Difference between 400 and 400HC

[Chinski]

I've read somewhere that there are two 400 engines a 400 and a 400 HC. I'm just wondering what the differences are and how can you tell which engine is which?

[SILICONEKID345HP]

Chinski said:

I've read somewhere that there are two 400 engines a 400 and a 400 HC. I'm just wondering what the differences are and how can you tell which engine is which?

High lift cam ,pocketed pistons to allow for the cam (fitted to the 500`s) not to hit the piston .

Double valve springs ,different fuel map .

Most probably it will have a replacement cam fitted which may or may not be the original spec .

They are known to shunt .

[rigga]

SILICONEKID345HP said:

Most probably it will have a replacement cam fitted which may or may not be the original spec .

This is an important bit, considering the age of these car's, and the lifespan of the original cam, most would have been changed by now (although there are exceptions) .

[Sardonicus]

HC a fuss over nothing IMO

[jamienshelly]

I thought you championed the HC engine Simon?.
Daz, I have a standard 400 (although sometimes I tell myself one day I will find out it has a bigger lump in it ) and that has double valve springs but no pocketed pistons unfortunately.

[Sardonicus]

Not at all Jamie, mine just happened to be one, not seen a TVR RV8 yet that didn't have dual springs to be honest.

Edited by Sardonicus on Thursday 11th December 22:17

[swisstoni]

The HC is supposed to breath better at high revs. I had an HC but never drove an ordinary one to compare. It was a properly different model designation for which TVR charged extra so should be reflected in the cars documentation. If someone is saying its an HC with nothing else to show for it, it probably isn't.

[james280779]

Mine was a 400 hc before it was 'improved' - I am certain it states 400hc on the plate on the engine.

Mine shunts mildly at low speed- less than my old 400

Edited by james280779 on Saturday 13th December 03:54

[rigga]

Mine states HC on the build plate on the inner wing, but its also had a cam change in it's life so meaningless now.