Just purchased a tvr 350i fhc and have a few questions

[HaydnTVR]

Recently purchased and a bit new to the wedge scene and was in need of help with a couple of things.
Firstly the headlights seem to be a pain, one comes up slightly and the other doesn't even bother so if anyone knows how to fix this that would be helpful.
Secondly any tips to get the paintwork back to its best as a number of areas need work but don't really want to spend loads on it.

Brought the car as an investment as personally I thought it was very cheap but after seeing it and hearing it I want to run it over the summer then sell on afterwards. Want to get the car back to its best on a budget, if that's possible.

Cheers
Haydn

[ElvisWedgely]

HaydnTVR said:

Recently purchased and a bit new to the wedge scene and was in need of help with a couple of things.
Firstly the headlights seem to be a pain, one comes up slightly and the other doesn't even bother so if anyone knows how to fix this that would be helpful.
Secondly any tips to get the paintwork back to its best as a number of areas need work but don't really want to spend loads on it.

Brought the car as an investment as personally I thought it was very cheap but after seeing it and hearing it I want to run it over the summer then sell on afterwards. Want to get the car back to its best on a budget, if that's possible.

Cheers
Haydn

Welcome to the world of Wedges Haydn. Firstly I'd like to say that this forum is more for Wedge enthusiasts wanting to improve and preserve their cars rather than those wanting to make a quick buck. However, the fact that you have decided to keep and use it for a while shows some enthusiasm, so that's promising. Secondly, the fact that your Wedge only has a couple of faults is a good sign, as you must have a really well looked after example. I am afraid there is no magical fix to the two questions that you ask and that even Uri Geller would struggle with this one. My advice to you is don't worry about the cosmetics for the time being and try to get the headlamps fixed possibly by an auto electrician. Then enjoy the car and see how you feel. You never know, you may decide to keep it, or even upgrade to a more powerful model. Enjoy.

Tony. TCB.

[KKson]

Hi here's a link to a recent topic regarding the head lights which might help. It could be as simple as wiring, or a bit of maintenance or the motor is buggered.

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

Regarding the paintwork, mine is a little faded in parts but a good dose of colour restore of the right colour and a good quality wax do help. A few have had pretty good results with aerosols. Is yours metallic or a solid colour?

[Wedg1e]

Cock-eyed headlamps are usually down to poor or corroded wiring connections, internal fault with the lift motor limit switches or monkeying by previous owners ( or all of the above).
The lift motors (but not the pods themselves) were used on the TR7 and Lotus Esprit so plenty of spares around if you need them, but they have to be pretty far gone before you can't overhaul them to working condition... depends on your technical abilities. And if you own a TVR wedge, by christ are you going to need either those or deep pockets

Some info here... (my website, and this page of it gets more hits than all the others!)

http://www.wedgeneering.co.uk/TVR%20390SE%20p6.htm

[JamesMK]

Or it could be the motor bracket that has rotted (and broken). That happened to mine last year and a kind PHer made me up some spares.

KKson said:

Hi here's a link to a recent topic regarding the head lights which might help. It could be as simple as wiring, or a bit of maintenance or the motor is buggered.

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

Regarding the paintwork, mine is a little faded in parts but a good dose of colour restore of the right colour and a good quality wax do help. A few have had pretty good results with aerosols. Is yours metallic or a solid colour?

[V8 Fettler]

HaydnTVR said:

-

Brought the car as an investment as personally I thought it was very cheap but after seeing it and hearing it I want to run it over the summer then sell on afterwards. Want to get the car back to its best on a budget, if that's possible.

Cheers
Haydn

Addicted already! Forget tarting it for a profit, it won't happen. Have you considered buying something else with an RV8?

[wedgemaniac456]

If you move it on after summer give me a shout first

[HaydnTVR]

ElvisWedgely said:

Welcome to the world of Wedges Haydn. Firstly I'd like to say that this forum is more for Wedge enthusiasts wanting to improve and preserve their cars rather than those wanting to make a quick buck. However, the fact that you have decided to keep and use it for a while shows some enthusiasm, so that's promising. Secondly, the fact that your Wedge only has a couple of faults is a good sign, as you must have a really well looked after example. I am afraid there is no magical fix to the two questions that you ask and that even Uri Geller would struggle with this one. My advice to you is don't worry about the cosmetics for the time being and try to get the headlamps fixed possibly by an auto electrician. Then enjoy the car and see how you feel. You never know, you may decide to keep it, or even upgrade to a more powerful model. Enjoy.

Tony. TCB.

To be honest i had never seen one of these cars before being 23 Ive not really been around that era or know much about them but something about it caught my eye. The main reason for purchasing as i have said was to make a profit but thats only as im trying to buy my first house with the girlfriend. This is more of a forced sale as after only having it for a short period of time im already becoming more attached to it but unfortunately it seems to be a matter of when its sold rather than if due to space to keep it and so on. Id love to get another though in the future though if i do end up selling, theirs just something about the fixed head coupe.

[HaydnTVR]

KKson said:

Hi here's a link to a recent topic regarding the head lights which might help. It could be as simple as wiring, or a bit of maintenance or the motor is buggered.

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

Regarding the paintwork, mine is a little faded in parts but a good dose of colour restore of the right colour and a good quality wax do help. A few have had pretty good results with aerosols. Is yours metallic or a solid colour?

cheers for the help, it's a solid colour. i will try to put a picture up soon if i can

[HaydnTVR]

cheers for all the help guys it's much appreciated.

