Pat's Tuscan V6 restoration thread
Discussion
I know that plenty of you are familiar with the story, but for those that aren't, read on. I hope it makes you smile as much as me.
Dad died in 2001. He was only 63 and had been retired less than eighteen months. He was my best friend. We had spent countless days together, whether it was fettling old cars and bikes, doing a bit of sprinting and hillclimbing or just chatting about cars over a pint.
He was a GP, so whilst hardly wealthy, had enough cash to indulge his enthusiasm for cars and bikes. And so through the 1960s he owned a succession of great cars, starting with a Lotus Six, then an XK120, big Healey, an Elan, and a couple of E Types.
Then in 1970, he bought a TVR Tuscan V6. It was to become one of his favourite cars.
Anyway, here we are, outside the factory in Hoo Hill, sometime in 1970. That's me in the Ventora.
The car is a Vixen, which I guess was the factory demonstrator at the time. Dad must have liked the colour.
Here's Mum, having a nosey inside the works.
And afterwards, we went to Squire's Gate airport and Dad showed me the Lancaster which was parked there for many years.
Dad ordered his Tuscan in late 1970. Here's an old TVR brochure that I found when clearing out some of his old things, complete with evidence of Dad picking over the options list.
As you will know, TVR moved to Bristol Avenue over Christmas 1970. Dad's car must have been one of the first cars (perhaps the very first?) to emerge from the new factory. Here's the relevant extract from the factory records, which shows the date of sale as the 4th January. It was registered on the 22nd.
And here she is, back in the Spring or Summer of 1971.
And here's a later pic, showing the Tuscan after Dad had it's arse painted black...
Dad kept the Tuscan for a few years, before eventually selling it to a local chap. And, apart from the fond memories, that is where the story seemed to end.
But it's now about thirty eight years later and Dad has been gone for more than a decade. My wife is away for the weekend and the kids are in bed.
I've just polished off a bottle of Rioja and I'm browsing the interweb. I find myself on eBay, trawling through the classics, when I stumble on an auction for a comprehensively knackered old TVR.
Through bleary eyes I reflect that Dad used to have one just like it. Then I look at the final photo and see the registration.
Shiiiit....
At which point I sobered up pretty quickly.
The following week was horrible. My sixteen year old daughter was unexpectedly admitted to hospital and ended up having major surgery.
I recall sitting in the day room at Preston Royal, waiting to speak to the consultant. Whilst I sat there, I renewed an old acquaintance and called Steve Reid. Turns out that he knew my Dad when he had the Tuscan. And also knew the chap that Dad sold it to. Small world.
The auction was still running, so I arranged to go to have a look at the car...
Jeez, it was absolutely fecked. But it was Dad's car and by this time I had made my mind up.
The vendor wouldn't end the auction early, so the auction had to run it's course.
A couple of nights later, I had a stiff drink and, with fifteen seconds to go and my heart in my mouth, I banged in my bid.
Two days later, this was the scene.
The car is in a terrible state, but at least it is now safe. It transpires that the chap who bought it from Dad only used it for a short time, before parking it up beside his house, where it remained for over thirty years, gradually deteriorating into the state you can see. Frustratingly, the speedo reads 25,000 miles...
Progress so far has been pretty modest, but I have made a start.
Lotus now sold to finance a start on the restoration.
Nice new floor tiles to make the garage more homely.
Am I completely certain I want to keep the Essex engine and not fit a V8?
If I am keeping the Essex, then what about the Zodiac gearbox?
So there you are.
I'm absolutely overwhelmed that I've got the car, despite the state that it is in.
Just wish that this fella was here to help with the rebuild.
Dad died in 2001. He was only 63 and had been retired less than eighteen months. He was my best friend. We had spent countless days together, whether it was fettling old cars and bikes, doing a bit of sprinting and hillclimbing or just chatting about cars over a pint.
He was a GP, so whilst hardly wealthy, had enough cash to indulge his enthusiasm for cars and bikes. And so through the 1960s he owned a succession of great cars, starting with a Lotus Six, then an XK120, big Healey, an Elan, and a couple of E Types.
Then in 1970, he bought a TVR Tuscan V6. It was to become one of his favourite cars.
Anyway, here we are, outside the factory in Hoo Hill, sometime in 1970. That's me in the Ventora.
The car is a Vixen, which I guess was the factory demonstrator at the time. Dad must have liked the colour.
Here's Mum, having a nosey inside the works.
And afterwards, we went to Squire's Gate airport and Dad showed me the Lancaster which was parked there for many years.
Dad ordered his Tuscan in late 1970. Here's an old TVR brochure that I found when clearing out some of his old things, complete with evidence of Dad picking over the options list.
As you will know, TVR moved to Bristol Avenue over Christmas 1970. Dad's car must have been one of the first cars (perhaps the very first?) to emerge from the new factory. Here's the relevant extract from the factory records, which shows the date of sale as the 4th January. It was registered on the 22nd.
And here she is, back in the Spring or Summer of 1971.
And here's a later pic, showing the Tuscan after Dad had it's arse painted black...
Dad kept the Tuscan for a few years, before eventually selling it to a local chap. And, apart from the fond memories, that is where the story seemed to end.
But it's now about thirty eight years later and Dad has been gone for more than a decade. My wife is away for the weekend and the kids are in bed.
I've just polished off a bottle of Rioja and I'm browsing the interweb. I find myself on eBay, trawling through the classics, when I stumble on an auction for a comprehensively knackered old TVR.
Through bleary eyes I reflect that Dad used to have one just like it. Then I look at the final photo and see the registration.
Shiiiit....
At which point I sobered up pretty quickly.
The following week was horrible. My sixteen year old daughter was unexpectedly admitted to hospital and ended up having major surgery.
I recall sitting in the day room at Preston Royal, waiting to speak to the consultant. Whilst I sat there, I renewed an old acquaintance and called Steve Reid. Turns out that he knew my Dad when he had the Tuscan. And also knew the chap that Dad sold it to. Small world.
The auction was still running, so I arranged to go to have a look at the car...
Jeez, it was absolutely fecked. But it was Dad's car and by this time I had made my mind up.
The vendor wouldn't end the auction early, so the auction had to run it's course.
A couple of nights later, I had a stiff drink and, with fifteen seconds to go and my heart in my mouth, I banged in my bid.
Two days later, this was the scene.
The car is in a terrible state, but at least it is now safe. It transpires that the chap who bought it from Dad only used it for a short time, before parking it up beside his house, where it remained for over thirty years, gradually deteriorating into the state you can see. Frustratingly, the speedo reads 25,000 miles...
Progress so far has been pretty modest, but I have made a start.
Lotus now sold to finance a start on the restoration.
Nice new floor tiles to make the garage more homely.
Am I completely certain I want to keep the Essex engine and not fit a V8?
If I am keeping the Essex, then what about the Zodiac gearbox?
So there you are.
I'm absolutely overwhelmed that I've got the car, despite the state that it is in.
Just wish that this fella was here to help with the rebuild.
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 13:17
Conian said:
Great find, do ya old man proud on the restoration.
Will you paint the arse end black?
Yep, definitely painting it's bum black.Will you paint the arse end black?
Plan is to keep it looking standard and original, at least from the outside.
Likely to fit roll cage and subtle improvements to suspension chassis, steering and brakes to make it safer and more useable.
Will almost definitely be keeping the Essex, hopefully using the original engine block if possible.
Less likely to retain Zodiac gearbox and o/d. Would make more sense to use T5 or Type 9 five speeder, I think.
Body lift this weekend, if all goes to plan.
uk66fastback said:
Didn't you say they used the front window apertures to pull the thing out of the weeds for the Ebay pics?
And they succeeded in beding those window frames (I can see them mangled in the pic) - will they have to be remade or are spares available? Or can the originals be *nursed* back to shape?
What a fantastic project ...
Any regrets when the Lotus went?
The n/s window frame is knackered, but the o/s one is perfect.And they succeeded in beding those window frames (I can see them mangled in the pic) - will they have to be remade or are spares available? Or can the originals be *nursed* back to shape?
What a fantastic project ...
Any regrets when the Lotus went?
