Another Restoration
Discussion
After noticing a head gasket issue, my car was booked into Steve at SD Autotec near Boroughbridge. Sadly, once he had the car on the ramp he found some holes in the passenger side outrigger that would be an MOT failure.
I authorised the body to be taken off and I had a trip down to the workshop this morning to have a chat with Steve and decide a way forward.
The good news is that everything is repairable. Steve actually has a refurbished chassis in stock from a 1999 car which would fit mine at a good price but I have decided as mine is salvageable and my car is very original, to have my outriggers replaced, chassis stripped and then zinc coated and powder coated. This means the chassis number will be correct for the car.
Depending on the integrity of the wishbones and their bushes then these will either be painted or stripped and powder coated as well.
The diff has a leak so this will be sent off to be refurbished. The gearbox is clean and leak free.
All the brakes will be replaced and hoses swapped for braided items.
The engine is going to require a full rebuild due to oil consumption and the head gasket which had blown at number 8. It has had attention before (camshaft presumably) but someone in the past has bodged a few things that need putting right. This will consist of new bottom end bearings etc, piston rings etc and rebuild the heads with new rockers etc. A new camshaft will be installed along with a new oil pump. The engine will be tidied up with the rocker covers being sent off for powder coat in original black.
As the engine is out the clutch will be replaced and flywheel skimmed. There will be all sorts of other bits and pieces that will be replaced or refurbished so essentially I will be getting what amounts to a new car more or less.
It does look very sorry for itself at the moment! It isn't what I would have expected having paid good money for the car at a well respected dealer less than two years ago but that's life, I suppose. It is a warning that even the later cars are not immune from the rot and sometimes you may well be better off with an earlier one!
I authorised the body to be taken off and I had a trip down to the workshop this morning to have a chat with Steve and decide a way forward.
The good news is that everything is repairable. Steve actually has a refurbished chassis in stock from a 1999 car which would fit mine at a good price but I have decided as mine is salvageable and my car is very original, to have my outriggers replaced, chassis stripped and then zinc coated and powder coated. This means the chassis number will be correct for the car.
Depending on the integrity of the wishbones and their bushes then these will either be painted or stripped and powder coated as well.
The diff has a leak so this will be sent off to be refurbished. The gearbox is clean and leak free.
All the brakes will be replaced and hoses swapped for braided items.
The engine is going to require a full rebuild due to oil consumption and the head gasket which had blown at number 8. It has had attention before (camshaft presumably) but someone in the past has bodged a few things that need putting right. This will consist of new bottom end bearings etc, piston rings etc and rebuild the heads with new rockers etc. A new camshaft will be installed along with a new oil pump. The engine will be tidied up with the rocker covers being sent off for powder coat in original black.
As the engine is out the clutch will be replaced and flywheel skimmed. There will be all sorts of other bits and pieces that will be replaced or refurbished so essentially I will be getting what amounts to a new car more or less.
It does look very sorry for itself at the moment! It isn't what I would have expected having paid good money for the car at a well respected dealer less than two years ago but that's life, I suppose. It is a warning that even the later cars are not immune from the rot and sometimes you may well be better off with an earlier one!
Malcster said:
What was your build number / last 4 digits on your VIN?
Must be pretty close to mine - it's a 2000 on a W also!
I'm build 2154. Might well have shared some factory time together!
It's done 32k miles, outriggers in good shapre (original) but have been cared for / POR15'd etc. Engine seems to be running well, no issues.
Not sure. I will have to delve into my files when I get back to the office after Christmas. Must be pretty close to mine - it's a 2000 on a W also!
I'm build 2154. Might well have shared some factory time together!
It's done 32k miles, outriggers in good shapre (original) but have been cared for / POR15'd etc. Engine seems to be running well, no issues.
When I was chatting to Steve yesterday he said that the worst cars are '98 onwards. He has done three 2000 cars already. I will keep this updated with photos when I can but it is expected that I will have it back by the end of January with a bit of luck.
The thing for me is that I know I will have car that is sound for years to come.
Merry Christmas everyone!
The thing for me is that I know I will have car that is sound for years to come.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Malcster said:
What was your build number / last 4 digits on your VIN?
Must be pretty close to mine - it's a 2000 on a W also!
I'm build 2154. Might well have shared some factory time together!
It's done 32k miles, outriggers in good shapre (original) but have been cared for / POR15'd etc. Engine seems to be running well, no issues.
I've just had a look and the last four numbers are 1312. It was registered in May 2000 so I guess it was hanging around a dealer for a while before being sold.Must be pretty close to mine - it's a 2000 on a W also!
I'm build 2154. Might well have shared some factory time together!
It's done 32k miles, outriggers in good shapre (original) but have been cared for / POR15'd etc. Engine seems to be running well, no issues.
ETA I've been researching the chassis numbers. The build year of mine was 2000 (Y before the B001) so was the 312th car of 2000 which does make it a very late MkII. They were certainly churning them out back then!
Edited by Trevor450 on Friday 3rd January 12:39
The chassis work is well under way. New outriggers are on and tacked in place - there is obviously further welding to do to complete these.
There are parts of the backbone that were worse than first thought so some bits are being cut out, sleeved and replaced.
The exhaust manifolds cause problems in this area. All of this is being cut out and replaced.
The whole chassis view - the outriggers are being replaced in 3mm steel which is twice the thickness that TVR used.
Underneath from the rear - obviously still lots to do.
Grotty outriggers - fit for scrap only.
Engine bay heat shielding is serviceable.
Rear wishbones, uprights and hub assemblies. The rear upper wishbones were new when I bought the car. The lower ones are all OK and all the bushes are pretty recent. These will be rubbed down and painted rather than powder coating them as they would all have to be rebutted.
The driveshafts, CV joints and bearings are all OK.
Front upper wishbones and bushes are OK and will also be painted.
Front lower wishbones are goosed. The new ones will have new bushes and ball joints.
Various bits cleaned and painted. The steering rack has had new gaiters.
Clutch has a few mm left but the fingers on the pressure plate are goosed. New one will be going in.
Various bits for powder coating
Broken rocker pad. Someone has replaced this rocker before as it is a different colour to all the others.
Inlet manifold cleaned up.
Water pump is relatively recent. Makes me wonder if someone has had cooling issues before. New oil pump will be going in the timing case.
Hard at it!
Bottom hoses are all OK.
It is also getting a new fuel pump, cam bearings in addition to the new cam, new sump (very thin in places) and a new oil pickup.
Should have a rolling chassis in a couple of weeks. He aims to have the repairs done this week or early next. It will then go off to be powder coated which is a week turnaround.
There are parts of the backbone that were worse than first thought so some bits are being cut out, sleeved and replaced.
The exhaust manifolds cause problems in this area. All of this is being cut out and replaced.
The whole chassis view - the outriggers are being replaced in 3mm steel which is twice the thickness that TVR used.
Underneath from the rear - obviously still lots to do.
Grotty outriggers - fit for scrap only.
Engine bay heat shielding is serviceable.
Rear wishbones, uprights and hub assemblies. The rear upper wishbones were new when I bought the car. The lower ones are all OK and all the bushes are pretty recent. These will be rubbed down and painted rather than powder coating them as they would all have to be rebutted.
The driveshafts, CV joints and bearings are all OK.
Front upper wishbones and bushes are OK and will also be painted.
Front lower wishbones are goosed. The new ones will have new bushes and ball joints.
Various bits cleaned and painted. The steering rack has had new gaiters.
Clutch has a few mm left but the fingers on the pressure plate are goosed. New one will be going in.
Various bits for powder coating
Broken rocker pad. Someone has replaced this rocker before as it is a different colour to all the others.
Inlet manifold cleaned up.
Water pump is relatively recent. Makes me wonder if someone has had cooling issues before. New oil pump will be going in the timing case.
Hard at it!
Bottom hoses are all OK.
It is also getting a new fuel pump, cam bearings in addition to the new cam, new sump (very thin in places) and a new oil pickup.
Should have a rolling chassis in a couple of weeks. He aims to have the repairs done this week or early next. It will then go off to be powder coated which is a week turnaround.
I am very lucky that I have sold my house and have cash in the bank. It would been getting spent on some refurbishments on our new place but those will have to take a back seat. I would have struggled to afford this had I not had the cash - certainly massive sacrifices would have had to have been made.
I do appreciate that not everyone can afford to have it done but the extent of the rot on a late car (which are worse than earlier ones) does help illustrate the usefulness of taking the body off because it can be shocking what is found.
I do appreciate that not everyone can afford to have it done but the extent of the rot on a late car (which are worse than earlier ones) does help illustrate the usefulness of taking the body off because it can be shocking what is found.
I would think that there are so many variables that it is impossible to confirm exactly. Your care of your car has contributed to its condition I am sure.
Do you waxoyl? My car was covered in the stuff and I am not necessarily sure that it was a good thing. Certainly, once it is repaired I have been warned off it - instead just clean thoroughly after use which should keep it in tip-top condition.
I plan on using it as much as possible when I get it back. I seriously miss it!
Do you waxoyl? My car was covered in the stuff and I am not necessarily sure that it was a good thing. Certainly, once it is repaired I have been warned off it - instead just clean thoroughly after use which should keep it in tip-top condition.
I plan on using it as much as possible when I get it back. I seriously miss it!
Just had the garage on the phone.
The chassis should be back from powder coat today - I am going to see it tomorrow afternoon with a bit of luck.
He has heard from the engine builder. Three pistons, rods and liners need replacing. It least this explains the oil consumption!
It's only money.
The chassis should be back from powder coat today - I am going to see it tomorrow afternoon with a bit of luck.
He has heard from the engine builder. Three pistons, rods and liners need replacing. It least this explains the oil consumption!
It's only money.
I had a visit to the garage today. The work pretty much speaks for itself. It will be a rolling chassis this afternoon.
We had a chat about the engine and he assures me that it will be fine with normal liners and just having the damaged ones replaced along with the rods and pistons. Everything is being done by a specialist engine builder in any case so I will defer to their expertise.
We had a chat about the engine and he assures me that it will be fine with normal liners and just having the damaged ones replaced along with the rods and pistons. Everything is being done by a specialist engine builder in any case so I will defer to their expertise.
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