TVR 3000ML Restoration

[chris52]

Hi Guys I bought white 3000ml that was advertised on PH a few weeks ago and will be starting the restoration soon. I have had it confirmed that the car is a genuine 3000ml and as such would like to return the car to as original as possible with possibly the exception of the vinyl roof. The roof on it now is a textured paint which to be fair looks ok but I'm pretty sure I will just have the roof body colour. I will put some pictures up in the next few days. The car was dry stored for the last 30 years and the chassis is in really good condition but wont know for sure if any repairs are needed until the body is off.
The Bumpers were metal painted black but they are coroded so will need repairing or replacing. The interior is mouldy in places but complete and the wood dash is good a few small cracks but I think this looks nice and aged so will be staying as is in the car. The Drivers seat is torn but the passenger seat is perfect. The engine turn over freely and I will try get it running before I remove the body at least then I will know if it will need a rebuild or not.

Now the 3000ML I know is a pretty rare car but does anyone know how many were actually made and do you guys have any pictures of them I have searched google but can only find a yellow one but no interior pictures.

Any help would be great.
Chris

Edited by chris52 on Sunday 16th August 21:13

[chris52]

Thanks for the comments and picture.
the interior looks just about the same bar the seats which are standard black M vinyl on mine. The wood dash is similar aswell. I thought the seats in mine were original but having now seen those Im not sure.
Chris

[chris52]

Some pictures its not pretty yet!!!!!














The micro blistering in the paint appears to be only top coat deep.

Edited by chris52 on Sunday 16th August 21:18

[chris52]

Thanks Guys I would like to keep the vinyl roof but I just don't see it being possible as I don't have the edging strip for the rear and it's a job for an expert so cost may out way the gain. The car was a very good purchase price but I can see me having upwards of £10k in it by the time it's finished plus a load of hours of my time but that's most of the fun.
Chris

[chris52]

Many thanks John for the picture it is very similar but as you say they were pretty much all unique in there own way. What seats did your have?
Chris

[chris52]

whitewolf said:

Not sure if it helps (as you habe other ML owners on here) but from information sources the seats should be standard type with high backs.


Also only made for 1 year between 73 and 74. However no idea for the quantity of them.

Many thanks I thought my seats were original.The passenger seat is immaculate but the the drivers is badly torn which is a shame as it means having to retrim them both to get a good match
chris

[chris52]

Cheers Glen this one and the Vixen Im hoping are going to be long term keepers along with the Griff although I keep contemplating selling the Griff mainly due to lack of use. 200 miles last year which is just not good. Anyway im having another garage built in the next few weeks so I should have enough room to keep all three when finished.
Back to the ML a previous owner has very kindly sent me some pictures of the car in the very early 80s when it was having an engine repair done. Sorry about the quality but they are pictures of printed photos

[chris52]

Many thanks anyway B
Chris

[chris52]

Adrian you have mail

[chris52]

Not much progress at the moment as I'm having a second garage built which wont be ready until mid January so I don't have the room to remove the body. Anyway decided to pull the heads of the car to see the condition of the engine internals. All looks Ok bores are sound with no noticeable scores and minimal wear. Pistons have no markings on them so I presume they are standard but the engine must have been worked on at some time as it had studs not bolts for the heads.

Having removed the heads and inlet I ran them through the ultrasonic cleaner with great results just a light rum with some synthetic steel wool on the heads to break up the carbon.




Results





The inlet was just a wipe over with a rag after the process which I had to twice as it was a touch to big to immerse in one go.





Chris

[chris52]

Thats looks very similar and mine also has a light hidden above to iluminate the switches. Many thanks for the picture.
chris

[chris52]

RochdaleGT said:

do your car a favour...please remove this aftermarket sunroof and close the hole!! such a sunroof is destroying the roof-line-desgin, and is far away from being period!!

No idea what your talking about. The car has the correct factory supplied weather shield fold back sunroof.

[chris52]

Must say I do prefer the black interior on the M series cars to the Oatmeal. What year is yours it looks a pretty early model with that dash and door cards. Do you have more pictures?
Cheers Chris

[chris52]

Looks like a nice project. I would love to go down the brand new chassis route but this one looks worth saving only a couple of bits need replacing.
Chris

[chris52]

Spent most of this weekend sanding. Still got most of the other side to do but happy with the results so far only part with any stress cracks is on the Drivers door. Also no sign of any panels being repaired or replaced which is also good.

[chris52]

RochdaleGT said:

sorry for my posting...on the first pictures it looked like an aftermarket glas-sunroof.....

No worries mate

[chris52]

Yes it does have the M badges they could do with a little refurbing but not to bad.
Chris

[chris52]

Thanks Paul I can see light at the endo the tunnel now Many thanks for your help today.
Chris

[chris52]

A little behind schedule due to a couple of slight chassis repairs needed. I know in the picture above the chassis looks as though its covered in surface rust but its mainly dirt and red overspray. Scrape away the black top coat and underneath its a nice white primer

I have also been trying to find if any of the other twenty MLs that were built are still about. I managed to get the chassis numbers for all the cars and most of the reg numbers.
Three were LHD
Five of the chassis numbers dont exist anymore or at least are not recognised on HPI
One had an under bonnet fire and has been off road since 2005
The first one which was the prototype has been off road since 1994
The motorshow car is Sorned
The fifteenth one built was last mot'd 2009
The last one built is still taxed and mot'd
The rest have been off road over 20 years and some over 30 years so hopefully may be locked away awaiting finding and restoration.
Chris

If anyone knws the wereabouts of the missing MLs please could you let me know. It would be nice to get to see some more out and about.

Edited by chris52 on Sunday 8th February 20:45

Edited by chris52 on Sunday 16th August 20:55

[chris52]

Things not going to plan unfortunately. Took the heads of the engine and noted one of the bores was heavily scored, so today I removed the piston and the oil scraper ring had somehow twisted and bent scratching the bore. So stripped the lot down. Main bearing shells look brand new, big end shells have picked up in a couple of places and when I removed cam retaining plate it fell into four pieces which it a bit worrying.
So to add to the aleady massive list of just about everything on the car I now need to recon the engine.
Getting a little frustrated with this one I dont think any part of it has gone without a hitch.
So any recommendations on engine upgrades while im there ?
Might as well try to get a little more power
Chris

Edited by chris52 on Saturday 21st February 21:26