TVR Chimaera 400
Discussion
In the early 90's I recall my dad telling me a story about his Oscelli engined Mini from when he was in his 20's and that the only car to ever beat him off the lights and up to 60 was a TVR, I was still young then, but having grown up around cars I sort of knew what one was, but not really, just wedges of cheese, this changed one day at a pub one summer around 1992, we had taken his TR6 out, I was running around in the playground living the dream on all manners of blue and green flavoured Panda Pops, knowing full well that I would be taking a multi coloured poo at some point in the night (wont lie it was the main reason I drank them, bright blue poo with some green stripes in it) I digress, I heard a rumble coming down the road and this car pulled up, I had no idea what it was, I fell in love with the shape, the noise, the smell, this was then followed by another car pulling up with a similar noise, it was intoxicating.
The local surgeon had just bought a brand spanking new Griffith, and he had gone out with a friend who had just picked up a brand spanking new Chimaera, the Chimaera took me off my feet as my jaw hit the floor, what a stunning car, proportions just right like a SWB Ferrari 250 California, a noise that would wake the dead, I wanted to know everything there was about it, the surgeon wasn't impressed as I didn't really like his Griff as much, but I was hooked on the Chim.
I would get my dad to drive past the TVR dealership every so often so I could gawp at them, one day I will own one, always felt out of reach but achievable one day, yeah I have dream cars like all of us do, ones we will never own McLaren F1, F40, XJ220, 250swb, etc, but these days everyone I speak to their dream cars are the current offerings from Lamborghini or Ferrari, nobody seems to have that childhood car as a dream car anymore, and people can call me sad but the dream car for me that was attainable, the Chimaera, and everyone says to you, don't meet your heroes, look I know a Countach is going to be an awful car to own and drive, but I still would, but with a TVR there was always two sides to that coin.
Don't buy one, my mates nan, her best friend had a dog who was rehomed to a chap from basildon, and he met a chap in a pub who said they were crap and unreliable.
Or a TVR owner, and the answer was mostly grinning, followed by "yeah they can break, all cars can break, but most of the problems are sorted these days, there is zero reason no to buy one"
It had to be an early car, I prefer the front end, I never liked the bar across the grill on the later ones, or the MK3 headlights, nor the single projector style conversion, only other criteria was no beige and no grey
So I sold my Defender and applying man maths, here is my free TVR Chimaera with a beige interior
Issues, there are a few, but it spent time off the road, it needs some suspension refreshing, and I want to pull the engine to fit a new stock cam and sort a few leaks out, I am going to debeige the interior this year, I just can't stand it,
I have sorted some things out since buying it, the horrendous exhaust tips, whomever fitted them needs to be banned from cars, absolute tragedies.
Only issues I have had with it thus far, a broken ignition fuse, a sticky starter once tap fixed it, and I lost my ball, which is a sod of a job to do on axle stands by yourself, grovelling underneath, I should have done this when I bought the car, but I am sure I will update this as I am hoping to get started on it in the next few weeks.
.
The interior that needs Debeiging, if anyone could provide me some ideas and pictures on what colour to dye the beige and keep the blue, it would be appreciated, and if anyone knows any lower switch panels with switches kicking about, let me know, I want to get rid of the toggles.
Some obligatory V8 porn, the 8 is dusty because it was in winter storage and my words to my dad when he took it up there "put a cover over it, all it will be filthy when it gets back" apparently it wouldn't because it was a dry barn, clearly I was wrong lol.
The local surgeon had just bought a brand spanking new Griffith, and he had gone out with a friend who had just picked up a brand spanking new Chimaera, the Chimaera took me off my feet as my jaw hit the floor, what a stunning car, proportions just right like a SWB Ferrari 250 California, a noise that would wake the dead, I wanted to know everything there was about it, the surgeon wasn't impressed as I didn't really like his Griff as much, but I was hooked on the Chim.
