New Owner - Anybody know my car?
Discussion
Hello all,
After many years of deliberation, I have finally taken the plunge and invested in a Cerb. It is a 1997 cherry pearl AJP 4.2 with cream interior. The reg number is: R736 EWV. Does anybody know the car, or are there any previous owners out there?
The ownership experience has been great so far, and I'm not phased by a bit of spannering having dealt with kits and race cars in the past. My only real concern would be the tappety top-end noises. Are these engines supposed to sound like the old Ford endura engine? (x2!)I guess larger valve clearance is better than tight, and burned out valves!
Although the stamps in the service book are up to date, there was a lack of invoices for work done when I bought the car - I remember reading somewhere that this isn't unusual, does this sound right?
Some very useful stuff on this forum, and I guess I've only just started to scratch the surface of handy info
Steve.
After many years of deliberation, I have finally taken the plunge and invested in a Cerb. It is a 1997 cherry pearl AJP 4.2 with cream interior. The reg number is: R736 EWV. Does anybody know the car, or are there any previous owners out there?
The ownership experience has been great so far, and I'm not phased by a bit of spannering having dealt with kits and race cars in the past. My only real concern would be the tappety top-end noises. Are these engines supposed to sound like the old Ford endura engine? (x2!)I guess larger valve clearance is better than tight, and burned out valves!
Although the stamps in the service book are up to date, there was a lack of invoices for work done when I bought the car - I remember reading somewhere that this isn't unusual, does this sound right?
Some very useful stuff on this forum, and I guess I've only just started to scratch the surface of handy info
Steve.
Can't help with the ownership thingy but the engine does sound like a bag of spanners until it is warmed up. Once up to temperature they should be relatively quiet in this respect. If not the 12,000 mile tappet setting check needs to be done.
You may find the workshop manual helpful if doing your own mechanics.
http://www.thetvrsite.com/
You may find the workshop manual helpful if doing your own mechanics.
http://www.thetvrsite.com/
Welcome Steve,
You've come to the right place. The PH Cerbera forum has been a lifeline time and time again. You're a home spannerer so you've just got on one hell of an emotional roller coaster! Some things will hurt your wallet, some things will make you laugh, some will hurt your brain, and some will just make you cry. But in the end, nothing can subtract from the fact that you've just become part of a very special piece of motoring history, Cerbera smiles are some of the widest and cheesiest to be had.
Now, post a damn picture!
Regards,
Olly
You've come to the right place. The PH Cerbera forum has been a lifeline time and time again. You're a home spannerer so you've just got on one hell of an emotional roller coaster! Some things will hurt your wallet, some things will make you laugh, some will hurt your brain, and some will just make you cry. But in the end, nothing can subtract from the fact that you've just become part of a very special piece of motoring history, Cerbera smiles are some of the widest and cheesiest to be had.
Now, post a damn picture!
Regards,
Olly
Welcome, a friend described mine as sounding like a diesel transit at the front but 2 or 3 bikes at the back, if that helps! lol
There are a couple of start up videos on Youtube, yours like mine has the early cams which are very aggressive profiles and noisier than later cars.
Good luck and hopefully you will enjoy it as much as the rest of us.
There are a couple of start up videos on Youtube, yours like mine has the early cams which are very aggressive profiles and noisier than later cars.
Good luck and hopefully you will enjoy it as much as the rest of us.
Thanks for the advice and links with reference to the tappet noises guys.
The car is bog standard, and the poor quality picture posted doesn't do the colour justice!
I'm fairly happy with the condition of the chassis, although surface rust in places, strength and integrity are still present!
I collected the obligatory Spider alloys yesterday, I'll be popping off the rubber tonight ready for a refurb.
Thanks for the welcome all
Steve.
totalpetrolhead said:
I collected the obligatory Spider alloys yesterday, I'll be popping off the rubber tonight ready for a refurb.
See what you reckon with them on though. You won't lose money on Spiders - there's always someone looking for them.
And there was me thinking I was the only one who had the colour "Cherry Pearl"!
