Author Topic: Cerberus here we go.  (Read 155710 times)

APDevelopments

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #420 on: October 15, 2016, 03:54:03 PM »
Just a quickie.
Glad to see that I'm inspiring you all with my build.
The sun was shining this afternoon so I took some latest photos for you all.
 8)

APDevelopments

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #421 on: October 22, 2016, 07:18:38 PM »
Time for this weeks update.
After much deciding on what to do with the engine in Cerberus I have finally decided to commit to a Woodsport v6 conversion.
I've chatted to Paul about it and he is now booking for next March.
This is perfect for my timing as Cerberus should be back from having the upholstery done mid February.
So his deposit is on the way.
Paul says he is going to go all out mental with the conversion and try to make it one of the best sounding conversions he has done  8)
He sent me a YouTube link of a lambo he did a few years ago. Kind of gives me a idea what to expect.
He also sent me a link of what a v6 mr2 sounds like on the road.   :o
The links is at the bottom of my waffling.  ;D
Cerberus deserves to sound like the super car it is.
I'm not interested in speed or power as it will probably fall apart if you go above 60 ;D especially with those huge wheel spacers on.  
It is a plastic pig after all.
But it needs to sound right and to do this Paul has confirmed that you need more than 4 cylinders to do it.
So a v6 it is.
Anyway back to putting Cerberus together.
So I have been busy wiring up the passenger door. Exactly the same as the drivers door.
I have put the glass back in. Fitted the new window trims. Soldered up all the wires and refitted the door panel ready for the upholstery.
I then refitted the lower grill.
I have also re assembled the passenger side headlights. Exactly the same as the other side.
Once re assembled they needed lining up.
My home made adjusters worked perfectly with bringing the lights into line.
Once everything's complete I will refit the new headlight glasses that I have had made.
I still have a lot to do and the weeks are ticking away. Only 9 weeks till Christmas  :-\ (HUMBUG)
Cerberus goes to have the upholstery done 1st week of January and she needs to be ready.
More to follow next week.


https://youtu.be/8s728GcbD_Q

https://youtu.be/aBbC9rf5YSQ
« Last Edit: October 22, 2016, 07:27:48 PM by APDevelopments »

APDevelopments

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #422 on: October 22, 2016, 07:20:01 PM »
More photos

dman1409

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #423 on: October 24, 2016, 11:00:29 PM »
Yeaahh fresh farts!!

Been catching up on your thread! Good to see you are taking the extra effort to improve the head lights!! The eyes of the car are super important.. On many builds you see them pourly done...
Really impressed how good your doors look also! Nice upholstery!

If i may ask why do you go for a v6 setup rather then smacking in a v8?!

Keep it up mate!


APDevelopments

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #424 on: October 29, 2016, 07:25:00 PM »
Time for this weeks update.
Firstly engines. Yes I would love to have a v8 in there. I've always loved the old Rover V8 especially going back to the old crappy solex twin carbs. It was crap, unreliable and didn't give much power for its size but it sounded fantastic. Especially with straight through pipes. You couldn't beat it. Even today it still sounds out of this world.
But unfortunately Cerberus is actually a Toyota MR2 and the engine is facing the wrong way. Across the car rather than down the length of the car. So space is limited.
If Cerberus was built on a space frame like a lot of kit cars then they sky's the limit. But I'm limited to a MR2 and my budget.
Theres really only one company who specialises in MR2s these days and that woodsport.
Paul at Woodsport has squeezed in a v8 and even a v12 into a mr2 but not without its problems.
The v6 conversion is very successful and popular. Any bugs have been sorted out over the years plus the conversion is in my budget.

I haven't done much to the car as I have been working all week.
But I have a interesting week ahead.
I am going to put the basic interior back in to make sure everything fits into place ready for the upholstery.
The complete dash, door cards, centre console and seats. Everything except for the carpet.
I need to get everything working and fitted perfectly.
On Friday this week I'm taking Cerberus to a rolling road tuner. The car hasent been driven since i first brought her, having had all the mechanical work and new turbo done.
So we are going to stick the car on the Dyno rolling road to see that everything is working as it should. It will be interesting to see what the engine and gearbox is doing.
I'm then taking it back to the Ferrari garage to carry out a pre MOT.
Basically a full good MOT but not putting it through.
This is to check that it will pass a MOT. Or to highlight work that needs to be done.
The Ferrari garage has a flat access ramp designed for these super cars with no ground clearance.
Perfect for Cerberus. 8)
Time to dig out my old frontera as it has some towing to do. I'm going to trailer Cerberus to the garages  8)
Loads of photos to follow.


dman1409

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #425 on: October 31, 2016, 03:31:01 PM »
Sounds good!!! Cant wait to see!

Alex360

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #426 on: October 31, 2016, 07:00:46 PM »
Hi AP,

nice to see that you are cracking on well buddy

Great job so far!!

APDevelopments

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #427 on: November 04, 2016, 07:24:57 PM »
Time for this weeks update.
Well things didn't turn out how I expected in the end. It was almost a complete disaster but I wasn't going to give up.
During the week I needed to get Cerberus ready for its pre MOT. Basically a very thorough MOT without actually putting it though.
I started off by bonding the passenger side indicator side light. Simple clear tiger seal and a stool to keep the pressure on it over night whilst it dries.
My first job was to finish putting all the interior trims back and to make sure everything fits correctly.
Minus the carpets.
This is one good thing about sticking with the original mr2 dash and console. Every thing fits so perfectly.
Unlike when you do a custom build. It never looks factory fitted however good it is.
The whole dash, centre console and door cards have been refitted.
I have fitted my new steering wheel as well. I spent ages looking for a wheel I liked. I found one on flee bay. I myself prefer a fully covered leather wheel with an air bag look. Looks more substantial and chunky.
I also needed to refit the seats correctly.
Because I'm a big fella the seats can't have any runners on them. The seats need to be mounted really low. This is the only way I get just about 1 inch of headroom inside. If I was to use runners or the original mr2 seats you would need to be a munchkin to drive it.
Both seats are bolted straight to the floor.
It was time to fit up the new race harness seat belts. I have chosen orange 4 point harnesses to match the outside orange. 8) I had the gear panel on the centre console painted in the same colour as the car when it was done.
I like a little orange hear and there inside the car.
Even tho the seats haven't been re trimmed yet with orange diamond stitching they look rather good with the orange harnesses.  8)
I've chosen race harnesses over ordinary seat belts because it gives A more super car feel and look. Well it does in my book  8)
As I had no electric windows it was time to call in some profeshional help with getting them working again.
A friend of mine specialises in auto electrics so he was lumbered with my windows. It's amazing how much cableing is required for just for 2 windows. 4 relays and 2 switches. To be exact.
It wasn't long before my windows were working as they should. 8)
So now the car is ready to hit the rolling road.
My plan was to take Cerberus to a local dyno rolling road to see how the engine was performing.
Then in the afternoon to take the car to my local Ferrari garage for a pre MOT.
So I dug out Sherman my old frontera and got the old tank ready to tow.
I picked up the trailer from the trailer hire place first thing and the chap still guaranteed that this time my lambo would fit on to his trailer.
Once I got back home it wasn't long until I found out that there was no way on this earth Cerberus was going to fit.
Shit! >:(
Basically firstly the nose won't clear the trailer. So I tried with 2 planks of wood. It did then clear the first part but then half way up it wouldn't fit between the wheels of the trailer.
 >:( not impressed. So I had to cancel the rolling road trip.  :(
Now the problems really started. What did it do? Pissed down with rain.
It hasent rained for nearly 1 month and when I need to move Cerberus about it rains. WTF. >:(
I was kinda stuffed as the Ferrari garage is only a quarter a mile down the road but I have no windscreen fitted  :(
Well I wasn't having it. Stuff the weather. Stuff the trailer problem. I got my new windscreen from under my bed. Put some masking tape around it and popped it on to the car. I then used masking tape to stop the rain coming in and keep it in place.
As it's going for a MOT it's quite legal to drive it to its MOT destination and back. So that's exactly what I did. Simply stuck my number plates back on and drove it down the road to the Ferrari garage.
It was absolutely pissing down with rain and I made the right decision to put the windscreen in. It kept the rain out as it should.
Hurray  ;D I was at the Ferrari garage.
I haven't driven her since I first brought her. But it was a nice feeling that she's nearly there on the road again.
So the garage started the MOT test. Once Cerberus was on the ramp there's a few niggles I need to sort out. Firstly my headlights were all over the place. My height adjuster worked a treat bringing the lights to the correct level but they were cross eyed. I haven't made any adjuster to move the lights left or right. So this is the first thing I will need to tackle.
Everything else seemed good except for 1 nackered passenger side lower ball joint, excessive play in the steering rack and crap rear brakes :(.
So I have some mechanical work to do before next year. The ball joint and brakes isn't a worry but I need to buy a new steering rack from somewhere.
What's really good is the car passed the emissions test. This means the engine is good.
I did take a little wander around the garage whilst all this was going on. Umm nice to see a garage full of ferraris.
That's what I call a proper place to work. Lucky people getting to work in there.  8)
Once everything was checked I came away with my small list of things to do.
One thing we did discuss was the crazy wheel spacers the extreme replica uses to get the wheels to fit.
He said that by using these spacers there is some serious stresses going through the wheel bearings.
His solution was to extend the track arms and drive shafts.  :-X yea that's easier said than done.
But these spacers would only be an advisory. There not illegal.
I mentioned deep dish split rims. They would work but there would still be stresses on the wheel bearings.
Don't forget we are dealing with a top notch Ferrari garage here. Not bodge it motors. :D
I'm happy with the spacers for now as I'm not going to be driving thousands of miles in the car.
So away I went from the garage back home.  8) the long way round the houses. 8) I did put my foot down abit and the turbo spooled up nicely with a nice chuff when I changed gear.
So the new turbo is working as it should  ;D
I couldn't beleave as soon as I drove straight back into my car tent it stopped raining. WTF.  >:( it was like god turned of the tap. Maybe he was watching and having a laugh.
Anyway I managed to get half of what I wanted to achieve today.

So what are my plans now with Cerberus?

Well I'm now going to strip out all the interior again.
I'm then going to start the carpeting and sending off various parts to the upholstery company for retrimming.
I'm starting with the seats and then the door cards.
I've decided I'm not going with a Woodsport v6 engine change for now. Because the original engine is good I might as well stick to it. Don't forget I brought a new turbo last year and spent about £1k doing the timing belt and water pump etc etc.
I'm going to redesign the exhaust system with a switch between loud to quiet. To keep my bell end neighbours happy.  :P
I need to re design the headlight adjustment so I can also adjust left to right as well as up and down.
I'm getting the rest of the mechanical work done to include the steering rack.
I want to look into getting some air suspension on the front. The car is a nightmare being so low and could do with being able to raise it when required.
Lots and lots to do.
Of course you can keep up with it here as always.
Oh and loads of photos  ;)




« Last Edit: November 04, 2016, 09:03:24 PM by APDevelopments »

APDevelopments

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #428 on: November 04, 2016, 07:26:36 PM »
More photos.

APDevelopments

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #429 on: November 04, 2016, 07:27:33 PM »
Last few

Mickey_London

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #430 on: November 04, 2016, 08:05:07 PM »
I bet you was smiling like a Cheshire Cat driving her to and from the garage
Nice one
Mick

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #431 on: November 05, 2016, 10:29:50 PM »
Time for a quick update.
Yes it was rather nice to actually drive Cerberus again. I can't wait for it to be 100% done.
I did manage to do some work to the car today.
Today's task was to get the 2 door cards ready to go off for re trimming.
My first job is to refit the new door opener handles.
The original openers are total crap. You can't reach them then the doors closed as they are behind the seat.
Looking at the real murcie they have the handles on the arm rest of the door cards.
So mine will have the same.
After looking at every car handle I couldn't find any suitable. Then I noticed the handles on my sofa. They are a black handle that you pull to make it recline.
After measuring them they would be perfect for this job.
I could have nicked them off my sofa but I think the wife would go nuclear. :(
So I found a new pair on flee bay for £5.
Now that they have arrived it's time to fit them to my door cards.
Originally there is a small hole where the electric door switches used to be so all I need to do is make them bigger to fit the new handles.
My new electric window switches are now fitted where the stereo used to be in the din slot.
I start by cutting a template out of cardboard, I then draw the hole on the leather.
I cut the leather with a Stanley knife and then cut the insides away using a jig saw.
To finish off I used my Dremel to sand it to perfectly fit the handle.
I did exactly the same to the other door card.
They actually fit rather well and will make opening the doors much easier.
The cards are now ready to be sent off for re covering.
That's it for this week. Back to work tomorrow.
I've now got to strip all the interior out again.
So more then.

« Last Edit: November 05, 2016, 10:41:29 PM by APDevelopments »

APDevelopments

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #432 on: November 05, 2016, 10:31:04 PM »
More photos

4u2nv

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #433 on: November 05, 2016, 10:49:32 PM »
Nice 1 bud looking good

dman1409

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Re: Cerberus here we go.
« Reply #434 on: November 06, 2016, 03:08:50 PM »
Hey buddy, regarding the wheel spacers:

I'd definately take the extra mile and lengthen the drive shaft etc... It will make your car soooo much better... Changing bearings evere 5000 km is not something you want... Plus the handling of the car wont be good...

I'd do it now if i was in your position... When the car is all done you might just leave it as is.... You have an insane project mate!!! You will enjoy it more when driving! I hear guys complainig about wheel spacers all the time...

Thanx for the great updates !! She looks the bullocks!

 

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