I would get my dad to drive past the TVR dealership every so often so I could gawp at them, one day I will own one, always felt out of reach but achievable one day, yeah I have dream cars like all of us do, ones we will never own McLaren F1, F40, XJ220, 250swb, etc, but these days everyone I speak to their dream cars are the current offerings from Lamborghini or Ferrari, nobody seems to have that childhood car as a dream car anymore, and people can call me sad but the dream car for me that was attainable, the Chimaera, and everyone says to you, don't meet your heroes, look I know a Countach is going to be an awful car to own and drive, but I still would, but with a TVR there was always two sides to that coin.
Don't buy one, my mates nan, her best friend had a dog who was rehomed to a chap from basildon, and he met a chap in a pub who said they were crap and unreliable.
Or a TVR owner, and the answer was mostly grinning, followed by "yeah they can break, all cars can break, but most of the problems are sorted these days, there is zero reason no to buy one"
It had to be an early car, I prefer the front end, I never liked the bar across the grill on the later ones, or the MK3 headlights, nor the single projector style conversion, only other criteria was no beige and no grey
So I sold my Defender and applying man maths, here is my free TVR Chimaera with a beige interior
Issues, there are a few, but it spent time off the road, it needs some suspension refreshing, and I want to pull the engine to fit a new stock cam and sort a few leaks out, I am going to debeige the interior this year, I just can't stand it,
I have sorted some things out since buying it, the horrendous exhaust tips, whomever fitted them needs to be banned from cars, absolute tragedies.
Only issues I have had with it thus far, a broken ignition fuse, a sticky starter once tap fixed it, and I lost my ball, which is a sod of a job to do on axle stands by yourself, grovelling underneath, I should have done this when I bought the car, but I am sure I will update this as I am hoping to get started on it in the next few weeks.
.
The interior that needs Debeiging, if anyone could provide me some ideas and pictures on what colour to dye the beige and keep the blue, it would be appreciated, and if anyone knows any lower switch panels with switches kicking about, let me know, I want to get rid of the toggles.
Some obligatory V8 porn, the 8 is dusty because it was in winter storage and my words to my dad when he took it up there "put a cover over it, all it will be filthy when it gets back" apparently it wouldn't because it was a dry barn, clearly I was wrong lol.
Horrid exhaust tips have long since gone, I am about a year late posting all this, hopefully will have some more updates soon, engine coming out and a lot of other work to do, hoping exhaust off this weekend for some fine tuning.
Yep, much better than all LR products, all though it does have a Defender gearbox, which is surprisingly nice to use very schnikity considering what it was like in my Defender, I know the later box is better, but I really do love the early cars, it is the one I fell in love with, I don't like the relocated door opener, stupid thing to say, but it is little things like that which will put me off a car, just bought a V90 over a Skoda Superb equal on all terms but I thoroughly disliked the steering wheel, it is a 3 spoke steering wheel design, missing the 3rd spoke, it would annoy me lol
Yep, much better than all LR products, all though it does have a Defender gearbox, which is surprisingly nice to use very schnikity considering what it was like in my Defender, I know the later box is better, but I really do love the early cars, it is the one I fell in love with, I don't like the relocated door opener, stupid thing to say, but it is little things like that which will put me off a car, just bought a V90 over a Skoda Superb equal on all terms but I thoroughly disliked the steering wheel, it is a 3 spoke steering wheel design, missing the 3rd spoke, it would annoy me lol
Pictures to follow soon, but after helping my mum and dad move, which has ruined every chance of driving it, I finally got a break in the weather last weekend, but I have been wary of my starter motor getting a bit slow and dying, charged battery and it fired right up, let it run up to temp, shut it off just to check it would restart and, *click* *click*
Starter is goosed, left it a day and eventually rocked it enough in gear that it kicked the starter motor and it fired up, so I parked it on the flat concrete part of the drive, I jacked it up to get the starter off and then I saw it.
