Chim 4.0 v 4.0HC
Discussion
I see the difference on paper 240 - 275hp and more torque.
But a few people have said they don't notice much difference between a standard 4 and a HC.
What's the story are they just 4.0 owners who want a HC or do they now better?.
Also it has been said that the HC is more prone to problems? overheating e.t.c.
But a few people have said they don't notice much difference between a standard 4 and a HC.
What's the story are they just 4.0 owners who want a HC or do they now better?.
Also it has been said that the HC is more prone to problems? overheating e.t.c.
I drove quite a few 4s before I got my HC and I noticed quite a difference, It seemed to rev quicker and pull away more cleanly, with no flat spots, the torque curve seemed flatter too, with max torque spread over a large part of the rev range, compared to the quite narrow band experienced on the 4s I tried.
I also drove a 2001 4.5 a few days ago, with the view of selling mine, but there seemed to be no difference in performance that I could tell between that and my 4HC. And the inside of the 4.5 was shot to pieces, so my HC will be staying for the foreseeable future!
All this is subjective of course, and I would say buy on condition rather than engine. A good 4 is worth allot more than a bad 5.
I also drove a 2001 4.5 a few days ago, with the view of selling mine, but there seemed to be no difference in performance that I could tell between that and my 4HC. And the inside of the 4.5 was shot to pieces, so my HC will be staying for the foreseeable future!
All this is subjective of course, and I would say buy on condition rather than engine. A good 4 is worth allot more than a bad 5.
Don't mention the bloody rolling road !!!!!! 
This is a difficult one really. TVRs are all hand built and they all vary - greatly. I had a 4.0HC, it absolutely flew. The lot at Austec were very suspicious of it originally as they thought I'd had it tweaked etc, but I hadn't. At the time I drove some 5ltrs which seemd slower than the 4.0HC, ( bad news for their owners ! )
On the whole, a 4.0 should be slower than a 4.0HC which should be slower than a 5.0. But then look at the replys you have so far.
So a fair answer to your question is yes, and, no, depending on whether you get a 4.0HC that is generally faster than most 4.0s....
This is a difficult one really. TVRs are all hand built and they all vary - greatly. I had a 4.0HC, it absolutely flew. The lot at Austec were very suspicious of it originally as they thought I'd had it tweaked etc, but I hadn't. At the time I drove some 5ltrs which seemd slower than the 4.0HC, ( bad news for their owners ! )
On the whole, a 4.0 should be slower than a 4.0HC which should be slower than a 5.0. But then look at the replys you have so far.
So a fair answer to your question is yes, and, no, depending on whether you get a 4.0HC that is generally faster than most 4.0s....
Roobarb said:
Don't mention the bloody rolling road !!!!!!
This is a difficult one really. TVRs are all hand built and they all vary - greatly. I had a 4.0HC, it absolutely flew. The lot at Austec were very suspicious of it originally as they thought I'd had it tweaked etc, but I hadn't. At the time I drove some 5ltrs which seemd slower than the 4.0HC, ( bad news for their owners ! )
On the whole, a 4.0 should be slower than a 4.0HC which should be slower than a 5.0. But then look at the replys you have so far.
So a fair answer to your question is yes, and, no, depending on whether you get a 4.0HC that is generally faster than most 4.0s....
eh? you lost me with that reply!
Lets face it, TVR are renowned for being rather optimistic with power output figures anyway. I agree that each car can be very different and some HCs faster than non HC 4 litres, some 5's slower than 4s etc (talking of which I had a go in a 4.5 that was an absolute animal and really did feel as quick if not quicker than a 5!).
So there's your answer - there isn't one. I wouldn't pay a premium for an HC unless you want to talk bhp down the pub. Try loads of cars and choose one that feels the quickest and is in the best condition.
Little Nicky said:
I've also had both and I can say with hand on heart that there is NO difference.!!!
The HC owners who think they are quicker than the standard 4.0 also think that HC means 'High Compression'......
They are wrong on both counts
Have to say that the difference between the ones I tested and the HC I purchased was quite startling! I expected there to be no difference too.
The one I got was noticeably more freely revving and sharper than the standard 4.0, along with all the other things I have mentioned above. It just goes to show that these cars differ so much from one to the next. Maybe it was just the HC was better looked after than the 4s I tested, but after talking to TVR power about what they did to the HC engine I cant believe it makes no difference at all.
Thanks for all the info.
I had looked at 9 S2 and S3 and looked to spend around £6500-7000 for a nice one but found price has no difference on condition, And they are mostly fairly shot, i did not come across a complete car( good chassis ,good body, good interior e.t.c).So budget went up for a chim I looked at many of those as well , and as said its the condition counts not engine output.As it happens the HC was in fantastic original condition and the guys at Silverstone Preformance very good ( they also said the preformance is so different from car to car).So the deal was done.
I had to drive 300 miles back home throught the early hours with a little snow and a lot of concern, but i should have worried less.IT WAS FANTASTIC.
Off into the garage now wheels off, detail the chassis and rest of the car ( x paint specailist, x mechanic, x yacht Captain/engineer makes you one anal sad muppet). But I do like driving it !!.
P.s When are we going to use something other than salt on our roads?, and I want to now whats in the engine bay in those gritters,the speed they do is mega,I may enter one on the cannonball run I would surely win, everybody else destroyed.
I had looked at 9 S2 and S3 and looked to spend around £6500-7000 for a nice one but found price has no difference on condition, And they are mostly fairly shot, i did not come across a complete car( good chassis ,good body, good interior e.t.c).So budget went up for a chim I looked at many of those as well , and as said its the condition counts not engine output.As it happens the HC was in fantastic original condition and the guys at Silverstone Preformance very good ( they also said the preformance is so different from car to car).So the deal was done.
I had to drive 300 miles back home throught the early hours with a little snow and a lot of concern, but i should have worried less.IT WAS FANTASTIC.
Off into the garage now wheels off, detail the chassis and rest of the car ( x paint specailist, x mechanic, x yacht Captain/engineer makes you one anal sad muppet). But I do like driving it !!.
P.s When are we going to use something other than salt on our roads?, and I want to now whats in the engine bay in those gritters,the speed they do is mega,I may enter one on the cannonball run I would surely win, everybody else destroyed.
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