what base car for an engine swap?
what base car for an engine swap?
Author
Discussion

stu21t

Original Poster:

54 posts

265 months

Sunday 1st November 2009
quotequote all
hi, im thinking of getting a cerbera and doing an engine transplant.
ive wanted a 4.5 cerb for more years than i care to remember and think now is the time.
what is the best base car to start with?
does it make a difference which car i buy if changing the engine.
i will be fitting a new engine, gearbox, diff, brakes, suspension,fuel system and maybe rads. possibly new hubs, shafts...

do the shells and chassis differ from car to car?
i want to have the later wheels, seats and lights. other than that most of it will be changed.

should i buy the cheapest car i can find as most of its being changed?
like the £7k 1 thats on here.
its not going to be an ls1 engine or whatever but im not saying unless i do actually go ahead with it. but it will be special.
will also need to have a look at a cerb to have a measure up to make sure theres room to do what i want if some1 local doesnt mind.
cheers

JensenA

5,671 posts

260 months

Sunday 1st November 2009
quotequote all
You can't like Cerbera's that much then.

ridds

8,372 posts

274 months

Sunday 1st November 2009
quotequote all
Go and buy a breaker tbh.

If you're changing that much there's no point taking a good car and tearing it apart.

Find a Cat D at Douglas Valley or Bell Hill.

stu21t

Original Poster:

54 posts

265 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
i do like cerberas that much, but dont think that it will be quick enough with the ajp fitted.
might sound daft but there it is.
and the rest needs changing to keep up with the engine.
gearbox and diff needs to be stronger, suspension needs changing to cope with the different weights, fuel system wont keep up.......

yea i was thinking a damaged one, but i want 1 thans nice inside and nice bodywork.
i saw a cat d repaired car go for 7500, and it was old, with origional headlights, wheels, seats, not a colour id want......
but for 10k you can get a later car all working thats not been repaired.

my main thing is, are the parts that im keeping the same or different between early and late cars?
chassis, suspension and pick up points, interior......

also what the widest rear wheels you can get on them?

JensenA

5,671 posts

260 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
Sometimes I just despair biggrincloud9

plasticman

908 posts

281 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
You should go for a speed six car because they have all the later bits you want , have more space in the engine bay , and are normally much cheaper for the same condition car.

julian64

14,325 posts

284 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
Alternatively you could go to plasticman, get a cerbera body made from scratch with nice big wide flared wheel arches, and the cool vents you see on the sagaris, and then almost be able to specify what frame to put underneath without buying a frame that may not fit the supercharged LS7 you are planning smile.

dirty boy

14,859 posts

239 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
stu21t said:
i do like cerberas that much, but dont think that it will be quick enough with the ajp fitted.
Exactly how fast do you want it to be?

stu21t said:
might sound daft but there it is.
definately sounds daft.


A 4.5 AJP engined Cerbera will pop 60 in around 4 seconds and do well in excess of 170mph....what more do you want?

Are you tracking it?

Racing it?


stu21t

Original Poster:

54 posts

265 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
yes jensen, you know me so well. lol

id rather buy a car that had most of the bits on it already, then i can change bits as and when and still have a driveable car while doing the work, rather than build from scratch.

does a speed 6 have the same t5 gearbox?
why does a speed6 have more room in the engine bay? are the bodys not the same?
i dont plan on a s/c ls7 but if needs must, lol

and is a v8 engine worth more to sell on than a s6? cos that might recoup more money on the car.

stu21t

Original Poster:

54 posts

265 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
will prob see a track day or 2 but nothing major, no racing.
dont get me wrong they arent a slow car, but not quick enough for what i want.
dont think of me as a 15 yr old internet dreamer.

and this isnt something i just dreamt up.
ive wanted a cerb since i was about 15 and think nows the time to start.

i hope to buy a running car and use it till i source the other parts one by 1 and start changing stuff.

its going to be a long term project.

dirty boy

14,859 posts

239 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
stu21t said:
will prob see a track day or 2 but nothing major, no racing.
dont get me wrong they arent a slow car, but not quick enough for what i want.
dont think of me as a 15 yr old internet dreamer.

and this isnt something i just dreamt up.
ive wanted a cerb since i was about 15 and think nows the time to start.

i hope to buy a running car and use it till i source the other parts one by 1 and start changing stuff.

its going to be a long term project.
What exactly are you aiming for? 700hp+ LS7 figures?

stu21t

Original Poster:

54 posts

265 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
i dont wanna start quoting figures and details yet incase it doesnt happen.
i need info to see if it can be done and costs to see if i can do it first.

Malam

719 posts

233 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
Just remember a Cerb isn't a Cerb without an AJP biggrinbiggrinbiggrin

esso

1,849 posts

247 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
You say that you have`wanted a 4.5 Cerb for more years than you can remember`..............so why dont you just buy a 4.5 Cerb & save yourself a great deal of blood,sweat&tears.It will be quick enuf Chap....believe me!yes

stu21t

Original Poster:

54 posts

265 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
I have wanted 1 for a long time, but I know I will soon b used to the power and want more.
Im think of buying a 4.5 1st then just doin the work later.
I need a project, it's my hobby, I don't smoke/drugs and only occcasionally go out on the piss so this is what I do to keep myself occupied.
I can't sit at home watchin tv, I get bored so go in the garage and tinker.
This isn't my first project car.

stu21t

Original Poster:

54 posts

265 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
What is the kerb weight of a cerb, s6 and ajp?
And any idea on the size and weight of both engines?

Greeny

1,423 posts

289 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
stu21t said:
What is the kerb weight of a cerb, s6 and ajp?
And any idea on the size and weight of both engines?
Get youself a good 4.5.
There will be plenty for you to 'tinker' with and improve
On what basis do you think it will not be fast enough?
Try one for a while and let us know after a couple of months.
I have had one for a while now, and I still think, st this thing is fast!!

Phil Dicky

7,194 posts

293 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
stu21t said:
I have wanted 1 for a long time, but I know I will soon b used to the power and want more.
What about a 4.5 then when your bored of the power get a 4.7

Scrooloose

888 posts

246 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
Buy my 4.5, it's already got an Emerald ECU fitted, so has plenty of scope for remapping and performance increases....

stu21t

Original Poster:

54 posts

265 months

Monday 2nd November 2009
quotequote all
the problem with spending the money on uprgading a 4.5 is it costs the same to do the work as it does when you have a better engine to start with.
remap, headwork, cams...... all the same prices whatever engines in there.
and i want to start with a different engine.
i know most dont think its a good idea but hey were all different.