Chim 4.3 BV / black rocker covers

[baggiero]

Excitingly I've just discovered that my otherwise unindicated 4.3l is in fact a BV with ported inlets and all sorts (as described rather more precisely by Paul Austin at Austec - a "good one from when TVR power were a a proper company"..! - unfortunately I omitted to ask him to take some pics while the heads were off)

Rather delighted, and Mark Adams and the guys were too - got 274.7bhp and 309.1 lbft this morning (Adams chip but otherwise no significant modifications (so far ...) - camshaft replaced due to wear with a "hybrid 218". Lots of talk of inlet ducts, throttle bodies and larger injectors has already started in my head..

Mainly, though I'd ask whether any other Chimaera owners of 4.3l bv's had figured out/been able to see that theirs were? - guy down there had a BV job done in his wedge and commented that our (black) rocker covers looked identical, but I wouldn't have thought it'd be that simple an indicator ... There's nothing in my logbook AFAIK.

H

[Sharky500]

Congrats! Those are awesome numbers! Bet it feels like a real rocketship.

Question - how did you book the Mark Adams session? Was it directly through Austec?

I am going to need a session on my Chim 500. It is getting a new cam, followers and rockers at Fernhursts right now. It already has a MA chip, so I think it will need a remap to optimise running with the new cam.

I was at Austec last week, and power was awful - barely 220bhp from 5 litres! Hence the new cam.

And finally, what did the session cost you, out of interest?

Thanks!

[baggiero]

Sharky500 said:

Congrats! Those are awesome numbers! Bet it feels like a real rocketship. Question - how did you book the Mark Adams session? Was it directly through Austec?

Yeah - I spoke to Alex who was excellent all round - just give her a bell. Mark's generally there about once a month I think. {may get a bit more complex shortly as they're about to start work to dig in a new (4WD) rolling road setup}
It's darn good - I think it's probably always been but the cam timing was way off when the new one was put in and the generally rubbish running was the real kicker to get down to the RR. Thank heavens, as when they found it wouldn't do the numbers (and checked everything - new plugs+cables, fuel pressure, timing) that was when the cam timing was diagnosed. Heads off and the BV situation was exposed (and the valve seats etc cleaned up).
Costs = complex - you're definitely best to talk direct to Mark or Austec. I had two goes at the RR with a load of head-work in between so my costs not really all that representative. Initial cam replacement was at Tower View.
Mr Mark (boffin) Adams is a great character & nice guy (as are Paul and the reset of the guys at Austec I reckon).

edited to add [url]www.hughdixon.com/blogimages/DSC00005_640x480.JPG[/url]


Next little item is getting dodgy contact between road speed sensor and ECU sorted - intermittent failure is what causes it to occasionally fail to catch and idle (aka stalling) when clutch in on the way down to a roundabout for example. Dashboard off and all sorts of poking about required it seems..


>> Edited by baggiero on Tuesday 21st March 18:53