JUST BOUGHT CHIM 430 TELL ME ABOUT IT?

[kippax]

Hi I have just put a deposit on a beautiful Chimeara 4.3 1994 model. Most of talk on here is of 4lt & 5lt models can anyone enlighten me to difference in performance from 4lt to 4.3lt?
I sold my M3 EVO 3 months ago when i got a company car to be sensible & 3 months of driving a Golf has driven me to want some weekend fun (much to annoyance of my fiancee as we are getting married next year need money etc.etc blah blah)
Please tell me it's worth the aggro & the constant grief I hope to pick her up in about 2 weeks (when speedo has been fixed) Is it all worthwhile
Any advice / info on 4.3 would be appreciated. (I have been memeber of TVRCC for couple of months so already took that route)
Thanks
Howard.

[the dodger]

Welcome kippax. A fine decision if you ask me (but a little biased). I came from a limited edition wedge 350SE (4.0L) so wanted something again "special". The 4.3 engine was offered as a factory engine upgrade during 93-94 at a cost of £2k more on Chims and Griffs (Griffs from 92 = pre-cat). Apart from a bit more grunt they are exactly the same as the 4.0L but (I've been told) run different ECU fuel map for top end. TVR didn't develop a new ECU so use the 3.5 chip modified. It's not ideal and mine runs very lumpy up to 2-2500rpm. This can be rectified by a trip to Marc Adams (ECU guru) who can set it up properly.

If you haven't got one already, buy Steve Heaths book (known affectioately on here as "The Bible" - even if you don't plan on doing any work yourself. All 4.3 engines have polished inlets and maybe throttle bodies. There's some dispute over whether they all had big valves. In the mid 90's I was told by the Service Director at the factory that the 4.3 engine was the best all round version to get.

More details of your find required please! Because there are just a few Chim 4.3 around I may even know this one!

Cheers, Roger.

[Corin Denton]

Performance differences are marginal and can vary from car to car, the main thing is you are happy with the way your car performs, you're buying it so you must be. There aren't that many 4.3 Chimaeras the 4.3 was dumped in favour of the 4.0 high compression. The beauty of buying an earlish Chimaera is that the prices have stabilised so the right car with the right history if you have to sell it in twelve months time might not lose any money.
The speedos do sometimes play up but don't let that put you off, if you liked an M3, you will love a Chimaera.

[drum4it2]

Corin Denton said:

The beauty of buying an earlish Chimaera is that the prices have stabilised so the right car with the right history if you have to sell it in twelve months time might not lose any money.

Sounds good to me Corin!

Welcome Kippax - if you enjoy the car now, you'll absolutely love it come the spring - I got mine in June and quickly learnt that Sun Cream was an essential accessory!

Morning Roger! Off to fit my new indicator lights in a minute!

[simpo two]

the dodger said:

If you haven't got one already, buy Steve Heaths book (known affectioately on here as "The Bible"

Definitely essential bedtime reading for all new TR owners - avalable from the author at www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[the dodger]

Corin Denton said:

...... There aren't that many 4.3 Chimaeras the 4.3 was dumped in favour of the 4.0 high compression.......

Nooooo! Corin, the 4.3 wasn't dumped it was replaced by the 5.0. Initially in the Griff around 95 (although a few strayed into Chims too) then in the Chim with the 4.5 (straight Rangie 4.6 lump). Also BTW the 4.0HC was not high compression. The HC refers to the cam profile - "highlift cam". The 4.0HC version is quoted at 275bhp, the 4.3 at 280bhp and the 4.5 is 285bhp. The HC was quite a tuned beast and idles around 2,000rpm

[simpo two]

the dodger said:

Initially in the Griff around 95

The Griff 500 first appeared on 93 L models, IINVMM...

or should that be :anorak:

[mcharman]

I have a 93 4.3 and I love it. Its a bit rough at low revs but nothing I cant live with. Well done - hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as I have from mine.

[the dodger]

simpo two said:

the dodger said: Initially in the Griff around 95 The Griff 500 first appeared on 93 L models, IINVMM... or should that be :anorak:

OK Pete, realigned intro date from late 93 in the Griff.

[kippax]

Thanks for the info everyone I have already ordered the "Bible" & am waiting for it to arrive.
The car is a Blue Aug 94 4.3 on an m plate it has FVRTSH & has done 33k miles with just 2 owners.It also has A/C & full cream leather interior.
I live in Warrington Cheshire & am looking forward to meeting other owners on meets etc. in the near future.
I bought the car from Stephen in brighton for those who were asking in case they knew the car.

Thanks again
Howard.

[ssc1]

i used to have a 93 4.3 and sold it in feb this year and wish that i had not as it felt so much more powerfull than the 4.0 that i now have, its not just the bhp its the torque as well 275lb ft compared to 305lb ft and it shot past 140mph compared to my present car which takes ages to go past 140, and had a race against a 5.0 in it and there was not much in it but i think my 430 was tweeked just a bit.

[robertp]

I got a 4.3 this year and it feels so much faster than previous 400se and 4.0 Chim I had previously! Agree a bit lumpy in town but when you give it eeky its superb!
Mine also has silencer removed and people think concorde is still flying
Some interesting performance figures quoted in a PH feature somewhere...

[ohidunno]

Good decision Howard.

I've had my 4.3 for nearly three years and have never regretted purchasing the car.
This is the only TVR I have ever had and I was of the opinion (sadly) before I bought the car that TVR's were pretty unreliable but I figured that the car was a plaything that I didn't need to rely on. Ironically the car has never broken down in approx 15,000 miles and only failed to start once (new starter motor required).
Obviously having never driven another TVR I can't make wild relative performance claims, but at Duxford in 2002 I overtook lots of Chimaeras on the runway sprint and wasn't overtaken by another Chimaera all day.
I'd concur with others that it's not great fun to drive in traffic. The problem is not the weight of the clutch but that these cars hate crawling along.
Broken speedos are a common problem on early models and when they work they make an annoying clicking sound.
My ownership top tip would be don't stress about little minor things going wrong dropping off etc. Minor jobs crop up fairly frequently but can usually be fixed yourself with the aid of the bible or advise from this site. Anything that you can't fix make a mental note for when your car goes in for a service. It's a 10 year old hand made car and if you take it to the main dealer everytime the wing mirror looks a little droopy you will spoil the ownership experience.
:cheeky mode on:
If anybody wants a good and cheap 4.3 (or numberplate) can I kindly point you in the direction of Teds marketplace.
Now time for a gratuitous ar$e shot:


:/cheekymode: