How can you visually tells your looking at HC model ?
Discussion
It will say 400HC on the plenum cover in the engine bay. But, TVR sell these stickers for about £1.50, and many are false. There seem to be allot more HCs about than TVR produced. The only sure way is to see the original bill of sale or phone the factory with the chassis number.
If its a 500HC, then that a different kettle of fish altogether, as far as I know the 500 engine was always produced in HC format. But stand to be corrected.
For an engine to be called HC it must have different pistons, ported and polished head, different cam, double valve springs, vernier timing wheel and duplex chain. This is what TVR power claim to have done to each engine, weather they did or not is another topic of discussion, along with what BHP they should make and are they any quicker than a standard 400.
When I got mine, I test drove loads of 400 and the 400HC I bought FELT noticeably quicker.
Hope that helps, and I'm sure that someone else will be along very soon to tell you that its all bollox and there is no difference in engine or speed.
If its a 500HC, then that a different kettle of fish altogether, as far as I know the 500 engine was always produced in HC format. But stand to be corrected.
For an engine to be called HC it must have different pistons, ported and polished head, different cam, double valve springs, vernier timing wheel and duplex chain. This is what TVR power claim to have done to each engine, weather they did or not is another topic of discussion, along with what BHP they should make and are they any quicker than a standard 400.
When I got mine, I test drove loads of 400 and the 400HC I bought FELT noticeably quicker.
Hope that helps, and I'm sure that someone else will be along very soon to tell you that its all bollox and there is no difference in engine or speed.
My V8S was one of the late ones which had a chimaera spec 4.0 engine (non HC). I understand that Team Central gave the previous owner a quote to convert it to 'HC spec' by a simple cam change.
They also said 'the chassis won't cope with the extra power' but to be honest I think that was just a ploy to pursuade the owner to trade it for a Griffith 500. Luckily for me, the ploy worked.
They also said 'the chassis won't cope with the extra power' but to be honest I think that was just a ploy to pursuade the owner to trade it for a Griffith 500. Luckily for me, the ploy worked.
No Pete the ploy was the cost of the cm change and porting meant I could trade up to the Griff 500. Especially as I knew someone who wanted a late V8S. worked out fine either way.
Check the docs and history. If necessary chcek with the factory. No other way of confiming a 400HC as the changes were internal to the engine.
Check the docs and history. If necessary chcek with the factory. No other way of confiming a 400HC as the changes were internal to the engine.
.. though presumably the HC cars will have HC written on the ecu chip? so a quick look inside might confirm that? I don't know for sure, been ages since i looked in a lucas ecu and my V8S has a non-std chip anyway so can't even tell yuo what a std 4 litre chip should have written on it.
Just to further confuse the issue in the opposite direction - my old 98 Chim had a V5 that claimed it was an HC, and yet the plenum cover just said 400 on it. The factory also thought it was an HC, yet the engine quite clearly was a standard one, and no one could ever uncover any evidence of an engine change..... and the HC engine was supposed to have ceased to be by the time of the later models...... so yes, go carefully, and if in doubt, get it checked by a mechanic who knows what to look for (as I certainly didnt!)
I spoke to Trinitycall about this some time ago. IIRC, it's impossible to tell just by looking at the car or even by driving it. The only surefire way to tell is to check the 'hottie-knicker-elastic-snapping' range of the HC, which I understand (from empirical evidence offered up by the boy Trinity) is far greater than the (my) lowly 400...
Hoover. said:
I think there are a lot of uneducated traders/owners out there who just automatically assume HC as part of the badging as they have seen it elsewhere, and hence advertise as one.
Brian sold the V8S then or just toying with the idea at the mo ????
I sold the V8S in September and bought a S2000. I liked the S2000 for many reason but I really missed the torque and noise of the V8. The Honda was far to sensible for weekend use only !
Its not until the V8S went I realised that Im a TVR man, I hopeing the S2000 will be sold this weekend(Im waiting for a potential buyers to arrange AA check)
Looking forward to getting back to TVR ownership, not the servcing bills though
I would like a 400,450 (98ish) , but I will be choosing primerily on condition.
I did see 2 Chims today at dealers ,but the chassis looked grim.
Let me know if your over my way , as I fancy a V8 fix and you have the loudest I know !!!
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff