Cerbera Steering Rack - Failed MOT

[oliverkelly]

After spending close on £3000 for fixed sump, new clutch, 4.2 to 4.5 clutch conversion, new radiator, new fan switch, new throttle cable, 2 new tyres, the stupid car fails its MOT for a steering rack with play in it !

Any ideas what car the steering rack comes from ? I am loath to pay TVR prices for one.

Out of 9 weeks ownership 4 weeks on the road and 5 weeks off SO FAR. Must be some kind of record.

I cannot yet see light at the end of the tunnel.

Also the engine sounds very "cammy", but I have heard conflicting reports that this is to be expected with a 96 cerb.

[Theneed4speed]

ive got a 96 4.2 serby and thats very camy ,sounds like a diesal when cold but ive been told that its in good working order ha ha.says the tvr man!!!
mine is supposed to have modified cams in ,,anyone no if they do modified cams or is this a load of s~~t!.


m soper

[PetrolTed]

I thought it was the early cars without the modified cams that were noisy?

[Alistair H.]

All V8 cerbies sound like a bag of rusty bolts from cold...... Can anyone help oliver though? - sounds a nightmare over the steering rack....

[oliverkelly]

Luckily I have had a mechanic who works out of a barn behind my house complete all the work so far. To an excellent standard.

He is getting the steering rack re-conditioned for £200. Bit of a no brainer against £880 from TVR. He has also had the starter moter reconnditioned for £130 and radiator reconnditioned.

Given the work done it hardly seems worth taking it in for a service as I was planning to!

Thnaks for the comments regarding the noise. Makes me feel much easier.

What would be the effect of continuing to run a Cerbera that required a new cam, and tappet adjustment. Would any major damage to other components occur ?

[PetrolTed]

Err.. rather than worry about the cam, why not just get it checked out?

[dannylt]

Very bad to carry on running if you know it needs tappets adjusting, etc. You can eventually have the valves held open, and this will burn the valves and seats. If it gets too tight, you can also wear the cam away. Just get it done...