Offside head is weeping, I know my rocker covers aren't leaking, just below the head on the block it has residue, then the block is clean, then its sump, then oil from the leaky sump, I have 14 bolt heads which are known for killing head gaskets, now I know the nearside head has a small weep as well, and I have had some suspicions about it them anyway, so the decision has been made,
I weighed it all up, removing manifolds and doing the head gaskets as it sits and from my research it looks like an awful job and just about the same amount of time as leaving them on and just pulling the lump out, so I have opted to pull the engine, this way at least I can check the core plugs, replace the fuel lines at the back of the engine, check for punch through on the release fork as it is an LT77 box, rear main seal whilst I am there.
I have started on the heads, cleaning up (roughly and being left rough) the ports, I will probably match the inlet ports to gasket, get the valves out and get in and do the throat, but probably wont do the seats beyond lapping, I like to think I know what I am doing, but I don't want to risk it.
Just need a nice day now.
Starter is goosed, left it a day and eventually rocked it enough in gear that it kicked the starter motor and it fired up, so I parked it on the flat concrete part of the drive, I jacked it up to get the starter off and then I saw it.
Offside head is weeping, I know my rocker covers aren't leaking, just below the head on the block it has residue, then the block is clean, then its sump, then oil from the leaky sump, I have 14 bolt heads which are known for killing head gaskets, now I know the nearside head has a small weep as well, and I have had some suspicions about it them anyway, so the decision has been made,
I weighed it all up, removing manifolds and doing the head gaskets as it sits and from my research it looks like an awful job and just about the same amount of time as leaving them on and just pulling the lump out, so I have opted to pull the engine, this way at least I can check the core plugs, replace the fuel lines at the back of the engine, check for punch through on the release fork as it is an LT77 box, rear main seal whilst I am there.
I have started on the heads, cleaning up (roughly and being left rough) the ports, I will probably match the inlet ports to gasket, get the valves out and get in and do the throat, but probably wont do the seats beyond lapping, I like to think I know what I am doing, but I don't want to risk it.
Just need a nice day now.
pits said:
Pictures to follow soon, but after helping my mum and dad move, which has ruined every chance of driving it, I finally got a break in the weather last weekend, but I have been wary of my starter motor getting a bit slow and dying, charged battery and it fired right up, let it run up to temp, shut it off just to check it would restart and, *click* *click*
Starter is goosed, left it a day and eventually rocked it enough in gear that it kicked the starter motor and it fired up, so I parked it on the flat concrete part of the drive, I jacked it up to get the starter off and then I saw it.
Offside head is weeping, I know my rocker covers aren't leaking, just below the head on the block it has residue, then the block is clean, then its sump, then oil from the leaky sump, I have 14 bolt heads which are known for killing head gaskets, now I know the nearside head has a small weep as well, and I have had some suspicions about it them anyway, so the decision has been made,
I weighed it all up, removing manifolds and doing the head gaskets as it sits and from my research it looks like an awful job and just about the same amount of time as leaving them on and just pulling the lump out, so I have opted to pull the engine, this way at least I can check the core plugs, replace the fuel lines at the back of the engine, check for punch through on the release fork as it is an LT77 box, rear main seal whilst I am there.
I have started on the heads, cleaning up (roughly and being left rough) the ports, I will probably match the inlet ports to gasket, get the valves out and get in and do the throat, but probably wont do the seats beyond lapping, I like to think I know what I am doing, but I don't want to risk it.
Just need a nice day now.
Having just replaced my heads, its not a difficult job to do it in the engine bay at all.Starter is goosed, left it a day and eventually rocked it enough in gear that it kicked the starter motor and it fired up, so I parked it on the flat concrete part of the drive, I jacked it up to get the starter off and then I saw it.
Offside head is weeping, I know my rocker covers aren't leaking, just below the head on the block it has residue, then the block is clean, then its sump, then oil from the leaky sump, I have 14 bolt heads which are known for killing head gaskets, now I know the nearside head has a small weep as well, and I have had some suspicions about it them anyway, so the decision has been made,
I weighed it all up, removing manifolds and doing the head gaskets as it sits and from my research it looks like an awful job and just about the same amount of time as leaving them on and just pulling the lump out, so I have opted to pull the engine, this way at least I can check the core plugs, replace the fuel lines at the back of the engine, check for punch through on the release fork as it is an LT77 box, rear main seal whilst I am there.
I have started on the heads, cleaning up (roughly and being left rough) the ports, I will probably match the inlet ports to gasket, get the valves out and get in and do the throat, but probably wont do the seats beyond lapping, I like to think I know what I am doing, but I don't want to risk it.
Just need a nice day now.
The only ball ache is the manifold bolts that you have to undo from under the car. Is it worth removing the engine to avoid laying on your back??
You also don't need to remove anything bar the plenum top and trumpet base to replace the fuel lines at the back of the engine.
Edited by SteveR1979 on Friday 4th March 17:22
SteveR1979 said:
Having just replaced my heads, its not a difficult job to do it in the engine bay at all.
The only ball ache is the manifold bolts that you have to undo from under the car. Is it worth removing the engine to avoid laying on your back??
You also don't need to remove anything bar the plenum top and trumpet base to replace the fuel lines at the back of the engine.
It leaks oil from everywhere, I have no evidence of the clutch fork being done, the thrust release can be a bit rattley sometimes, actually didn't take that long to pull it, I can now clean up all the engine bay as well, good job I did pull it as the core plugs were starting to weep as wellThe only ball ache is the manifold bolts that you have to undo from under the car. Is it worth removing the engine to avoid laying on your back??
You also don't need to remove anything bar the plenum top and trumpet base to replace the fuel lines at the back of the engine.
Edited by SteveR1979 on Friday 4th March 17:22
Two mid pull, didn't get chance to take many photos as I did most of the pull by myself
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/juhypeYh.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/DxcxqFvL" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/DxcxqFvL.jpg)
One of the better looking core plugs without a crust of antifreeze around it
Parts should be here tomorrow, so hopefully will be giving the heads a clean down, get the valves out and get the lapped in, new stem seals as well, as it was burning a lot of oil, rather chunky carbon build up, and exhaust valves are white, but number 8 has been running lean, found a rusty injector and the port is white, on top of this the 5 internal head bolts were FT, required a bar to get them done, the other 9 were near enough loose, little palm tap freed them off, so definitely head lift somewhere has occured.
Pretty much every gasket apart from the water pump and rockers is leaking (chap I bought it off did them and I am more than confident in his work)
They are hard to beat bang for buck, and yes the wheel alignment is high on the list, but I may take the time whilst engine is out to do the steering rack ends, and giving it a once over, few other bits and bobs I want to get done whilst I am there, hoping....hoping, to have the engine ready to go back in next week.
Great car. I had a 400 for a few months. I found the clutch heavy and the clutch pedal too small. There was a draft that blew up my right leg at speed (apparently, a Chim trait). The hood didn't seal very well and it wasn't particularly fast - lots of torque, though. IIRC, it had had an engine rebuild at around 30k. It was an enjoyable few months ownership! I even had a nice SS exhaust made for it. I swapped it for a carbon black E39 M5 with caramel Heritage leather. Wonderful. I've also had a few 8 series. They were fun when they were cheap - silly money now and just as expensive to run (if not more so!).
Looking forward to updates!
Looking forward to updates!
Very nice.. I have a lot of time for the old Chimaera.. I had a mint low mile 450 15 years ago after a succession of TVR Wedges. I then sold it and bought a 450 SEAC, but I did enjoy the Chimp.
If I remember correctly, I took mine to a TVR garage somewhere up & off the A1M….Offords was it? Something like that.. They were doing exhaust sleeve jobs to improve the sound of that lovely V8
If I remember correctly, I took mine to a TVR garage somewhere up & off the A1M….Offords was it? Something like that.. They were doing exhaust sleeve jobs to improve the sound of that lovely V8
Your comment re the number 8 cylinder - the number 8 plug cap is famous for popping off and sitting loose on top of the plug, and the car running on 7 with nobody noticing the difference. That's exactly how mine was, a friend checked over the car for me, pushed it back on and said "just found you 30 more bhp!"
