End of a Beautiful Relationship

[RichardR]

funbobby said:

richard,did u have no idea of the problems they found on the mot? worrying thing is mine passed with all the same probs your describing!!

I knew the chassis wasn't exactly perfect, but I didn't realise it was this bad.

Yellabelly said:

Shame you are down south as we have a little old 1.0 Fiesta that you would have been welcome to borrow, to tide you over

Thanks Ray. I appreciate the thought.

Podie said:

What about Tower View...?

They quoted £1800 plus VAT!

HarryW said:

Richard from your original post you say that it's failed on the passenger seatbelt mounting point, which I assume to be exactly that, the vertical plate in the wheel arch . If so, I know that the outriggers may probably need changing at some point in the near future but if they are sound, can you not get a replacement plate grafted on to get you through the immediate MOT duirng this lean time and get the rest of the car sorted at your own pace/time .

That's certainly an option to consider, but I think it's dependent on the integrity of the area they're mounted to, and may still involve removing the body which is the most expensive part of the whole job. Once the car's been properly looked at I may be able to ascertain if this is a feasbile option.

minghis said:

Err, What about taking it to a different MOT tester, it might pass with them? Or am I being daft...

Unfortunately, the tester really hacked at the mounting leaving it in such a state that I'd have to find a tester with a white stick and a labrador to stand any chance of getting it through.

Psychobert said:

A banger for 6 months wouldn't be too difficult to get hold of, (younger brother seems to have an almost endless supply which I thnk he'd yet to pay more then £60 for). Its the cash to do the repair I guess. IIRC, its a time consuming rather than difficult job to lift the body, couple of mates for a weekend or two should see it lifted and the chassis can then be rolled out to be treated, same again to replace. That'll cut it down a fair bit.. Got to be a way... :fingerscrossed:

I'm currently considering all sorts of ideas (most half-arsed) to try and save the day! I have to do quite a bit of business mileage so I can't really risk an out-and-out banger, and the family makes quite heavy demands on my weekend time so that'd be difficult, but I'll keep reviewing my options.

---

Cheers for all the moral support guys. Much appreciated at the moment.

[Yellabelly]

Richard,
If you do want to attempt removing the body I have copied a previous link here
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=11&t=31524
On the thread I posted the website of a guy in North Lincolnshire who has photographed the procedure to do an outrigger repair. www.taylorcars.co.uk/
Hope this helps.

[RichardR]

Thanks for those links Ray. I've actually just been taking a look at Darren Taylor's site.

I am now considering the option of removing the body myself to try and make the cost achieveable. I have to say, it's quite a daunting prospect, but I think I could probably do it. I'd basically need to get the body off next weekend, have the work done during the week, and then get the body back on the following weekend!

I'm just in the process of firing off an email to a few guys on here who've been through the process to ask a few questions, so we'll see what develops.

[Yellabelly]

Richard,
A daunting prospect but worthwile if it means that you keep the tiv and it must be a very fulfilling feeling once you have done it. Also it does give you the opportunity to check a number of normally inaccessible areas and to make sure they are sorted and then you have the peace of mind that you will not have the corrosion problem to worry you for a long long time.
Go for it, photograph and detail the project for your and future owners interest and benefit and enjoy the experience (easy for someone else to say)
Best of luck Richard.
Ray

[dern]

RichardR said:

I am now considering the option of removing the body myself to try and make the cost achieveable. I have to say, it's quite a daunting prospect, but I think I could probably do it. I'd basically need to get the body off next weekend, have the work done during the week, and then get the body back on the following weekend!

If you feel an engine hoist would be helpful in getting the body off then you're more than welcome to borrow mine. It has quite a long reach and the legs would roll under the car. You can see it in this picture...

www.cwork.nildram.co.uk/mark/cars/tvr/steveheath/IM000396.jpg

Whether or not this is a good way to do it I don't know but the offer is there. I'm only over in Thatcham so not too far away.

Regards,

Mark

[RichardR]

Thanks for the offer of the hoist Mark. I've been considering the options for the body lift, and I think that the group of mates is probably the best way to go...

If I try and use two free standing hoists, I'm not sure whether they'd provide the necessary height for the body to clear the engine and rear suspension, and I'm not sure how you'd be able to position the hoists and still be able to roll the chassis out of the way.

I also don't think the roof joists in my garage would be strong enough to support the weight of the body, and I reckon that demolishing my garage roof on top of the car would probably negate any potential cost savings!

If I change my mind I'll certainly take you up on your offer; as you say, Thatcham's fairly close to me. I think what I need to do now is to see if I can muster enough lifters for the removal and replacement days.

[RichardR]

PH to the rescue!

