TVR Tasmin 200 FHC - The resurrection
Discussion
Any readers of the Wedges section may be familiar with the story of this car but I'll do a quick summary.
I bought this in 2009 with a years MOT and used it for a year. It turned out the MOT wasn't the most legitimate and it was all a bit knackered. I replaced a lot of bushes, shock, brakes etc and took it on a few trips around Scotland.
It's quite a rare beast with apparently only 16 being made. It should have a 2.0 Pinto engine in it but it's had a 2.8 Cologne fitted at some point. I think they are rare as a slow 4 cylnder TVR that cost over 10k in 1982 was too much for most people. Anyway whatever I think it's a handsome old thing.
Unfortunately in 2010 life got in the way. We had a child, my wife was made redundant and the TVR was pushed to the bottom of the priority pile.
Roll on 12 years and I'm now working from home so we don't need two cars. I'm selling my get to work car and I'm going to get this old fella back on the road for its 40th birthday.
Unfortunately it looks like this at the moment.
I've done a fair bit of work to it already and I'll post that up shortly.
I bought this in 2009 with a years MOT and used it for a year. It turned out the MOT wasn't the most legitimate and it was all a bit knackered. I replaced a lot of bushes, shock, brakes etc and took it on a few trips around Scotland.
It's quite a rare beast with apparently only 16 being made. It should have a 2.0 Pinto engine in it but it's had a 2.8 Cologne fitted at some point. I think they are rare as a slow 4 cylnder TVR that cost over 10k in 1982 was too much for most people. Anyway whatever I think it's a handsome old thing.
Unfortunately in 2010 life got in the way. We had a child, my wife was made redundant and the TVR was pushed to the bottom of the priority pile.
Roll on 12 years and I'm now working from home so we don't need two cars. I'm selling my get to work car and I'm going to get this old fella back on the road for its 40th birthday.
Unfortunately it looks like this at the moment.
I've done a fair bit of work to it already and I'll post that up shortly.
The main thing that put it off the road was a rotten exhaust system. With any other classic car this wouldn't be a problem, you can probably just buy a stainless system off the shelf. You can get them for Tasmins too....just not early ones that's got the wrong engine in it.
Even standard manifolds don't fit my car so I had to design and make the whole thing from scratch. I took inspiration from a system the factory did that had log manifolds. It's not doing performance any favours but it works.
I also had to move the engine into the centre of the engine bay as the previous bodger who fitted the engine had it offset by about 50mm. As you can see there's not much room for the manifolds.
Even standard manifolds don't fit my car so I had to design and make the whole thing from scratch. I took inspiration from a system the factory did that had log manifolds. It's not doing performance any favours but it works.
I also had to move the engine into the centre of the engine bay as the previous bodger who fitted the engine had it offset by about 50mm. As you can see there's not much room for the manifolds.
Edited by Tasmin200 on Sunday 2nd January 21:22
OldSkoolRS said:
I note that your 'before' pictures look quite similar to my RS2000 that's been stuck in my garage a good few years longer than your TVR. Hopefully I can start a similar thread about my project later this year. 
Get stuck in. At least any money you spend will not be lost. Have you seen how much RS2000's are going for these days?There are a few rusty scabs on the chassis and the rear (inboard) brakes needed rebuilt so I dropped the diff out for access.
Obviously I can't put rusty stuff back on the car. Cleaning stuff up is messy and takes ages.
I'm going to use Rust EM121 Epoxy paint to see if that lasts longer than normal paint.
The chassis is mostly in very good condition. Remember this car is original and unrestored.
Obviously I can't put rusty stuff back on the car. Cleaning stuff up is messy and takes ages.
I'm going to use Rust EM121 Epoxy paint to see if that lasts longer than normal paint.
The chassis is mostly in very good condition. Remember this car is original and unrestored.
Paul S4 said:
Nice project !
It was structurally fine, just needed a lot of retrospective maintenance to get it to where it should have been. About £4500 worth IIRC !
£4.5k!!! That'll not be happening here. I should have called it 'Project no expense spent' It was structurally fine, just needed a lot of retrospective maintenance to get it to where it should have been. About £4500 worth IIRC !
Throwing money at this is not an option.
I really like the S series cars, very underrated. I can see me having one in the future, but at the moment I really need to get this on the road.
Like you say I'm intending to use it as an every dey car. That's not to say it's doing a commute every day but I don't want to be scared to use it in any condition. I want it to be reliable and usable so I'm not too frightening to improve things as I see fit.
Nobody wanted a 200 FHC 40 years ago and they still don't. Except for strange people like me.
Edited by Tasmin200 on Thursday 6th January 23:22
Slow going this week, I've just been cleaning up more parts ready to be painted. The family car also had trouble so that took up a lot of time.
I think a deadline helps with projects so when this came up on Facebook I thought this is something to aim for.
https://www.sirjackiestewartclassic.com/bvac-class...
The bonus is it's only 10 miles from my house so there's a decent chance of the car actually getting there and back if it's on the road by then! I'm looking forward to that as I've not been to a car show for years.
I think a deadline helps with projects so when this came up on Facebook I thought this is something to aim for.
https://www.sirjackiestewartclassic.com/bvac-class...
The bonus is it's only 10 miles from my house so there's a decent chance of the car actually getting there and back if it's on the road by then! I'm looking forward to that as I've not been to a car show for years.
radovich said:
Thanks for pointing me toward this thread. Chassis outriggers were a real problem on wedges - on my 350 they ended up almost non-existent. Yours looks in very good nick though, from the presumably relatively low miles?
