Theres some cheap Cerberas about..........
Discussion
Now theres some cheap Cerberas about. If you bought one with a view that as its high mileage its life might be limited so you drove it into the ground, what does one of these engine conversions cost to stick a Corvette engine in it ??
People seem to be doing it themselves but I wouldn't have teh skills or spece to do this. Is there anybody doing it as a package ??
People seem to be doing it themselves but I wouldn't have teh skills or spece to do this. Is there anybody doing it as a package ??
I think this chap is looking to do a 'set' conversion.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
Yep - Ballpark figure is around £7k ex vat including engine. Final price depends on engine spec and currency rates. You can supply your own engine if you have one and that further reduces the costs. We are quoting and scheduling in conversions right now so it is reality. Been running my converted car for a year now - It passed its MOT including emissions last week - and had no problems at all. MPG up to 30 mpg, pulls from 18mph in top and is an absolute dream to drive. 100k service intervals on the engine... Fully open ECU software that allows complete control over the ECU including fan control, shift lights rev limits and so on. We also take the opportunity to improve access to further reduce maintenance costs. e.g. the coil packs are on top of the engine. The manifolds can be removed from the engine bay and don't need to be undone to remove the gearbox.
I'm offering the conversion in conjunction with Dave Wallis (Tower View Race Services). This conversion is low cost as it reuses most of the Cerbera to keep costs down and to ensure everything in the car works. The price is for "Drive in Drive out". You can sell the remains of the AJP to offset the costs. If the AJP is still working you could get up to £3000 for it. Broken probably around £1000 but it all depends.
If you want silly power then we would recommend upgrading the T5 to a CTS/Quaife version which is a drop in replacement and is rated at around 700 lb/ft of torque.
Email me if you're interested.
I'm offering the conversion in conjunction with Dave Wallis (Tower View Race Services). This conversion is low cost as it reuses most of the Cerbera to keep costs down and to ensure everything in the car works. The price is for "Drive in Drive out". You can sell the remains of the AJP to offset the costs. If the AJP is still working you could get up to £3000 for it. Broken probably around £1000 but it all depends.
If you want silly power then we would recommend upgrading the T5 to a CTS/Quaife version which is a drop in replacement and is rated at around 700 lb/ft of torque.
Email me if you're interested.
Edited by shpub on Saturday 25th October 14:11
It depends... I used a s/h engine for my conversion as it was cheap and came with a lot of parts — which gave me lots of options when doing the work as I wasn't sure how much of the Cerbera I could reuse. Depending on the currency rates etc., the conversion can be done with a basic crate engine for the ballpark £7K figures. The design brief was to do the conversion for the lowest cost by reusing rather than replacing. A S/H engine could cost about half that of a crate engine and would be the lowest possible cost but with the risks associated with a second hand engine.
The conversion uses the original T5 gearbox — which is ok at the 400 lb/ft level. We don't change the gearbox because of the increased costs i.e. clutch/flywheel/bellhousing/propshaft/mounts/gearbox remote and all the additional engineering time to make it fit. If you want/need a stronger gearbox then the CTS T5 is a direct replacement. I have been using this box on my competition Wedge which is putting 540+ bhp through it. It has broken diff mounts but the box has been fine. It is a drop in replacement with no further mods which again keeps the costs down. It is one of those things where it doesn't need to be done but if the gearbox does go bang, it's an upgrade option. If you want something different, it can be done but the cost increase is very substantial.
If you want to source your own engine - I have a couple of customers who have done that - I normally get involved with the supplier to ensure that it has what we need and more importantly the stuff we don't need is removed. For example, we need a shallow sump, manual throttle body and connectors. I used an LS1... but LS2, LS6, LS7 will all fit. The power output does need to be looked as this will determine the gearbox route but there is nothing to stop going bigger and detuning as necessary. Or simply trying it and see what happens, knowing that there is an upgrade available. A 400ish setup should be fine. 450 is borderline and above that you will need a gearbox upgrade at some point.
The conversion uses the original T5 gearbox — which is ok at the 400 lb/ft level. We don't change the gearbox because of the increased costs i.e. clutch/flywheel/bellhousing/propshaft/mounts/gearbox remote and all the additional engineering time to make it fit. If you want/need a stronger gearbox then the CTS T5 is a direct replacement. I have been using this box on my competition Wedge which is putting 540+ bhp through it. It has broken diff mounts but the box has been fine. It is a drop in replacement with no further mods which again keeps the costs down. It is one of those things where it doesn't need to be done but if the gearbox does go bang, it's an upgrade option. If you want something different, it can be done but the cost increase is very substantial.
