Undressing Kate, my Chim 430 resto.
Discussion
A trick I used to remove my seized chassis bolts especially the seat belt bolts was to heat a spare socket I had on the gas cooker until it glowed red,then placed the socket on the bolt head and allowed the heat to transfer before attempting to remove it.Luckily I got all my bolts out even though my car had been stood outside unused for 15 years letting in water so all the bolt heads were rusty.
I apply heat to in a similar way to screws by heating up an old screw driver and holding it on the head of the screw it may not always work but is worth a try.Good luck with the rest of the bolts.
I apply heat to in a similar way to screws by heating up an old screw driver and holding it on the head of the screw it may not always work but is worth a try.Good luck with the rest of the bolts.
In tonights episode of what did he break this time 
Nothing
but there may be a possiblility i dislocated my middle finger 
Anyway, on with the show, no one whats to hear me moan.
Tonight was a productive and frustrating all at the same time. Managed a good 4 hours.
I started with the remaining chassis bolts in the cabin and then moved onto the manifolds and T piece.
First job was to get the car in the air.
Next I undid the main exhaust joint and set about undoing all the manifold to Y bolts which to my great delight were easy to do.
I then moved onto the manifolds which i also found were not siezed.
Although i tried Ged's method of leaving the main exhaust in place, i found my hands were too big to undo the bottom bolts. So i set about removing the main exhaust.
No silencer
It wasn't easy undoing the bottom bolts but i managed it in the end.
Once they were off i thought id have a wee peek to see if any of the cats were in place.
Left precat.
Right precat.
Main cat.
And finally my top tip for the day is, If you're going to be lying under your car working, buy a decent set of googles I'm not winking, its crap in my eye.
Nothing
but there may be a possiblility i dislocated my middle finger Anyway, on with the show, no one whats to hear me moan.
Tonight was a productive and frustrating all at the same time. Managed a good 4 hours.
I started with the remaining chassis bolts in the cabin and then moved onto the manifolds and T piece.
First job was to get the car in the air.
Next I undid the main exhaust joint and set about undoing all the manifold to Y bolts which to my great delight were easy to do.
I then moved onto the manifolds which i also found were not siezed.
Although i tried Ged's method of leaving the main exhaust in place, i found my hands were too big to undo the bottom bolts. So i set about removing the main exhaust.
No silencer
It wasn't easy undoing the bottom bolts but i managed it in the end.
Once they were off i thought id have a wee peek to see if any of the cats were in place.
Left precat.
Right precat.
Main cat.
And finally my top tip for the day is, If you're going to be lying under your car working, buy a decent set of googles
I'm not winking, its crap in my eye.
I forgot to take pictures, I'll do it tonight.
Basically there is an access hole in the side of the fibreglass moulding that I used a ratchet spanner on. To start with I was only getting 1 maybe 2 clicks at a time but got better the further out the bolt came because of the shape of the hole.
Basically there is an access hole in the side of the fibreglass moulding that I used a ratchet spanner on. To start with I was only getting 1 maybe 2 clicks at a time but got better the further out the bolt came because of the shape of the hole.
Turned up to the garage tonight and thought I had a visitor.
Anyone know this Cerbera ?
Turns out there is a guy called Peter next door that is a "TVR guy" or that's what my other neighbour has told me.
Anyway, the pictures I promised Ged. 17mm spanner/socket on both sides.
Drivers side done with a ratchet spanner. Slow going to start with but gets there.
And passenger side. Hole is smaller so no chance of getting a spanner on it.
Socket and a pair of pump pliers did the job.
Hope this helps
Oh I also drained the coolant system and removed the radiator. 2 bolts holding it in place looked good on the radiator side but rotten in the nose but got there in the end. Will send it away to be re-cored.
Well that's me until Sunday when I hope to get a few hours in but family might have other plans for me.
Anyone know this Cerbera ?
Turns out there is a guy called Peter next door that is a "TVR guy" or that's what my other neighbour has told me.
Anyway, the pictures I promised Ged. 17mm spanner/socket on both sides.
Drivers side done with a ratchet spanner. Slow going to start with but gets there.
And passenger side. Hole is smaller so no chance of getting a spanner on it.
Socket and a pair of pump pliers did the job.
Hope this helps
Oh I also drained the coolant system and removed the radiator. 2 bolts holding it in place looked good on the radiator side but rotten in the nose but got there in the end. Will send it away to be re-cored.
Well that's me until Sunday when I hope to get a few hours in but family might have other plans for me.
I'm looking to put a shopping list together and there are things I want to do but as my bank account isn't bottomless, unfortunately, I need to plan ahead and workout monthly budgets.
Can someone who has done this recently help me to spend my money wisely.
If you have £1000 to spend a month for 6 months to do the restoration what would you buy on,
Month no.1 ?
Month no.2 ?
Month no.3 ?
Month no.4 ?
Month no.5 ?
Month no.6 ?
It doesn't need to be spent all in the same month, it could carry over to help with more expensive things.
