For all things Rover V8, the TVR Griffith and Chimaera and TVR T-Cars
Servicing
Many believe it is essential to carry out the servicing of your TVR in accordance with the servicing schedule. Your Chimaera or Griffith is a high powered car and if not looked after can be dangerous. I cannot give you advice with regards to servicing your car but I will suggest that you seek professional advice.
Note that the service schedule we use has been slightly modified in order to make it easier for the home mechanic to follow. It covers everything in the official TVR service schedule, which can be found here.
When I’ve worked on my car I have never completed the whole schedule in one go. I’ve always felt that doing one job at a time means that there is no pressure to rush. If I set myself, for instance, an oil and filter change as one task and allow a morning then if it goes on a bit I have the afternoon to finish it. I spread the whole process over the whole year and, as I don’t like it too cold, mainly over the warmer six months.
When I tried something new I used to get a professional mechanic to do it first and then try it myself.
I am very wary of chemicals used in a car. For reasons explained in the text I do not replace my own fuel filter but get a garage to do it for me.
One or two tasks involve specialist equipment not available to the average, and even well above average, home mechanic. These include engine timing – although I might have a go in a later upgrade – headlight alignment, tracking and camber. I have my headlight alignment checked before each MoT, and at the same location as my MoT. I have a local garage that checks my wheel tracking and alignment once a year for a few pounds. But I find the rest is easily completed with a bit of application, sense and time.
Very few tools are required for servicing a TVR. See a list and more information Here. Where possible I go for the cheaper alternatives to keep costs down like using an adjustable spanner (wrench) on the 30mm stepper motor nut and then use it to undo the 29mm sump nut as well.
It was hard not to be put off by the number of individual tasks shown but I found most take little time although they must be completed conscientiously.
Advice is available from RV8R should you hit a problem, by email at harvey@rv8r.co.uk for those who have bought this CD or downloaded the file. However, this is not 24/7.
Read each entry at least a couple of times and familiarise yourself with the pictures before starting.
The intent of this resource is to show what other owners of Griffiths and Chimaeras have done to their cars. But that is eventually. If there is something that we’ve missed for servicing or a subject you feel should be covered as soon as possible then let us know at Harvey@rv8r.co.uk.
Further, if you are working on a specific task and you feel this would be of use to others, please let us know about this as well.
All articles are the opinion of the respective authors. Most are amateurs. The information is given in good faith but there can be no guarantees that it is correct. They should be taken as examples of what has been done by others and not as instructions.
Please read safety before reading on.