Heat Mats for Cerbera 4.2

[AWebber]

Has anyone had to replace their heat mats on a Cerbera ? I have been told that mine are perishing and that if I don't get them replaced that the engine heat will eventually crack the fibreglass wings/bonnet and could, in worse cases, burn through the fibreglass. No problem with that, but an engine out quote of nearly £1,000 is a bit more frightening (the claim you cannot rivet them properly with the engine in place). Is this a load of flannel or is it an accurate estimation of what is required ?

[gazzab]

Have you tried an indie? That engine out quote looks like a highish hrly rate. I would have thought £500 should be the target price?! No idea if you have to take engine out. Wouldnt suprise me though.

[davetherave1970]

No harm in getting a 2nd opinion! I would.

[Awebber]

Seems like a good idea to get a second opinion on the price but what about the actual problem ? Do heat mats that are perishing really cause this much problems with the bodywork as I want to be sure that I am not throwing good money after bad ?

[shpub]

If you want the job done correctly, it is an engine out job. You need the access around the bay. Without the matting, the body will cook and start to delaminate and possibly even melt.

I'm going to replace the lot on the Cerbie before replacing the body.

[trackcar]

1k gbp is fair if they're taking the engine out .. avoid that at all costs though as you'll be chasing oil and water leaks for the next month until it's back how it was pre-removal

All the important areas can be done with the engine in place, but it'll still be fairly labour intensive. Rather than using heat mat (which will do the same again) i'd recommend using polished stainless steel which is easy to *feed* down behind chassis tubes and requires minimal dismantling of the car to fit.

Remember you're only inetrested in protecting the areas that get a *lot* of radiated heat from the exhausts,nothing else needs doing ...

[simonsparrow]

Some people have ceramic coated their exhaust manifolds and reported quite a reduction in heat output.

Not a direct solution I know, but might attack the problem from another angle.....

[gazzab]

Why is 1K fair to take engine out?
I thought it was about 15 hrs labour max?
Are you calculating that at £70 ph it is fair?

[trackcar]

gazzab said:

Why is 1K fair to take engine out? I thought it was about 15 hrs labour max? Are you calculating that at £70 ph it is fair?

I reckon on 22 hours minimum to get it out and back in again, then you have all the faffing about correcting oil and water leaks from disturbed pipes .. it can take an hour to get the airlocks out of the coolant alone .. I wouldn't even think about doing it for less than 1k gbp ...

[gazzab]

Furry muff.