I will definitely be hanging on to the 16"s, they are in perfect condition, and will keep the car's originality. I plan to run it on the spiders, and keep the 16"s tucked away somewhere.
I've had a few sets of alloys refurbed now, and I have been going to different places each time to compare prices and quality of workmanship. This time round, I went to a place that does car detailing as its main business. I walk into their unit (based at a local airfield) and it transpires that they do aircraft detailing too! There was a nice 2 seater helicopter in there, some old Jags, and tucked away at the end my all time favourite - A Ferrari F40. I got to sit in the car and they even started it up for me (needless to say the excitement warranted a change in underwear when I got home
)
Wheels are now ready for collection, I shall post a picture when I've chosen what rubber to buy.
Steve.
I will definitely be hanging on to the 16"s, they are in perfect condition, and will keep the car's originality. I plan to run it on the spiders, and keep the 16"s tucked away somewhere.
I've had a few sets of alloys refurbed now, and I have been going to different places each time to compare prices and quality of workmanship. This time round, I went to a place that does car detailing as its main business. I walk into their unit (based at a local airfield) and it transpires that they do aircraft detailing too! There was a nice 2 seater helicopter in there, some old Jags, and tucked away at the end my all time favourite - A Ferrari F40. I got to sit in the car and they even started it up for me (needless to say the excitement warranted a change in underwear when I got home
)Wheels are now ready for collection, I shall post a picture when I've chosen what rubber to buy.
Steve.
Tanguero said:
Run it on the 16s and bin the spiders. The ride and handling is vastly superior on the smaller wheel with more sidewall. Not to mention that the spiders are both heave and very fragile, they tend to buckle and crack at the slightest provocation.
^ Listen to this man.The Spiders look good but the car is all over the place with them. Last time I drove on them it would even throw a wobbler crossing the white lines/road camber when pulling out to overtake on wet country roads. It's also very harsh and choppy etc, and it's true they will be square in no time too.
It's difficult to put in to words just much they affect the Cerbera functionally as a sports car though. They're great for garage queens that are always gleaming but rarely go out, but if you actually want to enjoy driving the car they are not the best move IMHO. See for yourself though. I'd be inclined to run around on the 16s and if you feel the need then fit Spiders for show days etc.
Thanks for the advice guys. I love the look of the Spiders, and will be interested in the comparison between wheels. I certainly have noticed a difference in handling and ride with previous cars when I have moved to a lower profile tyre/larger rim dia. I ran a DTI on each of the spiders before they were re-furbished, and are pretty concentric - lets hope they stay that way!
The last thing I want to do is detract from what is a very sweet handling, precise drive as it stands at the moment. The weather hasn't been the best recently to push the car too far, but I have been pleasantly surprised.
I recently sold my race car - a 460kg Fisher Fury Fireblade bike powered RGB car, and I was worried that I would struggle to find an alternative that would bring a smile to my face. The Cerbera has certainly delivered so far, and I'm proud to be able have bought a truly magnificent slice of British automotive history! (I'm sure by this time next week I'll be threatening to drop a match in the petrol tank when something goes wrong)
The last thing I want to do is detract from what is a very sweet handling, precise drive as it stands at the moment. The weather hasn't been the best recently to push the car too far, but I have been pleasantly surprised.
I recently sold my race car - a 460kg Fisher Fury Fireblade bike powered RGB car, and I was worried that I would struggle to find an alternative that would bring a smile to my face. The Cerbera has certainly delivered so far, and I'm proud to be able have bought a truly magnificent slice of British automotive history! (I'm sure by this time next week I'll be threatening to drop a match in the petrol tank when something goes wrong
)Nah that's just what I was told was "the bonding period". I lost my clutch hydraulics on the way home from buying it, then again (opposite end of the system) the following week. 
Touch wood it's been pretty good since then - the more often it gets used the less often anything weird seems to happen. I love the Cerbera. It's a keeper for sure!
Touch wood it's been pretty good since then - the more often it gets used the less often anything weird seems to happen. I love the Cerbera. It's a keeper for sure!
ks on a Cerb! Pref in 9" width..Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff