Red Rose vs 4.5 LW
Discussion
I went for a couple more test drives yesterday in some 4.5 LW's and none of them so far have been the same in performance as the first one I drove which was a Red Rose with a close ratio gearbox.
I know there is around 20BHP extra in the RR but is that normally that much noticeable? I'm sure the close ratio gearbox made a big difference too to that way it drove but no 4.5 since then has come close.
I probably made the mistake by driving the RR first before any 4.5's but that was all the dealer had around for a test drive.
If there isn't much difference in the two versions, can there be differences in 4.5's in terms of performance?
P.S. Maybe the buzz of driving a Cerbera for the first time exaggerated the speed a little!!!!
Big T.
I know there is around 20BHP extra in the RR but is that normally that much noticeable? I'm sure the close ratio gearbox made a big difference too to that way it drove but no 4.5 since then has come close.
I probably made the mistake by driving the RR first before any 4.5's but that was all the dealer had around for a test drive.
If there isn't much difference in the two versions, can there be differences in 4.5's in terms of performance?
P.S. Maybe the buzz of driving a Cerbera for the first time exaggerated the speed a little!!!!
Big T.
the actual increase is immaterial .. red rose upgrade gets you about 400+ odd bhp whatever you start with. Watch for julian rowntree's upcoming sprint article to see just what he got - then even more with a good air box and large filters .. really will make you all sit up and take notice 
best bit is that the fuelling was all over the place and there's more to come .. let's just say that 470bhp for the tuscan engine seems right on the money ....
best bit is that the fuelling was all over the place and there's more to come .. let's just say that 470bhp for the tuscan engine seems right on the money ....
joospeed said: the actual increase is immaterial .. red rose upgrade gets you about 400+ odd bhp whatever you start with. Watch for julian rowntree's upcoming sprint article to see just what he got - then even more with a good air box and large filters .. really will make you all sit up and take notice
best bit is that the fuelling was all over the place and there's more to come .. let's just say that 470bhp for the tuscan engine seems right on the money ....
What ? you mean my Tuscan RR engine has 470bhp
C'mon Joolz tell us what you know...
from the henley heritage site:
"It is also now possible for customers to have a Red Rose conversion for any TVR Cerbera 4.5. It gives 440 bhp at 7250 rpm and 390 ft.lbs. at 5500 rpm (up from 420 bhp at 6750 rpm and 380 ft.lbs at 5500 rpm). With reshaped inlet and exhaust ports to increase the flow of gases and a higher compression ratio giving about 50% of the improvement, the rest is only available when using 97 octane super unleaded petrol. The Red Rose conversion actually has a dashboard mounted switch to control which fuelling and ignition map is used to enable the engine to take advantage of the higher octane fuel while avoiding detonation when using the more easily available lower octane fuel. The conversion is priced at £2350"
perhaps VAT on top of that i guess. Seems eminently reasonable.
Curious as to how the compression ratio is increased? Good skim at the heid or do they change pistons?
"It is also now possible for customers to have a Red Rose conversion for any TVR Cerbera 4.5. It gives 440 bhp at 7250 rpm and 390 ft.lbs. at 5500 rpm (up from 420 bhp at 6750 rpm and 380 ft.lbs at 5500 rpm). With reshaped inlet and exhaust ports to increase the flow of gases and a higher compression ratio giving about 50% of the improvement, the rest is only available when using 97 octane super unleaded petrol. The Red Rose conversion actually has a dashboard mounted switch to control which fuelling and ignition map is used to enable the engine to take advantage of the higher octane fuel while avoiding detonation when using the more easily available lower octane fuel. The conversion is priced at £2350"
perhaps VAT on top of that i guess. Seems eminently reasonable.
Curious as to how the compression ratio is increased? Good skim at the heid or do they change pistons?
Being new to TVR's and sports cars in general (picking up my 2001 four five next week), when I drove the RR with the Close Ratio Gearbox, would it have been the extra BHP or the gearbox that made it seem a lot quicker and responsive than the four fives I test drove?? Or both together??
Some people are telling me that the engine made more difference and some saying the gearbox. I would like to know cos if I love my new motor (no doubts that I will), I would probably want to buy a new one next and would like to know what's best to spec with the car.
If the RR conversion is around two and a half grand and makes that much difference, then I'm going for that with this one!!
T.
Some people are telling me that the engine made more difference and some saying the gearbox. I would like to know cos if I love my new motor (no doubts that I will), I would probably want to buy a new one next and would like to know what's best to spec with the car.
If the RR conversion is around two and a half grand and makes that much difference, then I'm going for that with this one!!
T.
Yeah, double checked the H-H site, £2350 is the number. The figure i'd heard previously was ~ £4k?
their contact details are:
url: www.henley-tvr.com
e-mail: sales@henley-tvr.com
or service@henley-tvr.com
Tel: 01491 411177
FAX: 01491 578574
their contact details are:
url: www.henley-tvr.com
e-mail: sales@henley-tvr.com
or service@henley-tvr.com
Tel: 01491 411177
FAX: 01491 578574
2350 (or whatever) is on a new car. 4000 is for the retro fit, because they have to strip engine down again etc.
The clutch etc. was seperate - the bill all told for 18k + clutch + red rose was about 6k!
Remember, the standard factory numbers are bollocks - more like 350bhp, 310lbft. Both Red Rose cars tested have been 400bhp+, so the mod is definitely worth while from a power point of view.
However, it's all completely wasted on the road, let's be honest. On a track, tuition is going to make the most difference. Then decent suspension, then in a distant third, better brakes. IMHO.
Danny
PS Best of all, ditch the Cerbie and get something sub 500kg instead for track use :-)
The clutch etc. was seperate - the bill all told for 18k + clutch + red rose was about 6k!
Remember, the standard factory numbers are bollocks - more like 350bhp, 310lbft. Both Red Rose cars tested have been 400bhp+, so the mod is definitely worth while from a power point of view.
However, it's all completely wasted on the road, let's be honest. On a track, tuition is going to make the most difference. Then decent suspension, then in a distant third, better brakes. IMHO.
Danny
PS Best of all, ditch the Cerbie and get something sub 500kg instead for track use :-)
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff