LS Conversion or AJP8 investment?
Discussion
Hi All,
Been a long time since I've posted busy with work and getting married etc.
Over the last few months I've been thinking more and more about the future of my cerbera 4.5 1999 (Bert), he's been treated to some serious upgrades in the past but apart from a new emerald ecu, induction kit and competition manifold I haven't touched the engine.
He's done 65k now and power is down to 375 BHP and 350 lbs, he's using a bit of oil, still goes like stink but it doesn't fill me with that rush of excitement when I press the loud pedal anymore.
He's a member of my family and I would never ever part with him, but I need to do something to freshen up our relationship and rekindle that spark that made me fall in love with Cerbera's in the past.
I'd like to keep him original but with so many new lovelly shiney things in the LS range, I'm tempted to the dark side.....
What do you guys think?
Thanks as always
Rich
Been a long time since I've posted busy with work and getting married etc.
Over the last few months I've been thinking more and more about the future of my cerbera 4.5 1999 (Bert), he's been treated to some serious upgrades in the past but apart from a new emerald ecu, induction kit and competition manifold I haven't touched the engine.
He's done 65k now and power is down to 375 BHP and 350 lbs, he's using a bit of oil, still goes like stink but it doesn't fill me with that rush of excitement when I press the loud pedal anymore.
He's a member of my family and I would never ever part with him, but I need to do something to freshen up our relationship and rekindle that spark that made me fall in love with Cerbera's in the past.
I'd like to keep him original but with so many new lovelly shiney things in the LS range, I'm tempted to the dark side.....
What do you guys think?
Thanks as always
Rich
Edited by gattor on Friday 3rd July 18:58
The usual suspects will be along to tell you to keep it original and dont spoil the soul an all that, there will be another bloke along with wooden shoes to tell you to swap it. But if you want to still be amazed at the way you drag small towns closer, even after 2 years. There is only one way to go if you want that OMG factor.
There's a lot to be said for keeping the AJP. I liked talking about the high specific output and the engineer in me felt that with a bit of a rebuild, it could be as reliably-consistent as any other engine. The flat-plane crank and the very distinct noise makes ot very special to me.
But the LS engine coupled to the 6-speed box is just something undeniably attractive for the wall of power, GENUINELY supercar performance. And it'll still be alive long after the AJP has died and gone to heaven.
If you sell the AJP, I have this odd idea to stick on into a Land Rover... let me know will you?
But the LS engine coupled to the 6-speed box is just something undeniably attractive for the wall of power, GENUINELY supercar performance. And it'll still be alive long after the AJP has died and gone to heaven.
If you sell the AJP, I have this odd idea to stick on into a Land Rover... let me know will you?
Brummmie said:
The usual suspects will be along to tell you to keep it original and dont spoil the soul an all that, there will be another bloke along with wooden shoes to tell you to swap it. But if you want to still be amazed at the way you drag small towns closer, even after 2 years. There is only one way to go if you want that OMG factor.
Oh yes they will, but on the other hand most people who post here aren't really after a decision, they're after justification for a decision they've already made. In that you'll find a lot of people on here to justify, help, and even do the drive in drive out option. Its becoming a well trodden path with lots of help available.I suppose I'm lucky that my OMG factor has never really been about the outright power of the car. Still the most fun I get driving is with my least powerful car, and when I want a speed enema I get on my bike which feels a thousand miles an hour compared to any car I've ever been in. The Cerb just charts a good course in the middle of the three cars I have.
Cerbs are becoming very cheap now, the chevy is probably the way forward for most of them. Out of interest do Chevy cerbs command a decent second hand price. Anyone seen a second hand one in the classifieds yet?
No, I haven't seen one, but there arent't many (yet).
There will always be buyers who want a AJP in it because they want an original car. But there are a lot of people interested in the LS conversions. And not without a good reason. So, I think it will make the cars interesting for a broader group and it is very well possible that it will make very good second hand value.
My car gets the conversion at Steve Heath and Dave Wallis. The interest in this conversion is very big. It's not only the Cerbera, but even Tuscan and T350 are being converted. Considering that owners want to enjoy their conversion, I do not think a lot will be seen in the classifieds for about 2 years or so.
I am sure that I won't be selling mine for less than 25-30K. I'll probabably never sell it. On the other hand...buy a good Cerbera with a bad engine. Add 10K for a conversion with a strenghtenend gearbox and 3.08 diff. What will it be? 16-17K? Conversions start at around 7K with Steve Heath.
There will always be buyers who want a AJP in it because they want an original car. But there are a lot of people interested in the LS conversions. And not without a good reason. So, I think it will make the cars interesting for a broader group and it is very well possible that it will make very good second hand value.
My car gets the conversion at Steve Heath and Dave Wallis. The interest in this conversion is very big. It's not only the Cerbera, but even Tuscan and T350 are being converted. Considering that owners want to enjoy their conversion, I do not think a lot will be seen in the classifieds for about 2 years or so.
I am sure that I won't be selling mine for less than 25-30K. I'll probabably never sell it. On the other hand...buy a good Cerbera with a bad engine. Add 10K for a conversion with a strenghtenend gearbox and 3.08 diff. What will it be? 16-17K? Conversions start at around 7K with Steve Heath.
If I'm honest and went the LS route then I'd like to get in with both feet (budget permitting). I'd go at least to a LS7 or in an ideal world LS9. If I'm realistic the LS9 route would be a 30-40k conversion and my budget won't stretch to that as I want to make a decision this year.
AJP route would be atleast another 10k to only get another 100 ponies and 100 lbs seems not very cost v benefit effective.
Now we're in the countryside I like the ideal of fitting the AJP to a landy myself.....what an off roader that would make......ooooooh excitement, two mental machines!!!
Which ever way I go I need to do some hard soul searching and big saving to make it happen. I do appreciate your comments and views, I'm not looking for a justification to do this as I have to do something, I just value the opinions of most on here.
Rich
AJP route would be atleast another 10k to only get another 100 ponies and 100 lbs seems not very cost v benefit effective.
Now we're in the countryside I like the ideal of fitting the AJP to a landy myself.....what an off roader that would make......ooooooh excitement, two mental machines!!!
Which ever way I go I need to do some hard soul searching and big saving to make it happen. I do appreciate your comments and views, I'm not looking for a justification to do this as I have to do something, I just value the opinions of most on here.
Rich
gattor said:
If I'm honest and went the LS route then I'd like to get in with both feet (budget permitting). I'd go at least to a LS7 or in an ideal world LS9. If I'm realistic the LS9 route would be a 30-40k conversion and my budget won't stretch to that as I want to make a decision this year.
AJP route would be atleast another 10k to only get another 100 ponies and 100 lbs seems not very cost v benefit effective.
Now we're in the countryside I like the ideal of fitting the AJP to a landy myself.....what an off roader that would make......ooooooh excitement, two mental machines!!!
Which ever way I go I need to do some hard soul searching and big saving to make it happen. I do appreciate your comments and views, I'm not looking for a justification to do this as I have to do something, I just value the opinions of most on here.
Rich
I will do the same at some point, but the other way round.AJP route would be atleast another 10k to only get another 100 ponies and 100 lbs seems not very cost v benefit effective.
Now we're in the countryside I like the ideal of fitting the AJP to a landy myself.....what an off roader that would make......ooooooh excitement, two mental machines!!!
Which ever way I go I need to do some hard soul searching and big saving to make it happen. I do appreciate your comments and views, I'm not looking for a justification to do this as I have to do something, I just value the opinions of most on here.
Rich
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