4.5 bhp/mods

4.5 bhp/mods

Author
Discussion

wanacoop

Original Poster:

1,247 posts

222 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Greetings all,
I'm just trying to find out what is a ball park figure for the bhp of the AJP 4.5, as a mate of mine just purchased one, and is a little disappointed with the performance, which shocked me, as being a TVR fan, I have always thought of the Cerb as the fastest and most brutal accelerating tvr.

He's looked through the history and can't see any engine tuning. It has a sports exhaust, but I think thats it.

If you could give me any information, it would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance

coco79

390 posts

174 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Tell him to get his foot off the brake! smile

wanacoop

Original Poster:

1,247 posts

222 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
You joke but when following him in hot pursuit in an e92 M3, we saw his brake lights come on! An electrical gremlin I assume!
Although the accelerator pedal is quite stiff, with a long travel, it has crossed my mind that he's not always foot flat down..

mangante49

56 posts

131 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
wanacoop said:
You joke but when following him in hot pursuit in an e92 M3, we saw his brake lights come on! An electrical gremlin I assume!
Although the accelerator pedal is quite stiff, with a long travel, it has crossed my mind that he's not always foot flat down..
You do know its illegal to drive using binoculars !!!

steviejasp

1,646 posts

165 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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In all honesty, if he can't out accelerate you quite comfortably, there is something wrong with it/him.

wanacoop

Original Poster:

1,247 posts

222 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
It's not my M3, but no he can't really beat the beemer at any speed, they are very closely matched.
But even the owner of the M3 was surprised and wouldn't have minded coming second fiddle, as he's owned a Griff before and loves tvr's.
I assume it's barely making 350bhp really.

He's going to get it on a rr, but I just didn't know what figure to expect, and what are the most common mods to get the engine back to full health?

CerbWill

670 posts

118 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Short induction and a remap from Jools at Kits & Classics in Chesterfield. Decat and one of ACT's range of exhausts optional.

pmessling

2,284 posts

203 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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A standard 4.5 could easily be between 350 and 370, but by no means slow but it's sometimes the way it's delivered as the 4.5 does well with a remap and short induction as mentioned

wanacoop

Original Poster:

1,247 posts

222 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
That's just what he'll want to know, thanks chaps.

It's not slow, to be fair, the M3 is a very fast car, and never lets up. But we all expected the Cerb to be slightly faster.
So then you naturally start to doubt the stats by TVR. I assume it's a fair bit heavier than quoted and not close to 420bhp biggrin
The Cerb is awesome though, sounds fantastic, so angry in it's delivery, and loves to pop and bang on the overrun.

Shanksy87

373 posts

122 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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A second vote for a trip to Kits n Classics for a short induction kit, remap and general tune up. Joolz is a magician.

Mine wasn't slow in standard form but the torque gain from the remap is noticeable and further proof TVR were more than ambitious with their claims.

Byff

4,427 posts

261 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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Mine was quite slow when I first got it. After a year or two of putting up with it, it went to kits & classics where it was found it only produced 240bhp.

Diagnosis was fuel injectors and blocked cats.

It's now at 340bhp which for a 4.2 with a high mileage engine and no rebuilds (that I know of), isn't that bad in my opinion. Obviously, we all want more but for what I use mine for - it's sufficient.

FarmyardPants

4,108 posts

218 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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My 4.5 was 369bhp as standard on Jools' RR, and that's considered good. About 411 after he breathed on it.

Jhonno

5,771 posts

141 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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Generally after a trip to Joolz a 4.5 will make 390-420bhp..

wanacoop

Original Poster:

1,247 posts

222 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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Really great information, thank you all.

He's based down in Devon, but we're used to having to travel to get anything decent laugh

We have just got back from a trip to Le Mans, I'll try to post a photo of her.
It didn't like the scorching temps though, struggling to start and select gears.

Byker28i

59,741 posts

217 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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Has he still got the cats in?
This heats up the clutch and gearbox. First step would possibly be to flush through the oil as if it's old it can get difficult when hot.
Part of the reason I flushed mine and removed the cats.

As for power - any number of reasons - first thing would be to stick it on a rolling road - see exactly what it's got.


Juddder

844 posts

184 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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wanacoop said:
It didn't like the scorching temps though, struggling to start and select gears.
Have a look for a post from Aide where he got a shim to put in place between his starter motor and the engine casing which helped solve his hot start problems

Actually.. here's the link - that makes life easy smile

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...


ukkid35

6,175 posts

173 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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It may well be that there was an amount of deferred maintenance since it's only recently been purchased. Therefore it will probably need a 12k service which includes the valve clearances. Also blocked CATs contributed to the poor performance of my car when I bought it.

As others have said, a trip to Joolz will transform a 4.5, but do not underestimate the stress that the rolling road will put on the car. Make sure the car is near perfect mechanically first. Mine simply cracked a manifold, but thankfully immediately after the remap was complete.

wanacoop

Original Poster:

1,247 posts

222 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
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Absolutely top stuff, thanks again.

Pistonheads was such a big help when I owned my S series, and it hasn't failed for the Cerbera.

Here's a pic of her

FarmyardPants

4,108 posts

218 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
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Looks like mine, very nice.

If your friend is serious about Cerbera ownership he should book it in with Jools and get it sorted no matter how far away it is. It will transform it from a so-so performer to a car that does justice to its reputation.

PHILON

24 posts

213 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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My 4.5 runs 405 BHP on the long induction pipes and 415 on the short ones with a different Map (Both on Rolling Road).
It definitely accelerates faster than a V8 M3 but as the M3 is a very fast car you have to be travelling pretty quick on normal roads to notice.