Engine problems

Engine problems

Author
Discussion

steve320ise

Original Poster:

159 posts

142 months

Thursday 26th June 2014
quotequote all
Iv bought a 4.5 with a overheating issue, when Ive got it home symptoms are water in oil strong smell of petrol in water and pumping water out of 1&3 cylinders, very poor leak down on these with air entering cooling system compression test not great on rest but all almost identical, Fluids of all types all over garage floor, water, oil, power steering fluid emulsified oil, gearbox oil, diff oil, milage is 35k, and recent history in a nut shell is two sets of head gaskets fitted in last couple of months and evidence of KSeal in expansion tank, so fingers crossed engine out in the morning and heads off sat morning, I have spoke to 3 dealers , and due to not knowing what is the problem is prices start at the head gaskets but could spiral if other nasties are found I have decided to investigate this myself as money is an issue and dont want a car and engine in bits stuck behind the eight ball, so here starts a post I will put some photos on when I work out how to do it, Many thanks to all PHs who have given me advice and info on the car and to APM , Track v Road , RND Engineering, Who have been fantastic

Supateg

724 posts

141 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Welcome

This sounds like an interesting project! Lots of pictures will be required and keep us updated.

Most forum members will be drawing in sharp breaths as the issues affecting this poor little cerb have been posted by the previous owner. This and the costs of a what if engine build could run to.

If your a true pistonheads cerbera enthusiast then you will just shrug the niggles off and hopefully receive lots of help from knowledgeable members on here.

What's the plan?
Strip and inspect then ship it off for rebuild or diy?
What advise were you given by the specialists ?

I see your not far away from me, I'm in Doncaster.

Any welcome to the madhouse!

steve320ise

Original Poster:

159 posts

142 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Thanks , Im in Doncaster too, the advice has been about what issues could be in there what to look for in the way of these engines, at this stage the car looks quite nice with only the pas door and rear wing where the paint looks a little thin, chassis is very good , I dont want to go overboard on this at the moment, and lets see how we get on as to where the engine will be put back together, Its always nice to get some documentation on engine work as it add to the car but I do plan to keep it so not sure, cheers

Supateg

724 posts

141 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Do you plan on doing some or all the work yourself?

Car certainly looks lovely,

Blue is the best colour ahem!
(Lights the taper and stands back)

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Hello and welcome.

I appreciate that money is an issue and it's always easy to spend other peoples' money on forums. Should you need help though, you really can't go wrong with APM and even if you do keep the car and never realise any extra resale value, you will have no worries from that engine again.

Keep posting, and I look forward to reading your updates tonight and tomorrow to see what you find when the heads come off.

waveydavey1000

148 posts

117 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
I was in the car when the head gasket blew but prior to that it pulled like a train! I travelled 200 miles to see it and its a nice car and as Steve320i says the chassis is in very good order. If I remember correctly TVRGlen had a 4.5 engine for sale...maybe do a deal?

Pursyluv

1,927 posts

173 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Jackwibble is in Donny and has an APM 4.7 in my his Cerb..........a chat with him might influence how much time and effort you put into the car.

jackwibble

664 posts

158 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Pursyluv said:
Jackwibble is in Donny and has an APM 4.7 in my his Cerb..........a chat with him might influence how much time and effort you put into the car.
Always happy to offer sage advice about our er my car and experiences drop me a PM

Cheers

phone

v8chimmy

189 posts

162 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
steve320ise said:
Iv bought a 4.5 with a overheating issue, when Ive got it home symptoms are water in oil strong smell of petrol in water and pumping water out of 1&3 cylinders, very poor leak down on these with air entering cooling system compression test not great on rest but all almost identical, Fluids of all types all over garage floor, water, oil, power steering fluid emulsified oil, gearbox oil, diff oil, milage is 35k, and recent history in a nut shell is two sets of head gaskets fitted in last couple of months and evidence of KSeal in expansion tank, so fingers crossed engine out in the morning and heads off sat morning, I have spoke to 3 dealers , and due to not knowing what is the problem is prices start at the head gaskets but could spiral if other nasties are found I have decided to investigate this myself as money is an issue and dont want a car and engine in bits stuck behind the eight ball, so here starts a post I will put some photos on when I work out how to do it, Many thanks to all PHs who have given me advice and info on the car and to APM , Track v Road , RND Engineering, Who have been fantastic
Another 4.5 owner from Doncaster here, Donny must be turning into cerb central. I'm still running in a rebuilt engine from last year. Mine suffered the same issues as your's and I was hoping it was the head gasket, unfortunately not! a garage would charge about £1.5-£2k for a gasket change and rebuild heading to £8k. It's the bits you also change whilst doing the rebuild like fuel hoses and silicon hoses etc that pushes it over £10k. I don't think in your case that it will be the head gasket due to the overheating issue. At least you've got the offer of three cerb owners willing to offer advise if needed.

jackwibble

664 posts

158 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
We need to organise a Donny Cerb meet!
beer

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
There was a similar case to this about 5 years ago. The engine had been to multiple different engine builders and every time it failed with head gasket issues soon after.

In the end the engine was shipped to STR8SIX, Jason stripped it and found the fault to be that one liner was sat .004 of an inch too low in the block, multiple other specialists had missed this.

It is because of this sort of attention to detail that I always take my car there for all work and in 5 years I have never found them wanting.

waveydavey1000

148 posts

117 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Definitely need a Cerb meet in Donny as I'm only in Pontefract. Maybe we could get together and give Steve320i a hand?

steve320ise

Original Poster:

159 posts

142 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Friday wash out had to runabout sorting the prom night out so its a few beers later, help is always taken on but often leads to beer

Supateg

724 posts

141 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
jackwibble said:
We need to organise a Donny Cerb meet!
beer
Great idea,
However I need to get motivated to pop the gearbox etc back on after a crank oil leak. (New business venture delayed spare time)

A meet would give me a nice deadline.

jackwibble

664 posts

158 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
waveydavey1000 said:
Definitely need a Cerb meet in Donny as I'm only in Pontefract. Maybe we could get together and give Steve320i a hand?
That's close enough I'm quite happy to organise if people want to PM me with dates to avoid/ contact e mail details happy to assist Steve320i his garage could be the first meeting spot.
thumbup

v8chimmy

189 posts

162 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
jackwibble said:
waveydavey1000 said:
Definitely need a Cerb meet in Donny as I'm only in Pontefract. Maybe we could get together and give Steve320i a hand?
That's close enough I'm quite happy to organise if people want to PM me with dates to avoid/ contact e mail details happy to assist Steve320i his garage could be the first meeting spot.
thumbup
Up for this, you can't say we're not a helpful bunch.

Stuntboy51

10 posts

125 months

Friday 27th June 2014
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Bloody wish I lived in Donnington now...

waveydavey1000

148 posts

117 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Have PM.d Jackwibble with details of times available etc...I'm a Cerb newbie but willing to lend a hand and learn at the same time!

Donny is Doncaster not Donnington!

Vee8ight

734 posts

138 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
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Jackwibble advised me, when I was Cerb hunting, I'm in Lincoln, I'll be up for a meet up north wink

Darren

v8chimmy

189 posts

162 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
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So that's six of us, is that enough to be classifed as a 'pack' of cerbs?