Cerbera With Reliable Engine - Worth More or Less ?
Discussion
Basil Brush said:
redgriff500 said:
We are using different maths...
I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
If you did that for £10k, I reckon it would be worth about £5k tops when you'd finished.I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
redgriff500 said:
BlueEyedBoy said:
Replacing a screaming motorsport derived engine with the down on power rover lump is just wrong. Just buy one of the other TVR's already having it.
Which others are 2+2 ?
And what are you expecting from the 2+2, adults cannot fit in the back.
BlueEyedBoy said:
redgriff500 said:
BlueEyedBoy said:
Replacing a screaming motorsport derived engine with the down on power rover lump is just wrong. Just buy one of the other TVR's already having it.
Which others are 2+2 ?And what are you expecting from the 2+2, adults cannot fit in the back.
As much as I love the RV8 and the LS series 'vette engine, they have a completely different nature to the AJP8 with its flat-plane crank. It's an angry screamer, not a woofly torque monster.
They are the wrong engines for the car IMO. Stick with the AJP8 and keep the change for any 'possible' mishaps. (and have better resale at the end).
You can do what you like with an SP6 version (i'm not a fan) but keep the AJP8's where they belong.
They are the wrong engines for the car IMO. Stick with the AJP8 and keep the change for any 'possible' mishaps. (and have better resale at the end).
You can do what you like with an SP6 version (i'm not a fan) but keep the AJP8's where they belong.
I cannot understand why TVR engines require rebuilds so frequently. Every time I've scoured the classifieds with money in my pocket thinking of a TVR I've been put off by most cars having had a rebuild or two, many having been overhauled twice before 50,000 miles!
It seems to particularly affect the Speed Six engines. How is it that they just do not last, even when rebuilt? When you consider that crappy old Skodas, manufactured in the dying days of the Soviet Union, are still going on original engines even as the frame of the car rots away some two decades later?
I believe it is this embarrassing inability of TVR to put together a decent engine that saw TVR remain as a peculiarly British obsession.
It seems to particularly affect the Speed Six engines. How is it that they just do not last, even when rebuilt? When you consider that crappy old Skodas, manufactured in the dying days of the Soviet Union, are still going on original engines even as the frame of the car rots away some two decades later?
I believe it is this embarrassing inability of TVR to put together a decent engine that saw TVR remain as a peculiarly British obsession.
Baryonyx said:
I cannot understand why TVR engines require rebuilds so frequently. Every time I've scoured the classifieds with money in my pocket thinking of a TVR I've been put off by most cars having had a rebuild or two, many having been overhauled twice before 50,000 miles!
It seems to particularly affect the Speed Six engines. How is it that they just do not last, even when rebuilt? When you consider that crappy old Skodas, manufactured in the dying days of the Soviet Union, are still going on original engines even as the frame of the car rots away some two decades later?
I believe it is this embarrassing inability of TVR to put together a decent engine that saw TVR remain as a peculiarly British obsession.
In the speed six, it was two main issues: It seems to particularly affect the Speed Six engines. How is it that they just do not last, even when rebuilt? When you consider that crappy old Skodas, manufactured in the dying days of the Soviet Union, are still going on original engines even as the frame of the car rots away some two decades later?
I believe it is this embarrassing inability of TVR to put together a decent engine that saw TVR remain as a peculiarly British obsession.
1. the finger followers were made of an inferior quality metal from india that simply wasn't hard enough, and the way it was designed to work, there was a lot of stress placed on the part. they kept breaking.
2. the oil passageways were inadequate (i forget the details on this one).
al melling (i think it was him, this is all from a few years ago) has more details on what the known issues were and how he addressed them in his updated motor.
griffs and chims had other problems, but i believe they were all sorted. cerbie v8s also had oil pressure relief valve failures (easily fixed, kit available) and were generally down on horsepower from the quoted 420bhp claims, but could come close with the red rose package and some blueprinting. alarm, lights, door and window electronics were a bit iffy, but generally did not leave you stranded. the starter motor was off a nissan something. it was ok, but could break.
i would buy the v8. enjoy the snap crackle and pop and be careful in the wet and at high speeds (cerbie steering likes to wander).
if it breaks, throw in a corvette motor. who gives a toss what others think? you will need ONE buyer when you go to sell. if you can't find that one buyer, lower the price and take a loss. otherwise, enjoy your car.
if it breaks, throw in a corvette motor. who gives a toss what others think? you will need ONE buyer when you go to sell. if you can't find that one buyer, lower the price and take a loss. otherwise, enjoy your car.
The Speed6 engine had a number of problems which if / when it failed in the pre 2003 days would simply be repaired with the same crap.
Post 2004 factory cars had improved materials and so proved to be much stronger.
At the same time the rebuild specialists also introduced not only the basic improvements but a number of others. That's why you can get a 100,000 mile 5 year warrantee with a rebuild now.
I had a few minor problems with my old Wedge and first Chimaera and I used them as dailys all over Europe.
My first early Tuscan needed a rebuild but was then fantastic until I broke it.
My second Tuscan is a 2006 model with about 55k on the clock and running great.
I just got another Chimaera to keep some miles of the Tuscan but if and when the Tuscan needs a rebuild, I will do exactly that and keep the Speed6. It's a brilliant engine.
I have contemplated the LS conversion but decided it isn't for me because a well sorted S6 engine is fine.
I went to a TVR Car Club North America meeting a couple of years ago.
They had a special catagory for modified TVS's with Cobra engines and all sorts.
Many of the members I spoke to said they had come to TVR ownership because there wasn't the snobbyness attitude of modifying that existed in the Ferarri etc clubs they had left.
I can't comment on the reliability of the AJP Cerbera engine as I have never owned one unlike some of the 'my mate told me' comments on here.
I can say that the Cerbera owners I have spoken to love that engine.
I drive both my TVR's around Europe regularly with few issues but hey carry on believing how crapy unreliable they are because that simply means there is less competition for the few TVR's available to those of us that know better.
Oh and it's not do simple dropping a different engine as many of the conversions require chassis mods.
I think the point being made by one or two is that if you reduce the Cerbera performance then you will probably lose money. Surely part of the Cerbera magic.
Post 2004 factory cars had improved materials and so proved to be much stronger.
At the same time the rebuild specialists also introduced not only the basic improvements but a number of others. That's why you can get a 100,000 mile 5 year warrantee with a rebuild now.
I had a few minor problems with my old Wedge and first Chimaera and I used them as dailys all over Europe.
My first early Tuscan needed a rebuild but was then fantastic until I broke it.
My second Tuscan is a 2006 model with about 55k on the clock and running great.
I just got another Chimaera to keep some miles of the Tuscan but if and when the Tuscan needs a rebuild, I will do exactly that and keep the Speed6. It's a brilliant engine.
I have contemplated the LS conversion but decided it isn't for me because a well sorted S6 engine is fine.
I went to a TVR Car Club North America meeting a couple of years ago.
They had a special catagory for modified TVS's with Cobra engines and all sorts.
Many of the members I spoke to said they had come to TVR ownership because there wasn't the snobbyness attitude of modifying that existed in the Ferarri etc clubs they had left.
I can't comment on the reliability of the AJP Cerbera engine as I have never owned one unlike some of the 'my mate told me' comments on here.
I can say that the Cerbera owners I have spoken to love that engine.
I drive both my TVR's around Europe regularly with few issues but hey carry on believing how crapy unreliable they are because that simply means there is less competition for the few TVR's available to those of us that know better.
Oh and it's not do simple dropping a different engine as many of the conversions require chassis mods.
I think the point being made by one or two is that if you reduce the Cerbera performance then you will probably lose money. Surely part of the Cerbera magic.
Good post, so called.
I have had two AJP V8s. Rock solid, but significantly down on claimed power output. It takes time to get them set up right. Time is money. Emerald ECU also helps greatly but is also an expensive add-on.
If you were to put a different motor in it, the chassis mods required are trivial. Any competent person should be able to do it without compromising the chassis backbone, which is where the strength and rigidity come from.
I have had two AJP V8s. Rock solid, but significantly down on claimed power output. It takes time to get them set up right. Time is money. Emerald ECU also helps greatly but is also an expensive add-on.
If you were to put a different motor in it, the chassis mods required are trivial. Any competent person should be able to do it without compromising the chassis backbone, which is where the strength and rigidity come from.
Tremendous amount of pub bore nonsense being spouted here. The cars with multiple rebuilds are all cars that were rebuilt by the factory using the same crap components so just broke again. This doesn't happen anymore and hasn't been the case for over half a decade.
Putting the Rover lump in a Cerbera though is a terrible idea as it will detract from the car in every way possible. An LS transplant works well, and if you want "originality" TVR themselves (under licence by TVR Power) will now drop an LS3 into your TVR for 12k++++. An engine rebuild from one of the reputable specialists is less than 5k with a full warranty and is 100k 5 years for the Speed 6's!. You can probably even find one now for sale with a proper rebuild already done and still in warranty. Happy days.
The days of TVR engines blowing are long gone I'm glad to say, so doing an engine swap for the perceived reliability benefits is in short a waste of effort. TVR's are by their very nature fragile, high maintenance vehicles and you'd be foolish to expect anything else. The secret to happy TVR ownership is regular fettling, maintenance, and keeping on top of the little things. Treat it well and it'll return the favor 10 fold, and originality always wins.
Putting the Rover lump in a Cerbera though is a terrible idea as it will detract from the car in every way possible. An LS transplant works well, and if you want "originality" TVR themselves (under licence by TVR Power) will now drop an LS3 into your TVR for 12k++++. An engine rebuild from one of the reputable specialists is less than 5k with a full warranty and is 100k 5 years for the Speed 6's!. You can probably even find one now for sale with a proper rebuild already done and still in warranty. Happy days.
The days of TVR engines blowing are long gone I'm glad to say, so doing an engine swap for the perceived reliability benefits is in short a waste of effort. TVR's are by their very nature fragile, high maintenance vehicles and you'd be foolish to expect anything else. The secret to happy TVR ownership is regular fettling, maintenance, and keeping on top of the little things. Treat it well and it'll return the favor 10 fold, and originality always wins.
Dave and SoCalled - you clearly haven't read this thread very well.
On the 3rd post I put up a link to an AJP that was rebuilt by TVR Power at 35k and it then needed ANOTHER rebuild at 49k - how do you explain that ?
Look down the classifieds how many have had a rebuild ?
A rare few haven't had one but is that a good engine or just lucky so far ?
I'm not saying anyone's opinion is wrong regarding price / desirability of alternative engines but saying the TVR engines are reliable is ridiculous even rotaries last longer.
On the 3rd post I put up a link to an AJP that was rebuilt by TVR Power at 35k and it then needed ANOTHER rebuild at 49k - how do you explain that ?
Look down the classifieds how many have had a rebuild ?
A rare few haven't had one but is that a good engine or just lucky so far ?
I'm not saying anyone's opinion is wrong regarding price / desirability of alternative engines but saying the TVR engines are reliable is ridiculous even rotaries last longer.
Dave 500 said:
I would never buy a Cerbera without a TVR engine just think, would you buy a Porsche with an American V8 or an Aston with a Honda power plant.
Is a peterbuilt still a peterbuilt since it offers a choice of Cummins or Detroit Diesel engines?Is a mack truck a mack since it offers a choice of different engines.
When volvo went to the USA and started selling trucks nobody bought them because they didn't offer a choice, only their own in house engines and transmissions.
Now they offer a choice they are one of the best sellers.
What about the elise? Rover, honda and toyota engines
Why would you not want an LS1 in your cerbera other than something you "perceive" which may not be true.
Edited by jbi on Wednesday 25th April 08:13
jbi said:
Is a peterbuilt still a peterbuilt since it offers a choice of Cummins or Detroit Diesel engines?
Is a mack truck a mack since it offers a choice of different engines.
When volvo went to the USA and started selling trucks nobody bought them because they didn't offer a choice, only their own in house engines and transmissions.
Now they offer a choice they are one of the best sellers.
What about the elise? Rover, honda and toyota engines
Why would you not want an LS1 in your cerbera other than something you "perceive" which may not be true.
I'm sure that if a Cerbera was in fact a truck and was being sold in the USA this would be extremely relevant. Is a mack truck a mack since it offers a choice of different engines.
When volvo went to the USA and started selling trucks nobody bought them because they didn't offer a choice, only their own in house engines and transmissions.
Now they offer a choice they are one of the best sellers.
What about the elise? Rover, honda and toyota engines
Why would you not want an LS1 in your cerbera other than something you "perceive" which may not be true.
Edited by jbi on Wednesday 25th April 08:13
DonkeyApple said:
I'm sure that if a Cerbera was in fact a truck and was being sold in the USA this would be extremely relevant.
No he has a valid point.When an LS engine was first put in a Cerbera quite a few said it spoiled it.
Now it has "official backing" it's accepted by most.
I'd far rather have a Honda engined Elise - as would most judging from the prices but that is a considerable performance upgrade rather than comparable or even downgrade.
One of the reasons for this post was because I saw a Rover V8 engined Cerb for sale and it appeals to me but I guessed less so to others and it looks like I was right.
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