First 4.5 cerbera's
Discussion
Having had a good research around before buying my early 4.5 Cerb, I discovered that the early 4.5 were registered as 4.2's, something to do with emission's being to high.
Has anyone re registered their car as a 4.5 now? How could it pass emission tests if they are still registered as a 4.2?
Has anyone re registered their car as a 4.5 now? How could it pass emission tests if they are still registered as a 4.2?
Not quite. The late 4.2s were often registered as 4.2 but actually had a 4.5 engine fitted with 4.2 inlets. Not to do with emissions so far as I know just that TVR could not be bothered to have 2 different sets of pistons and liners with the ensuing costs for two otherwise identical engines so they cheated. If you ordered a 4.2 and they had no 4.2 pistons and liners you got a 4.5 dressed up as a 4.2. Maybe this also explains why the 4.2 cars were right on the power claimed and the 4.5s were often a tad below?
This is my guess at the "whys" I don't know for fact but I know for sure that it happened. I have stripped two factory original AJPs for rebuild, both marked as 4.2 and from 4.2 registered cars with no history of engine swaps and both were 4.5 with 4.2 inlets on. I certainly wouldn't go to the pain of re-registering a car. You will not know without stripping the engine and no one else will ever care. If you happen to know that your late 4.2 is a 4.5 just keep a wry smile on your face as you probably got a good deal as the 4.5s are more expensive as a rule.
Both can be a bit marginal on emissions but a well set up engine with good cats will pass, others will pass with a friendly tester, a badly set up one will fail and stink like a petrol refinery on fire.
This is my guess at the "whys" I don't know for fact but I know for sure that it happened. I have stripped two factory original AJPs for rebuild, both marked as 4.2 and from 4.2 registered cars with no history of engine swaps and both were 4.5 with 4.2 inlets on. I certainly wouldn't go to the pain of re-registering a car. You will not know without stripping the engine and no one else will ever care. If you happen to know that your late 4.2 is a 4.5 just keep a wry smile on your face as you probably got a good deal as the 4.5s are more expensive as a rule.
Both can be a bit marginal on emissions but a well set up engine with good cats will pass, others will pass with a friendly tester, a badly set up one will fail and stink like a petrol refinery on fire.
fatjon said:
Not quite. The late 4.2s were often registered as 4.2 but actually had a 4.5 engine fitted with 4.2 inlets. Not to do with emissions so far as I know just that TVR could not be bothered to have 2 different sets of pistons and liners with the ensuing costs for two otherwise identical engines so they cheated. If you ordered a 4.2 and they had no 4.2 pistons and liners you got a 4.5 dressed up as a 4.2. Maybe this also explains why the 4.2 cars were right on the power claimed and the 4.5s were often a tad below?
This is my guess at the "whys" I don't know for fact but I know for sure that it happened. I have stripped two factory original AJPs for rebuild, both marked as 4.2 and from 4.2 registered cars with no history of engine swaps and both were 4.5 with 4.2 inlets on. I certainly wouldn't go to the pain of re-registering a car. You will not know without stripping the engine and no one else will ever care. If you happen to know that your late 4.2 is a 4.5 just keep a wry smile on your face as you probably got a good deal as the 4.5s are more expensive as a rule.
Both can be a bit marginal on emissions but a well set up engine with good cats will pass, others will pass with a friendly tester, a badly set up one will fail and stink like a petrol refinery on fire.
This. My late 4.2 is a 4.5 with 4.2 inlets and also has Red Rose spec heads according to Andy at APM. It appears TVR were just dropping in whatever was around at the time.This is my guess at the "whys" I don't know for fact but I know for sure that it happened. I have stripped two factory original AJPs for rebuild, both marked as 4.2 and from 4.2 registered cars with no history of engine swaps and both were 4.5 with 4.2 inlets on. I certainly wouldn't go to the pain of re-registering a car. You will not know without stripping the engine and no one else will ever care. If you happen to know that your late 4.2 is a 4.5 just keep a wry smile on your face as you probably got a good deal as the 4.5s are more expensive as a rule.
Both can be a bit marginal on emissions but a well set up engine with good cats will pass, others will pass with a friendly tester, a badly set up one will fail and stink like a petrol refinery on fire.
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