My nightmare... errr restoration thread.

My nightmare... errr restoration thread.

Author
Discussion

CrazyJake

5 posts

172 months

Tuesday 25th May 2010
quotequote all
@ V8TVR1978...

When you see him (Mike) tell him his old man is still waiting for his test drive...wink

V8TVR1978

895 posts

190 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
quotequote all
CrazyJake said:
@ V8TVR1978...

When you see him (Mike) tell him his old man is still waiting for his test drive...wink
I was going to give him some time to recieve ( I hope ) the last parts to put his car on the road before I bugged him. He is missing some nice driving weather and it would be nice to see another TVR join us for a spin. I saw his TVR beside his 5th wheel the last time I was in that neck of the woods.
Maybe I should take you over to his place in 1 of our TVRs to put some heat under his butt if he is slacking but he is probably waiting on parts and they can be long waits.

CrazyJake

5 posts

172 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
quotequote all
@ V8TVR1978 I sent you an email reply regarding your offer when you go to see Mike. smile

Campbell

2,499 posts

283 months

Tuesday 2nd November 2010
quotequote all
Hi Brap Brap, hows the car getting on, must be compleat or nearly, gess your heading into your winter time.
Would be good to hear how the car is getting on and your wife hasnt killed you over the time you have spent already.
Cheers

Cambelt

CrazyJake

5 posts

172 months

Thursday 9th June 2011
quotequote all
I talked to Mike a couple of months ago. The car is in storage for now. It is not quite finished because he is on the road with his job (long haul trucking, is rarely home and just doesn't have the time to complete the restoration.

JMF894

5,504 posts

155 months

Thursday 9th June 2011
quotequote all
I have just read this thread from start to finish. Only 3 hrs or so!!! Mike you are a hero to many. I hope work is good and pleasure time even better. Like many I am now hanging on for updates and can't wait to see the result of your labour.



clap

bow

Jim

CrazyJake

5 posts

172 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
I talked to Mike about a month ago and he still hasn't had much spare time. He still needs to get the gaskets for the exhaust headers and a pair of shocks, front ones i think.

If/when I hear more I will post for him if he doesn't have the time.

JMF894

5,504 posts

155 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for the update

Jimbo

bob1179

14,107 posts

209 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
What a cracking rebuild, I've really enjoyed reading the thread. Good luck on getting the car sorted out, hopefully you'll be all finished and back on the road for Spring.

smile

pacman1

7,322 posts

193 months

Brap_Brap

Original Poster:

753 posts

209 months

Tuesday 5th June 2012
quotequote all
After a long hiatus, and after trying to sell the car twice without a single offer, I got back down to work last weekend. I didn't get a whole lot done but it's less to do next weekend. smile A slew of personal reasons have kept me from working on the car.

Anyhow... I bought all new radiator hoses yesterday and some antifreeze... filled the system up and nothing is leaking. Mind you nothing is under pressure either, but I was concerned about my radiator after paying so darned much having it rebuilt.

After borrowing a high interest loan a couple years ago to pay for this endeavour, I finally got it paid off a couple months ago and now have a few bucks left over to finish the job.

All in all it was a kind of wasted weekend. All I accomplished was installing the driver's seat and the radiator hoses. Next weekend I'll do the rest of the interior and exhuast gaskets if they've arrived by Royal Mail by then.

Can't wait to go for a ride... my goal is to have it running by the end of July or sooner.

adam quantrill

11,538 posts

242 months

Tuesday 5th June 2012
quotequote all
Nice one Mike - keep plugging away and you'll get it done.

I'd like to see this on the road and you enjoying it rather than selling it - I had a ride in it once and it's a nice looking car.

Brap_Brap

Original Poster:

753 posts

209 months

Tuesday 14th August 2012
quotequote all
I've been really busy and living on the road long haul trucking hasn't left me much time to work on the car, or update this thread... but I do have some news.

Since I bumped this thread a couple months back I've:
Installed the oil cooler and radiator, replaced all the coolant lines, and filled the system. It's leak free. smile

I got a massive PAS leak at the banjo fitting, a thicker copper washer did the trick... topped off, leak free.

Installed headers with big bore gaskets... the old ones were smaller... should breath better now. Also hung the rest of the exhaust.

