How about the sound of this 450?

[Roc77]

Good morning.
I am looking to buy my first Chimaera, I have a list of 3 cars with very similar characteristics.
I leave you the link to a video, of the car that I like the most, where you can hear the engine. It's a 450 with 60000 miles on it and it has the stock camshaft. In recent years it has not been used much, as can be seen from the dust on it. My doubt comes from the sound of the engine, I think I can hear a rattle that I don't know if it is due to lack of lubrication or that the camshaft would have to be changed, the owner says that it is going well.
The car is original, only the radiator, some hoses and hot start have been changed.
Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me. A month ago I traveled, only with a one-way ticket, to buy the car that seemed perfect... it wasn't. Now I think I see bad things in everyone.
How do you hear it?


https://youtu.be/FGLXjK4ZhMo

[Belle427]

You can hear it but it's not easy to tell.
Difficult to judge by videos really.
Some top ends on the RV8 can be a bit noisier than others and they do have some common issues such as exhaust leaks that can sound like a tapping.
Camshafts are known to be worn out by 60k miles so I would just be fully aware of the pitfalls before buying really as you may not have many tell tale signs.

[Classic Chim]

Sounds good to me from here anyway!
60,000 miles cam will be a bit rounded or so you’d expect
Good reflectors on the headlights, good Bonet mounts, hoses and 20% more efficient radiator all look Bob on.
Car runs well on that video.
Now to the important questions like does it have documented repaired or body lifted proof the outriggers are intact but that’s probably for another topic and debate

[Classic Chim]

It’s important to remember on tickover the Cam doesn’t get much splash oiling effect and can make a few noises and in fact new cams with higher lift ( sport ) profiles can make just as much noise while warming up. I always waited until I was fully ready to get going before starting and driving from cold.
Start it, hold revs gently upto about 1500 revs over about 20-30 seconds then set off being mindful, oils stone cold but revving it to 2000 revs in each gear which oils the cam and within about 2 mins it’s already getting warm enough to drive safely.
Also if the cars been stood awhile oil will drain back and cam might take some time to fully re coat itself.
If you get no noise the cams likely to be round

[kris450]

Classic Chim said:

Sounds good to me from here anyway!
60,000 miles cam will be a bit rounded or so you’d expect
Good reflectors on the headlights, good Bonet mounts, hoses and 20% more efficient radiator all look Bob on.
Car runs well on that video.
Now to the important questions like does it have documented repaired or body lifted proof the outriggers are intact but that’s probably for another topic and debate

I agree ! Doesn't give off any obvious alarming noises and sounds like its running pretty well overall.

[Classic Chim]

kris450 said:

I agree ! Doesn't give off any obvious alarming noises and sounds like its running pretty well overall.

And thanks to your rather brilliant and easy to navigate body off file the o/p could surely lift his body off and replace his outriggers as easily as I managed using your guide alone if it comes to the worst.

[indigochim]

Belle427 said:

You can hear it but it's not easy to tell. Difficult to judge by videos really.

some common issues such as exhaust leaks that can sound like a tapping.

I'd echo this hard to say from a video like this. There looks to be a load of exhaust paste on the near side header to Y piece v-band suggesting they may have had issues although the noise isn't worst when the camera is in this area. It could still be a leak from the head to manifold gasket on the offside. Mine had similar for a while.

Over all the bits you can see look good and it looks a similar colour to mine but I like the interior of the one you're looking at with the dark dash top more. As others have said the outriggers and chassis are the other place to really check over.

[Roc77]

Thanks for the answers and advice.
I understand how difficult it is to pinpoint a problem with sound alone, I wanted to share this with you as I felt like I was hearing something different from other Chimaera I've heard before.
The seller seems very honest and has sent me everything I ordered. He told me that he had a gas leak, that's why you can see that paste. This makes me think what kind of repairs have been done to the car, it doesn't seem like a very clean job. If so, where can you see... what could you find hidden?
The car is otherwise in very good condition, with a great chassis, only corrosion on the brakes, only the dashboard has chips and the rear window has a small nick.
looks like a good unit.
My intention would be to go to a dyno and see how healthy the engine is.

[Sardonicus]

Sounds like the ex manifold/s have slight blowing TBH and the fan/serp belt is routed incorrectly too

[indigochim]

Roc77 said:

He told me that he had a gas leak, that's why you can see that paste. This makes me think what kind of repairs have been done to the car, it doesn't seem like a very clean job. If so, where can you see... what could you find hidden?

Aligning the headers and the Y piece can be a tricky job and often involves ratchet straps to tighten them together especially if they've had any welding which isn't uncommon on the 4 into 1 part where they often leak. Having worked with my old mechanic for hours trying to get them right it may not be a bodge more of necessity. See post from Phazed in this thread So I wouldn't take this alone as a sign that jobs have been botched or on the cheap.

[Belle427]

I would guess a lot of these cars get a bit unloved due to the costs involved in using specialists if you dont do the work yourself.
long term storage with lack of use isnt always a good thing.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Sardonicus said:

and the fan/serp belt is routed incorrectly too

I wondered about that.