Time for another Chimaera restoration.....
Discussion
I've decided it's long overdue to get my Chimaera 4.0HC back on the road after being laid up for a while so thought I'd introduce myself and say hello.
I've had the car from new - I decided to blow the last of my savings just before getting married to buy it
. I spec'd and ordered it from Portfield Sports & Classics in Chichester back in June 1996 and drove it out of the showroom on 1st February 1997. I remember the day well!
Since then it's been driven all over Europe and the UK but a combination of children coming along, work and the immobiliser failing preventing the engine from starting has meant I haven't had the car on the road for about 4 years now - been in the garage at home gathering dust. But now it's time to throw some cash at the problem and bring it back to life.
Although I've looked after the car extremely well, I have little doubt that a lot will need doing so I'm now planning a ground up, body-off restoration with the intention of driving it for another 20 years - if you can still buy petrol by then I'll give it to my kids who can either restore it again or strip it down, slap on a turbo and go racing.
And so the research begins to decide what to do - I'm not a purist and wanting to keep it all original so it's going to have some mods along the way to improve things like brakes, shocks, headlights etc -- and of course some engine tweaks
. A mixture of handling, driveability, power and reliability enhancements I guess.
I've been reading threads for weeks now and getting some ideas together but I have so much to learn before I can get this right and I'd be really grateful for some advice and guidance over the coming months. So in advance, please forgive any silly questions and I hope that you will indulge me with your wisdom and keep me pointing in the right direction......
Cheers,
Stu
I've had the car from new - I decided to blow the last of my savings just before getting married to buy it
. I spec'd and ordered it from Portfield Sports & Classics in Chichester back in June 1996 and drove it out of the showroom on 1st February 1997. I remember the day well!Since then it's been driven all over Europe and the UK but a combination of children coming along, work and the immobiliser failing preventing the engine from starting has meant I haven't had the car on the road for about 4 years now - been in the garage at home gathering dust. But now it's time to throw some cash at the problem and bring it back to life.
Although I've looked after the car extremely well, I have little doubt that a lot will need doing so I'm now planning a ground up, body-off restoration with the intention of driving it for another 20 years - if you can still buy petrol by then I'll give it to my kids who can either restore it again or strip it down, slap on a turbo and go racing.
And so the research begins to decide what to do - I'm not a purist and wanting to keep it all original so it's going to have some mods along the way to improve things like brakes, shocks, headlights etc -- and of course some engine tweaks
. A mixture of handling, driveability, power and reliability enhancements I guess.I've been reading threads for weeks now and getting some ideas together but I have so much to learn before I can get this right and I'd be really grateful for some advice and guidance over the coming months. So in advance, please forgive any silly questions and I hope that you will indulge me with your wisdom and keep me pointing in the right direction......
Cheers,
Stu
Good luck and enjoy the experience.
My Griff has been off the road for 12 years. About a year ago I had a word with myself and started a similar project. I am hoping to "pop the body back on" over the Easter weekend.
I wont pull any punches, it hasnt been an easy ride and there have been many fustrations along the way. There has been blood, sweat & tears, literally, and it has cost a shed load more than anticipated.
BUT, with, hopefully, the body going on in a weeks time it is now at the super exciting time and all seems worth while.
Feel free to pm me if ever you want to talk. Whether for advice or to let off steam....
It will be worth it in the end.
My Griff has been off the road for 12 years. About a year ago I had a word with myself and started a similar project. I am hoping to "pop the body back on" over the Easter weekend.
I wont pull any punches, it hasnt been an easy ride and there have been many fustrations along the way. There has been blood, sweat & tears, literally, and it has cost a shed load more than anticipated.
BUT, with, hopefully, the body going on in a weeks time it is now at the super exciting time and all seems worth while.
Feel free to pm me if ever you want to talk. Whether for advice or to let off steam....
It will be worth it in the end.
BIG DUNC said:
Good luck and enjoy the experience.
My Griff has been off the road for 12 years. About a year ago I had a word with myself and started a similar project. I am hoping to "pop the body back on" over the Easter weekend.