Another question i forgot to ask is what battery size do you guys reccommend? been looking at a 075 but wasent sure what other owners were running on. That battery was dead as i purchased it but it fires straight up once on charge which sounds amazing

[Wedg1e]

HaydnTVR said:

cheers for all the help guys it's much appreciated.

Another question i forgot to ask is what battery size do you guys reccommend? been looking at a 075 but wasent sure what other owners were running on. That battery was dead as i purchased it but it fires straight up once on charge which sounds amazing

The beefier teh better (in current terms) but you'll probably find the limiting factor will be the space available for it - the early cars in particular were tighter than a fresh schoolie... IIRC it was the standard-fit battery from a 4-cyl TR7 that was used, which was a bit stretched churning the Ford V6 over.

[HaydnTVR]

[General Zod]

HaydnTVR said:

I want that... Awesome.

[mrzigazaga]

HaydnTVR said:

Hi & Welcome to the nuthouse... ..That looks like Mike's 350i FHC...It was a project but it seems that he never finished it..Or just got completely bamboozled and gave up...

HaydnTVR said:

To be honest i had never seen one of these cars before being 23 Ive not really been around that era or know much about them but something about it caught my eye.

Thats because its older than you are... I fell in love with Wedges when i was 18-19 years old..I only ever saw 2 in the next 30 years...Now at 52 i have owned two in the last 5 years and don't EVER want another car....As for buying for a profit...Well...I rescued a 280i from being scrapped...3 years and 9K later i owned the only supercharged 280i TVR Tasmin DHC...

Before:


After:



Her name was "Delilah" and i loved her and still do if I'm honest..Unfortunately the blower project was short lived and it all ended quicker than it started!..Pursuit of power can cost £££££££ and end in

I now own a 350i DHC called "Poppy" and i love her as well...Even though she is a bit poorly at the moment...She has a weak bladder..Bit like her owner..



Now you either have mechanic skills or you need to start learning..Especially how to use a multi-meter...Head light pods have a mind of their own..Do yours make any wurring noises or the motors get hot...There is a manual access hole underneath them where you can wind them up...If you go past the up position they will or should go back down rather quickly and up if wound down past the stop..There are two relays and a fuse for each side..Actually i think there is three including the lamp operation..Then there are one..Two..Maybe three diodes so they are not an easy thing to sort out sometimes but if you can at least see if you have any feed to them then its a start...My O/S headlight was completely dead a while back after fitting some indicators...

I had my hand up her skirt tugging at her bits and i thought i had maybe pulled something off......It wasn't until i starved myself for a week and then contorted myself upside down in the passenger footwell to check for loose wires that i found this....
...(Fixed)
The purple/White wire was hanging out..Now they work fine...However don't take the colour of the wire as gospel as TVR used whatever was at hand..I feel sorry for those with all black wiring...

You might be able to make up a link wire from the battery and test to see if the motors work at least then you will know its a wiring fault and not a mechanical one.

Now as far as batteries are concerned then as said go for the biggest and most powerful one you can fit in there..It might be best if you measure the space for it and then search for one that will fit..Well with a bit of a struggle at least..You need something that has around 480-500CCA..

A 350i FHC is a rare beastie so as long as the GF loves it then keep it and come to this years Big Bad Wedge Fest at Ettington cause hotel 3rd-5th July 2015...

PS: If the GF starts moaning about the car you will know what to do..It becomes a realisation once the TVR bug gets under your skin and your blood turns purple...TVR is a way of life..In fact you won't have a life without it....

Good luck with everything and don't be afraid to ask on here about anything..Even if it sounds stupid ....If someone was to ask me whether i want to fault find a Wedge or solve a rubik's cube...Id have to take the Wedge cos the satisfaction factor is amazing....Cheers...Ziga

[earlybay]

..just thought Id pop in here and say hello again !

Wow thats looks amazingly like my old one (JEC), but Im sure its not, as the side decals are white as opposed to red (and mine was March '84 registered) - great to see another 350i FHC has survived though !

love to see some more pics ...

Heres my old thread on 350i FHC's ..

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

[BIG DUNC]

Does anyone know whether the OP still has this or where it is now?
I owned it for 9 years and regret selling it.

[HaydnTVR]

Hello mate,
Would like to hear more about this email me on [e-mail]. I still have the car and an in the process of trying to get it fixed so I can use it for my wedding day 14/09/19. Hopefully can get it ready but can't see myself selling it anytime soon, just want to get it properly finished so can use it more in the future.
Haydn

[BIG DUNC]

E mail sent

[Rockettvr]

HaydnTVR said:

Hello mate,
Would like to hear more about this email me on [e-mail]. I still have the car and an in the process of trying to get it fixed so I can use it for my wedding day 14/09/19. Hopefully can get it ready but can't see myself selling it anytime soon, just want to get it properly finished so can use it more in the future.
Haydn

Bought for a quick flip ......... still got it 4 years later and wants to use it for his wedding - I’d say that he’s got the wedge bug.

[brianpV8]

That looks like it could be F672YOV? Registered 2 cars before mine F674YOV??? Hope your getting somewhere with it’s resto

Edited by brianpV8 on Thursday 29th August 01:20

Edited by brianpV8 on Thursday 29th August 01:21