Big Deep Breath for the Body off!!!

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<br/>Body off!! <br/>Well I have been building up to this for the last few months and have finally decided to take the plunge. <br/> <br/>Engine and gearbox removed yesterday, car back at home in the garage all looking very sad. <br/> <br/>Next steps will be : <br/>1. Bonnet off <br/>2. Rad out <br/>3. Fuel Tank out <br/>4. Roll cage out <br/>5. seats and carpets out <br/>6. Bolts cut/undone in the following areas, 2 front by rad, 2 back behind petrol tank?, 2 on top of gearbox tunnel, 4 outriggers 3 neareer ladder chassis (each side) any more offers? <br/>7. Cut/remove wires in transmision tunnel <br/>8. Undo remove brake lines/fuel lines <br/> <br/>What have I left off the shopping list then prior to lifting the body? <br/> <br/>Outriggers in poor state hence the need to do the job. <br/> <br/>I intend to do most of this work myself, so would appreciate experiences of brave folk that have done this before, any tips like, close the windows and ensure the roof is fixed and closed prior to the lift? <br/> <br/>Thanks, <br/> <br/>Steve. G. <br/> <br/>p.s. I intend to keep you lot up on progress with this!!!

>> Edited by schimg on Tuesday 13th December 12:26

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stuartc said:

Post some Pic's

Stuart,

I will try to but I had trouble putting one of the car on my profile....on the basis that I didn't acheive this what do you think my chaces of success with the body off are!!!?

Steve. G.

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blujay10 said:

Good luck, mate, you are a braver man than I am!

Thanks I think I will need it, brave no mad yes!

Plan to get the rad out tonight, and stop the Bl**dy alarm, I can't beleive how long it takes for the alarm (cobra, with no switch) to drain.

Steve.

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paul garabette said:

Yikes! You're obviously planning on doing "a proper job"! I replaced my outriggers the winter before last....but I left the engine and gearbox in place. It sounds like you've pretty much got it all covered. However you will need to remove the seatbelt mountings also. There are three bolts each side, one into the transmission tunnel, one which mounts the reel (which you can see in the rear wheel arch in front of the wheel), and one which bolts into a bracket on the top of the outrigger (which should have a captive nut welded to it but it might have rusted loose). Good luck.....and respect. Paul.

Thanks, doh forgat about these fixings, the two in front of the raer wheels are well gone, I think these shouldn't be too much of a problem.

I looked at the method by which you have done yours, and was tempted to do a 9inch lift (I think the term is) but the intention is to 4.3 bv, fast road cam, 500 inlet, engine refresh (85k on the clock),500 clutch, cats out....stuff like that. I have done the enlarged plenum and thermal plate so this appears to be the logical route?

I guess I will be keeping the car for a bit then!

Steve.G.

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chevtrev said:

cut away the silicone around the seat belt anchors,which i'm sure you know to remove too, and when lifting the body give it a bit off a wriggle on the way up,grit gets around the outriggers and will act like a wedge. Good luck,post if get stuck with anything.

Paul,

I hadn't thought of this, so thanks, there shouldn't be much grit and stuff as I have cleaned and painted the outriggers a couple of times since I got the car, bit too anal about it that's how I come to the conclusion that the rust was coming through from the inside and no matter how much wax oiling I did the end was nigh!

I guess there are a few folk out there that have done this then, fairplay ....and there are more that are driving Cerbs/griffs/chims that are blissfully unaware

I have spent sometime in the TVR environment and seen lot's of potential work! Sorry if I sound a little doomie... rant over!

Steve

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David H said:

Hi Steve, I'm just finishing off doing the same to my Griff, if you need any help or photos of anything then please just ask. Dave

David,

Thanks for this v much appreciated, all a bit daunting to be honest, I was over at TVR Power last night, when you tell people what you are planning to do you get either are you a mad bloke? or why didn't you just sell it?

Truth is I would not have been happy selling it on when I know what needs doing, and so I am probably mad!

I do appreciate your offer of advice and photo's and will most likely take you up on the offer!

A couple of things:
1. How long has this process taken?
2. Did you go for powder coating again (I have been advised against this) and if not what did you use?

Another thing; I intend to take each "corner" of the car suspension off in complete units whole, i.e. front upper and lower wishbone assembly as one unit, the reason for this is that I have already replaced all the wishbones, bushes, brake lines and upgraded the brakes, so hopfully this should save some time/effort?

Steve. G.

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lexie said:

There should be 4 bolts hidden behind the fuel tank, two virtually on the boot floor and two about a foot higher. Take a look at <a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/478145558Hvvhov">http://community.webshots.com/album/478145558Hvvhov</a> for what to expect (1995 M plate Chim) Regards Iain (DOH Chassis 33 using Lex's signin) >> Edited by lexie on Wednesday 19th October 22:55

Iain,

Cheers mate this is the sort of thing I need to know, I would have been looking for 2 bolts instead of 4, hopefully you have saved some head scratching!

Are you in the Midlands then?

If so you will probably know the car, as I attend the West Midlands meet at the Bulls z, also there are a couple of pictures of it at the Yellow meet and at Snetterton in last months sprint, it is the yellow/gold/pi$$y coloured chim with the roll cage and the modified LT grill

Thanks again,

Steve. G.

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chevtrev said:

If your going to completley strip,then I would say sandblast and powdercoat,dont forget to tap all threads before reassembly.If not i'd give it a good clean up and por15.

Paul,

Thanks for this, I was considering going the shotblast/refabricate (the bits left!) then good quality powdercoat/por15 route until I spoke to the powdercaoting chap that shotblasts Adrian Venns (ExactlyTVR) restoration projects. despite the fact that this bloke owned a company that would have done the powdercoating for me he was Deadset against it, said that one chip water gets back under the coating and off we go again!

He recommended etcher primer with (London bus) black chassis paint, adding "how many London buses do you see with rotten chassis....well to be honest none in Nuneaton, but I thought that he may have a point, plus Mr Venn goes this route.

So I am thinking etcher primer/por15 primer stuff/por15/ then blue enamel type paint (for added bling factor)

Any thoughts?

Steve. G.

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andy-w said:

Am i being thick...isnt the body bonded to the chasis with fibre glass in places???

Andy,

Not that I am aware of...spoke with a few folk that have done this op and have never been told this, but then again I would never say never, it is a TVR after all.

Steve.

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FlipFlopGriff said:

Good luck Steve, We were at Power last night too so missed you. Rear wishbones being done via Mr Venn (when I get the bushes) and I'm going the shotblast, POR metal ready, POR15 black - job done. The fronts are still like new (after 12 months) so it is good stuff. FFG

Hi Paul,

Yes saw the FFG there, hope you got it sorted.

Yes POR15 is good stuff, actually Adrian did my front wishbones when I first got the car a couple of years ago, these are done in blue hammerite and are still fine, I just put loads of waxoil on the inner sections where all the debris collects. Spoke with him yesterday he is about to go through the same process as myself (or the car!) so a comparison of notes will be made.
Didn't make the bull Z on Sunday bit of a late one had Nikki and Howard, katie and Phil over for food Sat pm....few bottles of red left us all with thicker heads than normal!
Feel free to pop over for a cuppa and have a nose if you wish it would be good to see the pair of you, plus I need all the hands I can get for the lift.

Hope all is well with you

Steve

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David,

Sounds like you refurbed all four corners too, I have done these, but will look to replace diff mounts/prop shaft uj's/fuel filter/poss pump too/all brake lines/carbon can...all new nut and bolts with stainless in appropriate places.

I will go the POR15 route too.

Timescales; I am not foolish enough to quote one, that a said I will work on her a couple of nights a week and at least one day over the weekends. I reckon February (2006!) should be acheivable.

I take your point about putting each corner back as a complete unit, thinking about it, it would pretty much impossible. No I will take the stuff apart as complete units for ease of storage, but will build back up in the "normal" way.

the other thing I thought about last night is that I will need to take off the steering UJ's (I replaced these in April) before the body comes off.

I did the following last night:
1. Rad out (with fans still attached)
2. 2 bolts that fix the front of the body to the chassis
3. Both seats
4. Seat belt mounting
5. Rear speakers to gain access to the rear roll cage mounts
6. Roll cage
7. Carpets
8. Boot catch (To prevent boot from locking as battery is disconnected)

I am taking lots of photo's and labelling stuff plus noting things like speaker wire colours....

Aim for work over the weekend is to remove 4 outer and 3 inner "outrigger bolts"/ further seat belt fixings, anything else is a bonus.

How do you remove the fuel tank?

