Cerbera engine rebuilds.

[BLUETHUNDER]

At the end of the summer im looking to part company with my chimaera and move up to a cerb.In three years of ownership with my chimaera its been reliable,apart from a few minor problems.What worrys me is that while looking through the adds im a bit concerned by the number of cars that have engine rebuilds,some with less than 20,000 mls on the clock.i know the speed 6 had some reliability issues with it,but i didnt think this was the same with the AJP unit.Im looking to by a car around the 13,000-15,000 pound mark,so it looks like an early 4.2.My girlfreind is expecting a baby in november so funds will be a little restricted, thats why im going for an early car.I feel that if i dont buy one before the babys than i never will.I would appreciate any knowledge regarding problems the cerb suffers.Many thanks.Mark

[olly]

Mark, long time no speak !

I think it's the normal forum bug regarding engines going pop... When one does go, EVERYONE knows about it. It's not normal to post saying "Jusy gone past 50,000 & still going like the Clappers"....

There are only 2 Cerbs left in the Ratpac, ours (on 29,000), and Jo's (on 60,000 I think).... I know Steve Heaths Cerb is at some silly mileage too (80,000+), and still going strong on pretty much all it's original bits.... I may well be wrong (& Joolz or someone will set me right), but there are very few V8 Cerb engines that have failed under normal circumstances (the only 1 I've seen pop was at Elvington after some "Spirited" runs up the strip......)

and what the h3ll are we both doing up at 4am on a Sunday ! I have an excuse, I'm working !

[BLUETHUNDER]

Hello Olly. What actully goes wrong engine wise?.What are the rat-pac diving now?. B.t.w i was up in te early hours because i couldnt sleep.

[GreenV8S]

olly said:

I know Steve Heaths Cerb is at some silly mileage too (80,000+), and still going strong on pretty much all it's original bits....

Unfortunately I understand the engine threw a bearing recently, and when it was stripped down the internal gubbins (technical term) were all in pretty poor shape, it was judged beyond economic repair.

[simonsparrow]

Mine is on 107500 miles, no rebuilds (yet).....I guess like all things TVR, they're essentially hand built, so you seem to get a lot of variance in terms of quality. Also how well they've been looked after makes much more differnce than with a mass produced car.

If you cane it from cold, neglect the servicing etc. then the engine seems to suffer.

I've got no idea what the engine 'life' of the AJP V8 might be, but there are a few with the mileage creeping up now...

[toadusmodus]

simonsparrow said:

Mine is on 107500 miles, no rebuilds (yet).....I guess like all things TVR, they're essentially hand built, so you seem to get a lot of variance in terms of quality. Also how well they've been looked after makes much more differnce than with a mass produced car. If you cane it from cold, neglect the servicing etc. then the engine seems to suffer. I've got no idea what the engine 'life' of the AJP V8 might be, but there are a few with the mileage creeping up now...

Blimey! I thought that was a tipo, but checking your profile confirmed your mileage. Excellent! Mine has done about 55,000, no sign of engine probs (although it has a problem at the moment but I am hoping it is an issue with the ECU). As others have said, the engine is pretty solid, as long as it is treated with mechanical sympathy. No high revving when cold, oil kept topped up, serviced et. But how you tell if this is the case with a used Cerb......

Jo

[gazzab]

AJPs will generally go to about 50K without rebuild so long as they are treated well. That is at least twice as far as S6 engine and about the same as a TVR RV8.
If you are buying on a budget then be v v v careful. It will bleed you dry!

[olly]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Hello Olly. What actully goes wrong engine wise?.What are the rat-pac diving now?. B.t.w i was up in te early hours because i couldnt sleep.

I think its normally a bearing failiure - but what else goes as a result of the gearings could be anything !

Ratpac are a right mixed bag now ! 2 Cerbs (might be 3 again shortly), a 355 Spyder, a 360 Spider, 3 996 Turbo's & an R32 Skyline (with 500+ bhp)

[olly]

GreenV8S said:

olly said: I know Steve Heaths Cerb is at some silly mileage too (80,000+), and still going strong on pretty much all it's original bits.... Unfortunately I understand the engine threw a bearing recently, and when it was stripped down the internal gubbins (technical term) were all in pretty poor shape, it was judged beyond economic repair.

Oh bu99er - sorry to hear about this Steve (if your reading !)

Does that means there will be even more engine details in the Cerb bible when it arrives ? (he said trying to make it a positive thing that the engine has failed)

[shpub]

The engine fairy has come up with al alternative solution....

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=165357&f=6&h=0

[BCA]

gazzab said:

AJPs will generally go to about 50K without rebuild so long as they are treated well. That is at least twice as far as S6 engine and about the same as a TVR RV8. If you are buying on a budget then be v v v careful. It will bleed you dry!

50k... I'll let dad know that the engine let go 4k miles ago.


Cant help but feel thats rather pessimistic and its more of a case that people simply *havent* put enough miles on them yet.

[RUSSELLM]

You've saved me from starting a topic with this one.

On opening "Sprint" this morning, I noticed three six speed Cerbs for sale, one of which mentioned a rebuild, the other two, well, you would need to call & find out.

More worrying however was the six V8's for sale, four of which had been rebuilt, the other two ?

Mileage's seemed to be about 30K

I know it's not an accurate poll, but

[BCA]

So lets get an accurate indication - see my new topic.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Do all rebuilds have to be done at the factory? or can they be bought of the shelf,and the work carried out by a specialist.The reason i ask is,because a few months a ago i was told TVR wont sell you any engine parts,and that all rebuils will have to be done at the factory.Is this true?

[GreenV8S]

Personally I would have thought an engine rebuild at 25k was fair enough for the AJP/speed engines. They've had relatively little development, quite highly stressed (compared to the RV8 tractor engine) and there are plenty of highly tuned RV8s that get taken apart for a checkup more often than that. It's the ones that pop when they're barely run in that would bother me ...

[yellow peril]

Hi,

The ex Peril had done 56,000 fun filled miles when we sold her last week.

She was still pulling like a train and driving on rails....no problems at all.....
Sold her cos Ray fell in love with the Sagaris.

At a track day at Bedford last year there was a 4.5 Cerb tracking that had done 98,000 and was still on the original engine with no problems at all............

I just hope the Speed 6 that we have just purchased is as reliable.......

YP

[trooperiziz]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Do all rebuilds have to be done at the factory? or can they be bought of the shelf,and the work carried out by a specialist.The reason i ask is,because a few months a ago i was told TVR wont sell you any engine parts,and that all rebuils will have to be done at the factory.Is this true?

I'm getting mine rebuilt at topcats racing, so there are specialists who can do the rebuilds.

[gazzab]

think it depends on the defn of rebuild? Top ends are ok but anything more serious requires factory/tvr power?

[snotsnfarts]

How much is a engine rebuild or indeed a new engine, mine has 40k on 4.2 AJP and no problems.

[gazzab]

A rebuild is between £3k and £7K generally depending on what needs doing. A new engine. On an older car ou would be best going for a 2nd hand engine or another type of engine ie I cant believe a new engine is going to cost under £10K all in? Just my guess work though.