front grill ideas.

[a1rak]

Has anyone ever made a good quality front grill up that fits on the Cerbera. I'm thinking along the lines of a XK8 grill properly shaped and finished not a piece of mesh from Halfords.

[TheRainMaker]

Think it might look a bit poo, however the MK 1 Chimaera has a black grill and thats ok.

[jackwibble]

Originality Police fast action response team.......... Leave it alone!

[Boatbuoy]

I agree, with the others, just leave it.

I saw a raspberry Cerb at Le Mans a few years ago with a mesh grille. I think it caught my eye more because it was different rather than better.

Anyway, if you insist on it, I'd highly recommend a company called Zunsport. They are an OEM supplier to the likes of Jaguar and Bentley but will template up any car. I used them for a air intake on a production motor yacht I was designing and was very happy with their product.

Regards,
Olly

[Mr Cerbera]

Gooo on, 'ave a go

Saw that site and it all looked to be based around a chicken fence-type mesh. No insult intended.
It's just that I had summat different in mind but the closest thing that I can compare it to is Venetian Blinds. Know what I mean ??

[Boatbuoy]

The Zunsport mesh is exactly what is used on performance marques (believe it or not), trust me it's not chicken wire! if you had it 'formed' to give it some 3 dimensional shape it would look better, but obviously the cost will then rise. It's quality stainless wire and the finished assemblies are covered by a 1000hr salt spray approved process - this was essential for my marine project, other suppliers I'd used, or seen used in the past couldn't prevent their products from corroding (yes, stainless does rust).

Paul, I think what you are describing is something more akin to an Aston grille, I don't know of anyone who can supply this as an off the shelf item. It'd have to be fabricated from many small parts - I shudder to think of the cost. I recently had the privilege of viewing up close a Ferrari 250 GTZ (those in the know will be aware that that is something quite special) and being one of only 4 (all were slightly different) it had a fabricated slat grille. This was basically strips of notched flat aluminium with some 'L' shaped brackets pop riveted to the underside and inboard corners of each intersection. Although I understand why it is how it is (low volume 1950's thinking) frankly I felt it looked cheap, especially on a £7M+ car!

[Simonmiddleton]

Hi all,

My cerb has an unusual front grill, i bought the car just over a year ago, the previous owner used to take it to the le mans classic, i wonder if this is the one you saw boatboy?

I believe that it was changed from the original grill when the front headlight upgrade was carried out, ive only ever seen a chimeara with a similar grill, but that one was flat whereas mine is curved.





Ive read somewhere that removing the splitter can effect the stability of the vehicle at high speeds but i THINK all four wheels stay on the road when i drive it ( not that i ever go faster than 70 of course).

Does anyone on here recognise my cerb, always good to top up the history files!

Hope this helps a1rak.

[jackwibble]

Looks like a talking cartoon car with that massive mouth.

[Boatbuoy]

Simonmiddleton said:

I wonder if this is the one you saw boatboy?

Yep, that's the one. I saw it on Haux Annexe campsite at Le Mans in June 2011. The driver was quite a big chap with very short hair and glasses if I remember.

I have seen a Chimera with a 3D formed grille aswell, they look a million times better than just the flat versions. I wouldn't do it to mine though.

Regards,
Olly

[pmessling]

What about one inside the nose in front of the rad give a small amount of protection and wouldn't really notice it.

[Jhonno]

I'm thinking it needs leaving well alone..

[fr0zent0ast]

Jhonno said:

I'm thinking it needs leaving well alone..

I think what Johnno thinks.....

[TvrJohn]

Demon Tweaks the rally supplies place have a variety of suitable mesh, that's where I got mine, and use stick on black letters on the silver bonnet which makes the perfect background. E type style

Then when its MOT time I tape over the bonnet letters and tie wrap a proper number plate to the grille

Air flow to the rad greatly improved, also as looks

[Simonmiddleton]

Ha ha, Jackwibble your so right, i never really saw the similarity until you put that picture next to it.
I'd better not let the kids see that otherwise i may well be having to peel a load of stickers off it next time i go in the garage.
I was wondering why that porche kept following me the other day!,

Hi olly, yes sounds like him, from Eastbourne, nice geniune fella, i have the car in Plymouth now, and loving it.

[Tirus]

A1rak/Paul wouldn't that grille front slightly impair the airflow & lets be fair with the setup(Brilliant) you have on your engine surely it needs all the airflow under bonnet it can get ?

[fr0zent0ast]

TvrJohn said:

Demon Tweaks the rally supplies place have a variety of suitable mesh, that's where I got mine, and use stick on black letters on the silver bonnet which makes the perfect background. E type style

Then when its MOT time I tape over the bonnet letters and tie wrap a proper number plate to the grille

Air flow to the rad greatly improved, also as looks

Pics please. I was thinking of removing/moving the front plate...

Does it really improve airflow that much?

[a1rak]

Tirus said:

A1rak/Paul wouldn't that grille front slightly impair the airflow & lets be fair with the setup(Brilliant) you have on your engine surely it needs all the airflow under bonnet it can get ?

I thought about a very open style of grill like the ones on the Zunsport website. would have to be 2 separate grills upper and lower mounted well in from the front of the bodywork. I stood at the front of the car a few times and wonder if would look good. Would have to be removable and I would not want to mod the bodywork.

[jackwibble]

It does make me wonder if people who are having cooling issues have another underlying problem and rather than trying to improve airflow by removing number plates and cutting holes in the bonnet and front splitter they should look elsewhere in the cooling system?

I have a 4.7 was a 4.5 it has standard rad and front end and number plate and the only mod is the Jools cooling chip, the car performs faultlessly around town in traffic and motorway queues when I have the misfortune to be stuck in them yes the temp gauge is erratic but the fans cut in as they should and the temp drops back to normal and it's never overheated.....yet.

I appreciate that TVR factory testing was should I say erattic but they must have managed to achieve reasonably efficient cooling with the chosen design or it would have been altered back in the day?

Just my ramblings oh and I'm sure the dibble wouldn't be impressed with a number plate stuck on the bonnet as nice as it may look but you pays your money and takes your chance.

[Tirus]

Yes Jack but A1rak has a Supercharger fitted to his so it will get a bit hotter than standard cars.