S2, here I come !
Discussion
Finally done it, after 6 months of searching I have found an luvly S2, pick it up on Saterday. But before I do, can you help me with the following
I checked out the chassis the best I could, and it looks like it has not been treated. Most of the plastic coating is loose, and the chassis rails are rusty, both under the car and around the engine. You would expect this, but as it has just passed an MOT, it must be basically sound. As long as this is only surface rust, I can rub it down and hammerite it. I checked the outriggers, suspension mounting points, and it looks solid. Where else should I check to make sure it is a good one ? The car is low mileage and has been garaged.
The suspension has drooped, so much that the bonnet hits the floor before the bonnet stay can be fitted. I was planning on fitting adjustable shocks to raise the ride height to a sensible level. AVO have been very helpfull with my questions. Is this an easy job? There is currently only 80mm clearance under the exhaust.
Look forward to joining all you S owners.
Cheers Pete (Herts)
I checked out the chassis the best I could, and it looks like it has not been treated. Most of the plastic coating is loose, and the chassis rails are rusty, both under the car and around the engine. You would expect this, but as it has just passed an MOT, it must be basically sound. As long as this is only surface rust, I can rub it down and hammerite it. I checked the outriggers, suspension mounting points, and it looks solid. Where else should I check to make sure it is a good one ? The car is low mileage and has been garaged.
The suspension has drooped, so much that the bonnet hits the floor before the bonnet stay can be fitted. I was planning on fitting adjustable shocks to raise the ride height to a sensible level. AVO have been very helpfull with my questions. Is this an easy job? There is currently only 80mm clearance under the exhaust.
Look forward to joining all you S owners.
Cheers Pete (Herts)
Welcome to the gang Pete - good to see another Herts man. If you're definitely picking it up on Saturday, why not bring it along to the Herts/Essex meet in Epping on the 20th - see my earlier thread called, er, Herts/Essex meet!
We can all have a poke around it then (hopefully 4 or more S's coming).
I'm new to the game myself, so will leave comments to experts, but I know that 80mm is low - 3" in old money. mine's 4" off the ground and I know mine needs looking at some time (manual quotes 5" ground clearance) - S3DaveP is hopefully coming on the 20th - He's got adjustable Spax's you can ask about. Also - plastic coating soon falls off all TVRs - stuff is useless - but it needs ideally treating every year: Scrape, paint, Waxoyle. If you don't have it bad, a garage can do this for about £100-£150. Not bad considering what you'll look/feel like after spending a day doing it yourself.
Front outside point of outriggers is usually worst point - pre S3s had no inner arches so worse - muck builds up on triangular corner brace and rots it away.
If it's only surface - sort with above. If it's worse - think carefully: body off job could cost more than car. Many tales of wallet bashing on here, re: outriggers, seatbelt points etc. - have a look through!
Find a good one and you're hooked though! - If you want to come down to the meet - stick a note on the H/E meet thread - I'm keeping an eye on it (although it's nearly at the bottom of the page now!)
We can all have a poke around it then (hopefully 4 or more S's coming).
I'm new to the game myself, so will leave comments to experts, but I know that 80mm is low - 3" in old money. mine's 4" off the ground and I know mine needs looking at some time (manual quotes 5" ground clearance) - S3DaveP is hopefully coming on the 20th - He's got adjustable Spax's you can ask about. Also - plastic coating soon falls off all TVRs - stuff is useless - but it needs ideally treating every year: Scrape, paint, Waxoyle. If you don't have it bad, a garage can do this for about £100-£150. Not bad considering what you'll look/feel like after spending a day doing it yourself.
Front outside point of outriggers is usually worst point - pre S3s had no inner arches so worse - muck builds up on triangular corner brace and rots it away.
If it's only surface - sort with above. If it's worse - think carefully: body off job could cost more than car. Many tales of wallet bashing on here, re: outriggers, seatbelt points etc. - have a look through!
Find a good one and you're hooked though! - If you want to come down to the meet - stick a note on the H/E meet thread - I'm keeping an eye on it (although it's nearly at the bottom of the page now!)
Double check that Chasis if it has not been treated over the past 11 years I would feel concerned, although take on board what you say about the MOT, a lot of the rot on the outrigers can be on the top were it meets the body especially at the front were all the crap gets thrown up from the front wheels, do not forget the rear swinging arms, they are expensive to replace and prone to rot cos they have an open tube end.
Good luck , hope to hear that all is well.
Guy
>> Edited by Rower on Thursday 7th August 15:26
Good luck , hope to hear that all is well.
Guy
>> Edited by Rower on Thursday 7th August 15:26
Hi Peter,
Welcome to S Club ownership - you should't regret it.
It looks as if you have checked all of the important chassis parts, especially trailing arms and outriggers, as you haven't mentioned the engine and exhaust system I assume you are happy with them.
The feelings I read amongst S owners is to rub down the chassis and clean off all of the original plastic type coating, having done that Hammerite and then Waxoyl seem to be the favourite for protection.
