420 SEAC restoration begins
Discussion
No, that's not mine in the background.
My chassis it seems has less rot that Henry's later 450SE but more welds have come away from the main chassis, several tubes are bent or damaged and there is some serious flexing in the chassis as a whole. Pile of poo in it's present state. Welds will not be re-welds but complete tubing replaced with stronger seamless tubing and superior welding - my car must of come of the production line on a Friday!
Both front adjustable shocks were up against the bump stops - I though the handling was strange.
Chassis off to be grit blasted to see what other damage has yet to be spotted before rebuild begins then of to the hot dip galvaniser at 400 degrees C. That'll stop the b
d from ever rotting again.Gearbox was semi-shagged so dropped that of at Gearboxman in Redboune with a remit to do whatever's necessary to make it perfect and quiet.
More to come, same time, same channel
Phil
420 SEAC
BTW, anyone that's done a chassis job will note on the front of mine that the left hand diagonal tube has been re-located further forward. Has anyone any idea why or if this is unique on SEAC's? It's not a particular neat job.
Also, anyone any idea of the front and rear spring rates used on the SEAC's?
Were they any harder than the normal V8 wedge's?
Phil
420 SEAC
Also, anyone any idea of the front and rear spring rates used on the SEAC's?
Were they any harder than the normal V8 wedge's?
Phil
420 SEAC
Hi Gerald and others, hi Paul,
Yes, it those tubes you mention.
I think some have to do with the fact the SEAC has a different nose to that of normal wedges but the modified diagonal tube gets me.
Will no doubt cross that bridge as and when.
I hear what others have said re galvanising but if enough drain holes are drilled and importantly the chassis is correctly fed into the 'hot' tank then I think distortion can be minimised or eradicated completely.
I need to confirm that my man is experienced as dipping chassis, such as for trailers etc.
Did you see my link in a previous thread re someone's galvanised Chim:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'd imagine that if the drain holes are large enough and at both ends of the tube that the hot zinc would also coat the insides, no?
Phil
420 SEAC
Yes, it those tubes you mention.
I think some have to do with the fact the SEAC has a different nose to that of normal wedges but the modified diagonal tube gets me.
Will no doubt cross that bridge as and when.
I hear what others have said re galvanising but if enough drain holes are drilled and importantly the chassis is correctly fed into the 'hot' tank then I think distortion can be minimised or eradicated completely.
I need to confirm that my man is experienced as dipping chassis, such as for trailers etc.
Did you see my link in a previous thread re someone's galvanised Chim:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'd imagine that if the drain holes are large enough and at both ends of the tube that the hot zinc would also coat the insides, no?
Phil
420 SEAC
Thanks Alan,
I haven't forgot I have you PS parts.
Yes, big things happening on the rear end so will update as and when.
Wayne,
ASAP but going for new paint and new interior as long as the funds hang out.
More photo's in two weeks time when the chassis should of been blasted, repaired and blasted again ready for the hot dip..
Phil
420 SEAC
I haven't forgot I have you PS parts.
Yes, big things happening on the rear end so will update as and when.
Wayne,
ASAP but going for new paint and new interior as long as the funds hang out.
More photo's in two weeks time when the chassis should of been blasted, repaired and blasted again ready for the hot dip..
Phil
420 SEAC
Yes, the frame is to stop the body from flexing.
This is part of a professional restoration shop with separate fabrication and engine building rooms and further adjacent storage for other customer cars.
They are far from short of work and have a wide variety of different cars. Aside from that early Corvette such cars as Ruf Porsche, Mercedes 190, Triumph TR5, 1930's hearse! and others.
The SEAC is in good hands.
Phil
420 SEAC
This is part of a professional restoration shop with separate fabrication and engine building rooms and further adjacent storage for other customer cars.
They are far from short of work and have a wide variety of different cars. Aside from that early Corvette such cars as Ruf Porsche, Mercedes 190, Triumph TR5, 1930's hearse! and others.
The SEAC is in good hands.
