98 4.2 Cerbera is this normal???

[ianfirmstone]

Hi I'm thinking of swapping my 4.3 Chimera for a 4.2 Cerbra mostly because I want extra seats for the little one!
I test drove a 4.2 this weekend and wanted to know if the engine being noisy sort of cammy at idle or low revs is normal.
There was also a fair bit of transmission noise in higher gears at low revs and on the over run.
Also rather saddened by the muted exhaust sound at low revs after the awesome sound of the 4.3 rover V8

I know I should drive some more before deciding but can anyone say Oh yeah they all do that it a flat pane crank and they sound like that or is there something amiss?
cheers
Ian

[P7ULG]

I owned a 98 4.2 Cerbera and on first starting the cams were very noisy but once the engine warmed up they quietened down to a reasonable level.If they remain noisy they probably need the the clearances checking.You will probably find that most cerbera owners have fitted a sports exhaust as a normal cerbera does'nt sound loud enough.The problem being as you say the flat plane crank which makes the engine sound more like two 4 cylinder engines than a V8 one.
As for the transmission I couldn't say I ever heard anything untoward.

[ianfirmstone]

MMmm this one was noisy sat in traffic after a good run.. It had just been serviced by Joospeed as well so doubt the clearances would still be out... Mmmmm

apparently it has a sports exhaust on it but still has the CATS..

>> Edited by ianfirmstone on Monday 17th February 11:43

[P7ULG]

There was a modification known as silent cams but I think this happened before 1998.As for the noises remember you are in a closed car as opposed to the convertable so things may sound a bit different.From Joospeeds reputation on here if he has just serviced it I would imagine it to be spot on.

[pbrettle]

Thought that the Cerbera ran the same gearbox as the Griffith and Chimaera later models - the T5 Borg box... pretty indestructable really.... one hell a lot of other cars use that box so it is 'tried and tested' as they say.

Any moans tend to be the diff - get that checked though - maybe a job for Rob Ingleby.?

Cheers,

Paul

[vroom]

My 97 4.2 Cerbera is a bit 'cammy' when cold but dissapears once oil is warmish (5/10 mins).

I can best descibe the noise as a Ford Sierra / Cortina Pinto engine with a 'slightly' worn cam...

Very different noise to the tappety you get when warm though.

More noticeable with the cold weather we've been having & I heard a new Tuscan on cold idle the other day - very similar sound.

I treat the engine very gently until it is warm

Hope this makes sense.

Nick

[ianfirmstone]

What you say about Diff noise could be true.. it was more from the rear of the car.. you do get some diff noise in the Chim when in high gears on the overrun or when acellerating lightly in a tall gear this was more pronounced though

[joospeed]

the early cars do rattle from the cams, later cars better, but beware an engine which is very quiet .. the valve clearances only close up so they're actually better to be a bit noisy than quiet funnily enough. Post 99 engines are very quiet though so don't be too alarmed by this eerie calm on those cars ...!
transmission noise .. if it's pre 99 it'll possibly stil have the early solid centre plate clutch design .. you get pronounced resonances around 2000 rpm. If the diff is noisy on overrun only then it could be a diff problem, but generally these BTR diffs are bulletproof. I've driven a car with a peninsula rebuilt diff, and I've replaced a diff which was free from BTR but other than that I've never had any probs with them .. except the TVR diff bush of course .. curse that crap rear cube chassis design..!!

[johnmckenzie]

joospeed said: the valve clearances only close up so they're actually better to be a bit noisy than quiet funnily enough.

Why is that Joolz? - It suggests the cam lobes, valve stem tips and bucket shims aren't wearing but that the valves are pocketing in their seats - very worrying if that is true!!!!!!

Regards

John

[tommomic]

I test drove a 4.2 this weekend and wanted to know if the engine being noisy sort of cammy at idle or low revs is normal.
There was also a fair bit of transmission noise in higher gears at low revs and on the over run.
Also rather saddened by the muted exhaust sound at low revs after the awesome sound of the 4.3 rover V8
Ian

I've got a late '98 4.2 and it doesnt sound like that! However, from my experience when buying mine, and trying the whole range I did notice a huge variation in the sound not only across the models (4.2/4.5/S6) but also individual cars. Its interesting but people always seem to quote the 4.5 as being the smoothest of the 3 - I drove a number of 4.2 which beat them hands down though.

As you said, the only real way is for your own ears to hear as many as possible to compare!
The Sports exhaust is essential kit - mine isnt decatted though but it is still PLENTY LOUD! I dont think anything can ever beat that Rover burple though!!

Happy hunting.
Tommo

>> Edited by tommomic on Monday 17th February 18:28

[andyvdg]

joospeed said: .. the valve clearances only close up so they're actually better to be a bit noisy than quiet funnily enough.

Is this also true when you have a stretched valve ?