Frame and rust problems

[carsinthesun]

Just thought I would let you all see what I am trying to sort on my 89 S2.

After I had lifted off the body I could see the full extent of the damage to the outriggers and the support brackets at the rear.

After consultation with RT Racing and a lot of head scratching I decided to not replace the frame but repair it with new metal; A decision It will remain to see if it was a bad one or not!.

At the mo I am awaiting the metai to arrive in Spain then its going down to a welding bay in my local town.

Since the body has been off I have sorted the brakes, serviced the engine, gearbox and drive shafts and checked the suspension and clutch, I have also checked all the engine and body mounts and have shook to death and cleaned all the excess rust from the tank interior. Material, acid is now on route from England for the clean, seal and paint of the tank.

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[carsinthesun]

Sorry guys I am trying to load more pics and the weather and my computer r driving me mad... wait out

[carsinthesun]

Yes its good British metal, Richard from RT Racing Sheffield has very kindly made me up two F Frames and all the supporting material.

Ref the tyres I had not even looked at them yet, I take it from your comments they r a bit big!!, and I bet if I have an even closer look at them they r perished and very old. I will add it to my list!!

[carsinthesun]

As you can see I have been busy stripping the car.

No major issues yet. The acid has finally arrived to sort the tank and the metal parts constructed by RT Racing have been delivered to Spain. The car is getting picked up in the morning and is going down the welding bay for fixing, finally.

Edited by carsinthesun on Tuesday 19th April 18:11

[carsinthesun]

[carsinthesun]

u think the wheelbarrow is bad I lifted it out using the kids swing frame!!

My excuse was I built it in the first place!

Cheers for the comments all good advice I will go and look for some UJ Mounts and will sort the handbrake out.

Small problem with the tank checked 4leaks prior to the acid going in and its got two pin holes to sort first.

[carsinthesun]

Well my week was going well and then the welder compared the metal that I have waited 6 weeks for to the car,,,,,,,, check out the pics



The centre bar fitting support gussets were too small, the F bars were welded in the wrong place and the horizontal bars with the earth bolt on were too short!!!

To say I was a little perplexed would be a severe understatement.

However, after consultation with RT racing they openly apologised and have rebuilt and replaced the whole lot which will be posted out to me fingers crossed, in the coming week.

Finally to all you 2.9 wheelbarrow fans I would just like to say that its been actually downgraded beacuse two weeks earlier it had my 3.5 V8 in it out of my Stag!!

We like to adapt and overcome!!

Edited by carsinthesun on Saturday 23 April 15:16

[carsinthesun]

[carsinthesun]

Yes I agree, to be honest thats why I just took it on the chin. I was expecting a bhing match and what I got was an instant apology and a solution to fix it. How many times does that happen!!

[carsinthesun]

Guys I am at a head scratching time!!

All the welding is done and the frame has been sealed and painted.

Then after finally finding 6 Strong people we put the body back on, then the problem happened.

All seems to fit perfectly well but I just cannot seem to get the body to lower the final approx. 2cms at the back and onto the frame top rubbers, the body is just above the original bolt holes and not resting on the replaced rubber mounts.

I have just been chatting to the welder who tells me that it just needs Pressing into place!! It will then has he says clunk back into its original position.

I am obviously loathed to try and get it into its final resting place using all the bolts under tension due to its fiberglass body. I have the chassis at the mo on axle stands to make it solid.

Has anybody had this problem b4 and how was it overcome, all suggestions very welcome.

[carsinthesun]

No its not the fuel pipe, it was initially, but after a slight movement dropped to the tube body. The car is sat at the same height on both sides I initially thought it was the welding not in the correct place but we checked it all again and it is not yet touching any of the new welds!!

I have not added any extra rubber padding to the chassis frame nor have a put any other item above the chassis, so I am still scratching my head.

[carsinthesun]

Yes good advice I will take the tank back off. yes the trailing arms etc are on

[carsinthesun]

Now the last post is a good idea, never thought of doing it that way around, makes a lot of sense.

Yes all new rubbers are being used throughout.

I now have the tank back off and I hope u can see the gap that is concerning me.

I have looked along the whole body and at the front it is sitting nearly perfect and the rear just seems to raise has it goes along. Nothing appears to be catching!!

The gap u can see on the pic is actually larger when the car is held correct for the doors and the roof.

[carsinthesun]

Yes, but I already have two strips of rubber and if I add more the rear gets higher subsequently the strip above the rear frame that covers the rubbers will have a gap bigger than the metal itself.

In my eyes if I had two strips of rubber prior to its strip down and if everything is going back in the same place it has two when it goes back together.

Something is wrong and I think the only option is to take it all back off again and figure it out. This unfortunately is the life of a car restorer its either correct or its correct.....I wish sometimes it was not because my life would be a lot easier......

[carsinthesun]

Hi Allen,

I am in the process of getting a group of guys 2gether, hopefully mid week. But I think u r going to b spot on, yes I have had them both changed and yes I think they r at the limit stopping its movement forward.

Its dark here now but I will have a better look 2morrow afternoon after work

Did u remove yours and re weld them again or did u change for new?

I have plenty of new metal left due to the earlier mix up with the metal parts.

Thanks again, I will let u know how I get on.

[carsinthesun]

I think I have got to the bottom of the problem.

The front right side has been left a bit lumpy with weld at the bottom cross section pipe above the triangle, subsequently pushing the rear right side of the car back onto the metal upright of the trailing arm. The left side is free.

I will drop on some picks but don't know if u will be able to see the problem though.

The car I will lift back on Wednesday and see if I can free it up.

Edited by carsinthesun on Monday 20th June 17:11

[carsinthesun]

[carsinthesun]

All sorted,

Many thanks to all who took the time to help.

Got the body off, made a small adjustment to the front right outrigger and the body just dropped into place when it was put back on.

Now in the process of putting it all back together when its I done will post a few pics.

Just one point, could anybody please tell me what holds the rear exhaust onto the car.

I have a set of stainless steel twin pipes.I have a bolt with a rubber mount and then a figure eight of a type of material that wraps around the pipes. It looks like its made from a rubber and leather material. Is this correct or has it been home made?

[carsinthesun]

Thanks for the info and finding me the TVR sight that I did not know about. Just spotted a few more items that I now have on order.

[carsinthesun]

Ok quick update,

All back together less the bonnet and the exhaust,

However, I have a starting problem, It wont, !! to cut a long story short,ish, only electrical things ive fitted are a new battery and a new starter motor solenoid.

The alarm appears to be responding but I will change the batts in the remotes this evening to be on the safe side.

When I turn on the ignition I get nothing, I also have no reading from the battery gauge or does that only register after starting?

The engine does not turn over at all, I cannot hear any fuel pumps starter systems or anything, anybody got any ideas.

Any help will be greatly appreciated, I am hoping to take it to a show on Sunday.