Winter Worklist

Winter Worklist

Author
Discussion

massivesi

Original Poster:

66 posts

145 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Hi Guys

I'm not a very active poster because i'm relatively new to TVR ownership (2yrs), but i do read the forums a lot. I am thinking about doing some work to my 1995 4.0 Chim and wondered if you could help.

My car is about as standard as it could be. It has been well looked after and was in much better condition than 3 other cars i looked at for the same price (£6,500). I haven't done anything apart from regular services, changed a brake calliper and some immobiliser relay issues. I have been toying with the idea of a Cerbera but can't justify it at the moment as i work abroad. I like the idea of keeping my car standard and i like fixing simple things on it, but if i am going to make some upgrades i want to do it all. This is where your wealth of knowledge would really help me. First of all here's a worklist of the things i want to do:

- Chassis off, not had any problems with rust (apparently older ones are made from better steel) but it could do with a coat of whatever
- Upgrade suspension - Gaz golds
- Upgrade brakes
- Renew brake lines
- Engine inspection & service, possibly replace crankshaft, flexible hoses
- Possibly some kind of induction kit, i'm not power hungry but i'm open to sensible upgrade suggestions
- Y-Piece & Exhaust?
- Differential inspection, oil change
- Full respray (change the colour completely)
- Replace rear light covers
- Replace front lights and put covers over
- Full interior re-trim, including a possible option to lower the driver's seat/change seats, aluminium dash + leven stalks
- Estoril wheels or alternative
- Upgrade stereo system

I know this is going to be expensive and more than the car will be worth at the end of this process, but i love this car and see myself owning it for a long time. Question is just how expensive?? If you could comment against each item i would be very grateful.

Having found out how much you guys think each item should cost, i'm going to ask for some quotes for the whole project and see what kind of discount i can wangle. Do you have any recommendations of places that would be willing to take on a project like this? Do you think i would be better working with specialists in each area? I live near Chester but i'm willing to travel and leave the car for as long as is needed.

Any previous experiences with this kind of project most welcome. Would travel to talk to someone with any advice to offer and buy you a pint for your troubles!

Keep it real guys - thanks a lot.

Simon

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
A lovely totally standard car is probably worth more than a modified car, certainly in ten years time, and a modified car is certainly worth less than the cost of all those mods.

Start at the end. Tell us what you plan to do with the car, and we can tell you what mods you could do to make a difference.

The standard car is a great road car, and if your plans are just some Sunday driving, runs out and the odd car show, don't change much. Take it to a good TVR guy and get his opinion on the state of the chassis, outriggers, suspension and engine. I can point you to someone in West Norfolk, but there are good people your side of the country too.

If you plan to do a lot of touring, then you want to keep the noise levels sane
Tell us what type of noise and what noise levels you want and we can tell you what to change in the exhaust..

Several things on your list are maintenance, most are modifications.

If you want to do track days, there are a host of modifications, some advisable for safety. Some to protect the engine, some to improve handling and braking on track, some for more power. But all irrelevant if track days aren't your bag.

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Ps, if you want to do track days, sell yours and buy this, or something like it. You will keep thousands of pounds in your pocket and have a car with over 100 bhp more than your present one, and will be able to enjoy it now.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

s p a c e m a n

10,752 posts

147 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
yes What Qbee says, sell it and buy one more to your liking if that's what you want. You would save a lot of time and money if you bought one that was closer to what you wanted and then changed any remaining bits. Just looking over your list I would be expecting to shell out at least £6k to hand it over to someone and get everything other than the paint, interior and wheels done. Then you're going to have to throw at least another couple to get a reasonable job on a colour change, you'll be well into £10k by the time you've finished wobble

If you did all of the work yourself and were clever on the parts that you used you would still be spending twice as much as the increased worth of the car if you were lucky. IMO doing stuff like this has to be a hobby for people who get almost as much enjoyment out of working/improving on the cars as they do in driving them, if you're going to pay labour costs then you're a masochist.

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

148 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
If I were you I'd fjnd some old threads on the various tasks you wish to undertake, if you fancy doing some of these jobs yourself those threads will let you see what tools etc you will need and the costs involved.
The only way a Tvr specialist can give you an accurate quote is to let him have it on a ramp and look over the car.
Restoration/ repairs is never a cheap business so maybe ship out the hard jobs that require good tools/ equipement and use the old threads and post questions on here to take on the smaller jobs yourself.
If you really want to get your hands dirty expect to put in hundreds of hours as your list is pretty big.