The outriggers look OK from what I can see. Once the car is back on its wheels I'll be able to get it outside to remove the sill covers to see what horrors lurk behind the fibreglass. Fingers crossed.New universal joints fitted to the propshaft and a bit of painting this afternoon. Don't stress about the colour this is an expoxy undercoat. It'll all be satin black when it's finished.
Before:
Cleaned up. New gasket fitted:
Undercoated:
Suspension arms, diff cradle and propshaft in undercoat:
Before:
Cleaned up. New gasket fitted:
Undercoated:
Suspension arms, diff cradle and propshaft in undercoat:
I've been struggling with motivation recently but I've done a few bits and bobs.
I needed a radiator as the one in it was completely incorrect but as with a lot of TVR bits nobody really knows what they are. A Capri rad was too narrow (but would fit) and everybody said it wasn't a standard Granada unit. The general thinking was it was a shortened Granada unit. I found a mk 2 Granada pre facelift, manual, non Aircon rad and that fitted fine. I've had that recored an along with Capri hoses that's fine.
Tonight's problem is I want to remove the petrol tank for access to the chassis and to clean it out.
Everybody said that could be done no bother. I don't know what's different about my car but that tank won't clear the chassis to come out. When it was built it must be bolted to the body then the body is dropped onto the chassis.
I've had enough tonight, maybe it'll be fine tomorrow...
I needed a radiator as the one in it was completely incorrect but as with a lot of TVR bits nobody really knows what they are. A Capri rad was too narrow (but would fit) and everybody said it wasn't a standard Granada unit. The general thinking was it was a shortened Granada unit. I found a mk 2 Granada pre facelift, manual, non Aircon rad and that fitted fine. I've had that recored an along with Capri hoses that's fine.
Tonight's problem is I want to remove the petrol tank for access to the chassis and to clean it out.
Everybody said that could be done no bother. I don't know what's different about my car but that tank won't clear the chassis to come out. When it was built it must be bolted to the body then the body is dropped onto the chassis.
I've had enough tonight, maybe it'll be fine tomorrow...
pits said:
Tried a recore place for your rad? I did it with my Chim and took about a day, as for the motivation, I have spent the last two days in, out, on, under, through and become part of mine, the motivation is lacking but I can't leave it on the drive with no bonnet and 80% done, least you don't have seized solid bonnet hinge bolts, one snapped and one I have rounded the head far too much because it has been back and forth so many times trying to get it to budge, getting cut and drilled tomorrow, from there I don't know what my plan is.
Sounds like you're having a nightmare. I hope you get it fixed.I had my radiator recored at a wee shop in Edinburgh. Not cheap but it gets it fixed.
pits said:
Today it has been the worst, tomorrow it may be on fire 
I joke, but no it may actually.
I know how you feel. I've done a lot of work on a lot of cars but none have fought me as much as my Tasmin. I don't even know why I like it as much I've probably only driven it about 1000 miles 13 years ago! I joke, but no it may actually.Stick in, it'll be alright in the end. I find alcohol helpful.
The diff and carriers are looking good now. This thing is unbelievably heavy. I'm going to make a cradle for it to sit on my jack so I can fit it safely.
I'm tidying the chassis of aftermarket bodges and removed the rusty fuel pump carrier. I found a hole in the chassis under here as expected but it's an easy fix with good access. I need to wait on tubing though.
I'm tidying the chassis of aftermarket bodges and removed the rusty fuel pump carrier. I found a hole in the chassis under here as expected but it's an easy fix with good access. I need to wait on tubing though.
Edited by Tasmin200 on Saturday 2nd April 19:51
I've been sorting out the radiator fitment and fan brackets this week. My fabrication skills are at nursery level but it's good enough to get the car running, it's never going to be a concours d'elegance entry.
I was surprised when this patch of rusty mess didn't turn to a massive hole.
A quick flash over with the wire wheel and a lick of epoxy undercoat.
I was surprised when this patch of rusty mess didn't turn to a massive hole.
A quick flash over with the wire wheel and a lick of epoxy undercoat.
I cleaned the calipers with the wire wheel and gave them a lick of paint. I fitted new pistons and seals. They should be good for a couple of years.
The discs were new when I bought the car 13 years ago. They were rusty but not worn so I gave them a clean up. They should be OK for the moment.
The discs were new when I bought the car 13 years ago. They were rusty but not worn so I gave them a clean up. They should be OK for the moment.
Edited by Tasmin200 on Monday 2nd May 19:47
OldSkoolRS said:
Looking great, all the cleaned up brackets and straps. What paint did you use on the calipers? Will need to do a similar job on my RS2000.
I sprayed them with an aerosol epoxy primer then used aerosol caliper paint. I thought I'd try an epoxy undercoat as I've never had much luck keeping rust away from calipers just using caliper paint. If I had the funds available I'd send them away to get refurbished with zinc plate protection as I think this would last much better. I suspect the brakes will be an annual chore to get through the MOT so I can paint them next year again... Unreal said:
Watching with interest. I have this familiar face in need of tlc. You're doing some really good work there.
Ahh a well known face around these parts. I hope you give it the love it needs, Mark had it looking great but it's gone downhill over the past few years since he sold it.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff