Ford engined Chimaeras

[cdt]

Does anyone know how the performance of the early Chimaeras with the Ford V8 compares to the Rover V8s which quickly superceeded it?

[spartacus]

Erm, I think you got your wires crossed there?

[19560]

TVR have never fitted Ford V8s. New TVRs have had Ford V8s twice: the Jack Griffith inspired type cars in the 60s and early 70s and the Canadian importer who dropped the 5.0 into the M series. A couple of PHers have dropped Chevvy V8s into Chimps recently. J

[cdt]

My friend's 93 K Chimaera - which I have for the weekend - apparently has a Ford V8 under the bonnet. It is the original engine in the car.

A knowledgable dealer said that they are rare, perhaps rarer than I'd thought?

[cdt]

Could be very wrong here, but don't think I am?

[roop]

No Chimaera ever left the factory with a Ford V8. All left with Rover based units of either 4 litre, 4.2 litre, 4.3 litre, 4.5 litre or 5 litre capacity. Your friend's car either does not have a Ford under the bonnet or it's an aftermarket conversion.

[19560]

roop said:

No Chimaera ever left the factory with a 4.2 litre capacity. Your friend's car either does not have a Ford under the bonnet or it's an aftermarket conversion.

Yep. 4.2 for SEAC/420SE only (and the odd S)

[roop]

19560 said:

Yep. 4.2 for SEAC/420SE only (and the odd S)

Not quite but I'll let you off...! - there was just one 4.2 Chimaera produced which we had. Can't remember the original registration (it was a K-plate) as a private one was put on when we got it. TVR took take the standard 4.2 motor from Land Rover that they were putting into the Range Rover and made minor mods to try and make it work in the car. The idea was that it'd be cheaper to do this than make their own 4.3 variant from the 4.0. This 4.2 engine had hours and hours lavished on it and eventually became super-smooth. The problem was that it took so long and so many bits had to be changed, it was cheaper to carry on with the 4.3 which is exactly what they did.

[19560]

Oops. Thanks for that - learnt something new.

[cdt]

Not sure now ... will try to find out more info.

The engine number is 47A40P1218G and definitely has TVR on the side of it.

Roop - nice car

[mustard]

cdt said:

Not sure now ... will try to find out more info. The engine number is 47A40P1218G and definitely has TVR on the side of it. Roop - nice car

I'm pretty sure thats a Rover/Land Rover V8 Engine number I'm afraid, not Ford!

>> Edited by mustard on Sunday 1st May 17:15

[smb]

Given that Ford now owns landrover , it is possible that some one has just assumed landrover v8 = ford, and forgotten the Rover history.

[leadfootlydon]

Can you get a photo?

[M@H]

leadfootlydon said:

Can you get a photo?

I'll wager it has a Plenum chamber with 400 or 430 on the top..

>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 3rd May 15:19

[Corin Denton]

smb said:

Given that Ford now owns landrover , it is possible that some one has just assumed landrover v8 = ford, and forgotten the Rover history.

I thought BMW owned Bland Rover?

[Podie]

Corin Denton said:

smb said: Given that Ford now owns landrover , it is possible that some one has just assumed landrover v8 = ford, and forgotten the Rover history. I thought BMW owned Bland Rover?

For a while... but then sold it to Ford once they'd asset stripped it...

Ford paid £1.85bn back in March 2000 IIRC...

>> Edited by Podie on Tuesday 3rd May 15:03

[2 sheds]

You can buy fake Ford rocker covers for RV8s

[Podie]

2 sheds said:

You can buy fake Ford rocker covers for RV8s

Does it give you more or less BHP...?

[M@H]

..I guess they are for the Cobra Kit market..?

[cdt]

leadfootlydon said:

Can you get a photo?

I'm now thinking I'm wrong, my friend was uncertain when I asked him again and wondered if it was just the Rover V8 originally coming from Ford. Will have to ask the dealer next time I'm in as I'm pretty sure he mentioned it was a Ford as well.