Rebuilt Engines - Should I worry?
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm looking to buy a Cerb, and could do with a bit of advice. Some of the cars I'm looking at have had engine rebuilds and I've received a few raised eyebrow reactions when I've discussed them with people, on the other hand others tell me it's 'normal' to expect a TVR engine to have been rebuilt.
Here's an example: Cerbera 4.2 60,000 miles, engine rebuilt at 50,000 miles.
snog/marry/avoid???
Regards,
Olly
I'm looking to buy a Cerb, and could do with a bit of advice. Some of the cars I'm looking at have had engine rebuilds and I've received a few raised eyebrow reactions when I've discussed them with people, on the other hand others tell me it's 'normal' to expect a TVR engine to have been rebuilt.
Here's an example: Cerbera 4.2 60,000 miles, engine rebuilt at 50,000 miles.
snog/marry/avoid???
Regards,
Olly
I would imagine you have had this discussion with people who know nothing about tuned engines, TVRs etc....?
If you are looking at S6's then it is a very good thing (essential?!)to have seen a rebuild since 2005 by a reputable garage (Power, Str8six etc).
If you are looking at an AJP then it is good to have a rebuild and increases the saleability in many peoples eyes. The key thing is that its by a reputable garage but more importantly the car has been well looked after etc..
A rebuild risk is a key factor with any highly tuned car. Cerbs are getting on now and so the chances of an engine needing work increase. Buying one with a rebuild might command a premium but it will reduce the £s risk to you.
If you are looking at S6's then it is a very good thing (essential?!)to have seen a rebuild since 2005 by a reputable garage (Power, Str8six etc).
If you are looking at an AJP then it is good to have a rebuild and increases the saleability in many peoples eyes. The key thing is that its by a reputable garage but more importantly the car has been well looked after etc..
A rebuild risk is a key factor with any highly tuned car. Cerbs are getting on now and so the chances of an engine needing work increase. Buying one with a rebuild might command a premium but it will reduce the £s risk to you.
Gazzab said:
I would imagine you have had this discussion with people who know nothing about tuned engines, TVRs etc....?
If you are looking at S6's then it is a very good thing (essential?!)to have seen a rebuild since 2005 by a reputable garage (Power, Str8six etc).
If you are looking at an AJP then it is good to have a rebuild and increases the saleability in many peoples eyes. The key thing is that its by a reputable garage but more importantly the car has been well looked after etc..
A rebuild risk is a key factor with any highly tuned car. Cerbs are getting on now and so the chances of an engine needing work increase. Buying one with a rebuild might command a premium but it will reduce the £s risk to you.
If you are looking at S6's then it is a very good thing (essential?!)to have seen a rebuild since 2005 by a reputable garage (Power, Str8six etc).
If you are looking at an AJP then it is good to have a rebuild and increases the saleability in many peoples eyes. The key thing is that its by a reputable garage but more importantly the car has been well looked after etc..
A rebuild risk is a key factor with any highly tuned car. Cerbs are getting on now and so the chances of an engine needing work increase. Buying one with a rebuild might command a premium but it will reduce the £s risk to you.
Hi Gazzab - I am certainly one of the people Boatbuoy has been chatting with...... And we were talking about AJP's 
. My thoughts are always on the side of caution and I would want to know WHY the engine had a rebuild. It's a very generic word and my interest would be what happened to warrant the 'rebuild' before I formed too much of a view either way on whether it was good news or bad news . I know of people who have had their engines 'rebuilt' a number of times
. Which makes me wonder whether the original perceived problem was actually diagnosed correctly if a further rebuild was then required. But I was under the impression that the 'majority' had not had rebuilds. Have I got this wrong?Of course I am no engineer and my views are only formed by the stuff I learn, or the experiences I have: my black Cerbera turned 66,666 on the way over to Spa recently and it's never had a rebuild, nor does it feel like it needs one. But then I could just be very lucky
.Hi Nicky.
I suspect that it is often difficult to diagnose the ROOT cause of many engine problems. It is easy to see the symptomns. So I understand your caution.
In my view a high % of cars will now have had a rebuild at some point. Just look at how busy the main Cerb guys are with engine work. So long as the engine has been worked on by someone reputable then I think it can only be a good thing.
