, it would spin it's revs up like a bike engine but all very smooth.
JonyTVR who posts on here now owns it and I'm sure he'll confirm what I say.
Ah, just remembered, I put "water wetter" in both cars too......fans only ever kicked in if standing still for minutes.
It was hard to get the 400 to above 50 on the gauge but when checked with laser thermometer was in fact 85ish on the heads......dicky gauge?
430 did run hotter and got there quicker too, read like yours about 95ish on gauge but again thermometer showed 90ish on heads so not a worry.
Only difference with yours and mine seems to be the shunting issue........the 400 could shunt for England
......and the usual thoughts on clearing it never made a difference....ie stepper motor clean up etc, I changed every electrical component under the bonnet and loaded it with ACT goodies but shunting stayed the same.However the 430 whilst it revved like a goodun never ever shunted, it would spin it's revs up like a bike engine but all very smooth.
JonyTVR who posts on here now owns it and I'm sure he'll confirm what I say.
Ah, just remembered, I put "water wetter" in both cars too......fans only ever kicked in if standing still for minutes.
The 4.3's are a strong engine (sorry I'm from the other side 
), and looking at the Griffith's running them most are still pulling good figures around the 280bhp mark..... with most out performing the standard bigger engined 500's.
Mine was pulling about 278bhp prior to engine rebuild, now 282bhp with rebuild and MA chip (used to sort out fueling issue's not for performance gain).....
The engine revs very freely, and whizz up through the range smoothly....... no issue with shunting very well mannered around town, which is why I dismissed the 500's after driving a few, which is due to their high lift cams I believe.
It maybe someone has changed the cam in Loud430's to something a bit wilder to suit track use or something.
), and looking at the Griffith's running them most are still pulling good figures around the 280bhp mark..... with most out performing the standard bigger engined 500's.Mine was pulling about 278bhp prior to engine rebuild, now 282bhp with rebuild and MA chip (used to sort out fueling issue's not for performance gain).....
The engine revs very freely, and whizz up through the range smoothly....... no issue with shunting very well mannered around town, which is why I dismissed the 500's after driving a few, which is due to their high lift cams I believe.
It maybe someone has changed the cam in Loud430's to something a bit wilder to suit track use or something.
Cheers for info Kenny,
regarding shunts I checked the stepper as well and made sure plug leads weren't getting caught up,possibly time for some replacements. The old girl has only done 20K so I think lack of smoothness is more likely electrical rather than mechanical, but that's just guess work on my part.
Then at some point a trip to rolling road would be a good thing, I think RPI is closest place to me. One of the previous owners had the rad replaced and switch fitted because of similar concerns of temp. Had considered water wetter, but am a little reluctant after looking at reviews of similar product in USA a while back, but can't remember the details for the life of me. What thermostat did you have your 430? Did you get any hunting issues when temp below 80? Thanks again.
regarding shunts I checked the stepper as well and made sure plug leads weren't getting caught up,possibly time for some replacements. The old girl has only done 20K so I think lack of smoothness is more likely electrical rather than mechanical, but that's just guess work on my part. Then at some point a trip to rolling road would be a good thing, I think RPI is closest place to me. One of the previous owners had the rad replaced and switch fitted because of similar concerns of temp. Had considered water wetter, but am a little reluctant after looking at reviews of similar product in USA a while back, but can't remember the details for the life of me. What thermostat did you have your 430? Did you get any hunting issues when temp below 80? Thanks again.craig, sorry for going off topic a bit! i think 430's come down to preference, i like the earlier back lights & front grill while a lot of people prefer the facelift models, the only thing i dont like in mine is the early dials, but it didnt put me off the car. many people will mention the rover gearbox but ive never had a problem with mine & the gearchange is fine. the 4.3 revs very nicely although the 4.5-5.0 engines maybe more relaxing to drive due to more torque.
loud430 said:
yeah, could well have a different cam in it, jason at str8six had a drive & said all the power was top end. unfortunatley till its due a rebuilt the details will remain a mystery!
That's something I hadn't considered with mine, I wonder if main dealer where it was registered would have any details as I don't think mines been touched since new.id love to find out more details about mine, i know it was registered new by team central tvr on the plate L44 TVR but that seems to have been a dealer plate as it was transfered off about 6 months later onto a griff owned by team central also. i did get in touch with clive greenhalgh who used to own team central but he couldnt remember much. mine was registered as a 430 but had a 45 number in the engine code. after having the sump off & sending pics to dom at tvr power he confirmed it is a 4.3 not 4.5. i would love to find out what spec the car was ordered as.
loud430 said:
id love to find out more details about mine, i know it was registered new by team central tvr on the plate L44 TVR but that seems to have been a dealer plate as it was transfered off about 6 months later onto a griff owned by team central also. i did get in touch with clive greenhalgh who used to own team central but he couldnt remember much. mine was registered as a 430 but had a 45 number in the engine code. after having the sump off & sending pics to dom at tvr power he confirmed it is a 4.3 not 4.5. i would love to find out what spec the car was ordered as.
Mine was registered by Kerridges, so I'll have to give em a bell, you never know.Hi Pearly, I never looked at the thermostat to be honest. As I say once the laser said it was within engine temp parameters I was happy enough.
I will also agree that the cams did produce their best higher up the rev range, circa 3500 and it felt similar to a vvc vvti set up as you'd expect with performance cams, wheras the 400 was pretty mundane all the way through.
I don't talk about "peekiness" any more though now as the 7s main power and outright aggression comes in at 6500
.so in comparison the 430s delivery is sweet.
As I posted at the time of ownership my brother had a 500, the 430 felt every bit as urgent..............I'm sure the lack of cc was more than compensated for by some decent engine fettlement at birth
I will also agree that the cams did produce their best higher up the rev range, circa 3500 and it felt similar to a vvc vvti set up as you'd expect with performance cams, wheras the 400 was pretty mundane all the way through.
I don't talk about "peekiness" any more though now as the 7s main power and outright aggression comes in at 6500
.so in comparison the 430s delivery is sweet.As I posted at the time of ownership my brother had a 500, the 430 felt every bit as urgent..............I'm sure the lack of cc was more than compensated for by some decent engine fettlement at birth
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