Driving characteristics 4.0 v 4.5 v 5.0 - after 250-300bhp

[notax]

I am currently enjoying my fourth Chimaera and fifth TVR. All the Chimaeras have been 4.0 but I’m interested to know how the 4.5 and 5.0 compare. I realise there will be differences between individual cars, but do the characters differ between the engines? Ie do some rev more freely or higher? Any reliability issues as the capacity increases? I’m interested in either making my 4.0 faster or swapping for a larger capacity version. Would rather keep N/A but would ideally like a genuine 250-300bhp at flywheel...

[notax]

Thanks for all the replies, the situation I have is that my latest Chimaera is very tidy, with a superb interior and chassis and I’ve just fitted Gaz Golds and upgraded the wheels. It’s a 1999 with 59k, so I would hope is worth around £15k. The car drives really well, but I would like more power. Question is do I upgrade it, or sell and buy a 4.5 or 5.0? My TVR mechanic prefers the 4.0 and 4.5 to the 5.0 from both a driving and reliability point of view based on his experiences. Interested to know what others have experienced.

I could get a really nice, late, low miles 4.5 or 5.0 for about £6k more than I guess mine would sell for. So the costs to upgrade or change seem similar. I would probably prefer staying N/A and getting a 4.6 built if I keep the car, I guess a turbo would muffle the lovely TVR noise and the supercharger may encourage me to turn up the wick more than I need resulting in the need to upgrade lots of other parts too...

[notax]

As the OP, thanks for all the replies. Sorry for my delayed reply, currently delivering one of my rally cars to its new owner, which involves a round trip from the south coast to Cumbria! Thank you very much to those who have offered to let me try their cars, you seem to live miles north of me sadly, by coincidence I will be passing you all tomorrow on my way back down south, but have a busy day, particularly as I hope to be returning with a new toy or two on the trailer 😁

I would be very interested to try a turbo’d TVR, I already have one turbo’d V8 with over 600bhp (a 12c) so don’t feel the need for huge power from the TVR and would prefer to keep NA, although prepared to be persuaded... I’d be very keen to get recommendations and costs of a head and cam change. Engine seems good, 4.0, 55k and smooth. Would a full rebuild be recommended if I went for new head and cams? I don’t mind the car being slightly lumpy on tickover, it’s character and not a daily driver after all! My previous Chimaera was apparently a standard 4.0, but a really good engine putting out 232bhp on Surrey RR, the most powerful they had tested at the time. New one not quite as quick, hence thinking 250-300bhp a good number for my uses. Not looking for track use, just fast road, with the ability to unstick the rear tyres on demand at most sane speeds, even on dry tarmac. I may use the car for the odd tarmac autosolo too, for those that haven’t seen it here’s an example on grass in one of my previous Chimaeras, turn up the volume 😎

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kyeChgOvhrs