He then loaned me a fire extinguisher for the 40 miles home - the fuel hoses that are located above the number 8 plug were well past their sell by date, so I suggest you check yours while you have the engine out.
He then loaned me a fire extinguisher for the 40 miles home - the fuel hoses that are located above the number 8 plug were well past their sell by date, so I suggest you check yours while you have the engine out.
Fuel hoses front to back are being replaced, along with fuel pump which has been sat in the boot for a year, it is known to get sticky if parked up for a while I just haven't had any issues with it and I haven't had the will or inclination to lie under it to do it.
Number 8, well if it is number 8 I think it may actually be number 7, the injector has lost its rubber seal at some point and is rather crispy, so I am going to solder on a new connector and new injector.
Interior, yeah I wouldn't mind a red, but I would have to go red roof then, which isn't a problem I like a red roof, but it is a big commitment if I don't like it.
Been out this morning pressure washing engine bay down and chassis, it is in very good shape, so I will be giving it a clean up, treating a couple of spots of, it's not rust, more mild oxidisation, just tinged the chassis, so a quick sand down, some genolite, etch primer and either black or silver, I haven't decided yet.
My box of parts has just turned up as well, which is good, just off now to get some long bolts to get it up on to the engine stand, because I am obviously stupid and neglected to realise that whilst removing the 9/16th bolts from the bellhousing, that well it is imperial thread and my metric bolts I usually use wont work, hoping this wont be a chore to get them.
I will hopefully get some more pics uploaded later, want to see if I can maybe start to get the one head apart and get the seals done, valves lapped and clean the head face up.
Number 8, well if it is number 8 I think it may actually be number 7, the injector has lost its rubber seal at some point and is rather crispy, so I am going to solder on a new connector and new injector.
Interior, yeah I wouldn't mind a red, but I would have to go red roof then, which isn't a problem I like a red roof, but it is a big commitment if I don't like it.
Been out this morning pressure washing engine bay down and chassis, it is in very good shape, so I will be giving it a clean up, treating a couple of spots of, it's not rust, more mild oxidisation, just tinged the chassis, so a quick sand down, some genolite, etch primer and either black or silver, I haven't decided yet.
My box of parts has just turned up as well, which is good, just off now to get some long bolts to get it up on to the engine stand, because I am obviously stupid and neglected to realise that whilst removing the 9/16th bolts from the bellhousing, that well it is imperial thread and my metric bolts I usually use wont work, hoping this wont be a chore to get them.
I will hopefully get some more pics uploaded later, want to see if I can maybe start to get the one head apart and get the seals done, valves lapped and clean the head face up.
Early car so I don't have the big main fuse, wish I knew about that before I spent an hour looking for it.
Right both heads are off.
NS head
Two blowing exhaust manifold gaskets
External head bolts were loose, so head has lifted, but gasket gone in the corner.
Valves are out, all stem seals are rock hard and have let all the oil through, most aren't seated properly either.
Combustion chamber, well pictures speak for themselves, a lot of carbon/oil build up.
OS head is off, but looks in much better shape, possibly had a head gasket before
All manifold gaskets blowing
Two bolts loose in manifold
Headbolts, front inner was not tight, as were the inners, so also lifted.
Valves still in but look much of the same as the other head
Combustion chamber, same.
Just waiting for the oil to drain out of the other head, and then they are off to the machine shop tomorrow for a deep clean and a check over, make sure they are flat and all good, then I can start the rebuild, just trying to source a camshaft now as that has uneven wear, but that can wait till the heads are done and back on, then figure out preloads on the new followers. and cam (when I buy them)
Wont bore you with pictures off all the grubby bits
Right both heads are off.
NS head
Two blowing exhaust manifold gaskets
External head bolts were loose, so head has lifted, but gasket gone in the corner.
Valves are out, all stem seals are rock hard and have let all the oil through, most aren't seated properly either.
Combustion chamber, well pictures speak for themselves, a lot of carbon/oil build up.
OS head is off, but looks in much better shape, possibly had a head gasket before
All manifold gaskets blowing
Two bolts loose in manifold
Headbolts, front inner was not tight, as were the inners, so also lifted.
Valves still in but look much of the same as the other head
Combustion chamber, same.
Just waiting for the oil to drain out of the other head, and then they are off to the machine shop tomorrow for a deep clean and a check over, make sure they are flat and all good, then I can start the rebuild, just trying to source a camshaft now as that has uneven wear, but that can wait till the heads are done and back on, then figure out preloads on the new followers. and cam (when I buy them)
Wont bore you with pictures off all the grubby bits
Not much could be done yesterday, heads were off at machine shop for a good scrub and assessment, so rocker covers
First up, paint stripper, not the nicest job, but had to be done
Then started on polishing up the ribs to remove the corrosion, more on that later though
Comparison from where I started from
No pictures of the in between, but loads of sanding from 120 to the 360, realised that the one cover is so heavily corroded that there was little point spending much more time on them, so I resanded the other to try and match them, oil filler neck would not come undone, I didn't want to twist too hard in case it just snapped, I need as few set backs as possible on this build, so a decision was made to leave it on and mask it up.
As you can see quite heavy, just be hours and hours to get a few marks out, then another hours scotching the outsides and loads of panel wipe, all the panel wipe, till my tissue paper was coming off clean, then another go of panel wipe, here they are all cleaned, and polished with a little metal polish and mop wheel, the breather is left on as a grab handle and masking, it is going to be replaced.
A few thick coats of wrinkle finish, I learnt a bit with this stuff, basically lamp it on and get heat into it quite quickly and air blowing over it, second thick coat was much better finish, it really does have to go on thick, the runs sorta get hidden so not the end of the world, after the first thick coat, I got some panel wipe and tissue out, and wiped the ribs down, I would advise only doing one rocker at a time here, but it has given quite a nice finish, and I can always brush in any missed bits in between, the central parts are having emblems, ignore the finish there please.
Heads are back from machine shop, found nothing untoward, straight and true so just a clean up, he was surprised how well they came out, as was actually, but it wasn't every running poorly, just valve stem seals gone, anyway, obligatory clean head pictures and one lapped valve, and that is far as I have got today, because I am tired and really have no energy to carry on lapping into the night and I can foresee me leaving a new stem seal off, best to call it, hopefully have both heads built back up tomorrow though, then a dry day and they can go back on.
First up, paint stripper, not the nicest job, but had to be done
Then started on polishing up the ribs to remove the corrosion, more on that later though
Comparison from where I started from
No pictures of the in between, but loads of sanding from 120 to the 360, realised that the one cover is so heavily corroded that there was little point spending much more time on them, so I resanded the other to try and match them, oil filler neck would not come undone, I didn't want to twist too hard in case it just snapped, I need as few set backs as possible on this build, so a decision was made to leave it on and mask it up.
As you can see quite heavy, just be hours and hours to get a few marks out, then another hours scotching the outsides and loads of panel wipe, all the panel wipe, till my tissue paper was coming off clean, then another go of panel wipe, here they are all cleaned, and polished with a little metal polish and mop wheel, the breather is left on as a grab handle and masking, it is going to be replaced.
A few thick coats of wrinkle finish, I learnt a bit with this stuff, basically lamp it on and get heat into it quite quickly and air blowing over it, second thick coat was much better finish, it really does have to go on thick, the runs sorta get hidden so not the end of the world, after the first thick coat, I got some panel wipe and tissue out, and wiped the ribs down, I would advise only doing one rocker at a time here, but it has given quite a nice finish, and I can always brush in any missed bits in between, the central parts are having emblems, ignore the finish there please.
Heads are back from machine shop, found nothing untoward, straight and true so just a clean up, he was surprised how well they came out, as was actually, but it wasn't every running poorly, just valve stem seals gone, anyway, obligatory clean head pictures and one lapped valve, and that is far as I have got today, because I am tired and really have no energy to carry on lapping into the night and I can foresee me leaving a new stem seal off, best to call it, hopefully have both heads built back up tomorrow though, then a dry day and they can go back on.
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