Couple of questions about a prospective purchase

Couple of questions about a prospective purchase

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Skyedriver

Original Poster:

17,855 posts

282 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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Been viewing a 350 this afternoon, a bit tired but not irrepairable.
However as well as the poorly fitted doors, leaking boot and unstuck interior trim there were a couple of other more worrying concerns.

The accelerator and brake pedal were roughly the same height but the clutch pedal was noticibly higher - my knee hit the steering wheel trying to get my foot onto it. Clutch operation seemed ok.

The gearstick seemed sort of "loose". The change itself was clean, the spring loading ok, it just didn't feel "right"
Any ideas on either malady, not sure TBH whether to proceed or wait for a better one.

maston

872 posts

152 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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Every wedge has a to do list, what sort of money was the sellerr hoping for ?
The loose feel in the gearstick will be the bushes nothing to worry about.

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

17,855 posts

282 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
quotequote all
maston said:
Every wedge has a to do list, what sort of money was the sellerr hoping for ?
The loose feel in the gearstick will be the bushes nothing to worry about.
Are they accessible from the top?
Or is it a box out job?

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

17,855 posts

282 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
quotequote all



If this has worked, you can see the difference in height with the clutch pedal



Oh and how easy is the handbrake to adjust as the lever nearly extends to vertical?

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

177 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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Skyedriver said:
maston said:
Every wedge has a to do list, what sort of money was the sellerr hoping for ?
The loose feel in the gearstick will be the bushes nothing to worry about.
Are they accessible from the top?
Or is it a box out job?
Fiddly but easy ish.

Read this:

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

ElvisWedgely

2,714 posts

165 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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From what I can see in that picture it looks like the wrong clutch pedal has been used, probably off another car. From memory, it should have a similar shape and pattern to the brake pedal.

Tony. TCB.

pk500

1,973 posts

212 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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ElvisWedgely said:
From what I can see in that picture it looks like the wrong clutch pedal has been used, probably off another car. From memory, it should have a similar shape and pattern to the brake pedal.

Tony. TCB.
Looks like it has 2 throttle pedals lol

Wedg1e

26,803 posts

265 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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Skyedriver said:
Oh and how easy is the handbrake to adjust as the lever nearly extends to vertical?
Any manual on the Jag XJ6 will tell you how to fiddle with the handbrake. It's a notorious pain in the parts whether on a Jag or a TVR.

Number 7

4,103 posts

262 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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There is a degree of adjustment of the pushrod on the master cylinder - maybe its been wound right out?

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

17,855 posts

282 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
quotequote all
Number 7 said:
There is a degree of adjustment of the pushrod on the master cylinder - maybe its been wound right out?
For someone with a left lag 6" shorter than the right?

Just cannot decide whether to go with it and do the repairs or wait. Everything is fixable, I've done plenty of pretty major jobs in the past (44 years) but the garage I have at the minute isn't wide enough to allow doors to open more than a smidge so everything needs to be done in the front path.

ElvisWedgely

2,714 posts

165 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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In my opinion the car does look nice and is a good colour combination that suits the Wedge. Yes, there are things to be put right, but you could spend double that amount and still have things to do. After all, it is a TVR. There are things on that car that is not original and it is an earlier model with the early rear suspension and separate twin exhausts. The spoiler and mirrors are modified but I'd clasify them as improvements. All the work needed and the modified stuff are all doable, as on all TVR's, but there is the cost issue. So to summerise.

Plus points:- Looks good. Reasonably priced.Reasonably tidy. Drives well. Reasonably factory specification. Sensible improvements. Requires only expected work for its age. Good history.

Negative points:- Needs some work. Non standard items may need reinstating. Rear brakes may need attention.

Negative minus the positive points, it doesn't sound too bad. If the chassis is good and the engine is healthy and there is no slack or whine in the drive, I would go for it. However, only you can decide if it suits your needs. The only advise to add, is that they are getting harder and harder to find, especially in good condition for this kind of money. This is only my opinion and others may see it differently. Good luck, and I hope my advice helps you to decide.

Tony.TCB.

simonwedge

743 posts

180 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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I've always found that it's like buying a house - you'll know when you've found the right car for you. If it doesn't feel right then wait for the next one. Despite how it feels there will be another one along shortly!

Personally, the fact that the seats and the centre console binnacle don't match the rest of the interior would put me off. I'd also say that it's generally cheaper in the long run to buy a nice car to start with than to buy one that's a bit rough and get it up to scratch - depends how cheap it is to start with (and what work needs doing) of course but the bills soon rack up.