Ordered a K&N cone air filter... 2 5/8th clamp on style...

Hooked up all wires... I cut back a few wires and crimped new connectors on the ends that had been corroded.


All that is left is to hook up the fuel lines, put in a battery, and turn the key with one hand while holding a fire extinguisher in the other...LOL I also need to get some 1/2in to 3/4in bushings for the rose jointed rear trailing arms I bought.

I'll also need a four wheel alignment.

That's it, that's all. I can't wait to drive it before the snow flies! biggrin

adam quantrill

11,538 posts

242 months

Tuesday 14th August 2012
quotequote all
Mike you tease - get it fired up - we are all waiting!!!

JMF894

5,504 posts

155 months

Tuesday 14th August 2012
quotequote all
Brilliant crack on!

Jimbo

Brap_Brap

Original Poster:

753 posts

209 months

Thursday 16th August 2012
quotequote all
I'm trying Adam! It's bloody hard. Last time I got home to work on the car was my first time back in Calgary in five weeks! I didn't even drive through it while trucking down the road.

Brap_Brap

Original Poster:

753 posts

209 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
It was a really good weekend tidying up.
Not much time to write about it now, but in essence I'm
running out of "finishing touches" I can do to the car.
I could have had the engine running if I wanted to but
figured I'd better wrap up the exhaust near the fuels lines,
the headers etc etc. Just to be safe.

I really am running out of things to do to the car AND IT'S AN AWESOME FEELING!!!! biggrin

superwedge

1,286 posts

148 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
well done mate ,on all the work you on this cardriving10 out off 10 ,these car;s are not for the wet weather,

Brap_Brap

Original Poster:

753 posts

209 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
I was pretty drunk last night and not into writing much, but here's how my weekend went.

I was about to get the engine running and even poured in some fuel, which promptly leaked a pool
under the car. Apparently I'd forgotten to do up a couple hose clamps between the tanks I'd undone
when we put the body back on. I had undone them to give the tanks wiggle room between the body and chassis.
I let the fuel evaporate and crawled back under the car, went over all the hose clamps and make everything
ticky boo. I also added a lot more zip-straps to various under car things... hoses, hand brake cable etc etc.

While under the car I realised I should probably get some of that exhaust insulation wrap for key areas
before I actually attempt to start the engine, so I put off starting the engine for another day. My K&N
air filter hadn't arrived yet so I'm waiting on that too.

I then hooked up the reverse light switch, ran new wires for the fuel gauge, and wired up the fuel pump.
With that out of the way I was now able to put the interior back in the car.

The fuel rail inlet and fuel pressure regulator outlet had gotten dust in them in a bad way, so I unhooked
the cold start injector and blew out the rail with compressed air. I plan to pump a few litres of gas
through the rail as well, backwards, to flush out any other junk inside.

I bought a few grounding straps and ran new grounds to the block, frame etc etc. The car seems fine
electrically and I tested all the lights, horn, power windows etc etc. One problem I have is the battery
light on the dash comes on if the key isn't in the run position. Alternator wired wrong? I also ran
all my spark plug wires.

I can't seem to find the wire that runs from the firewall to the starter solenoid. I't like it's
just not there! I might have to wire up a new start switch. Anyway, I jumped the solenoid wire straight
to the battery... my rebuilt starter works fine.

My "to do" list is now this:

4 wheel alignment.
Rear trailing arms.
Tighten front bumper and reconnect front turn signals.
Put the headlights back into the light pods.
Install front spoiler.

Other than that, I can't think of one darned thing that needs to be done. I'll probably find something! LOL

[edit] And piss me right the f&%K off! my rebuilt rad is leaking where the little sensor is at the top
of the rad... nothing major... took all night for the coolant resevior to drop half an inch... After so
much spent on having the rad rebuilt, I'm loath to take it back out of the car. I'm tempted to try that
"Bar's Stop Leak".

Edited by Brap_Brap on Monday 20th August 15:27

mrzigazaga

18,557 posts

165 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
Brap_Brap said:
I'm tempted to try that "Bar's Stop Leak".
Please dont..After all your hard work..That shyte causes more problems than its worth!..I think ralph's rad leaked at the same place after coming back from the refurbers..Im sure it was in need of a grommet or bung where the otter switch goes??..Ziga