Engine Numbers

[Mr Haribo]

I have a Chimaera it was sold as a 4.3 BV since having the out riggers done at castle TVR, they said that the car is a 4.5 BV due to the engine number i have checked the ECU with Mark Adams and he is not sure ? any ideas ?

[The AJP Griff]

Externally,the engine number is pretty much the only thing to go by that is significant to any degree.The trouble is,you can alter the rover engine to anything up to 5.5ish litres,so measuring internally is the only foolproof way to be sure of enine size.If the engine no. says 4.5 then it's your best bet,but i wouldnt want to bet too much money on it!

[Littletidnock]

how old is the car, do you think it is the original engine, my understanding is that they did not make the 4.3 for long

[Cider Andy]

Weren't all the 4.3s pre-serpentine and all the 4.5s serpentine?

[rev-erend]

It might also be a newer 4.5 engine and that was not a BV engine and would have about the same power as the 4.3 IMHO.

As has been said the only way is to measure the bore and stroke but whats the point unless the engine needs internal work.

[Mr Haribo]

thanks for all replys. the engine is not a serp. but in steve heaths bible there are are few special 4.5,s im just hoping mine is ?

[The AJP Griff]

Mr Haribo said:

thanks for all replys. the engine is not a serp. but in steve heaths bible there are are few special 4.5,s im just hoping mine is ?

Fingers crossed that your engine might well be something special.I've seen a 4.5 pre-serp on a factory development griff,and i think that the ultra rare 4.5BV Griffs were also pre-serp,so heres hoping for you!It's always possible that it was a special order,as TVR did this occasionally,for the odd lucky customer.

Edited by The AJP Griff on Friday 11th July 21:41

[Littletidnock]

Out of interest, were the Chimaera and Griff the last cars to have the RV8 or did any of the Cerbera's have the rover engine?

[The AJP Griff]

Littletidnock said:

Out of interest, were the Chimaera and Griff the last cars to have the RV8 or did any of the Cerbera's have the rover engine?

The Chim and Griff were the last RV8 cars.The Cerbera never had the RV8 fitted,though when it was conceived it was initially destined to have the Rover lump.Instead they fitted TVR's own V8(the AJP),and latterly the Speed Six as well.