Are you sure your front springs are the cause of the bonnet not opening mine only just does yet my springs are OK, obviously over time the springs will compress but you seem to suggest its the major problem, if you garage the car, run the front up on a couple of planks to give about 2" front lift, that way you can open the bonnet and if necessary drill a new hole in the catch for the bonnet stay.
Body wise, check for dropped doors and shut lines, and of course the roof and Targa panels.
If you haven't bought a copy of the "Bible" I would suggest you get one as it contains everything you would need to know. (available thro' the TVRCC)
Enjoy your Tiv.
Cheers
John
Welcome to S Club ownership - you should't regret it.
It looks as if you have checked all of the important chassis parts, especially trailing arms and outriggers, as you haven't mentioned the engine and exhaust system I assume you are happy with them.
The feelings I read amongst S owners is to rub down the chassis and clean off all of the original plastic type coating, having done that Hammerite and then Waxoyl seem to be the favourite for protection.
Are you sure your front springs are the cause of the bonnet not opening mine only just does yet my springs are OK, obviously over time the springs will compress but you seem to suggest its the major problem, if you garage the car, run the front up on a couple of planks to give about 2" front lift, that way you can open the bonnet and if necessary drill a new hole in the catch for the bonnet stay.
Body wise, check for dropped doors and shut lines, and of course the roof and Targa panels.
If you haven't bought a copy of the "Bible" I would suggest you get one as it contains everything you would need to know. (available thro' the TVRCC)
Enjoy your Tiv.
Cheers
John
top choice Sir, I know nothing about auto M&E, but after a few months following these threads, I reckon I can strip it down and back up again in a flash 
. Best thing is 
as much as you can - bible is key. peter m said:I'd pay particular attention to the front body mounts (diagonal brackets) and the rear seat belt mountings as these can be succeptible to rot and are key MoT points.
However, he is not a TVR specialist, so may have missed something. I will give the front of the outriggers and trailing arms another good prod before parting with the reddies.
As has been said elsewhere, the outriggers can rust through at the top, but you can only see this by lifting the whole body, so I don't think there's an easy way to check that, other than simply gauging the rest of the chassis condition.
Good luck, and enjoy the S!
peter m said:
The suspension has drooped, so much that the bonnet hits the floor before the bonnet stay can be fitted. I was planning on fitting adjustable shocks to raise the ride height to a sensible level. AVO have been very helpfull with my questions. Is this an easy job? There is currently only 80mm clearance under the exhaust.
Cheers Pete (Herts)
One thing I would suggest is what series tyres you have on, my S when I bought it had 55 series, which was just too low, for both opening the bonnet and grounding on a lump no bigger than a tissue.
I changed the tyres to Bridgestone RE720 60 series as recommended here, and now doesn't ground anywhere near as much and the bonnet opens easyily.
You probably have already checked the tyres so, if so ignore my ramblings.
Shmern
S3 Kieran, I guess he did get it and is enjoying all this sun !!
Podie (Spelt Shmern BTW
) Yeah I've been popping in now and then and replying to a couple of threads, but very busy in work and home (thinking of moving house) so haven't been posting as much.
I haven't finished the car yet, too busy driving it in the sun ! (I have finished the bathroom tho not with Glass blocks because of loadings on the floor )
Shmern
Podie (Spelt Shmern BTW
) Yeah I've been popping in now and then and replying to a couple of threads, but very busy in work and home (thinking of moving house) so haven't been posting as much. I haven't finished the car yet, too busy driving it in the sun ! (I have finished the bathroom tho not with Glass blocks because of loadings on the floor
) Shmern
shmern said:
S3 Kieran, I guess he did get it and is enjoying all this sun !!
Podie (Spelt Shmern BTW
I haven't finished the car yet, too busy driving it in the sun ! (I have finished the bathroom tho not with Glass blocks because of loadings on the floor
Shmern
Ahem... typo...
Yo Guys,
After a lot of stress with the bank and insurance over the weekend, I finally picked up the car Monday evening. Driving it easy for a while, but its GREAT !!!! Surprised to say that my first fill up only took 20L for 150 miles (34mpg!!!) but that won't last once I get my foot down.
It has the usual faults, like a fuel guage that goes up and down faster than a roller coaster. But the sun is out and the top is down, and I have a smile on my face. Needs some TLC, but I think it is a good one.
I'll put some pics up to show you. It certainly draws a crowd.
After a lot of stress with the bank and insurance over the weekend, I finally picked up the car Monday evening. Driving it easy for a while, but its GREAT !!!! Surprised to say that my first fill up only took 20L for 150 miles (34mpg!!!) but that won't last once I get my foot down.
It has the usual faults, like a fuel guage that goes up and down faster than a roller coaster. But the sun is out and the top is down, and I have a smile on my face. Needs some TLC, but I think it is a good one.
I'll put some pics up to show you. It certainly draws a crowd.
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