PH Carpool: LS3-powered TVR Cerbera
PHer Paul Chance talks us through his 200mph Cerbera
Car: LS3-engined TVR Cerbera (was 4.2 AJP)
Owned since: Well, it's been on the road for five years, plus six months to do a complete restoration
Previously owned: TVR 400SE, Chimaera 4.0
It was Craig at Dyno Torque's fault really, I had originally had the 400SE and I converted that to a big-valve 4.6. I then bought the TVR Chimaera and swapped the big engine from the 400 into the Chim.
Craig had upgraded from an LS1 stroker, which was a 6.3, and it was sat in the corner and he made me buy it! (I have since upgraded to a 6.9-litre motor). The Chim was death defying at high speed even with my big Rover lump in it, so I decided to go for a more modern TVR variant. At this point, then, I had an engine but nowhere to put it!
I decided it had to be a TVR donor car and - eventually - this Cerbera came up with a snapped crank. So I went to Cheshire to see it and had to have it - the interior blew me away, while its aggressive looks made me think it was a perfect place to plonk the LS3 motor.
What I wish I'd known:
I got the car back to the workshops and pulled the engine. I then steamed the chassis down and inspected the car. It had been covered in black goo underneath and, after I had steamed this horrible stuff off, the grim reality struck...the outriggers where well past their sell-by date and holes in the chassis rails by where the exhaust routed were plain to see.
Not every track day ends well...
Things I love:
It's still a bit of a Q-car, people expect it to be quick, but this thing quarters in 10 seconds, so going to a 'run what you brung' and seeing off 'proper' dragsters is funny. As are track days, where 'supercars' get a serious fright.
The torque is immense. If you squeeze the throttle at any revs and in any gear the acceleration is crushing, but it still revs to 7,000rpm plus. At these revs it sounds fantastic, breathing through eight Kinsler throttle bodies sourced off a Mosler.
It has been a battle to stop things breaking; drive shafts/diff mounts/diff and even the TKO 600 gearbox had to be uprated after 12 months or so. But (fingers crossed) now it is staying together after numerous upgrades.
Costs:
Fuel bills when being used in anger are pretty steep, when I went to Bruntingthorpe to crack 200mph it was down to three or four mpg, but if you cruise on the motorway it can nudge 20mpg. I do all maintenance myself and if I need to borrow a ramp or get something welded I pop down to Dyno Torque and sort it out.
Where I've been:
Numerous Trackdays, Run What You Brung at Santa Pod and Shakepeare's Raceway, also Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground last March, where I achieved 202mph.
I would like to (tastfully) flare-arch the car, as getting the power down is proving a challenge! Other than that, it's not going anywhere for the foreseeable future!
Full car spec:
98 4.2 Cerbera
Chassis rebuild including beefed up anti-roll bar and diff mounts
TKO600 gearbox with uprated shifter fork pads
LS3 block bored and stroked, forged pistons and crank (6.9-litre)
Dart aftermarket heads, self ported
Comp dual valve springs, shimmed to suit cam
Custom camshaft
Kinsler independent throttle bodies (sourced from a Mosler GT car)
LS7 clutch
Emerald 3D engine management
343mm AP Racing brakes
Race seats and harnesses
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!
And don't give me no grief about moaning and groaning, i paid my money to go on track at mallory on saturday, i went into the briefing and i agreed to abide by the rules set up by the guys in charge.
Then when your out on track the last thing you expect is some prick diving up the inside of you as your braking and about to turn into the hairpin.
If you want to go racing, get a licence and go racing, this was a track day for people of all abilities to try and enjoy a great day out.
If i'd have found you in the paddock after that second session you'd have got my mouthfull face to face. luckily when i found out you were in one of the pit garages later in the day i'd calmed down by then but i did notice you out on the track doing the same stuff.
Rant over.
And don't give me no grief about moaning and groaning, i paid my money to go on track at mallory on saturday, i went into the briefing and i agreed to abide by the rules set up by the guys in charge.
Then when your out on track the last thing you expect is some prick diving up the inside of you as your braking and about to turn into the hairpin.
If you want to go racing, get a licence and go racing, this was a track day for people of all abilities to try and enjoy a great day out.
If i'd have found you in the paddock after that second session you'd have got my mouthfull face to face. luckily when i found out you were in one of the pit garages later in the day i'd calmed down by then but i did notice you out on the track doing the same stuff.
Rant over.
from me. oh and I am not sure if many people realise what an incredible acheivement 202mph at Brunters is. You need a VERY fast car.
d! 
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