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marsdalebear said:

Feck me Steve,looking at these pics you could have left yours for a while yet!:censored John lexie said: There should be 4 bolts hidden behind the fuel tank, two virtually on the boot floor and two about a foot higher. Take a look at <a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/478145558Hvvhov"><a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/478145558Hvvhov">http://community.webshots.com/album/478145558Hvvhov</a></a> for what to expect (1995 M plate Chim) Regards Iain (DOH Chassis 33 using Lex's signin) >> Edited by lexie on Wednesday 19th October 22:55

Cheers John,

The colour doesn't appeal to everyone, but hey it is nice to be different!

Could of blagged it for MOT's and stuff, but the engine is out for an upgrade so sort of swung it really.

Steve. G.

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Bit of help needed

Been working on the car today, cut or undone all of the chassis bolts underneath the car/seat belt fixings/ petrol tank taken out and four bolts behind it undone.......left what I thought would be the easiest til last...the 2 on top of the transmission tunnel.

I took out the centre console and the carpet in front of it (that goes under the dash) expected to find the 2 bolts but cannot see them.

Do I need to take the top of the dash off to gain access to these 2 little fighters?

Thought I was making good progresss until this. I have decided to leave it til the morning as I am in danger of making a hash of it.....replies please

Cheers,

Steve.G

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wheeljack888 said:

schimg said: Bit of help needed Been working on the car today, cut or undone all of the chassis bolts underneath the car/seat belt fixings/ petrol tank taken out and four bolts behind it undone.......left what I thought would be the easiest til last...the 2 on top of the transmission tunnel. I took out the centre console and the carpet in front of it (that goes under the dash) expected to find the 2 bolts but cannot see them. Do I need to take the top of the dash off to gain access to these 2 little fighters? Thought I was making good progresss until this. I have decided to leave it til the morning as I am in danger of making a hash of it.....replies please Cheers, Steve.G Hi Steve When I did the body-off on mine I did something rather naughty on this. I cut two hatches in the carpet where the bolts are. A bit destructive I know but they're well hidden, and at some point I'll want to change the carpets anyway. Best of luck. Phil

Phil,

Thanks for posting the picture, I am sure this will be a great help, you know I looked down each of the "tunnels" where the centre console fibreglass locating pieces go and couldn't see any bolts, but this picture should let me get at the little fighters!

I spoke with Greg Lunn last night (Newlun Design), told me do exactly what you appear to have done.....time to get into the garage and get the dremel going then!

Thanks v much appreciated

Steve.G.

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marsdalebear said:

schimg said: marsdalebear said: Feck me Steve,looking at these pics you could have left yours for a while yet!:censored John lexie said: There should be 4 bolts hidden behind the fuel tank, two virtually on the boot floor and two about a foot higher. Take a look at <a href="<a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/4<a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/4http://community.webshots.com/album/4</a></a><a href="<a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/4http://community.webshots.com/album/4</a><a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/4<a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/4http://community.webshots.com/album/4</a></a></a></a> for what to expect (1995 M plate Chim) Regards Iain (DOH Chassis 33 using Lex's signin) >> Edited by lexie on Wednesday 19th October 22:55 Cheers John, The colour doesn't appeal to everyone, but hey it is nice to be different! Could of blagged it for MOT's and stuff, but the engine is out for an upgrade so sort of swung it really. Steve. G. Steve I LIKE the colour,not much choice really as I have to see it every day!! The pics of the chassis showed it to be in a much worse condition than yours,so you could have put off the fatefull day for at least 12 months. John PS. Want to buy a Westfield? Body off much easier

Jon,

Where are you mate no sign of you for the last few days?

Westfield...I will come back to you on that one, depends how far I get with this project, might end up selling lots of chim bits on here and ebay, if things go belly up!

Steve.

p.s. Make sure you are back for Saturday as I need your help to lift the body off, there is a cuppa in it for you...plus you get chance to touch a proper supercar and not some jap mass produced motorbike engined hairdressers car....oh think I lost it there a bit

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Hi folk,

I just need to disconnect the clutch and brake systems (including handbrake cable), take off boot then I am ready to lift the body off.

I should have at least 6 people (possibly 8+), that said the more the merrier contact me if you are interested, I propose to do this Saturday lunchtime!

So after I make sure windows and doors are closed, and the roof is in position, what is the best method of separating the body from the chassis?

I have purchased an 8ftx4ftx4ins sheet of polystyrene insulation which I will cut in half to rest the body on ...any thoughts?

Thanks,

Steve.G.

