A Chim 400 or a 430?

[ianrob1956]

I am hoping to purchase a Chimaera in the not too distant future, but not sure which to go for. I can't afford a 450 or a 500 - they are outside my allowance - so I am thinking 400 or maybe a 430 if there are any available. Can anyone offer advice please? Obviously the 430 edges on performance but what about reliability and parts costs?

[pwd95]

Insurance & parts will be the same. My well sorted 430 (new cam & re-map) puts out more power than the Griff 500 I had.(was a tired example though) Feels quicker too. It's all down to condition these days. 430's seem to be the preformance bargain at the mo if you can find a good one.

[Taraka30]

Hi Ian - don't worry too much about the engine size - worry about the condition of the car! Buy one that has been looked after, has lots of receipts and make sure you pay particular attention to the things that will likely require attention (and therefore cost money) on a car that's a few years older. For example, big ticket items like outriggers and camshafts (though the latter are more of a problem on 500s) would be something to look out for having been done. Also shocks, brakes, starter motor, steering rack - all will be getting on a bit so having some receipts to show they've been seen to would be more of a concern to me than the engine size (knowing how much maintenance costs can run to).

Hopefully that's of use to you - good luck in your search and as they say, don't buy the first you see (most of them are that loud)!

James

[900T-R]

Condition should be your prime motivation, however a good 430 is well, well worth waiting for. The 4.3s were the sweetest and revviest engines in the RV8 range and the pick of the pre-serpentine lumps IMO. All that I've seen had elaborately ported heads and pistons with valve pockets (widening your options on cam choice, I think they were already needed with the Kent 214 that most of these run as standard, although apparently a few had been built with wilder cam profiles). There's also a fair few with BV heads even though they weren't specified or designated as such...

[JonyTVR]

After being in the same position as you I Hung on for a nice 430 and boy am I glad I did! It just feels a different animal compared to the 400. Be prepared to wait though, they don't come up for sale all that often.

[Chris71]

430!

Based on the experience of one car admittedly, but I'm still kicking myself for not buying the one referred to further up the page.

The bulk of cars I looked at were 450s and it felt usefully quicker than these supposidly superior cars, as well as having revvier and more responsive engine characteristics. I didn't find the earlier gearbox a problem and the value for money on a good 430 is spectacular - as fast as a 4.5 (if not a 5) and as cheap as a 4, plus you get the added rarity... I've said this a couple of times recently, but the more I think about it, the more a good 430 seems like the conspicuous bargain within the Chimaera/Griff range. You could even say the age is an advantage. Even the youngest Chimaeras are getting to the point where many need attention (outriggers etc.) and the older cars are more likely to have had that done already.

[ianrob1956]

Thanks for all the info and thoughts guys. I had heard somewhere - can't remember where - that the 430's weren't as reliable. Seems that was a load of twaddle. I may just bide my time and try for a decent 430.

[Chris71]

ianrob1956 said:

Thanks for all the info and thoughts guys. I had heard somewhere - can't remember where - that the 430's weren't as reliable. Seems that was a load of twaddle. I may just bide my time and try for a decent 430.

Not heard anything about the 430. There is a fairly sound argument that the 5-litres are less reliable under extreme use, as the long stroke crankshaft (or rather the journals thereof) and the top'n'tailed pistons are said to be weaker, so maybe that's what you're thinking of? That wouldn't be an issue with the 4.3 though. Just about the only complaint I can remember from when I was looking was the shift quality of the earlier gearbox, but I thought it was okay. You'll get that with a 4-litre of the same era too.