Viewed another Chimaera today

[V6Alfisti]

Continuing my search for a Chimaera, I came across another late 1998 4.0 v8 with around 30k on the clock.

The paint is average, ideally needing a front end re-spray as the wing mirror is badly chipped, slight scuff on both wings, laquer peeled in a small circular shape on the bonnet (I guess this is all standard for a car that hasn't had a respray).

Mechanically:-

I noticed the oil pressure sits at 15psi at idle when hot, and around 30psi (hot) when driving around.
Looking at the threads on here, that appears normal? the owner stated the car has been checked with mechanic gauges and it is all 100%

Power Steering - Hisses when at full lock (whilst driving and at idle) that seemed odd to me and there was a receipt for a recon power steering pump

Water leak in front drivers footwell coming from behind the carpets - soaked (may be linked to some of the advisory's listed below)

The car didn't start first time when hot or cold, it needed to be turned over for a short while, then would kick into life on the second go. Starter Motor?

Lots of History/Tyres/Brakes were all perfect. Outriggers were solid and recently wax-oiled

Points noted on last service (do you have views on the below, common?):-

Oil pressure reads low
Brake master cylinder reservoir seal split
inner wing grommets unbonded (linked to water leak?)
Rear diff bush starting to crack
Rear top wishbone bushes close to chassis
oil leak - rear of engine

Edited by V6Alfisti on Wednesday 10th September 12:48

[leetvr]

Hi mate,

Have you took a look at mine yet? Its on here page 11 at the top.
Its a great car.

Lee

[V6Alfisti]

leetvr said:

Hi mate,

Have you took a look at mine yet? Its on here page 11 at the top.
Its a great car.

Lee

Hi Lee,

I have but I really wanted a later one in either blue or black.

[leetvr]

Okay mate no probs. If you have no luck get back to me as my car could pass for a 98 no probs it in great condition as for colour.... red is faster!!!

lee

[Zippee]

Oil pressure is pretty much spot on.
Mirrors do suffer badly from stone chips though I'd be peeved if I had peeling laquer on my bodywork. Remember though that any car unless wrapped in cotton wool can suffer stone chips and car park dings etc. As long as it was general wear and tear and not accident damage I wouldn't worry too much.
Power steering - is it a mechanical whine? If so normal for PAS cars.
Water leak - ckeck the seal around the brake fluid resevoir - a very common place for water ingress.
Mine starts on the button cold or hot - is the battery strong or are the plugs etc OK?

As for the service items - if the oil pressure was noted at what you mentioned above then thats fine - was it serviced at a place thats used to TVRs?
I'd get that replaced - why was it not done at service? Some advisories are just that but for me anything to do with brakes would be done immediately.
Rear diff bush - pig of a job to replace diff bushes - about £300ish to replace all mine to poly bushes about 18 mths ago.
Not sure what you mean about the wishbone bushes.
Oil leak - RV8s are prone to small drips - is it gushing or only very slight? Sump gasket is a very common cause of this.

Edited by Zippee on Wednesday 10th September 13:13

[Zippee]

V6Alfisti said:

Hi Lee,

I have but I really wanted a later one in either blue or black.

Edited by Zippee on Wednesday 10th September 13:29

[Blues]

It doesn't sound too bad at all.I am certainly no expert, but in my limited experience, but here is my tuppence worth

V6Alfisti said:

I noticed the oil pressure sits at 15psi at idle when hot, and around 30psi (hot) when driving around.

Very similar to mine.

V6Alfisti said:

Power Steering - Hisses when at full lock (whilst driving and at idle) that seemed odd to me and there was a receipt for a recon power steering pump

Mine does that.(at least it used to when it worked properly)

V6Alfisti said:

Water leak in front drivers footwell coming from behind the carpets - soaked (may be linked to some of the advisory's listed below)

You might want to have a look at which inner wing grommets they are referring to, as it could well be the culprit

V6Alfisti said:

The car didn't start first time when hot or cold, it needed to be turned over for a short while, then would kick into life on the second go. Starter Motor?

If it has just been serviced, this shouldn't happen. When my starter motor packed up, i didn't get this sympton - it just stopped turning the engine over. I'd check that you are getting full power from the battery.

V6Alfisti said:

Oil pressure reads low

It doesn't sound too low to me

V6Alfisti said:

Brake master cylinder reservoir seal split

I don't think this is a big job to sort

V6Alfisti said:

inner wing grommets unbonded (linked to water leak?)

Probably. Easy to fix

V6Alfisti said:

Rear diff bush starting to crack
Rear top wishbone bushes close to chassis

Can't comment on these

V6Alfisti said:

oil leak - rear of engine

Have a look underneath, is it coming from a poor seal on the sump?

I'm sure someone with more mechanical skills will come along soon and confirm/correct me

Good luck with your choice

[V6Alfisti]

Thanks again for the comments

Power Steering - Sounds like air being released (like any mass produced car makes when on full lock at idle) but found it odd it was doing this when on the move.

The battery was suspected to be faulty last year, but ended up just needing a charge (I think a replacement is in order)

It has been serviced by some very well recognised TVR dealers (all its life).

Wishbone bushes- not sure myself, I just made a note of a comment from the dealer

Oil Leak - Also didn't see this myself, just saw the comment, but the owner was apparently told (they all do that sir)

It was last serviced early this year.