I wont pull any punches, it hasnt been an easy ride and there have been many fustrations along the way. There has been blood, sweat & tears, literally, and it has cost a shed load more than anticipated.
BUT, with, hopefully, the body going on in a weeks time it is now at the super exciting time and all seems worth while.
Feel free to pm me if ever you want to talk. Whether for advice or to let off steam....
It will be worth it in the end.
Thanks for the offer - very kind of you - I may very well be in touch..... Hope your Easter weekend goes well and the body is reunited with the chassis without any dramas.My Griff has been off the road for 12 years. About a year ago I had a word with myself and started a similar project. I am hoping to "pop the body back on" over the Easter weekend.
I wont pull any punches, it hasnt been an easy ride and there have been many fustrations along the way. There has been blood, sweat & tears, literally, and it has cost a shed load more than anticipated.
BUT, with, hopefully, the body going on in a weeks time it is now at the super exciting time and all seems worth while.
Feel free to pm me if ever you want to talk. Whether for advice or to let off steam....
It will be worth it in the end.
Classic Chim said:
Excellent stuff.
V8stu having owned the car from day one of its life and remembering way back when,
Other than immobiliser issues did you ever experience shunting.
Especially when new.
What miles are on the car now if you don’t mind mentioning it.
Goodluck
Thanks Alun - I've read hundreds of your posts already so it's nice to 'meet' you as it were V8stu having owned the car from day one of its life and remembering way back when,
Other than immobiliser issues did you ever experience shunting.
Especially when new.
What miles are on the car now if you don’t mind mentioning it.
Goodluck
.The car has been really reliable since day one. It's had a few niggles but nothing that's stopped me driving it and having fun. It has always suffered occasionally from the engine 'stalling' when coming up to a roundabout or junction and then dipping the clutch to stop. Really annoying in traffic. Rear shocks gave up and were replaced with some after-market shocks and springs but they were absolutely awful and will go in the bin as soon as they come off the car for the restoration. Other than that, the (time) clock adjuster wheel doesn't move the hands round any more and the immobiliser is now broken. Usual battery discharing problems but solved with a trickle charger into the cigarette lighter. No other major dramas that I can remember.
The engine has always been quite lumpy below about 2000 rpm (I guess due to the high lift camshaft) and it did end up shunting occasionally if I wasn't careful with the clutch at low speeds. Generally I tended to keep the revs above 2000 rpm so 2nd around town, for example - this seemed to keep me away from the lumpiness and any very occasional shunting.
Car has done just under 50k miles if I remember - most of that was in its first 8 years before son number one arrived....
V8Stu said:
Thanks Alun - I've read hundreds of your posts already so it's nice to 'meet' you as it were .
The car has been really reliable since day one. It's had a few niggles but nothing that's stopped me driving it and having fun. It has always suffered occasionally from the engine 'stalling' when coming up to a roundabout or junction and then dipping the clutch to stop. Really annoying in traffic. Rear shocks gave up and were replaced with some after-market shocks and springs but they were absolutely awful and will go in the bin as soon as they come off the car for the restoration. Other than that, the (time) clock adjuster wheel doesn't move the hands round any more and the immobiliser is now broken. Usual battery discharing problems but solved with a trickle charger into the cigarette lighter. No other major dramas that I can remember.
The engine has always been quite lumpy below about 2000 rpm (I guess due to the high lift camshaft) and it did end up shunting occasionally if I wasn't careful with the clutch at low speeds. Generally I tended to keep the revs above 2000 rpm so 2nd around town, for example - this seemed to keep me away from the lumpiness and any very occasional shunting.
Car has done just under 50k miles if I remember - most of that was in its first 8 years before son number one arrived....
My posts are full of assumptions and guess work,,,, beware of misinformation .The car has been really reliable since day one. It's had a few niggles but nothing that's stopped me driving it and having fun. It has always suffered occasionally from the engine 'stalling' when coming up to a roundabout or junction and then dipping the clutch to stop. Really annoying in traffic. Rear shocks gave up and were replaced with some after-market shocks and springs but they were absolutely awful and will go in the bin as soon as they come off the car for the restoration. Other than that, the (time) clock adjuster wheel doesn't move the hands round any more and the immobiliser is now broken. Usual battery discharing problems but solved with a trickle charger into the cigarette lighter. No other major dramas that I can remember.