In the midst of my gloom on Friday, I hadn't mentioned to my wife, Julie, the option of doing the body removal work myself as I thought the time demands etc. wouldn't be fair on the family. However, I found out yesterday that on Saturday she noticed an email reference to this thread and took a read through, which brought two things to her attention. Firstly she realised just how gutted I was (and how everyone else who replied shared my despondency), and secondly she found out that I might be able to do some of the work myself and possibly make the whole job affordable. Armed with this knowledge, she broached the subject of me doing to body off/on work myself, and introduced a ray of hope to the previously bleak picture.

Julie's not into cars at all, and doesn't really understand my obsession with cars in general, and TVRs in particular, so I appreciate all the more her efforts to try and help me be able to keep the S.

Therefore, in a Gwyneth Paltrow stylee, I'd just like to thank Julie and Pistonheads for making this all possible!

[Psychobert]

Excellent news.. Plenty of info here on doing the body off option as I've looked at it myself.. Luckily, didn't need it, but with the aid of a few friends and a bit of time, it looked a job even I would attempt.. Let us know how you get on..

[Podie]

Richard,

Happy to offer the assistance of a pair of hands if required...

[RichardR]

Psychobert said:

Let us know how you get on..

If it all goes ahead, I'll try and take lots of photos and detail the whole process for future reference.

Podie said:

Happy to offer the assistance of a pair of hands if required...

Thanks for that Podie. I wouldn't want to drag you all the way over from Essex, but if you're going to be round Guildford way either of those weekends (hopefully 6th and 12th) I may well take you up on the offer.

I'll let you know what develops.

[Yellabelly]

Wives bless 'em, always full of surprises, is she now going to go on a fast track welding course!!!

[Colin BlueS2]

Hi Richard

I'm up the road in Bracknell so if you are short of bodies or want some help drop me a line. Not tackled body off on an S (yet ) but did it on my old Vixen.

Good Luck

Colin

[RichardR]

Well it looks like it's full steam ahead for the body off plan...

Saturday 5/7 - Do all necessary disconnections, unbolting etc. ready for body removal
Sunday 6/7 - Remove body
Monday 7/7 - Richard from Moore Racing collects rolling chassis
Thursday 10/7 - Repaired chassis returned
Friday 11/7 - Paint/waxoyl new chassis members plus other areas that might need attention
Saturday 12/7 - Replace body and start reconnection process
Sunday 13/7 - Complete reconnection process. Breathe a sigh of relief!

It might just work!

[RichardR]

Colin BlueS2 said:

Hi Richard I'm up the road in Bracknell so if you are short of bodies or want some help drop me a line. Not tackled body off on an S (yet ) but did it on my old Vixen. Good Luck Colin

Colin, YHM.

[Podie]

Hope it all goes well mate!

[RichardR]

Podie said:

Hope it all goes well mate!

Thanks. It's a bit of a daunting prospect, but hopefully it'll enable me to remain a TVR owner.

I'll let you know how I get on.

[M@H]

Best of luck with it all

..one minor word of caution before you start.. I've read somewhere (on here I think) that if the body flexes too much as it comes off you can produce quite a few spiders into the fiberglass/paint, so make sure everyones got a good grip on each corner.

Sincerest good luck.
Matt.

[funbobby]

good luck richard-hopefully you can do it in a week,mines been in for 5 weeks and still not finnished!!??

[RichardR]

M@H said:

I've read somewhere (on here I think) that if the body flexes too much as it comes off you can produce quite a few spiders into the fiberglass/paint

I'm trying not to contemplate that possibility too much!

funbobby said:

good luck richard-hopefully you can do it in a week,mines been in for 5 weeks and still not finnished!!??

That's not what I want to hear!! The S is my everyday car, hence the tight timescales (I'm on holiday next week). After speaking to Warren the other day, I think doing the work on your chassis has put them off doing another one (reading between the lines)! He did sound like he's committed to doing a grand job for you though.



>> Edited by RichardR on Thursday 3rd July 15:22

[spivvy]

RichardR said:

Well it looks like it's full steam ahead for the body off plan... Saturday 5/7 - Do all necessary disconnections, unbolting etc. ready for body removal Sunday 6/7 - Remove body Monday 7/7 - Richard from Moore Racing collects rolling chassis Thursday 10/7 - Repaired chassis returned Friday 11/7 - Paint/waxoyl new chassis members plus other areas that might need attention Saturday 12/7 - Replace body and start reconnection process Sunday 13/7 - Complete reconnection process. Breathe a sigh of relief! It might just work!

hopefully you have enough people to help and best of luck, i have a similar project in 4 weeks when my MOT runs out so would be grateful of any help ,primarily what needs disconnecting from where ,perhaps the FAQ for body removal can be updated then

once again best of luck if i lived nearer i would almost certainly have volunteterd