It can be much cheaper to research and do most of the jobs listed yourself but you'll need good mechanical skills. Goodluck with it.


massivesi

Original Poster:

66 posts

145 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Thought as much chaps! Thanks for the rough estimate. I think i'll try to keep it as simple and original as possible, although having said it's in good condition it's by no means concourse and i would imagine that's where the real money is for originality. I want to drive the car for miles and miles, planning a few big road trips. The forward part of the dash needs re-trimming, but i think that can wait a bit longer. I'm also 6'7 so i'm going to look into modifying the seats as best i can, it's a bit of an issue when the hood is up.... The paint is the only other thing. I have a few stone chips on the bonnet, but the worst is behind the rear wheels. Might get a quote for just these panels. So little bits here and there but like for like...

So with a budget burning a hole in my pocket, i might look for a well sorted Cerbera and start the car collection!




massivesi

Original Poster:

66 posts

145 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
massivesi said:
I'm also 6'7 so i'm going to look into modifying the seats as best i can,
Actually 6'9, don't know where i lost those two inches!!

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Elise seats can give you a little more space., but you lose the recline feature.

Have you adjusted the pedals? Clutch and brake are adjustable.

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

148 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Some cars had box section added to the seat runners to raise the seat, have a look see, 6'9 as Phazed said maybe some sort of race seat bolted directly to the floor will give you a good few inches?

massivesi

Original Poster:

66 posts

145 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Mine don't have the box section, i've already had a look if there was anything relatively easy to do. Pedals are adjusted right back, which requires me to think about the shoes i wear when driving, but otherwise i'm extremely comfortable in there (better than some other cars i have driven - rover 75 particularly bad). I just need an extra inch or two of headroom. I don't mind about the recline as long as they don't make me sit too bolt upright, because that may decrease the headroom. The only thing is i would like to keep the forward/backward movement as my dad drives it and he's not so much of a giant.

Lotus Elise you say? what year?

Thanks

s p a c e m a n

10,752 posts

147 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
I think that the ones that everyone uses are the probax ones from the s2 elise/exige/vx220

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Stick an appeal on here and someone who already has them will pop up and say "come and try mine".
I did try them and found them slightly too upright for me, but I am well known as horizontal when driving! I also was trying to fit 4-point harnesses, and the width of the Elise seats gave me issues.

If you get no response let me know, as I have a soft southerner friend who ventures north from time to time and he will, I am sure, be happy for you to try his. He's a mere 6ft 3in, but likes to have good clearance for his helmet.

Another option is a company called Intatrim in Telford. They make a range of seats, so a trip to them in your Chim might get you results. You already know they are easy to remove/replace.

massivesi

Original Poster:

66 posts

145 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Thanks guys, very helpful.

Might take a trip to Telford, they might be interested in replacing the leather on the dash at the same time. I'm reliably informed the windscreen needs removing to do this and it will cost around 400 quid all in. If there's a possibility of new seats as well i might look into full re-trim, might be worth doing it all together while seats are out and dash is in bits as well. Probably should replace cracked veneers at the same....... this is where my problem lies! where does it stop!

Ta




QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Your guys for the dash oop noorth are D&C Trim in Blackpool. Top blokes, ex TVR.

ChilliWhizz

11,990 posts

160 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
QBee said:
.....try his, he's a mere 6ft 3in, but likes to have good clearance for his helmet.
eek



tonys

1,080 posts

222 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
You might already have done it, if not I'd add checking fuel lines to your list, particularly driver's side behind plenum.

Richard 858

1,882 posts

134 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
ChilliWhizz said:
QBee said:
.....try his, he's a mere 6ft 3in, but likes to have good clearance for his helmet.
eek
Seriously Chilli, you need to get back on dry land soon, really soon !

massivesi

Original Poster:

66 posts

145 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Working at sea chilli? me too - what you on?

shake n bake

2,221 posts

206 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Why feel the need to take the body off if your chassis appears ok? I know there could be a dodgy outrigger hiding but if the chassis looks in ok condition elsewhere then i feel you're just doing it because other people are doing it.

ChilliWhizz

11,990 posts

160 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
massivesi said:
Working at sea chilli? me too - what you on?
Olympic Boa at the mo, one week down, three left... How about you? smile