The engine has always been quite lumpy below about 2000 rpm (I guess due to the high lift camshaft) and it did end up shunting occasionally if I wasn't careful with the clutch at low speeds. Generally I tended to keep the revs above 2000 rpm so 2nd around town, for example - this seemed to keep me away from the lumpiness and any very occasional shunting.
Car has done just under 50k miles if I remember - most of that was in its first 8 years before son number one arrived....
I thought I was talking to myself
Thanks mate.
Hmmm, so there was an imbalance all along with some of these cars.
Stalling sounds like a sticky Stepper motor especially if it’s intermittent.
Not being a professional mechanic I’d often get annoyed by the time to repair things which is a very bad trait.
When I started doing bits on my Tvr I mentally tried to bring a different attitude which was to be patient.
Best thing I ever did as now I enjoy the work and actually take time to get it right.
Time scales are not great but you do need to keep motivated.
I remember reading about manifolds and it taking hrs in some cases to get bolts out,, assumed mine would be the same and gave myself 4 hrs each side. Needless to say when it took less than half that time for both I was chuffed.
I’ve also learnt to read as much as I can find before doing various jobs and it’s all a lot easier with good advice.
Enjoy it I say as it will be a big memory in time.
|https://thumbsnap.com/f6Fc1u6a[/url]
BIG DUNC said:
That does look original and well cared for.
Thanks!BIG DUNC said:
When do you hope to start?
Need to decide on exactly what I want to do first so need to ask a few questions of everyone on here and then compile a 'spec' for the car.I think I'll ask the questions in separate threads and then maybe produce a summary thread that links all of the research and decisions together so in the future it might help others.
I'm trying to use the search function as much as I can so I don't ask questions that have been asked before - but I have to admit I'm struggling.
First set of questions to appear soon - probably starting with brakes and suspension......
As its going to be a keeper, are you likely to do track days, 1/4 miles, and similar stuff? Or is it to be a Sunday car to go to club meetings (if that's your thing) or shows? Once the collective know what you are planning to do you might get the best help. I luv watching others spending their cash, its great..... 
N7GTX said:
As its going to be a keeper, are you likely to do track days, 1/4 miles, and similar stuff? Or is it to be a Sunday car to go to club meetings (if that's your thing) or shows? Once the collective know what you are planning to do you might get the best help. I luv watching others spending their cash, its great.....
Good advice - thanks. OK, here goes:This is going to be a 'fast road' car. By that I mean it's unlikely to appear on a track or similar but will be driven hard on the road in the UK and touring abroad.
It certainly won't be a Sunday best or show car - I've always taken the view that it's there to be driven and driven to its limits whenever I feel like it and whatever the weather (within reason) and when safe to do so.
Handling and ride - able to cope with our British A and B roads with the crap surfaces that are getting worse. Must handle precisely through corners and come out under hard acceleration well. Don't want a bone-shaker (the wife will complain) but equally a setup that doesn't bog down, wallow or bounce around.
Brakes and speed - high speed is not the aim. Nailing corners and fast acceleration out of them is the aim. Brakes ideally should be capable (occasionally) of a bit more than normal road - eg Alpine descents while pushing on.
Engine - always felt the 4.0HC wasn't quite enough. Want to stay NA. From the reading I've done so far I guess 300 BHP is around the right point but more importantly high torque over a wide band. With the style of driving I have, I tended to accelerate mostly between 3000 - 5000 rpm. Maybe that was due to the cam fitted to the HC engine - it got a bit screechy and less grunt above about 5500 rpm.
Noise - the louder the exhaust the better.
Mechanicals and electricals - as a former engineer it's got to be put together right.
Bodywork and interior - to a really high standard and broadly along the lines of the original. Need to uprate the headlights, though.
Reliability - last on the list but could have been first. I just want to be able to get in and go and have fun.
Can you tell I'm a bit OCD.....
Edited by V8Stu on Monday 26th March 21:13
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