>> Edited by schimg on Tuesday 25th October 18:57

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wixer said:

marsdalebear said: [quote=wixer]Steve, If you spent more time in the garage working on the car rather than sitting in front of your PC (which is probably blue and yellow), He has probably taken it apart and chromed the inside! Chromed chassis, now there's a thought !!! Eh Steve ???....

You know you try and create a serious qualitee thread, and then it gets hijacked....by a couple of jokers (small wixer who can hum the theme tune) and (old bloke that should know better).

Should I change my name from ladyboy to the King of Bling me thinks, must go lads got a chim to strip thanks for all of your help....i.e. precious little so far.

Steve. G.

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chassis 33 said:

Steve, have you disconnected the four hydraulic lines in the engine bay, the three brakes and the clutch? Did you label what was what? The clutch is obvious, cos it's a different size to the rest, but I forgot to lable the brake lines top middle and bottom...well no I remebered but thought, nah, I can figure that out, then I've taken the lines off the chassis and they'll never line up in a neat row again. Could you help me out? Regards Iain

Iain,


Iain,

No not yet, this and the steering are the last things to do Saturday morning, cos I will do my best to help you out no problem. Spent some time cutting off all the zip straps today, disconnected and took out the carbon can, this is a bit of a mystery to me , 2 parts to it :

1. The canister a landrover part, 2 pipes to the top, and another "outlet" at the bottom, but no pipe connected, is this an overflow or something?

2. A small lucas "made in Canada" switch/solenoid box, looks like it should have electical connections to it...also found 2 cut wires (in with the screen wash wires)....these appear to have been cut possibly from the solenoid? The the fuel filler cap has had a small hole driled in it, so i guess there must have been some sort of problem with breathing? So I checked the all breather pipes for blockages and found nothing.I am determined to get to the bottom of this, our initial thoughts (wixer was there as acting consultant, you no clean jeans and sunglasses, no intention of doing any proper work and Marsdale bear come to think of it ) are that the solenoid switch thing went a Bo**ock so the fix was to cut the wires to it and put a hole in the filler cap to allow breathing....any thoughts?

I will drop you an e-mail with my telephone number, give me a call Friday, failing this I will put a post back on here with a description of the layout.

Steve.G.

>> Edited by schimg on Thursday 27th October 22:52

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well what a day,

Thanks to Howard (moog), Phil (wixer), Bob (Ocean graze?), Adrian Venn, Tony (Tony M), Mac (macdeb), Glenn (brave passenger to Le Mans), Jon (Marsdale Bear), Karl, Sammy and Ginny for their help today in successfully removing the body from the chim.

Plus Greg Lunn for the last minute advice on freeing up the rear end!

So body lifted off and stored at 13:00, fully stripped and ready for shot blasting by 16:30.

All relevant parts stored and labelled, a complete piece of teamwork, thanks for all of your help, well worth the continious supply of tea/beer and sausage and tomato rolls (batches here in Warwickshire!.

Need to take a view on condition of chassis, do some cleaning of parts on Sunday, but all in all an excellant result!

The body lifted easily except for the handbrake which I had left connected to the body, I had disconnected the handbrake cable but didn't realise that the handbrake was attached to the chassis! However we were able to hold the body in "mid air" for 2-3 minutes whilst this and an earth strap were disconnected.

So I have a garage full of bits and a rusty chassis, a little scary, but then again I have come this far so should be approaching the point of rebuilding soon?

oh er misses!

Steve. G.

>> Edited by schimg on Saturday 29th October 19:22

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victormeldrew said:

Any pics? This thread needs pics! Where abouts in Warks are you Steve? >> Edited by victormeldrew on Saturday 29th October 21:34

Mr meldrew or may I call you Vic?

I fully agree that this thread needs some pictures, I have had to replace all my camera stuff after it was "lifted" @ le mans, got a new one now just not got round to loading the software onto the PC.

Been spending every available spare bit of time on the chim....excuses over I will try and do it tonight.

Spent yesterday degreasing the diff/propshaft/steering rack, cleaned up all the brake pipes, thanks for the tip Mr Venn , used wirewool on the brake lines and they have come like new. I did not give the chassis a glance, as I need to take a view on the next steps with this.

How do you load pictures up on here cos when I tried to do one for my profile it wouldn't let me do it?

I don't have broadband....and the new camera is 8 meg, so will this take about a month to load up?

Oh I live in Nuneaton (sunny nunny), if you live close (or anyone else feel free to come round have poke some motre holes in my lightweight chassis, just like Phil did Saturday!

Steve.G.

>> Edited by schimg on Monday 31st October 08:07