Arch chassis repair info

[pikeyboy]

Following a bit of an off at oulton I've bent the front os corner of my chassis wishbone etc. I've spoken to Bruce at Arch and arranged to take him the car stripped sufficently to allow them to fit a long front. So far I've stripped out the enigne, front suspension, ali side panels, scutle, seats interior panels. Does anyone know where they join the long front ? and if I need to remove the pedal box an the ali bulkhead panel? I dont really want to strip bits off for the sake of it.

[pikeyboy]

both side skins where very badly dented inc around the exhaust holes as the engine had moved rear wards under the impact and the o/s wish bone had been torn out of the chassis.

sorry - edited becuse I was rude and didnt say thanks for replying.

Edited by pikeyboy on Saturday 15th January 21:36

[CharlesElliott]

You need to remove everything forwards of the scuttle (so the scuttle can stay, as can all the seats/interior panels).

Arch will also peel back the side skins if they are re-usable, or replace if required so you don't need to touch those either....

[CharlesElliott]

Is it a race car? If so, they can join the ally panels halfway down the sideskin, behind where the number decals will go. Very well done and will save some money....

[pikeyboy]

CharlesElliott said:

You need to remove everything forwards of the scuttle (so the scuttle can stay, as can all the seats/interior panels).

Arch will also peel back the side skins if they are re-usable, or replace if required so you don't need to touch those either....

thanks charles, the side skins were not reuseable, so I've removed these which nesesiatated taking out the seats and riveted interior panels.

Do you know if I need remove the pedals from the pedal box, the riveted on pedal box panels as well as the horizontal ali panel under the bonnet that the scutle joins to? These are all forward of the scutle. Does anyone have a pic of where they join the long front as this would no doubt help me work out what I need to remove.

[CharlesElliott]

My general view is that given Arch have skilled people with hydraulic tools, it is quicker/easier (and probably no difference in price!) to leave the side skins etc. in place. Anyway, no harm now that you have done it

You do not need to remove pedal box/pedals. The long front will attach to the horizontal rail forward of the scuttle (i.e. the horizontal rail in front of the ECU on a Rover car and at the forward end of the horizontal plate - they will likely remove/replace some rivets onto the rail itself, but they will happy do that themselves) and underneath, just forward of the pedal box on that side. Arch will un-rivet/re-rivet any surroundig panels required, but the pedal box itself will stay.

Edited by CharlesElliott on Sunday 16th January 12:02

[pikeyboy]

Thanks for the info guys, I dropped it of at arch this morning. Just got to hope now the whole chassis isnt twisted, fingers crossed.

[Hoonabator]

How did this end up?

Anyone have an idea of costs involved?

[pikeyboy]

Arch fitted me a long front and side skins. Can't remember the cost but the long front was circa 1700 fitted I stripped and rebuilt the car. Side skins were extra but best speak with bruce about best price. Could have been nasty as they thought the whole chassis had twisted when they had it on the jig to check the alignment.

[Hoonabator]

Thanks for that chap,

Eliminates one car from my search, cheers

[pikeyboy]

Your welcome! Don't be put off by a proper arch repair though, they are good as new and you can barely see where they have been. If its cost of buying a bent car and repairing that's a different matter.

[CharlesElliott]

Last time I had it done (and that was a few years ago), it was just over £1500 + VAT.

[Hoonabator]

boy said:

Your welcome! Don't be put off by a proper arch repair though, they are good as new and you can barely see where they have been. If its cost of buying a bent car and repairing that's a different matter.

Yep cost of the purchase is the problem. Again thanks for the info.