I am not aware of many AJPs that have had multiple rebuilds. So a refresh at say 40K can only be a good thing IMHO.
I suspect that it is often difficult to diagnose the ROOT cause of many engine problems. It is easy to see the symptomns. So I understand your caution.
In my view a high % of cars will now have had a rebuild at some point. Just look at how busy the main Cerb guys are with engine work. So long as the engine has been worked on by someone reputable then I think it can only be a good thing.
I am not aware of many AJPs that have had multiple rebuilds. So a refresh at say 40K can only be a good thing IMHO.
Gazzab said:
Hi Nicky.
I suspect that it is often difficult to diagnose the ROOT cause of many engine problems. It is easy to see the symptomns. So I understand your caution.
In my view a high % of cars will now have had a rebuild at some point. Just look at how busy the main Cerb guys are with engine work. So long as the engine has been worked on by someone reputable then I think it can only be a good thing.
I am not aware of many AJPs that have had multiple rebuilds. So a refresh at say 40K can only be a good thing IMHO.
Sounds a balanced view I suspect that it is often difficult to diagnose the ROOT cause of many engine problems. It is easy to see the symptomns. So I understand your caution.
In my view a high % of cars will now have had a rebuild at some point. Just look at how busy the main Cerb guys are with engine work. So long as the engine has been worked on by someone reputable then I think it can only be a good thing.
I am not aware of many AJPs that have had multiple rebuilds. So a refresh at say 40K can only be a good thing IMHO.
:goesofftodomoreresearch:
Another data point: Richard - who built my Chim RV8 - has a Cerbera 4.5 in with 97,000 miles for an engine rebuild. Not because of an engine failure but because in the words of the owner 'I feel it's about due'...
Spec TBA but knowing Rich it'll be rather nice without going over the top. I'll get him to post some pics while he's at it.
Spec TBA but knowing Rich it'll be rather nice without going over the top. I'll get him to post some pics while he's at it.
I would hazzard a guess if a car has had more than one rebuild, there may be a fundamental problem undiagnosed.
Perhaps there's excessive flex in part of the block/head, not a fault as such, but something that could lead to premature rebuilds, that combined with how much mechanical sympathy an owner has.
A rebuild is definately NOT a bad thing. And from what I know, any decent engine builder should be able to put one together properly, obviously SR8SIX, Power and others have the reputation as they deal with that particular engine on a regular basis.
I'm sure my old man will testify as to how essential it is for an engine to be built by someone who knows what they're doing.
Rebuild wouldn't put me off, assuming all other paperwork (and gut feeling) stacked a car up as being well looked after.
Perhaps there's excessive flex in part of the block/head, not a fault as such, but something that could lead to premature rebuilds, that combined with how much mechanical sympathy an owner has.
A rebuild is definately NOT a bad thing. And from what I know, any decent engine builder should be able to put one together properly, obviously SR8SIX, Power and others have the reputation as they deal with that particular engine on a regular basis.
I'm sure my old man will testify as to how essential it is for an engine to be built by someone who knows what they're doing.
Rebuild wouldn't put me off, assuming all other paperwork (and gut feeling) stacked a car up as being well looked after.
900T-R said:
Another data point: Richard - who built my Chim RV8 - has a Cerbera 4.5 in with 97,000 miles for an engine rebuild. Not because of an engine failure but because in the words of the owner 'I feel it's about due'...
Spec TBA but knowing Rich it'll be rather nice without going over the top. I'll get him to post some pics while he's at it.
We're at a similar point, at 94k miles... if we were to keep it, we would get it rebuilt soon-ish as it feels about the right point to have it done, then on to the next 100k of trouble free miles... Spec TBA but knowing Rich it'll be rather nice without going over the top. I'll get him to post some pics while he's at it.
Astonishingly strong engines these!! 
Edited by BCA on Thursday 28th October 16:24
900T-R said:
... has a Cerbera 4.5 in with 97,000 miles for an engine rebuild. Not because of an engine failure but because in the words of the owner 'I feel it's about due'...