If you want to source your own engine - I have a couple of customers who have done that - I normally get involved with the supplier to ensure that it has what we need and more importantly the stuff we don't need is removed. For example, we need a shallow sump, manual throttle body and connectors. I used an LS1... but LS2, LS6, LS7 will all fit. The power output does need to be looked as this will determine the gearbox route but there is nothing to stop going bigger and detuning as necessary. Or simply trying it and see what happens, knowing that there is an upgrade available. A 400ish setup should be fine. 450 is borderline and above that you will need a gearbox upgrade at some point.
Edited by shpub on Saturday 25th October 15:19
Or these guys have a conversion on the go...
http://www.tvrmonster.co.uk/newsgtf.html
I should be driving one next year...
http://www.tvrmonster.co.uk/newsgtf.html
I should be driving one next year...
Edited by Guillotine on Saturday 25th October 14:52
TVR Moneypit said:
I did have concerns that going ahead with such a conversion, such a complete b
disation of a TVR would make it more difficult to sell on, but the more people that do this, the less of an issue that will be.
There certainly will be a lot more LS Cerbs on the roads next year. disation of a TVR would make it more difficult to sell on, but the more people that do this, the less of an issue that will be.
A lot of people love the Cerbera etc but are scared off by the AJP (rightly or wrongly - don't want to open that can of worms). The way I've done it, it is perfectly possible to refit the AJP (don't know why you would but that option is there).
Most people when they experience an LS Cerb fall in love with them. The number of people who have said " this is the car TVR should have built" is quite amazing. The heart may say AJP is the best way but get saddled with a couple of big AJP bills and the high servicing costs and it can taint the enjoyment of driving the car. I know have a Cerb that is great to drive and I can give it a good time without the thought in my mind of what is going to break... I am enjoying it more than when it had an AJP in it or the first Cerb I had with both its engines!
To me... it has all the benefits with none of the vices.
Edited by shpub on Saturday 25th October 15:36
poorpeet said:
Steve
The search facility is down at the moment so can you tell me if you covered the conversion on line?
a link would be good
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...The search facility is down at the moment so can you tell me if you covered the conversion on line?
a link would be good
plus some others in the Cerb forum.
BTW This is the tidied and cleaned engine bay.
Edited by shpub on Saturday 25th October 15:09
shpub said:
Yep - Ballpark figure is around £7k ex vat including engine. Final price depends on engine spec and currency rates. You can supply your own engine if you have one and that further reduces the costs. We are quoting and scheduling in conversions right now so it is reality. Been running my converted car for a year now - It passed its MOT including emissions last week - and had no problems at all. MPG up to 30 mpg, pulls from 18mph in top and is an absolute dream to drive. 100k service intervals on the engine... Fully open ECU software that allows complete control over the ECU including fan control, shift lights rev limits and so on. We also take the opportunity to improve access to further reduce maintenance costs. e.g. the coil packs are on top of the engine. The manifolds can be removed from the engine bay and don't need to be undone to remove the gearbox.
I'm offering the conversion in conjunction with Dave Wallis (Tower View Race Services). This conversion is low cost as it reuses most of the Cerbera to keep costs down and to ensure everything in the car works. The price is for "Drive in Drive out". You can sell the remains of the AJP to offset the costs. If the AJP is still working you could get up to £3000 for it. Broken probably around £1000 but it all depends.
If you want silly power then we would recommend upgrading the T5 to a CTS/Quaife version which is a drop in replacement and is rated at around 700 lb/ft of torque.
Email me if you're interested.
This is all good news IMHO for all TVR owners, that well respected names in the TVR community are developing this sort of conversion to give those requiring engine work an option to upgrade(?) at a reasononable price.I'm offering the conversion in conjunction with Dave Wallis (Tower View Race Services). This conversion is low cost as it reuses most of the Cerbera to keep costs down and to ensure everything in the car works. The price is for "Drive in Drive out". You can sell the remains of the AJP to offset the costs. If the AJP is still working you could get up to £3000 for it. Broken probably around £1000 but it all depends.
If you want silly power then we would recommend upgrading the T5 to a CTS/Quaife version which is a drop in replacement and is rated at around 700 lb/ft of torque.
Email me if you're interested.
Edited by shpub on Saturday 25th October 14:11
Yes I sound like a sycophant but I have no connection to shpub apart from I bought front and rear drop links. Would that qualify me for a discount as an existing customer Steve?
shpub said:
poorpeet said:
Steve
The search facility is down at the moment so can you tell me if you covered the conversion on line?
a link would be good
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...The search facility is down at the moment so can you tell me if you covered the conversion on line?
a link would be good
plus some others in the Cerb forum.
BTW This is the tidied and cleaned engine bay.
Edited by shpub on Saturday 25th October 15:09
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