Phil
420 SEAC
Hi Guys,
The tube that has been moved forward does not look like Blackpool work but that it's been carried out at a later date!
AFAIK galvanising, just like zinc spraying has a creeping effect and in fact protects metal around the actual coating. Not sure how true that is.
I spoke to Mr Chim who galvanised his chassis and he was advised to use 5mm drain holes. Post dipping he plugged the holes with QuickSteel then painted the chassis for aesthetic reasons with POR15.
Phil
420 SEAC
The tube that has been moved forward does not look like Blackpool work but that it's been carried out at a later date!
AFAIK galvanising, just like zinc spraying has a creeping effect and in fact protects metal around the actual coating. Not sure how true that is.
I spoke to Mr Chim who galvanised his chassis and he was advised to use 5mm drain holes. Post dipping he plugged the holes with QuickSteel then painted the chassis for aesthetic reasons with POR15.
Phil
420 SEAC
More images of today's shoot after the chassis had been blast cleaned.
Not the stress fractures or poor quality welding - I'm not trying to be diplomatic!
More on that tube that was relocated. Nowhere near the steering column. More like making room for the oil filter but still don't really understand it.
A fewe more shots;
All corroded and or damaged tubing will be cut out and replaced over the next couple of weeks prior to prepping chassis for galvanisers.
Phil
420 SEAC
Not the stress fractures or poor quality welding - I'm not trying to be diplomatic!
More on that tube that was relocated. Nowhere near the steering column. More like making room for the oil filter but still don't really understand it.
A fewe more shots;
All corroded and or damaged tubing will be cut out and replaced over the next couple of weeks prior to prepping chassis for galvanisers.
Phil
420 SEAC
BTW, there was some serious chassis movement and stress, or should that be chassis stress and movement?
After talking with people that know a lot more about chassis than I ever will I'll be getting shot of my recently purchase 'after market' rear tie bars and going down the Lotus route to enable the rear suspension to work like it should!
I'll post photo's after this chassis work has been completed so you'll all see what's been done.
Phil
420 SEAC
After talking with people that know a lot more about chassis than I ever will I'll be getting shot of my recently purchase 'after market' rear tie bars and going down the Lotus route to enable the rear suspension to work like it should!
I'll post photo's after this chassis work has been completed so you'll all see what's been done.
Phil
420 SEAC
Hi Guys,
Yes, the SH bars Wayne.
I think you know Barnet fitted them some months back and the car has done few miles since then.
Yours for half of the new price if you want them?
Hi Combine, you still need to let me know how you fitted your 'removeable' SEAC fog lamp perspex covering as I'll need that info soon!
I'll be at BBWF on the Saturday but unfortunately in the daily hack.
Phil
420 SEAC
Yes, the SH bars Wayne.
I think you know Barnet fitted them some months back and the car has done few miles since then.
Yours for half of the new price if you want them?
Hi Combine, you still need to let me know how you fitted your 'removeable' SEAC fog lamp perspex covering as I'll need that info soon!
I'll be at BBWF on the Saturday but unfortunately in the daily hack.
Phil
420 SEAC
Hi Guys,
I'm definately up for that run out in your SEAC Combine.
Did you drill right through the nose cone on that perspex fog/driving lamp cover on your car as you said it's detachable? I need to know as I wish to add this feature to my rebuild.
Ian,
Some of the welds really are not so hot. My limited knowledge of welding is that you not only need to pentrate the metal with enough grunt from the mig but once started one normally completes in one go and to see that aesthetic 'welders ripple' all round the weld. This effect is missing on a large minority of the welds on my chassis so maybe the wick was not up enough on the mig or said person needed more practice.
BTW, nice to know even Cerb chassis rust out:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TVR-CERBERA-4-2-V8-CHASSIS-A...
Re the Lotus mod. The guys went some way with Henry's car but I've instructed them to do whatever's required to implement the Lotus arms as best they can.
Phil
420 SEAC
I'm definately up for that run out in your SEAC Combine.
Did you drill right through the nose cone on that perspex fog/driving lamp cover on your car as you said it's detachable? I need to know as I wish to add this feature to my rebuild.
