Pat's Tuscan V6 restoration thread
Discussion
Pat H said:
Body temporarily on chassis so that mounting holes can be drilled.
Need to do a bit of fibreglass chopping to the floor so that the roll over bar can be fitted.
Chassis booked in to be powder coated as soon as I've finished pratting around.
Next decision is whether to have it coated in original black, pale grey (my favourite colour for a tubular chassis) or pink.
Go on mate I dare you PINK Need to do a bit of fibreglass chopping to the floor so that the roll over bar can be fitted.
Chassis booked in to be powder coated as soon as I've finished pratting around.
Next decision is whether to have it coated in original black, pale grey (my favourite colour for a tubular chassis) or pink.
A
Just a thought Pat.......
My Father and myself built our Tuscan V6 over the Christmas holidays in 1970 and I think you went to a lot of time, trouble and expense to buy back the car that your father had owned, because it held good memories for you.
When our car was restored in 1995/6 by Jim Gamsby, we (my wife and myself) decided to keep the car with the original black chassis and silver body. This was as the result of a chat with my Mother. She told us that my Father had absolutely loved the car and had been pretty upset when we had it resprayed black at one stage. He died in 1981 at the age of 66 and that was the first time we had heard this story about his views...... So 'Black chassis and Silver body' it was... though we did choose BMW 'Polaris Silver' rather than Ford 'Silver Fox' for the body. This probably makes me sound like a sentimental old 'Twit'!
But who cares!
My Father and myself built our Tuscan V6 over the Christmas holidays in 1970 and I think you went to a lot of time, trouble and expense to buy back the car that your father had owned, because it held good memories for you.
When our car was restored in 1995/6 by Jim Gamsby, we (my wife and myself) decided to keep the car with the original black chassis and silver body. This was as the result of a chat with my Mother. She told us that my Father had absolutely loved the car and had been pretty upset when we had it resprayed black at one stage. He died in 1981 at the age of 66 and that was the first time we had heard this story about his views...... So 'Black chassis and Silver body' it was... though we did choose BMW 'Polaris Silver' rather than Ford 'Silver Fox' for the body. This probably makes me sound like a sentimental old 'Twit'!
But who cares!
Pat,
I have to say...wow! I came across your story (http://jalopnik.com/5973382/how-one-gearhead-rescued-his-fathers-tvr-from-oblivion-and-is-breathing-new-life-into-it) as I was browsing google images in trying to find parts for my S. The progress is coming along perfect! I am sure if your father was able to see the car now, he would be so proud of you! I will enjoy following this post to see how she comes along in the future. Keep up the excellent work my friend!!
I have to say...wow! I came across your story (http://jalopnik.com/5973382/how-one-gearhead-rescued-his-fathers-tvr-from-oblivion-and-is-breathing-new-life-into-it) as I was browsing google images in trying to find parts for my S. The progress is coming along perfect! I am sure if your father was able to see the car now, he would be so proud of you! I will enjoy following this post to see how she comes along in the future. Keep up the excellent work my friend!!
Hi Pat, fabulous story this.
I had a thought about your chassis. wikipedia says the stronger M chassis designed by Mike Bigland was used on a few of the previous models too. I quote, "some earlier models were built with the pre-M bodywork over an M Series chassis. This includes the last series of the TVR 2500 (comprising ninety-six cars; not to be confused with the 2500M), all twenty-three Vixen S4s, and the final six TVR 1300s"
This being the case, did you consider having an M chassis for your Tuscan, or would you if it had occurred to you?
Following on from this, can anyone tell me if the rear uprights are identical on the Tuscans and the 3000M/S/Taimar cars?
I had a thought about your chassis. wikipedia says the stronger M chassis designed by Mike Bigland was used on a few of the previous models too. I quote, "some earlier models were built with the pre-M bodywork over an M Series chassis. This includes the last series of the TVR 2500 (comprising ninety-six cars; not to be confused with the 2500M), all twenty-three Vixen S4s, and the final six TVR 1300s"
This being the case, did you consider having an M chassis for your Tuscan, or would you if it had occurred to you?
Following on from this, can anyone tell me if the rear uprights are identical on the Tuscans and the 3000M/S/Taimar cars?
IanMcKean said:
Did you consider having an M chassis for your Tuscan, or would you if it had occurred to you?
The possibility of using an M chassis fleetingly crossed my mind, but was swiftly rejected.First off, I want the car to be reasonably original, for all the obvious reasons.
Secondly, I think that an M chassis under the Vixen/Tuscan shells look a bit odd.
Thirdly, Keith was able to incorporate an improved location for the diff, which removes one weak point.
Fourthly, Keith has made the new chassis from thicker tube and it has beefier wishbone and damper mounts. So the whole thing is stronger anyway.
Someone more knowledgeable will doubtless correct me, but I think that the main advantage to an M Series chassis would be the much better crash performance, in that you are far less likely to be impaled by the steering column in a frontal accident.
I was hoping to have the chassis coated by now, but I am having a bit of a play with the roll over bar arrangement.
I have carried out the necessary chopping of the shell so that the roll bar can be mounted on the chassis, but the way that it currently sits means that I wouldn't be able to position the driver's seat as far back as I would like.
So I am going to shorten the height of it so that the legs can be fitted right at the very back of the footwell. This will require a little chopping and welding.
Once that is sorted and the appropriate holes drilled, then it will be off to the powder coaters.
Progress has been pretty slow in the run up to Xmas, but I've been fettling the roll hoop and bracing struts.
Keith's roll over bar fitted perfectly, but the legs of the main hoop landed several inches forward in the footwells.
The aim was to get the legs of the hoop as far back as possible, so that they interfere less with the seating position, particularly on the driver's side.
So I've shortened the legs so that it can fit in a more upright position. This also meant that the captive nuts on the cleats that clamp to the brace needed removing and that the rear bulkhead on the passenger side needed cutting back so that the diagonal will fit a couple of inches further back.
Just need to weld the feet back on the bottom of the roll hoop, then all the ironmongery is ready for powder coating.
Keith's roll over bar fitted perfectly, but the legs of the main hoop landed several inches forward in the footwells.
The aim was to get the legs of the hoop as far back as possible, so that they interfere less with the seating position, particularly on the driver's side.
So I've shortened the legs so that it can fit in a more upright position. This also meant that the captive nuts on the cleats that clamp to the brace needed removing and that the rear bulkhead on the passenger side needed cutting back so that the diagonal will fit a couple of inches further back.
Just need to weld the feet back on the bottom of the roll hoop, then all the ironmongery is ready for powder coating.
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 15:13
Been fiddling with the roll bar some more.
After a great deal of consideration, I decided to remove the diagonal brace.
The diagonal was probably overkill for a car which will do the odd trackday, but will rarely be used in anger.
The result is that the whole thing is much more discreet. The main legs tuck right out of the way in the back corners of the footwell. The seats sit further back and there is less ironmongery to clatter your head on. Rear visibility will also be improved.
I will also be able to fill the hole in the passenger side rear tunnel that I chopped out to clear the diagonal.
Big thanks to Keith for his kind offer to fettle a solution for me, but as this issue was entirely of my making, I thought I ought to solve it myself.
At the risk of repeating myself, the original arrangement fabricated by Keith fitted perfectly. The only reason I have been pratting about with it was to maximise leg room.
After a great deal of consideration, I decided to remove the diagonal brace.
The diagonal was probably overkill for a car which will do the odd trackday, but will rarely be used in anger.
The result is that the whole thing is much more discreet. The main legs tuck right out of the way in the back corners of the footwell. The seats sit further back and there is less ironmongery to clatter your head on. Rear visibility will also be improved.
I will also be able to fill the hole in the passenger side rear tunnel that I chopped out to clear the diagonal.
Big thanks to Keith for his kind offer to fettle a solution for me, but as this issue was entirely of my making, I thought I ought to solve it myself.
At the risk of repeating myself, the original arrangement fabricated by Keith fitted perfectly. The only reason I have been pratting about with it was to maximise leg room.
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 15:17
Pat H said:
Been fiddling with the roll bar some more.
After a great deal of consideration, I decided to remove the diagonal brace.
The diagonal was probably overkill for a car which will do the odd trackday, but will rarely be used in anger.
The result is that the whole thing is much more discreet. The main legs tuck right out of the way in the back corners of the footwell. The seats sit further back and there is less ironmongery to clatter your head on. Rear visibility will also be improved.
I will also be able to fill the hole in the passenger side rear tunnel that I chopped out to clear the diagonal.
Big thanks to Keith for his kind offer to fettle a solution for me, but as this issue was entirely of my making, I thought I ought to solve it myself.
At the risk of repeating myself, the original arrangement fabricated by Keith fitted perfectly. The only reason I have been pratting about with it was to maximise leg room.
Cage looks quite low to me in the pics?After a great deal of consideration, I decided to remove the diagonal brace.
The diagonal was probably overkill for a car which will do the odd trackday, but will rarely be used in anger.
The result is that the whole thing is much more discreet. The main legs tuck right out of the way in the back corners of the footwell. The seats sit further back and there is less ironmongery to clatter your head on. Rear visibility will also be improved.
I will also be able to fill the hole in the passenger side rear tunnel that I chopped out to clear the diagonal.
