LS1 Cerbera - finished at last
Discussion
My little project has at long last been completed and I have an LS1 powered Cerb complete with MOT, TAX and Insurance. Really pleased with it - plenty of grunt and really spins up well. It poodles along at 25 mph in fifth and then just pulls away. All this with a basic get you going map as well.
Just sorting out odds and ends at the moment but it is so good to be back behind the wheel of a Cerbera!
Just sorting out odds and ends at the moment but it is so good to be back behind the wheel of a Cerbera!
shpub said:
My little project has at long last been completed and I have an LS1 powered Cerb complete with MOT, TAX and Insurance. Really pleased with it - plenty of grunt and really spins up well. It poodles along at 25 mph in fifth and then just pulls away. All this with a basic get you going map as well.
Just sorting out odds and ends at the moment but it is so good to be back behind the wheel of a Cerbera!
Pictures?Just sorting out odds and ends at the moment but it is so good to be back behind the wheel of a Cerbera!
It needs that as partial throttle is not right but it will pull away cleanly from 25 in top and revs like a motor bike engine. The Cerbera flywheel I used is a lot lighter than the heavy Chevy one so I think that has been a big help in the response.
I've done about 250miles in it so far and it is an absolute joy to drive. A lot more relaxed than the AJP but appears to be just as quick if not quicker. Certainly the shift light/rev limit comes up very quickly indeed.
Plan is to get some miles on the car and do some final tidying up and checking - this little project has ended up being a total restoration.
I've done about 250miles in it so far and it is an absolute joy to drive. A lot more relaxed than the AJP but appears to be just as quick if not quicker. Certainly the shift light/rev limit comes up very quickly indeed.
Plan is to get some miles on the car and do some final tidying up and checking - this little project has ended up being a total restoration.
Looks great, I've followed all these re-engining projects with interest. Brummies looks amazing, but replaces the whole drivetrain to cope.
I recall you took a different approach Steve and tried to re-use what was possible (i.e. gearbox and bellhousing the same?).
Of course, the inevitable question is, will someone be offering this as a conversion, and would it be economic, given that an AJP can be rebuilt for £2-4k, depending on what needs doing and how far you take things.
Was insurance a problem?
I recall you took a different approach Steve and tried to re-use what was possible (i.e. gearbox and bellhousing the same?).
Of course, the inevitable question is, will someone be offering this as a conversion, and would it be economic, given that an AJP can be rebuilt for £2-4k, depending on what needs doing and how far you take things.
Was insurance a problem?
The brief I used was to keep the costs down and reuse as much as possible.
Transmission inc gearbox and clutch are the same. The exhaust is the same. The wiring loom and ECU are basically the same. Coils and ignition is the same. The instrumentation is the same. Two layers of Nimbus heat insulation - the silver stuff in the picture. Transmission tunnel stays very cool inside the car as a result.
PAS has been converted to electric with variable assist planned for it - working on the controller at the moment. The only external giveaway I have is a small badge on the back proclaiming "5.7 Corvette power".
This car has uprated brakes and suspension as well.
Dave Wallis from Tower View and I will be offering a conversion service - currently scoping out the actual work needed to do it and thus the costing. Target price is around the cost of a complete AJP rebuild and refit. Bearing in mind that a lot of money can be recovered by selling the AJP on and yes it is economic.
Access/maintainability have been improved. About 30 minutes to drop the gearbox for example.
Transmission inc gearbox and clutch are the same. The exhaust is the same. The wiring loom and ECU are basically the same. Coils and ignition is the same. The instrumentation is the same. Two layers of Nimbus heat insulation - the silver stuff in the picture. Transmission tunnel stays very cool inside the car as a result.
PAS has been converted to electric with variable assist planned for it - working on the controller at the moment. The only external giveaway I have is a small badge on the back proclaiming "5.7 Corvette power".
This car has uprated brakes and suspension as well.
Dave Wallis from Tower View and I will be offering a conversion service - currently scoping out the actual work needed to do it and thus the costing. Target price is around the cost of a complete AJP rebuild and refit. Bearing in mind that a lot of money can be recovered by selling the AJP on and yes it is economic.
Access/maintainability have been improved. About 30 minutes to drop the gearbox for example.
Edited by shpub on Thursday 22 November 08:25
shpub said:
The brief I used was to keep the costs down and reuse as much as possible.
