The Wedge Project
Discussion
Here is my new car (collected today) and something to keep me busy over the summer. It is a 1982 TVR Tasmin 280i 2+2, one of only 47 ever built. It blew its gearbox 4 years ago and has been standing ever since.
My first job after getting it home was to give it a good wash and scrub to get the moss and grime off it, and open it up to air out the soaking carpets.
The engine bay full of rats nests and looking pretty sorry
And after a quick clear out
Interior needs some work
Thankfully the chassis is all good
After filling it up with fresh petrol, checking the oil and spark and stealing the battery from the girlfriends car it started up and ticked over smoothly. The throttle linkage is a bit gummy but not a bad start for only having it home for 3 hours It is bloody noisy though! 
Unfortunately then rain stopped play
The plan is to get it mechanically perfect with a new gearbox, clutch and brake overhaul, and also give it a thorough service and going over. It also needs the electrics sorting out as only about half of the switches do anything as it stands.
After that the damage on the front needs sorting and I hopefully plan on getting it resprayed in its standard Ford Midnight Blue. I will also strip and repair / refurbish the interior and get it back to its former glory.
My first job after getting it home was to give it a good wash and scrub to get the moss and grime off it, and open it up to air out the soaking carpets.
The engine bay full of rats nests and looking pretty sorry
And after a quick clear out
Interior needs some work
Thankfully the chassis is all good
After filling it up with fresh petrol, checking the oil and spark and stealing the battery from the girlfriends car it started up and ticked over smoothly. The throttle linkage is a bit gummy but not a bad start for only having it home for 3 hours
It is bloody noisy though! Unfortunately then rain stopped play
The plan is to get it mechanically perfect with a new gearbox, clutch and brake overhaul, and also give it a thorough service and going over. It also needs the electrics sorting out as only about half of the switches do anything as it stands.
After that the damage on the front needs sorting and I hopefully plan on getting it resprayed in its standard Ford Midnight Blue. I will also strip and repair / refurbish the interior and get it back to its former glory.
Edited by AceOfHearts on Friday 21st March 16:10
Edited by AceOfHearts on Friday 21st March 16:12
Pulled the seats and some of the interior out yesterday and started drying out and shampooing the carpets. Today I will hopefully make a start on getting the gearbox out.
I drained the gearbox oil yesterday and there was no metal in it, so could possibly be an easy fix. Fingers crossed.
I drained the gearbox oil yesterday and there was no metal in it, so could possibly be an easy fix. Fingers crossed.
Almost got the gearbox out today. Just 2 more bolts between the gearbox and bellhousing (you have to split them as the chassis is too tight to get them out together). The last 2 bolts are totally inaccessible though so have started removing the box to try and get more room. Here is what it is like now, will carry on tomorrow.
Gearbox finally out today. I had to remove the clutch and exhausts to get enough clearance to get it out though. What a pig of a job!
Have just dropped it off at a local gearbox specialist so they are going to pull it apart and find out what's wrong with it and quote me for repair. I pulled the covers off before taking it there and it looks like new inside, so hopefully it would be an easy fix.
Have just dropped it off at a local gearbox specialist so they are going to pull it apart and find out what's wrong with it and quote me for repair. I pulled the covers off before taking it there and it looks like new inside, so hopefully it would be an easy fix.
More progress today
Modified a spanner to allow me to adjust the door aignment
I also removed the damaged front bumper
Allowing me to see the state of the bodywork damage
It will not be getting sorted out anytime soon as i need to get the mechanicals perfect first, but good to see what i am dealing with
Modified a spanner to allow me to adjust the door aignment
I also removed the damaged front bumper
Allowing me to see the state of the bodywork damage
It will not be getting sorted out anytime soon as i need to get the mechanicals perfect first, but good to see what i am dealing with
Thanks for the comments, i'm surprised how much of a positive reception the car is having!
Yep the exhausts are above the gearbox, good for ground clearance but i'm sure it will be bad for heat soak into the cabin
This car was apparently the third off the production line, and I cant see any mention of the high level exhausts in the Steve Heath book so I guess it was not a common routing and was changed quite early on.
Yep the exhausts are above the gearbox, good for ground clearance but i'm sure it will be bad for heat soak into the cabin
This car was apparently the third off the production line, and I cant see any mention of the high level exhausts in the Steve Heath book so I guess it was not a common routing and was changed quite early on.
Edited by AceOfHearts on Tuesday 25th March 20:31
Just had a call from the gearbox place, and they have found some issues. Bitten the bullet though and getting them to rebuild it.
Not cheap especially when factoring in I will be putting in a new clutch too, but at least I know it will be good rather than guessing on a used box.