Big thanks to Keith for his kind offer to fettle a solution for me, but as this issue was entirely of my making, I thought I ought to solve it myself.
At the risk of repeating myself, the original arrangement fabricated by Keith fitted perfectly. The only reason I have been pratting about with it was to maximise leg room.
heightswitch said:
Cage looks quite low to me in the pics?
The photos are deceptive. It is actually pretty close to the roof, particularly in the corners.But I have given myself another 10mm to play with, on the basis that it is easier to weld an extra plate under the feet, rather than to chop some out.
There's probably another 5mm which can be gained or lost depending on the thickness of the rubber pad between the chassis and the tub.
Then there's the thickness of the headlining or the screen rubber.
Then there's the question of whether to have some padding around the roll bar.
To be honest, fitting a roll bar at all is probably an unnecessary complication.
Then again, this was me on Anglesey a few weeks ago, and I would like to think that the Tuscan will eventually get the same treatment.
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 15:22
I've got the original tinted toughened glass screen, but I'm obviously in no rush to use it.
I assume that a proper laminated screen is available from somewhere.
As far as powder coating is concerned, I really should have it done in black, but when I rebuilt a Seven, I had the chassis done in light grey, which really looks the business.
Like this...
I assume that a proper laminated screen is available from somewhere.
As far as powder coating is concerned, I really should have it done in black, but when I rebuilt a Seven, I had the chassis done in light grey, which really looks the business.
Like this...
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 15:26
The grey chassis and silver body looks great, as does the black chassis and silver body.....
Are you going to keep the car in the colour that it was when your Father had it? Black and yellow.... or are you choosing a different colour for the body?
Grey and yellow does not do it for me, but then 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' (or something like that) and getting your Dad's car back on the road is far more important than trivial points such as total originality and colour choices.
On the question of the windscreen, I may be able to help.... so send me an email, when the time comes in your restoration for this to be considered.
Are you going to keep the car in the colour that it was when your Father had it? Black and yellow.... or are you choosing a different colour for the body?
Grey and yellow does not do it for me, but then 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' (or something like that) and getting your Dad's car back on the road is far more important than trivial points such as total originality and colour choices.
On the question of the windscreen, I may be able to help.... so send me an email, when the time comes in your restoration for this to be considered.
Pat H said:
I've got the original tinted toughened glass screen, but I'm obviously in no rush to use it.
I assume that a proper laminated screen is available from somewhere.
As far as powder coating is concerned, I really should have it done in black, but when I rebuilt a Seven, I had the chassis done in light grey, which really looks the business.
Like this...
7024 gloss grey.I assume that a proper laminated screen is available from somewhere.
As far as powder coating is concerned, I really should have it done in black, but when I rebuilt a Seven, I had the chassis done in light grey, which really looks the business.
Like this...
N
Requirement for roll bar amply demonstrated by my inability to keep four wheels pointing in the same direction.
Oulton Park, 25th Jan
Time to retreat to the garage with my tail between my legs and make some progress with the Tuscan...
Oulton Park, 25th Jan
Time to retreat to the garage with my tail between my legs and make some progress with the Tuscan...
Pat H said:
Requirement for roll bar amply demonstrated by my inability to keep four wheels pointing in the same direction.
Oulton Park, 25th Jan
Time to retreat to the garage with my tail between my legs and make some progress with the Tuscan...
Get crackin! Nice spin.Oulton Park, 25th Jan
Time to retreat to the garage with my tail between my legs and make some progress with the Tuscan...
Pat H said:
Requirement for roll bar amply demonstrated by my inability to keep four wheels pointing in the same direction.
Oulton Park, 25th Jan
Time to retreat to the garage with my tail between my legs and make some progress with the Tuscan...
Not making a case against an ARB, but are you sure that spin didn't have more to do wth track/tyre temperatures? Oulton Park, 25th Jan
Time to retreat to the garage with my tail between my legs and make some progress with the Tuscan...
Best,
B.
Slow M said:
Pat H said:
Requirement for roll bar amply demonstrated by my inability to keep four wheels pointing in the same direction.
Oulton Park, 25th Jan
Time to retreat to the garage with my tail between my legs and make some progress with the Tuscan...
Not making a case against an ARB, but are you sure that spin didn't have more to do wth track/tyre temperatures? Oulton Park, 25th Jan
Time to retreat to the garage with my tail between my legs and make some progress with the Tuscan...
Best,
B.
I wasn't talking ARBs, rather that any car driven by me ought to have a roll over hoop fitted.
I was referring back to all the messing about that I'm doing to Keith's perfectly good roll over bar.
The spin was due to pilot error.
Cold semi slick tyres on a damp greasy track. I should have known better. The two chaps I was sharing the car with managed to get round without mowing the grass.
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