Transmission inc gearbox and clutch are the same. The exhaust is the same. The wiring loom and ECU are basically the same. Coils and ignition is the same. The instrumentation is the same. Two layers of Nimbus heat insulation - the silver stuff in the picture. Transmission tunnel stays very cool inside the car as a result.
PAS has been converted to electric with variable assist planned for it - working on the controller at the moment. The only external giveaway I have is a small badge on the back proclaiming "5.7 Corvette power".
This car has uprated brakes and suspension as well.
Dave Wallis from Tower View and I will be offering a conversion service - currently scoping out the actual work needed to do it and thus the costing. Target price is around the cost of a complete AJP rebuild and refit. Bearing in mind that a lot of money can be recovered by selling the AJP on and yes it is economic.
Access/maintainability have been improved. About 30 minutes to drop the gearbox for example.
Sounds really promising. When the time comes I would be interested to know (although hopefully not for a while ;-))Transmission inc gearbox and clutch are the same. The exhaust is the same. The wiring loom and ECU are basically the same. Coils and ignition is the same. The instrumentation is the same. Two layers of Nimbus heat insulation - the silver stuff in the picture. Transmission tunnel stays very cool inside the car as a result.
PAS has been converted to electric with variable assist planned for it - working on the controller at the moment. The only external giveaway I have is a small badge on the back proclaiming "5.7 Corvette power".
This car has uprated brakes and suspension as well.
Dave Wallis from Tower View and I will be offering a conversion service - currently scoping out the actual work needed to do it and thus the costing. Target price is around the cost of a complete AJP rebuild and refit. Bearing in mind that a lot of money can be recovered by selling the AJP on and yes it is economic.
Access/maintainability have been improved. About 30 minutes to drop the gearbox for example.
Edited by shpub on Thursday 22 November 08:25
, looking forward to the final figures when it's run in, especially the torque. 
from me too shpub said:
The brief I used was to keep the costs down and reuse as much as possible.
Transmission inc gearbox and clutch are the same. The exhaust is the same. The wiring loom and ECU are basically the same. Coils and ignition is the same. The instrumentation is the same.
Am i imagining things, or are you saying you've managed to mate the cerbera exhaust ayatem (up to where, as far as the manifolds?), the mbe ecu, t5 gearbox and ap racing clutch to the ls1?!Transmission inc gearbox and clutch are the same. The exhaust is the same. The wiring loom and ECU are basically the same. Coils and ignition is the same. The instrumentation is the same.
Heres my engine bay, so you can see the differant ways of skinning the cat! I used standard LS Pas pump, And i used a Nissan Micra alternator so it could go down below, i could put the aircon pump where my belt tensioner is, or where steves alternator is, but the summer was'nt worth the extra hassle!
AlVal said:
Am i imagining things, or are you saying you've managed to mate the cerbera exhaust ayatem (up to where, as far as the manifolds?), the mbe ecu, t5 gearbox and ap racing clutch to the ls1?!
Err yes. And the flywheel, cats, lamda sensor, instrumentation, air box, and radiator. I wanted to develop a low cost economic alternative to replacing the AJP. The LS1 is around the same power as the Cerb AJP engines (possibly a little more) so why not use the existing bits that are there? It does make the conversion a lot easier once you know how. I also have the Quaife/CTS upgraded T5 in my supercharged 520SE which is around the 525 bhp mark and that box has been used on cars with over 700lb/ft torque so I have an upgrade path should I need it. Have to say it was one hell of a learning curve especially the ECU but I now have a system that I can customise to my hearts content and get the full diagnostics and so on.
I must tidy up the engine bay and apply a little polish though!
shpub said:
AlVal said:
Am i imagining things, or are you saying you've managed to mate the cerbera exhaust ayatem (up to where, as far as the manifolds?), the mbe ecu, t5 gearbox and ap racing clutch to the ls1?!
Err yes. And the flywheel, cats, lamda sensor, instrumentation, air box, and radiator. I wanted to develop a low cost economic alternative to replacing the AJP. The LS1 is around the same power as the Cerb AJP engines (possibly a little more) so why not use the existing bits that are there? It does make the conversion a lot easier once you know how. I also have the Quaife/CTS upgraded T5 in my supercharged 520SE which is around the 525 bhp mark and that box has been used on cars with over 700lb/ft torque so I have an upgrade path should I need it. Have to say it was one hell of a learning curve especially the ECU but I now have a system that I can customise to my hearts content and get the full diagnostics and so on.
I must tidy up the engine bay and apply a little polish though!
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