There's a little bit more to it than that; a couple of the exhaust valve clearances had closed up really quickly between services so we [royal we, my contribution to the work is paying for it] had to take the head off to investigate. But basically you're right, parts are showing signs of wear (it's actually 92k miles) and as the engine was out we've decided to give it some TLC.Photo's can be found at http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a186/600m/TVR%20...
Can't wait to get it back, just in time for all the crap weather, and give it a blast - it should be like new but better.
Boatbouy said:
Hi everyone,
Thank you to you all, it's all valuable help to me.
Anthony, do you know what the reason was for your engines rebuild and who did the work?
Yes it was a crank failure and the rebuild was done by TVR back at the factory, this time it was a snapped camshaft
it's cost me an arm and a leg but I'm still glad I bought it, there amazing!
Anthony
Regards,
Olly
Thank you to you all, it's all valuable help to me.
Anthony, do you know what the reason was for your engines rebuild and who did the work?
Yes it was a crank failure and the rebuild was done by TVR back at the factory, this time it was a snapped camshaft
it's cost me an arm and a leg but I'm still glad I bought it, there amazing!
Anthony
Regards,
Olly
In a similar position wondering whether to rebuild.
Approaching 70k - going like a train but with oil consumption
and leaks increasing all of the time.
My biggest concern is the pump assembly or drive failing, causing
major damage. But to get that far its major work so why not go the
full distance and rebuild the whole engine.
Powers warranty is very appealling but comes at a price.
Collective thoughts and experiences please
Approaching 70k - going like a train but with oil consumption
and leaks increasing all of the time.
My biggest concern is the pump assembly or drive failing, causing
major damage. But to get that far its major work so why not go the
full distance and rebuild the whole engine.
Powers warranty is very appealling but comes at a price.
Collective thoughts and experiences please
Having had 3 different AJPs rebuilt I have some experience.
It can get very expensive to rebuild them (eg ancillaries add loads as will labour if you start to go to town on mods).
If you stick with the likes of Andy at APM (for those of you in the bottom half of the country) then you can be sure to get a great rebuild at a great price. I dont know the prices from Power but I can guess (the warranty doesnt come cheap on the S6s).
I too went for a couple of preventative rebuilds - first time (2nd cerb) due to oil consumption and second time (3rd Cerb) cos the Red Rose heads had been bodged at manufacture and worsened by subsequent experts, so the CR was far too high. First cerb I simply had my pants pulled down by a seller and had an engine close to detonation that was bodged up pre me buying it.
It can get very expensive to rebuild them (eg ancillaries add loads as will labour if you start to go to town on mods).
If you stick with the likes of Andy at APM (for those of you in the bottom half of the country) then you can be sure to get a great rebuild at a great price. I dont know the prices from Power but I can guess (the warranty doesnt come cheap on the S6s).
I too went for a couple of preventative rebuilds - first time (2nd cerb) due to oil consumption and second time (3rd Cerb) cos the Red Rose heads had been bodged at manufacture and worsened by subsequent experts, so the CR was far too high. First cerb I simply had my pants pulled down by a seller and had an engine close to detonation that was bodged up pre me buying it.
neilus said:
900T-R said:
... has a Cerbera 4.5 in with 97,000 miles for an engine rebuild. Not because of an engine failure but because in the words of the owner 'I feel it's about due'...
There's a little bit more to it than that; a couple of the exhaust valve clearances had closed up really quickly between services so we [royal we, my contribution to the work is paying for it] had to take the head off to investigate. But basically you're right, parts are showing signs of wear (it's actually 92k miles) and as the engine was out we've decided to give it some TLC.Photo's can be found at http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a186/600m/TVR%20...
Can't wait to get it back, just in time for all the crap weather, and give it a blast - it should be like new but better.
Good to hear from you - how's the Saggy going? By the sounds of it Richard was fairly smitten with it... kept raving about what a pretty car etc. ... 900T-R said:
Good to hear from you - how's the Saggy going? By the sounds of it Richard was fairly smitten with it... kept raving about what a pretty car etc. ... Yeah I don't think Richard was quite ready for the Saggy even though I said I was bringing the 'toy' up. It's going good and it's nice to have such a tool to fall back on whilst I haven't got the 'run around'.
I jsut wish his place wasn't in the middle of nowhere as it got filthy driving down the country lanes.Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff