Help with Cerbera beginner questions
Discussion
Hi All
I'm really interested it getting a Cerbera, to me its one of the most beautiful cars, that and the Tuscan.
However I'm not a exactly clued up as much as I should be, and was looking for as much advice as i can get.
to be honest I'm looking for a project, something to keep me busy, rebuild/fixing/ getting on the road. i saved up all year to purchase a kit car which has now fallen through.
I know there are books by Steve Heath for the S series, Wedge, Chim & Griff, is there anything similar for the Cerbera to help me get a good understand about the car?
Grateful if anyone is aware of any cheap Cerebers going. i have contact a few on autotrader & PistonHeads but it appears theses were very old adverts.
i'm swaying more to the 4.5 engine types, but as above i not know much yet.
Greatful for any help or advice
I'm really interested it getting a Cerbera, to me its one of the most beautiful cars, that and the Tuscan.
However I'm not a exactly clued up as much as I should be, and was looking for as much advice as i can get.
to be honest I'm looking for a project, something to keep me busy, rebuild/fixing/ getting on the road. i saved up all year to purchase a kit car which has now fallen through.
I know there are books by Steve Heath for the S series, Wedge, Chim & Griff, is there anything similar for the Cerbera to help me get a good understand about the car?
Grateful if anyone is aware of any cheap Cerebers going. i have contact a few on autotrader & PistonHeads but it appears theses were very old adverts.
i'm swaying more to the 4.5 engine types, but as above i not know much yet.
Greatful for any help or advice
13 years ago a very good friend of mine turned up with a Cerb, after many years of entertaining me at track days with lesser TVRs
It was a revelation, I just HAD to have one, so I bought the cheapest 4.5 Cerb, with the most deferred maintenance, ever sold with an MOT
It became a 'Rolling Restoration' or more accurately a really big project
Every year I try to take it to the Ring and give it a proper run out
Most years it very clearly tells me what I haven't fixed, most recently it's all about heat soak
But I always have fun, sort of, I always have a challenge
Most fun of all is when I take others for PAX rides, they are truly impressed with the sheer fun factor that a 26 year old car can deliver
Here's evidence
It was a revelation, I just HAD to have one, so I bought the cheapest 4.5 Cerb, with the most deferred maintenance, ever sold with an MOT
It became a 'Rolling Restoration' or more accurately a really big project
Every year I try to take it to the Ring and give it a proper run out
Most years it very clearly tells me what I haven't fixed, most recently it's all about heat soak
But I always have fun, sort of, I always have a challenge
Most fun of all is when I take others for PAX rides, they are truly impressed with the sheer fun factor that a 26 year old car can deliver
Here's evidence
They are bloody marvelous things, such huge fun.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=3Gyd3Gzv3XzyVkPy&am...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=3Gyd3Gzv3XzyVkPy&am...
Amazing cars but go into to it eyes-wide-open. These cars do not like to be parked up as a garage queen so low mileage examples can also come with their problems... Often around the clutch hydraulics.
Condition - Chassis is one of the main areas for problems with these. The outriggers rot from the top so you often don't notice until too late. They also rot in the areas close to the exhaust manifolds. It has to be a body-off job to get them fixed, so once you're that far in, you might as well bite the bullet and get everything under the body sorted. When 'fixed', get it sandblasted, zinc primed and powdercoated. Make sure you line the rails in the engine bay with heat reflective tape and ceramic coat the manifolds.
There are a number of threads on chassis restorations (including mine) as well as a how-to guide on lifting.
Engines - The SP6 is a great engine and if rebuilt by Jason (Str8Six) or Dom (Powers), it should be relatively trouble free. With the V8s, don't worry about the numbers as both the 4.2 & 4..5 can cause major trouser soiling moments. Either way, parts supply is 'challenging' and even more so for the V8s due to the fewer numbers.
Anyway, those are the biggies to be going on with.
M
Condition - Chassis is one of the main areas for problems with these. The outriggers rot from the top so you often don't notice until too late. They also rot in the areas close to the exhaust manifolds. It has to be a body-off job to get them fixed, so once you're that far in, you might as well bite the bullet and get everything under the body sorted. When 'fixed', get it sandblasted, zinc primed and powdercoated. Make sure you line the rails in the engine bay with heat reflective tape and ceramic coat the manifolds.
There are a number of threads on chassis restorations (including mine) as well as a how-to guide on lifting.
Engines - The SP6 is a great engine and if rebuilt by Jason (Str8Six) or Dom (Powers), it should be relatively trouble free. With the V8s, don't worry about the numbers as both the 4.2 & 4..5 can cause major trouser soiling moments. Either way, parts supply is 'challenging' and even more so for the V8s due to the fewer numbers.
Anyway, those are the biggies to be going on with.
M
Don't just buy the cheapest - there are well sorted ones available. Beware the buy the first one you see 
Chassis - corners of the outriggers especially. You can just feel the top with a finger on all four corners. Take a good bright torch/inspection light. Check for leaks underneath, rear diff, engine/gearbox joint for rear engine seal. Steering rack...
Look at the servicing record and who did it. MOT history obviously.
Any upgrades, money spent? General overall condition
Not many leaks on these but check under the carpet in the passenger footwell where the ECU is and drivers footwell for any signs of water
Don't worry about mileage specifically, these like to be driven.
Any owner close who could look with you?
Chassis - corners of the outriggers especially. You can just feel the top with a finger on all four corners. Take a good bright torch/inspection light. Check for leaks underneath, rear diff, engine/gearbox joint for rear engine seal. Steering rack...
Look at the servicing record and who did it. MOT history obviously.
Any upgrades, money spent? General overall condition
Not many leaks on these but check under the carpet in the passenger footwell where the ECU is and drivers footwell for any signs of water
Don't worry about mileage specifically, these like to be driven.
Any owner close who could look with you?
Jenson87 said:
Thank you all
I’m based south Birmingham/Bromsgrove
I think I’ll join a TVR club also.
I’m going to view a Cerbera 4.2 this Saturday, can’t express enough how excited I am.
Love the youtube videos I think I have already seen a few of this red Cerbera on the ring.
If the vendor starts the car from cold, expect it to sound tappety - this is normal, in fact if it doesn’t then the valve clearances could be too tight. After 2 or 3 minutes it should quieten down. Pops and bangs on the overrun are standard I’m based south Birmingham/Bromsgrove
I think I’ll join a TVR club also.
I’m going to view a Cerbera 4.2 this Saturday, can’t express enough how excited I am.
Love the youtube videos I think I have already seen a few of this red Cerbera on the ring.
camel_landy said:
Amazing cars but go into to it eyes-wide-open. These cars do not like to be parked up as a garage queen so low mileage examples can also come with their problems... Often around the clutch hydraulics.
Condition - Chassis is one of the main areas for problems with these. The outriggers rot from the top so you often don't notice until too late. They also rot in the areas close to the exhaust manifolds. It has to be a body-off job to get them fixed, so once you're that far in, you might as well bite the bullet and get everything under the body sorted. When 'fixed', get it sandblasted, zinc primed and powdercoated. Make sure you line the rails in the engine bay with heat reflective tape and ceramic coat the manifolds.
There are a number of threads on chassis restorations (including mine) as well as a how-to guide on lifting.
Engines - The SP6 is a great engine and if rebuilt by Jason (Str8Six) or Dom (Powers), it should be relatively trouble free. With the V8s, don't worry about the numbers as both the 4.2 & 4..5 can cause major trouser soiling moments. Either way, parts supply is 'challenging' and even more so for the V8s due to the fewer numbers.
Anyway, those are the biggies to be going on with.
M
This was great advice ten years ago, when we bought our cars, but I'm not sure it's correct nowCondition - Chassis is one of the main areas for problems with these. The outriggers rot from the top so you often don't notice until too late. They also rot in the areas close to the exhaust manifolds. It has to be a body-off job to get them fixed, so once you're that far in, you might as well bite the bullet and get everything under the body sorted. When 'fixed', get it sandblasted, zinc primed and powdercoated. Make sure you line the rails in the engine bay with heat reflective tape and ceramic coat the manifolds.
There are a number of threads on chassis restorations (including mine) as well as a how-to guide on lifting.
Engines - The SP6 is a great engine and if rebuilt by Jason (Str8Six) or Dom (Powers), it should be relatively trouble free. With the V8s, don't worry about the numbers as both the 4.2 & 4..5 can cause major trouser soiling moments. Either way, parts supply is 'challenging' and even more so for the V8s due to the fewer numbers.
Anyway, those are the biggies to be going on with.
M
I could be wrong, I'm not in the market now, I have no intention to sell my car, but I think things have changed
ukkid35 said:
I could be wrong, I'm not in the market now, I have no intention to sell my car, but I think things have changed
Weeellll... Unless they've been rebuilt, the chassis are still going to be rotting and parts for the engines are becoming even more scarce. But over the past 10yrs, we've had more of them rebuilt.IMO - The advice is the same but thanks to the community knowledge, we're getting better at keeping these things on the road.
M
FarmyardPants said:
Jenson87 said:
Thank you all
I’m based south Birmingham/Bromsgrove
I think I’ll join a TVR club also.
I’m going to view a Cerbera 4.2 this Saturday, can’t express enough how excited I am.
Love the youtube videos I think I have already seen a few of this red Cerbera on the ring.
If the vendor starts the car from cold, expect it to sound tappety - this is normal, in fact if it doesn’t then the valve clearances could be too tight. After 2 or 3 minutes it should quieten down. Pops and bangs on the overrun are standard I’m based south Birmingham/Bromsgrove
I think I’ll join a TVR club also.
I’m going to view a Cerbera 4.2 this Saturday, can’t express enough how excited I am.
Love the youtube videos I think I have already seen a few of this red Cerbera on the ring.
Yes, I have brought the project Cerbera from Jason at Str8six, with the 4.2 engine.
Going to get the engine sorted/rebuilt
And get the car as fresh as can be.
Plans are spider alloys, mk2 lights, and I would like to get it resprayed some type of green colour.
The underside was in great condition not a spot of rust in site, outriggers replaced 4 years ago.
It was the best I can currently afford
Can’t express how excited I am
Props to Str8six for all the many questions I had.
I was at coffee and chrome today there was 4 amazing looking Cerberas there.
Hopefully they belong to great people here?
Going to get the engine sorted/rebuilt
And get the car as fresh as can be.
Plans are spider alloys, mk2 lights, and I would like to get it resprayed some type of green colour.
The underside was in great condition not a spot of rust in site, outriggers replaced 4 years ago.
It was the best I can currently afford
Can’t express how excited I am
Props to Str8six for all the many questions I had.
I was at coffee and chrome today there was 4 amazing looking Cerberas there.
Hopefully they belong to great people here?
Jenson87 said:
Yes, I have brought the project Cerbera from Jason at Str8six, with the 4.2 engine.
Going to get the engine sorted/rebuilt
And get the car as fresh as can be.
Plans are spider alloys, mk2 lights, and I would like to get it resprayed some type of green colour.
The underside was in great condition not a spot of rust in site, outriggers replaced 4 years ago.
It was the best I can currently afford
Can’t express how excited I am
Props to Str8six for all the many questions I had.
I was at coffee and chrome today there was 4 amazing looking Cerberas there.
Hopefully they belong to great people here?
Good stuff, welcome to the club Going to get the engine sorted/rebuilt
And get the car as fresh as can be.
Plans are spider alloys, mk2 lights, and I would like to get it resprayed some type of green colour.
The underside was in great condition not a spot of rust in site, outriggers replaced 4 years ago.
It was the best I can currently afford
Can’t express how excited I am
Props to Str8six for all the many questions I had.
I was at coffee and chrome today there was 4 amazing looking Cerberas there.
Hopefully they belong to great people here?
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