This car had better be good when I'm done!
Not cheap especially when factoring in I will be putting in a new clutch too, but at least I know it will be good rather than guessing on a used box.
This car had better be good when I'm done!
Cheers for the comments everyone
I have just spent some more money on interior stuff that really should wait until nearer the end (ashtrays) and steering column switchgear, but the switches are needed anyways to get the electrics working. After todays play about I think the only thig left to get working is the wash / wipe. I am replacing all of the relays though as the old ones look a bit worse for wear and for the price it is worth the peace of mind.
ETA
LewG - Looks like you are just down the road from me
I have just spent some more money on interior stuff that really should wait until nearer the end (ashtrays) and steering column switchgear, but the switches are needed anyways to get the electrics working. After todays play about I think the only thig left to get working is the wash / wipe. I am replacing all of the relays though as the old ones look a bit worse for wear and for the price it is worth the peace of mind.
ETA
LewG - Looks like you are just down the road from me
Edited by AceOfHearts on Friday 28th March 23:01
|http://thumbsnap.com/riWEru7A[/url]Kitchski said:
You weren't tempted to stick a 5-speeder in it then? 
Reading online apparently the type 9 is not really much of an improvement apart from on the motorway, as the lower gears on the 4 speed are much more usable ratios. Also I don't mind a 4 speed (had a few before) and this one will be 21mph per 1000rpm in top gear so should happily cruise at 60-70 without too much hassle. On top of that I fancy keeping this one original (as much as I can anyways) Some good news from today, got the gearbox refitted with my mate Jon and also the new switchgear as well as a few other bits and an oil change.
Got it started and it moves! Took it for a little spin up and down the road and the clutch and gearbox feel great, the brakes work and even the handbrake. It is bloody loud but sounds fantastic when revved, I will have to get a video of it soon
Tomorrow I plan to remove the dash, radiator and leaky heater matrix and give the cooling system a good flush. The new heater matrix and radiator I will get pressure tested and flushed out before refitting.
After that it just needs a good service and the rest of the electrics checked and it will be ready for Mot!
Got it started and it moves! Took it for a little spin up and down the road and the clutch and gearbox feel great, the brakes work and even the handbrake. It is bloody loud but sounds fantastic when revved, I will have to get a video of it soon
Tomorrow I plan to remove the dash, radiator and leaky heater matrix and give the cooling system a good flush. The new heater matrix and radiator I will get pressure tested and flushed out before refitting.
After that it just needs a good service and the rest of the electrics checked and it will be ready for Mot!
Didn't get as much done today as I was hoping, but did manage to scrape all of the old liner from inside the bonnet and also give it a lick of paint
As well as the bonnet I also got the windscreen washers working, and replaced the throttle cable Which turned up in the post today.
The alternator has turned out to be knackered as well so I will have to get one of them ordered soon.
As well as the bonnet I also got the windscreen washers working, and replaced the throttle cable Which turned up in the post today.
The alternator has turned out to be knackered as well so I will have to get one of them ordered soon.
AceOfHearts said:
Tasmin200 said:
Great project. Could you take some photographs of the exhaust manifolds for me please? I've got an "exhaust above gearbox Tasmin" but the front half of the exhaust is missing. I'd just like to see what it should look like. Thanks
I will get some tomorrow for you
Big update today, made a start on the cooling system and the leaky heater matrix. Started off by pulling the dash. Was feeling a bit daunted at this point Was an absolute pig of a job and I am not looking forward to putting it back.
Then managed to get the heater box out
The culprit
Here is the old box next to the new one that came with the car. Unfortunately they are slightly different with the water connection in the wrong place and the new one only has a hole for one blower. The boxes are two halves of fibreglass masticked together, so I decided to split the boxes to put the new matrix in the original box.
New on the left
Starting to split the leaky box
The heater matrices (new on the top)
I also pulled the radiator from the car as it was filled with sludge. I am going to get them both flushed out and pressure tested before putting back in the car. Its not a job I want to be doing twice
Was an absolute pig of a job and I am not looking forward to putting it back.Then managed to get the heater box out
The culprit
Here is the old box next to the new one that came with the car. Unfortunately they are slightly different with the water connection in the wrong place and the new one only has a hole for one blower. The boxes are two halves of fibreglass masticked together, so I decided to split the boxes to put the new matrix in the original box.
New on the left
Starting to split the leaky box
The heater matrices (new on the top)
I also pulled the radiator from the car as it was filled with sludge. I am going to get them both flushed out and pressure tested before putting back in the car. Its not a job I want to be doing twice
Edited by AceOfHearts on Wednesday 9th April 21:28
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