As per the previous poster all just my opinion. You pays your money and takes your choice!

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

17,855 posts

282 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
quotequote all
simonwedge said:
I've always found that it's like buying a house - you'll know when you've found the right car for you. If it doesn't feel right then wait for the next one.
This

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

17,855 posts

282 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
quotequote all
simonwedge said:
it's generally cheaper in the long run to buy a nice car to start with than to buy one that's a bit rough and get it up to scratch
and this.

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

17,855 posts

282 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
quotequote all
ElvisWedgely said:
In my opinion the car does look nice and is a good colour combination that suits the Wedge. Yes, there are things to be put right, but you could spend double that amount and still have things to do. After all, it is a TVR. There are things on that car that is not original and it is an earlier model with the early rear suspension and separate twin exhausts. The spoiler and mirrors are modified but I'd clasify them as improvements. All the work needed and the modified stuff are all doable, as on all TVR's, but there is the cost issue. So to summerise.

Plus points:- Looks good. Reasonably priced.Reasonably tidy. Drives well. Reasonably factory specification. Sensible improvements. Requires only expected work for its age. Good history.

Negative points:- Needs some work. Non standard items may need reinstating. Rear brakes may need attention.

Negative minus the positive points, it doesn't sound too bad. If the chassis is good and the engine is healthy and there is no slack or whine in the drive, I would go for it. However, only you can decide if it suits your needs. The only advise to add, is that they are getting harder and harder to find, especially in good condition for this kind of money. This is only my opinion and others may see it differently. Good luck, and I hope my advice helps you to decide.

Tony.TCB.
Thanks Tony
Chassis not bad, been repaired, interior - red doesn't do it for me so was going to recolour and it needs a good clean and a bit of evo stik here and there. Engine never been touched apparently, runs cleanly, no smoke, g'box seems ok except prev mentioned prob, couldn't drive it (was offered but I had young son with me) doors don't shut very cleanly and rear quarter needs repacking as door gap not true. Hood in reasonable condition, few scuffs but no tears, sort of khaki colour. Boot untidy and leaks.
The upgraded brakes and shocks date back to 1998, the car was apparently laid up from then until a year or so ago.
For the price it is definitely worth thinking about as a project, if you have the space to work around it.
But it's what I find when I start to delve into it plus the work I'm going to have to farm out due to lack of space. I guess you know which car it is due to the wording of your post.

ElvisWedgely

2,714 posts

165 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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Skyedriver said:
Thanks Tony
Chassis not bad, been repaired, interior - red doesn't do it for me so was going to recolour and it needs a good clean and a bit of evo stik here and there. Engine never been touched apparently, runs cleanly, no smoke, g'box seems ok except prev mentioned prob, couldn't drive it (was offered but I had young son with me) doors don't shut very cleanly and rear quarter needs repacking as door gap not true. Hood in reasonable condition, few scuffs but no tears, sort of khaki colour. Boot untidy and leaks.
The upgraded brakes and shocks date back to 1998, the car was apparently laid up from then until a year or so ago.
For the price it is definitely worth thinking about as a project, if you have the space to work around it.
But it's what I find when I start to delve into it plus the work I'm going to have to farm out due to lack of space. I guess you know which car it is due to the wording of your post.
Tony calling Tony. Yes I know which car it is and it does look nice in the photos. White and red are the two desirable colours in sports cars and not too many white ones about in wedges. I am on my sixth V8 wedge, so you can imagine I've looked at a few from a buyers prospective. There is nothing that can't be put right on a Wedge but time and money is the issue. Like I say, only you can decide if it suits you, but if it were me, I would give it some serious consideration. All the best.

Tony. TCB.


Number 7

4,103 posts

262 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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A car that's been laid up for 16 years is going to need quite a bit of attention.

mtb

62 posts

250 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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Tony

You have mail


Mtb

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

17,855 posts

282 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
quotequote all
Number 7 said:
A car that's been laid up for 16 years is going to need quite a bit of attention.
I know, it has an MoT etc but I've had a few cars like this, and garage queens, and once you use them regularly, there's all sorts of issues arise.

adam quantrill

11,538 posts

242 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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Clutch pedal height is adjustable in 10-15 minutes. You need to get used to lying on your back in the footwell though!

Rear jag handbrake - if the split pins in the adjusters come out easy then similar 15-20 minute job. Otherwise spray the pins and leave them for the next weekend. The handbrake is largely ornamental anyway....