Thanks again

[piston-broke]

Careful with the oil leak at rear of engine. I looked at one the other day and the rear main oil seal was pissing out (I could see it dripping while running). With a rear main leak, the gearbox needs to come out, and the clutch plate may well have been contaminated by the leaking oil which means new clutch.

Wishbone bushes comment I don't understand. As far as I'm aware, the bushes should be in the same position in relation to the rest of the car as they were when they left the factory, I can't see how they could have moved.

Master cylinder leak is easy to sort, water leak is easy to sort.

You can buy UV dye that you mix in a watering can. You can then poor this over the inner wing towards the suspected area. You then get into the car and shine a uv light into the footwell, if the water has made it inside the car, it'll glow bright pink, this confirms where the leak is coming from.

[pjac67]

There is a '98 450 just put up for sale in Bristol - is a mint car that has been pampered as I've known the car owner since he's had it (7.5 yrs.)

Worth a look if within budget or even if not as a good 'benchmark'.

Happy hunting.

[siwebster]

Hi, mines up for sale too - a blue 98 450, currently on page 1. Email me if you're interested or want more pics, etc.

Cheers

Si

[ray_von]

If the wishbone bushes are the original metalastic type the inner can break away allowing the wishbone to move closer to the chassis lugs. Thrust washers are sometimes fitted to help prevent movement AFAIK. If they've moved you may as well replace them with a nice poly set. The side diff bushes, apparently are not too bad a job but the rear is the difficult one. Leaky grommets/ split seals in the bay are nothing to get in a flap about. I think Zippee has mis read, or I have, having a leaking seal around the reservoir does not affect the brakes at all.
How much is the car up for?

Edited by ray_von on Wednesday 10th September 15:57

[Zippee]

ray_von said:

I think Zippee has mis read, or I have, having a leaking seal around the reservoir does not affect the brakes at all.
How much is the car up for?

Quite possibly - I read it that a seal had gone on the master cylinder?? If its the seal around the resevoir then as I mentioned before thats the likely cause of the footwell leak.

[Cider Andy]

V6Alfisti said:

Power Steering - Sounds like air being released (like any mass produced car makes when on full lock at idle) but found it odd it was doing this when on the move.

Perfectly normal. Coupled with it not offering much assistance I think it was designed to make you think it's faulty...

[V6Alfisti]

I've gone and bought this one .

The car is going to chipsaway next week to have some of the paint chips fixed, and I will look at giving it a good clean tomorrow and sorting out some of its minor problems.

One has already been fixed - starting on second turn of the key, it appears the previous owner was used to instant starting, so when I fired her up today (for what I assumed to be a normal time) it fired first time when cold/hot everytime, next problem is a wet drivers footwell..but hope to diagnose that tomorrow.

I just had a 2 hour drive back (should take me 40 minutes normally) but this car just urges you to take the scenic route.

Over the moon doesn't describe how happy I am with it

[Blues]

Well done, i'm pleased to hear that the problems were not severe.
We'll keep an eye open for you around Reading, and you need to watch the Thames Valley and Surrey forum for details on our regular meets and drives out

[V6Alfisti]

Cleaned and protected the roof with Renovo today, fantastic results.

Also sealed the brake fluid reservoir with some black silicon, and cleaned/conditioned all the leather, and cleaned the upholstery.

Can anyone describe in laymans terms, where I place the targa top in the boot?, is it windscreen side of the roof down on the floor, with the material of the roof facing me (as I put it in), therefore the carbon fibre facing the front. Does it not move under acceleration/braking?

Still over the moon with it

Also noticed the PAS fluid is just over min, so will top that up when I manage to find some Mobil ATF 220, any tips?

Thanks

Edited by V6Alfisti on Sunday 14th September 18:54

[MADMAX2]

V6Alfisti said:

Can anyone describe in laymans terms, where I place the targa top in the boot?, is it windscreen side of the roof down on the floor, with the material of the roof facing me (as I put it in), therefore the carbon fibre facing the front. Does it not move under acceleration/braking?

Hopefully you have the roof cover sold with the car if not no worries but try and get one obviously put the roof away in the cover then...

Remove the spare wheel and any other obstructions in the boot
Holding the roof horizontally with the curve of the roof away from you
Fit the right side of the roof in first to the right hand side of the boot as far as it will go and the left side will angle in accordingly (practice! practice!)

Its a little tricky at first but you will get it down to a fine art in no time




then sun comes out and off you go!

atb


Ian

Edited by MADMAX2 on Sunday 14th September 20:21

[Red V8]

MADMAX2 said:

V6Alfisti said:

Can anyone describe in laymans terms, where I place the targa top in the boot?, is it windscreen side of the roof down on the floor, with the material of the roof facing me (as I put it in), therefore the carbon fibre facing the front. Does it not move under acceleration/braking?

Hopefully you have the roof cover sold with the car if not no worries but try and get one obviously put the roof away in the cover then...

Remove the spare wheel and any other obstructions in the boot
Holding the roof horizontally with the curve of the roof away from you
Fit the right side of the roof in first to the right hand side of the boot as far as it will go and the left side will angle in accordingly (practice! practice!)

Its a little tricky at first but you will get it down to a fine art in no time




then sun comes out and off you go!

atb


Ian

Edited by MADMAX2 on Sunday 14th September 20:21

I don't have to take spare wheel out... ie, goes in very much as V6Alfisti describes... effectively the curve of the roof wraps the petrol tank... I put passenger side in first and it's a piece of cake.

[V6Alfisti]

Thanks again everyone

I was given the cover protector so I will be able to keep it clean after all my hard work.