TVRCC chimaera pages
  • Home
  • About the Chimaera
  • Buyers Guide
  • Articles
  • Technical Info
  • Parts List
  • FAQs
  • Upgrades
    • Lights on buzzer
    • Audible turn signal
    • Manual fan override
    • Lagging heater pipes
    • Two speed fan controller
    • Upgrade ignition system components
    • Install hot start kit
    • Combining Ignition Key and Fob
    • Push button start
  • Photo Galleries
    • Gallery - Exteriors
    • Gallery - Interiors
    • Gallery - Engine Bays
  • Insurance
  • Touring in a TVR
  • Links
  • Forum
  • TVRCC website
  • Contact

Upgrades and 'improvements'

Upgrade ignition system components

Disclaimer The TVR Car Club will not accept responsibility for any damage caused to any vehicle as a result of using this information.
I'm planning a couple of trips to Europe this year and so in the interests of avoiding possible problems I decided to upgrade the ignition system components. I think the ones on the car were original and so could do with an upgrade. Also, as everything was working the old parts would make ideal spares.

The New Parts

I decided to replace (ACT Part Number):
  • HT Leads, Magnecor Reds (ACTIG004)
  • Coil, Bosch (ACTIGA04)
  • Distributor Cap (ACTIGA01)
  • Rotor Arm (ACTIGA02)
  • Plug Extenders (ACTIG005)
I got all of these from ACT.

Replacement Process

I started with the rotor arm, it's just a matter of removing the distributor cap and then it's a pull-push replacement.

Next I replaced the distributor cap, I marked the location of the number 1 feed and then switched them over. Then using the diagrams in the bible I worked through each cylinder as follows:
  • Removed the old lead and plug extenders
  • Connected the new plug extenders to the leads
  • Attached the extenders to the plugs
  • Routed the leads to the distributor
The new coil:
Replacing the coil was fairly straight forward but quite fiddly. Just undo the two securing bolts taking care not to drop the nuts / washers (which I managed to do several times). The connecting wires only go one way, there are two male and two female spade connectors.

After all that I was sure that I'd have missed something or not connected something. However a quick test-drive revealed that all was well. I think that the engine felt slightly smoother but that's probably just the "I spent money on it so it must be better" effect!
I got all of these from ACT
The new and old rotor arms
New vs. old plug extenders
New Leads in place
New Leads in place
The old coil
The new coil
Home
About the Chimaera
Buyers Guide
Articles
Links
Contact
Technical Info
Parts List
FAQ's
Upgrades
Insurance
Touring in a TVR

Gallery - exteriors
Gallery - interiors
Gallery - engine bays
Discussion Forum
TVRCC Website
TVRs For Sale
This is a TVRCC website. Copyright TVR Car Club unless otherwise stated
Website by treble3 design