I need brakes, suspension, radiator, interior and chassis (including outriggers) done. Plus a whole host of other things I know you'll think of before me.
Any help and advice appritiated.
Can someone who has done this recently help me to spend my money wisely.
If you have £1000 to spend a month for 6 months to do the restoration what would you buy on,
Month no.1 ?
Month no.2 ?
Month no.3 ?
Month no.4 ?
Month no.5 ?
Month no.6 ?
It doesn't need to be spent all in the same month, it could carry over to help with more expensive things.
I need brakes, suspension, radiator, interior and chassis (including outriggers) done. Plus a whole host of other things I know you'll think of before me.
Any help and advice appritiated.
Hi Cokes,,,
I'd do
Chassis
Radiator
Suspension and brakes
All other areas that effect reliability ( electrics)
Interior last after you've prooven all your repairs etc are sound...
I'd aim to replace all joints including steering arm etc,,
I'd tend to go for an area on the car and do all that's needed before moving on
That way you can clearly see how your budgets holding up.
I'd be replacing all the bolts etc,, Alun
I'd do
Chassis
Radiator
Suspension and brakes
All other areas that effect reliability ( electrics)
Interior last after you've prooven all your repairs etc are sound...
I'd aim to replace all joints including steering arm etc,,
I'd tend to go for an area on the car and do all that's needed before moving on
That way you can clearly see how your budgets holding up.
I'd be replacing all the bolts etc,, Alun
Hi Cokes,,,
I'd do
Chassis
Radiator
Suspension and brakes
All other areas that effect reliability ( electrics)
Interior last after you've prooven all your repairs etc are sound...
I'd aim to replace all joints including steering arm etc,,
I'd tend to go for an area on the car and do all that's needed before moving on
That way you can clearly see how your budgets holding up.
I'd be replacing all the bolts etc,, Alun
I'd do
Chassis
Radiator
Suspension and brakes
All other areas that effect reliability ( electrics)
Interior last after you've prooven all your repairs etc are sound...
I'd aim to replace all joints including steering arm etc,,
I'd tend to go for an area on the car and do all that's needed before moving on
That way you can clearly see how your budgets holding up.
I'd be replacing all the bolts etc,, Alun
If your doing most the work yourself then you'll be well on the way and boy will it look good.
Trouble is with all cars let alone Tvr is you don't know what you'll find until you pull stuff apart...
My trouble is I pull something apart and start thinking I might aswell change bloody everything just so I don't have to do it again.
New bolts and stuff isn't to expensive and really makes the work look top draw.
Isle t thousands with other people working on my car,,,
Spent 400 quid on bits and bobs and transformed the engine bay in my car,,, by doing it myself,,
Polished my exhausts and stuff,, cost eff all,,, looks a million dollors.
My steering rack looked corroded, stained and nasty,,,
Bead blasted and a few cans of lacquer
Almost a year later it still looks brand new,, £25 !!!
Some things will escalate but something's are just a few quid and the reward is massive,,,
I think the thing to do is look at what you wanna do then get pricing up before you commit,
All I can say is by grovelling under my car for a few months ifs cemented my feelings for the car and feel I know it inside out,,,, well not quite but my confidence in the car grew tremedeously and for that it's worth all the effort.
Trouble is with all cars let alone Tvr is you don't know what you'll find until you pull stuff apart...
My trouble is I pull something apart and start thinking I might aswell change bloody everything just so I don't have to do it again.
New bolts and stuff isn't to expensive and really makes the work look top draw.
Isle t thousands with other people working on my car,,,
Spent 400 quid on bits and bobs and transformed the engine bay in my car,,, by doing it myself,,
Polished my exhausts and stuff,, cost eff all,,, looks a million dollors.
My steering rack looked corroded, stained and nasty,,,
Bead blasted and a few cans of lacquer
Almost a year later it still looks brand new,, £25 !!!
Some things will escalate but something's are just a few quid and the reward is massive,,,
I think the thing to do is look at what you wanna do then get pricing up before you commit,
All I can say is by grovelling under my car for a few months ifs cemented my feelings for the car and feel I know it inside out,,,, well not quite but my confidence in the car grew tremedeously and for that it's worth all the effort.
Hi, that seems a lot if you doing it yourself, unless your thinking of a new engine and ECU. I think I would get chassis stripped and to RT racing or similar and get them to sort it. Renewing all ball joints and drive joints and other ancillary items should be around a thousand unless you need hoses and brakes and bigger items that's probably another grand
If it's a good budget then I was kinda hoping a respray might be possible if I add a bit more in.
As for taking the chassis to one of the experts like RT, as much as I'd like to,its a bit of a struggle as I'm in Edinburgh and they are all a good 250 or more miles away which is only adding to the costs. I'm sure I'll find someone closer to home to do the work.
As for taking the chassis to one of the experts like RT, as much as I'd like to,its a bit of a struggle as I'm in Edinburgh and they are all a good 250 or more miles away which is only adding to the costs. I'm sure I'll find someone closer to home to do the work.
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