Ian,
Some of the welds really are not so hot. My limited knowledge of welding is that you not only need to pentrate the metal with enough grunt from the mig but once started one normally completes in one go and to see that aesthetic 'welders ripple' all round the weld. This effect is missing on a large minority of the welds on my chassis so maybe the wick was not up enough on the mig or said person needed more practice.
BTW, nice to know even Cerb chassis rust out:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TVR-CERBERA-4-2-V8-CHASSIS-A...
Re the Lotus mod. The guys went some way with Henry's car but I've instructed them to do whatever's required to implement the Lotus arms as best they can.
Phil
420 SEAC
I've not measured but I believe you gain an extra 10mm or so.
Maybe SH can chime in here?
I think Cambell has 245/16's on one of his cars among others here with and without SEAC's.
We have thinner panels or so I'm led to believe to you'll gain an extra inch there
Wayne,
I noted when I first met you that your rear exhaust pipe is around an inch larger bore than stock. Did you tell me that that was the diameter of the entire rear section of pipe or not?
+, I'd like a louder exhaust by around 10dB.
Phil
420 SEAC
Maybe SH can chime in here?
I think Cambell has 245/16's on one of his cars among others here with and without SEAC's.
We have thinner panels or so I'm led to believe to you'll gain an extra inch there
Wayne,
I noted when I first met you that your rear exhaust pipe is around an inch larger bore than stock. Did you tell me that that was the diameter of the entire rear section of pipe or not?
+, I'd like a louder exhaust by around 10dB.
Phil
420 SEAC
Wayne,
I'm waiting to meet up with my guys again to discuss the tie bar issue, however I feel we will still modify the chassis/suspension.
You will have first refusal on the tie bars, ok?
Steve,
I'm impressed.
1.8G round the twisty's is very good, around twice as good as a Corvette, albeit on steet tyres!
Ian,
I think that was one issue my guys brought up in discussion. They have carried out some modification work on the way the rear suspension works on Henry's car - now a daily drive. So maybe he will chime in as to if he's noticed any improvement.
Phil
420 SEAC
I'm waiting to meet up with my guys again to discuss the tie bar issue, however I feel we will still modify the chassis/suspension.
You will have first refusal on the tie bars, ok?
Steve,
I'm impressed.
1.8G round the twisty's is very good, around twice as good as a Corvette, albeit on steet tyres!
Ian,
I think that was one issue my guys brought up in discussion. They have carried out some modification work on the way the rear suspension works on Henry's car - now a daily drive. So maybe he will chime in as to if he's noticed any improvement.
Phil
420 SEAC
Todays pic's.
Chassis is pretty much done and how TVR should of constructed it.
It's now perfectly strait and one hell of a lot stronger that when it came out the factory.
The guys were told by another TVR owner that the factory were in a 'transition' period when these cars were built.
I'd use a different word.
Now for the rear suspension modifications plus all the number crunching for custom shocks and springs.
Phil
420 SEAC
Chassis is pretty much done and how TVR should of constructed it.
It's now perfectly strait and one hell of a lot stronger that when it came out the factory.
The guys were told by another TVR owner that the factory were in a 'transition' period when these cars were built.
I'd use a different word.
Now for the rear suspension modifications plus all the number crunching for custom shocks and springs.
Phil
420 SEAC
Going for galvanising at a great company called: www.wedge-galv.co.uk/
The colour's called "Dustbin Silver"
Phil
420 SEAC
The colour's called "Dustbin Silver"
Phil
420 SEAC
Does anyone by chance know the theory of operation of the two tanks and swirl pot as we cannot see how the second tank is run dry?
This may be a pointer to why the fuel gauge drops rapidly once you hit one quarter full!
I will be having a new pair of ali tanks made giving me the necessary space under the stock SEAC arch for 285 tyres. Am considering having left and right filler caps. The new designs will actually have increased capacity as there are a couple of voids not filled by the current design.
Next job measuring up for the new rear suspension.
Phil
420 SEAC
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