As it happens, I think I know a chap with a n/s window frame, but I'll have to buy him a couple of pints before I ask him how much he wants for it...
As far as the Lotus is concerned, it was a wonderful old thing, but you can't keep all your toys. Maybe I'll buy it back again one day.
Stevo302 said:
What's the blue matting down? Could do with some good flooring in my garage.
www.eco-tile.netThe stuff is Ecotile 500/7 - Smooth Texture AD046130
Keep checking the Special Offers section until something turns up at an affordable price.
It is dead easy to fit, easy to clean, warmer than concrete and you can jack a car on it without damaging the tiles.
They even do a nice little ramp section for across the door of your garage.
Their customer care was great and the stuff turned up on a pallet 48 hours later.
My garage is about 38 square meters and it took me less than a day to lay them.
It's only failing is that it is not heat resistant.
If you do a lot of grinding and drop a red hot lump of old TVR chassis onto it, then it melts the surface of the tile and sticks to it.
Having said that, I think that tiles are pretty much the only option these days.
Don't waste your time with modern water based garage floor paints.
Tipped the tub up to have a look underneath.
Nothing too horrible to report.
Something has been fibreglassed around the front screen aperture during manufacture. Is it just a rope former, rather than a steel reinforcing tube?
Similarly, what's inside the reinforced strip just infront of the rear screen aperture?
Thanks,
P
Nothing too horrible to report.
Something has been fibreglassed around the front screen aperture during manufacture. Is it just a rope former, rather than a steel reinforcing tube?
Similarly, what's inside the reinforced strip just infront of the rear screen aperture?
Thanks,
P
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 13:25
ATE399J said:
chris-slyfield said:
I built my Tuscan V6 as a 'Kit Car' over the Xmas holiday in 1970 with my Dad, when I was 26. Dad died in 1981, but I still have fond memories of the many hours we spent together with the car.
From one Tuscan V6 owner to another, welcome. That's 4 of the 101 that post here now!Chris, if your car was built over Xmas '70 and Dad's left the factory on 4th Jan '71, then yours is probably closest to how mine was originally built.
I see yours also has Zodiac vents and small indicators on the sides of the bonnet.
It is a shame that you are so far away from Lancs, as I would love the chance to have a close look at yours.
Looks very nice in silver, btw.
tus6 said:
It would be great to try and get as many V6 Tuscans together at a location, to celebrate the 'Launch' of the restoration (when that day arrives) and drink a toast to your Dad, My Dad and the many other parents who must have been involved in encouraging their children in a Hobby that stays with you for life!
Yep, I'll drink to that.Not much progress to report. Usual problem of work getting in the way.
Next job is to strip the running gear from the chassis.
Here's a pic of the diff carrier. Is this a TVR fabrication or is it nicked from somewhere else?
As you can see, it has a pretty bad crack in it, which has obviously been there a while. Is this sort of failure commonplace?
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 13:29
tus6 said:
Apologies if I have offended anybody.
I'm sure that you won't have.People round here speak bluntly but seem to have correspondingly thick skins.
I suspect that we just reflect the personalities of the cars we choose to drive.
Anyway, enough of that.
Progress this weekend:
Front hubs, coilovers, wishbones and steering rack removed.
Despite having been soaked in penetrating fluid for weeks, it was necessary to exercise the angle grinder to get the track rod ends and the bottom wishbone bolts off.
Whilst I was making a mess, I decided to cut off the remains of the outriggers and any other rotten tubes that were getting in the way.
Not sure whether to attack the back end next, or whether to whip out the engine and box.
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 13:32
tus6 said:
Have you set yourself a target 'completion date'? That is of course working on the assumption that all your surrounding circumstances remain the same.
Will you do all of your own welding work on the chassis?
Completion date is anyone's guess. I would like to think it can be finished inside two years, but that depends on time and money.Will you do all of your own welding work on the chassis?
Sadly, the chassis is beyond repair. I've chopped the most rotten of the extremities off just to make stripping down easier, but a new chassis is top of the shopping list.
As your Tuscan was built at the same time as Dad's, does it have the corduroy type of seat material?
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 13:34
Mine is 1806/6, which makes it a slightly later car than yours.
According to the Graham Robson book, 1806/6 was the first TVR to leave the new Bristol Av factory.
That ties in with the factory records which shows that it was invoiced on Monday 4th January 1971, the first working day after the move.
I guess that gives the car some minor historical significance beyond my sentimental attachment to it.
I'm pretty sure that our cars are consecutive Tuscans and, therefore, yours was the last Tuscan to be supplied from Hoo Hill.
According to the Graham Robson book, 1806/6 was the first TVR to leave the new Bristol Av factory.
That ties in with the factory records which shows that it was invoiced on Monday 4th January 1971, the first working day after the move.
I guess that gives the car some minor historical significance beyond my sentimental attachment to it.
I'm pretty sure that our cars are consecutive Tuscans and, therefore, yours was the last Tuscan to be supplied from Hoo Hill.
Recently been diverted by purchase and inevitable fettling of Alfa 156 2.4 JTD for daily snotter duties. Nice 5 cylinder warble, 175bhp and 45mpg, though obviously not at the same time....
Anyway, finally managed to find time to get into the garage again.
Unbolted the driveshafts from the diff and removed the rear uprights complete with hubs, wishbones and shafts attached. Saving the nasty job of stripping them completely down until later.
Removed the diff, which weighs a bloody ton, along with the propshaft.
Then lifted the engine and box, which was the easiest of today's jobs by a margin.
Now left with a completely stripped chassis to accompany the bare tub.
Definitely earned my beer tonight.
Anyway, finally managed to find time to get into the garage again.
Unbolted the driveshafts from the diff and removed the rear uprights complete with hubs, wishbones and shafts attached. Saving the nasty job of stripping them completely down until later.
Removed the diff, which weighs a bloody ton, along with the propshaft.
Then lifted the engine and box, which was the easiest of today's jobs by a margin.
Now left with a completely stripped chassis to accompany the bare tub.
Definitely earned my beer tonight.
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 13:38
Finally managed to extract V5 from the DVLA (there were no documents with the car when I bought it).
Pleased and relieved to have secured the original registration mark, which was obviously pretty important.
Many thanks to the TVRCC for their help with that.
The DVLA also confirm that the last tax disc expired in Feb 1977, so it has been standing for thirty six years...
Pleased and relieved to have secured the original registration mark, which was obviously pretty important.
Many thanks to the TVRCC for their help with that.
The DVLA also confirm that the last tax disc expired in Feb 1977, so it has been standing for thirty six years...
Here's the lump.
With a tap of WD40 and a squirt with the hammer, the linkages freed off nicely and all four gears and reverse can be selected.
The gearbox oil was lovely and clear, just like the diff oil.
Not tried to turn the engine over yet. Pretty sure that water down the spout will have caused plenty of damage, but hopefully the block can be saved.
Engine number matches the chassis, purchase invoice and V5, so would like to retain the block if possible.
With a tap of WD40 and a squirt with the hammer, the linkages freed off nicely and all four gears and reverse can be selected.
The gearbox oil was lovely and clear, just like the diff oil.
Not tried to turn the engine over yet. Pretty sure that water down the spout will have caused plenty of damage, but hopefully the block can be saved.
Engine number matches the chassis, purchase invoice and V5, so would like to retain the block if possible.
Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 11th July 14:37
Not much to report.
Waiting for Keith to work his magic and produce a chassis for me. That's likely to be a couple of months.
Much uncertainty on the employment front precludes much other progress at the moment.
The modification to the diff mounting will do away with the batwing top mounting plate, which is reputedly a weak point.
Certainly mine was broken clean in two.
Hopefully Keith will read this and explain exactly how the diff will be mounted, or maybe someone has a photo of the "FIA" mounting arrangement?
Waiting for Keith to work his magic and produce a chassis for me. That's likely to be a couple of months.
Much uncertainty on the employment front precludes much other progress at the moment.
The modification to the diff mounting will do away with the batwing top mounting plate, which is reputedly a weak point.
Certainly mine was broken clean in two.
Hopefully Keith will read this and explain exactly how the diff will be mounted, or maybe someone has a photo of the "FIA" mounting arrangement?
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