450 SE Plenum Chamber

[shawn ford]

Recently looked at a 2-owner 450 SE that was for sale. A pretty decent car, chassis numbers are real, engine number and engine code stamped on the engine itself. However, it had a 3.9 badged plenum chamber. This is a 1990/H Reg car and I don't have any reason to suspect that it isn't for real, but is this normal? Many of the later wedges I've saw seem to have 'V8' badging instead. Any info especially from 450 SE owners regarding this would be appreciated.

Thanks

Shawn

[JMorgan]

Get a HPI check done. Not sure about the rest though. A few bolt ons being added?

[shpub]

As the badges are easy to buy and fit... I wouldn't read anything into it one way or another.

Steve

[kevinday]

Put it on a rolling road, if you have 'more than adequate' power it is a 400SE, if it has 'a lot more than adequate' power it is a 450SE.

[2 Sheds]

some of the later 450SE's had standard (65mm throttle) early ones had 70mm its likely that this car has been uprated from 65 to 70mm with an exchange plenum, easy to check by removing hose and checking throttle size.
Tim Lamont.

[GLENN450]

THE THROTTLE BODY ON MY H REG 450SE IS 70MM, AND ON TOP OF THE PLENEUM IS A BLACK BADGE WHICH SAYS 450SE. HOPE THIS HELPS.

[shawn ford]

Thanks for the responses. The 450 SE in question, is now officially owned by me, and it dishes out power like hot s**t off a shovel. Will be driving it back from Warwick to Germany this Sunday, and looking forward to Wedge ownership as well as dusting a few BMW's and Porsches along the way.

I will be attending Zolder, and if you see a red H reg 450 SE with black hides, please stop by and introduce yourself. Looking forward to meeting anyone who is a Wedge fanatic.

Cheers,

Shawn Ford

[Wedg1e]

Hmmmm... I'd take those badges with a pinch of salt...;-)
On my 390's plenum is a carbon fibre badge that says '400 HC', 'cos the previous owner was a bit of a twat for badges and showy bits. At least it saved me the expense, but I digress.
Beneath this bit of tat, cast into the plenum is the apocryphal statement '3.9'.
They can't both be right...;-)
Strictly speaking it should read '390 HC' as it was originally 10.5:1 c.r.
Although after my engine work, the capacity is now 3948cc, which from memo is the same as a V8S. However, my Wedge would of course see off such a vehicle, unless green in colour and being driven by some big geezer from MK... :-D

W.

[broadside]

Do not worry about it. My '91 450SE has a 3.9 Plenum on it. I asked Tony from HHC about it and he told me that you got whatever plenum was lying around when the engine was built. Just so happened that Range Rovers had 3.9 engines at the time. If it bothers you, just grind it off and stick on a 450 Chimaera engine badge. Mine goes like S*+T off a shovel and is plenty fast enough. (for this week anyway !!!

Nige'